Archaeological Chinese Cearmics in Sri lanka

Introduction
Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean, is located to the south of the Indian subcontinent. It lies between 5º55′ and 9º55′ north of the equator and between the eastern longitudes 79º42′ and 81º52′. Sri Lanka is shaped like a giant teardrop falling from the southern tip of the vast Indian subcontinent. It is separated from India by the 50-km-wide Strait, according to S.U Deraniyagala the last separation of Sri Lanka from India was, he thought, ca. 7,000BP (Deraniyagala;1992:167). Although there is a series of stepping-stone coral islets known as Adam’s Bridge that almost form a land bridge between the two countries. And island’s total land capacity is 65,610 sq. km. (25,332sq.miles) Length North to South – 434 km, East to West – 227 km.
The pre-history of Sri Lanka has its beginnings around 10,000 BC with two distinct phases, pre-history and proto-history. The first phase could probably have lasted till about 1000 BC and the second may have ended, in some part of the island at least with the introduction of metal, three or four centuries later. The stone making technology of the early cultures, such as Mesolithic, appears to continue into pre-historic times. The archaeological and historical evidence clearly mentioned other main three legend of the island history as early history and modern history (Colonial history 1505-1815).Sri Lanka had a longstanding and outstanding history as an Island. And Sri Lankan great history is not only one main part of history in the Asia continent but also in the world history. Sri Lanka has great archaeological background with sites and monument with archaeological remains and historical sources in their long standing history. These historical and archaeological factors are most important things for talking about their history.
On the other hand Sri Lanka had a great diplomatic relationship in its long history. Island’s geographical background and at that time internal situations as island one of most important reasons for ancient interrelations with other countries. There is no any doubt, as early as Sri Lanka had very close connections with neighbors India; in addition we have more documental and physical evidence and foreign historical records about other world nations have been come to the island since long ago in his history. Early Arabians, Greeks, Persians, western nations and Far East Chinese some of them being such a connections with ancient Sri Lanka. They have various motivated reasons as trade, cultural and religious, political and for independent traveling they came to the Island.
By this my brief thesis focus for examine to Chinese ancient Ceramics found which archaeological sites in Sri Lanka. The relationships between ancient Sri Lanka and Far East China were a most significant relationship in their history. There were several main purposes for the Sino-Sri Lanka historical relationship but it was mainly motivated around the ancient diplomatic trade and commerce both Sri Lanka and China.
Great China is one of the strength ness nations of the world history; great china had an outstanding history, and their cultural relics can be seeing over the Chinese Land. Chinese ceramics (Porcelain) is most important and widespread cultural relics in the Sino history. And it is one of amazing inventions of the Chinese nations. Therefore ancient China known as “Nation of Porcelain” whiles the other nations. Meanwhile their politics, Culture, Science and Technology and trade and commerce are more interesting subject when we are talking about Sino history. The evidence for diplomatic relationship of the China can be appeared as early Han dynasty, but widespread relations began about ca. early Tang dynasty (618-905A.D), and reached to its peak levels in 13th -15th centuries.

We have two types of factors for talking about historical relationship of both Sri Lanka and China. One is historical sources including inscriptions in local and foreign and other is archaeological remains were unearthed by local archaeological authorities over the past centuries. Therefore we have but a limited number of and interesting artifacts which it is indicate historical relationships between Sri Lanka and China. These artifacts including Chinese coins, ceramic ware, (statues, and porcelain ware) and inscriptions etc, all these artifacts are most useful for examine historical relationships of both Sri Lanka and China.
Meanwhile significant collections of ancient Chinese ceramics have been unearthed at costal and inland archaeological sites in Sri Lanka. The ceramics found date back to earliest from the period of Tang dynasty (618-906 A.D). Most of the inland hoards of Chinese Ceramics have been discovered in Buddhist monastery sites in the island since Tang dynasty to southern Song dynasty. Its quite possible that porcelain sample used as Buddhist monastery utilities. It is very clear at that time there have no any references about such ceramics used in normal people in Sri Lanka. Other hand it is possible that valuable gifts as ceramics received by nobles were re-gifted to monastery as a local customs. There are historical references that Chinese devotees came to Sri Lanka to pay pilgrims to Buddhist temple in groups and also individually, in addition, one of example for Chinese merchant came to island, It is an the interesting reference of the grate Buddhist Chinese expediter Fashion reported that he did saw Chinese made white Taffeta fan in front of the Buddhist statue who a merchant offered to the statue at Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka at 411-412 A.D (Wimalabhuddi Balagalle Rev.; 1960,Weerasinghe;1995). 1352 Chinese coins (Sri Lanka Archaeological department: 2001,Marcus Frenendo;1969) and Porcelain ware which dated about Song period have been unearthed in Yapahuwa(12th-13th centuries) rock port also later sub kingdom in Sri Lanka, and Buddhist temple. And after 13th century big hoards of Chinese Song luxury porcelain ware and Yuan,(1271-1368A.D)Ming(1368-1644A.D)Blue and white porcelain (qinghua) were found in the South –West ,North- West and eastern costal line of the island. Although, some of the later Chinese porcelain as Blue and white and Monochrome(multicolour) ware dated as Ming and Qing(ca.1644-1911A.D)dynasties came to Sri Lanka as influence of the Colonial periods in the island.

Otherwise my one of the main objective is in this study applied some pure scientific analytical methods for analysis the Sri Lankan Chinese ceramic. I think it should be more convenient analysis for analysis Chinese ceramic because it is not enough only surface analysis or normal eye checking for identify to Chinese ceramics. Already we know Chinese ceramic technology is most famous ceramic technology in the ancient world. On the other hand since long ago more than thousand years Chinese ceramic technology have been unbroken developments in Chinese history and there were thousand of similarities and differences in Chinese ceramic technology, other hand about since Tang dynasty Chinese Ceramics products were widely exported to other countries as North-east South –East South and west Asia also north Africa. And should remember exerted influence on the ceramics of Japan, Korea, Iran, etc. which led to the appearance of imitations of Chinese ceramics. These imitations were made so successfully that it was difficult to discriminate them from the genuine by the naked eye. Therefore should be careful to identify Chinese ceramic products by naked eye, however using XRY analysis as element analysis and also Petrography method so effective understanding their provenance and technology.

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