Mapagala fortress

7°57′04″N 80°45′28″E / 7.951248°N 80.757718°E / 7.951248; 80.757718TypeDefence fortSite informationConditionRemnantSite historyBuilt byAnuradhapura Kingdom

Mapagala fortress was an ancient fortified complex of the Anuradhapura Kingdom long before Kasyapa I built his city, Sigiriya. It is located to the South of Sigiriya and closer to Sigiriya tank.^[1]

It was built by using unshaped boulders to about 20 ft high. Each stone is broad and thick and some of them are about 10 ft high and about 4 ft long. It is believed that it was built before the time of usage of metal tools.^[2] Arthur Maurice Hocart noted that cyclopean style stone walls were used for the fortress, and square hammered stones were used for the ramparts of the citadel. However, his note suggests metal (iron) tools were used for construction. Excavations work in this areas found a few stone forges, which proved Hocart's claim on the usage of metal tools.^[3]

References

^ "Ancient city of Sigiriya ("The Lion Rock")". Archived from the original on 13 June 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
^ "Remarks on Metal Intcriirtions". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
^ "Exploring the Sigiri-bim". Daily News. Retrieved 24 November 2014.

Portuguese Forts	Arandora fort Arippu fort Batticaloa fort Colombo fort Delft Island fort Fort Fredrick Fort Hammenheil Galle Fort Haldummulla fort^† Hanwella fort Jaffna fort Kalutara fort Kayts Island fort^† Kotugodella fort^† Malwana fort^† Mannar fort Matara fort Menikkadawara fort^† Negombo fort Pooneryn fort Ratnapura Portuguese fort^† Ruwanwella fort
Dutch Forts	Elephant Pass fort Fort Beschutter Fort Ostenburg Fort Pyl Kalpitiya fort Kankesanthurai fort Katuwana fort Koddiyar fort Mullaitivu fort Point Pedro fort Ratnapura Dutch fort Star fort Tangalle fort
British Forts	Fort MacDowall Martello tower

Less or no contribution/renovation works of Dutch are marked by † symbol under "Portuguese Forts", and others are considered as Dutch forts too.

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Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BC – 1017 AD

Background

History

Early period (377 BC–463 AD)	Arrival of Buddhism Elara Dutugamunu Campaign Battle of Vijithapura The Five Dravidians Fourth Buddhist council Tripiṭaka Gajabahu's invasion of Chola Beminitiya Seya Relic of the tooth of the Buddha Dipavamsa The Six Dravidians
Middle period (463–691)	Mahavamsa Sigiriya
Late period (691–1017)	Anuradhapura invasion of Pandya Chola conquest of Anuradhapura