Definition: Anuradhapura was founded by the Sinhalese king Pandukhabaya as his capital city in 437 BC. Anuradhapura was a Buddhist center, abandoned after a Tamil invasion in 993 AD, the capital for 1500 years of rulers on the island of Sri Lanka. The history of the city is documented in the Buddhist chronicle Mahavamsa. Designated a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1982.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
