Department of History and Archaeology
The Department of History was one of six departments established in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences when the University came into being in 1978. Archaeology was introduced in 1998, consequently renaming it as the Department of History and Archaeology. The department offers Special and General Degree Programs in both disciplines.
Quick Info
Other Publications
News & Events
Field Training Programs in Archaeology
Third year Special Degree Program students just returned after concluding an intense Field Training Program in Archaeological Excavation at Ilukkumbura cave site in Balangoda.
Contact Info
Department of History and Archaeology
University of Ruhuna
Matara
Sri Lanka
Tel : +94 412222681/82 Ext: 3401
Fax : +94 412227010
Email : history@hss.ruh.ac.lk
University of Ruhuna
Matara
Sri Lanka
Tel : +94 412222681/82 Ext: 3401
Fax : +94 412227010
Email : history@hss.ruh.ac.lk
Vision
To be one of the key centers of excellence in teaching and research in history and archaeology and producing intellectuals who are academically conscious of the national heritage.
Mission
Producing graduates with both theoretical and practical knowledge in the fields of history, archaeology and related disciplines with international standards.
Head's Message
Welcome to the Department of History and Archaeology!
We offer Degree Programs in two sister disciplines, History and Archaeology, which feed each other giving students and staff a unique opportunity to interact and debate on related but distinct issues. These Degree Programs are offered both Sinhala and English mediums and designed to produce graduates with a broader and critical understating of the past.
Department provides maximum contributions to enhance external degree programs and post – graduate educations.
In-course internship training programs are integrated to Special Degree Programs in both disciples in order to enhance the employability of our graduates. Being a field-oriented discipline, Archaeology Special Degree Program has compulsory field training courses in addition to museum and laboratory training in the department. The Department houses an Archaeological Museum, Archaeological Filed Unit cum Conservation Lab and a Reference Library. Avalokana is the bi-annual journal of the Department where both staff and students can publish their research work.
- History - New Degree Programme (2019/2020 Academic Year and Onward)
- History - Old Degree Programme
- Archaeology - New Degree Programme (2019/2020 Academic Year and Onward)
- Archaeology - Old Degree Programme
| Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Degree Programme in History | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Code & Name | Status (Core /Optional) | Credit Value | |
| 1000 Level | |||
1st Semester |
HIS11613 Ancient History of Sri Lanka (From the beginning to 1215 AD) | Core | 03 |
| ELG11612 Elements of English Grammar | Core | 02 | |
| ITS11613 Computer Literacy & Basic ICT Skills | Core | 03 | |
| SES11612 Ethics, Values and Vision of Life | Core | 02 | |
2nd Semester |
HIS12613 Medieval History of Sri Lanka (From 1215 AD to 16th Century AD) | Core | 03 |
| ELG12612 Reading Skills | Core | 02 | |
| ITS12612 Essential Skills in Digital Presentation | Core | 02 | |
| SLG12612 Sinhala Writing Skills | Core | 02 | |
| 2000 Level | |||
1st Semester |
HIS21613 Study of Sri Lankan Historical Sources 1 (From the beginning to 16th Century AD) | Core | 03 |
| HIS21623 History of Colonial Period of Sri Lanka (From 16th Century AD to 181 5 AD) | Core | 03 | |
| HIS21633 History of India (From the beginning to 1236 AD) | Core | 03 | |
| HIS21643 History of Rohana | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS21653 Ancient Irrigation Technology and Water Management of Sri Lanka | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS21663 Foundation of Ancient Civilization | Optional | 03 | |
| MNS21613 Mathematical and Numerical Skills | Core | 03 | |
| TLG21613 Basic Tamil | Core | 03 | |
2nd Semester |
HIS22613 Study of Sri Lankan Historical Sources 11 (From 16 Century AD to 1948 AD) | Core | 03 |
| HIS22623 History of British Period of Sri Lanka ( 1815 AD to 1948 AD | Core | 03 | |
| HIS22633 History of India 11 (From 1236 AD to 1947 AD) | Core | 03 | |
| HIS22643 Cultural Heritage of Sri Lanka | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS22653 Study of Indigenous knowledge of Sri Lanka | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS22663 History of South East Asia | Optional | 03 | |
| SES22613 Information Literacy and Scientific Communication Skills | Core | 03 | |
| SES22611 Socio-Emotional Skills | Core | 01 | |
| 3000 Level | |||
1st Semester |
HIS31613 Political, Social, Economic and History of Sri Lanka after Independence (From 1948 AD to 2000 AD) | Core | 03 |
| HIS31623 Research Methodologies in History | Core | 02 | |
| HIS31633 History of Europe (from 5th Century BC to 16th Century AD) | Core | 03 | |
| HIS31643 National Coexistence of Sri Lanka | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS31653 Womanhood and Women History of Sri Lanka | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS31663 History of Russia | Optional | 03 | |
| CSE31612 Philosophy of knowledge and Research | Core | 02 | |
| ELG31613 Academic Writing Skills | Core | 03 | |
2nd Semester |
HIS32613 Art History of Sri Lanka | Core | 03 |
| HIS32623 Study of Alternative History and Documentation | Core | 03 | |
| HIS32633 History of Europe (from 16th Century AD to 1945 AD) | Core | 03 | |
| HIS32643 History of Philosophy | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS32653 History of America | Optional | 03 | |
| HRM32613 Human Resource Management | Core | 03 | |
| ELG32612 Business English | Core | 02 | |
| 4000 Level | |||
1st Semester |
HIS41613 Study of Contemporary History | Core | 03 |
| HIS41623 Historiography | Core | 03 | |
| HIS41643 Foreign Policy and International Relations of Sri Lanka after Independence | Core | 03 | |
| HIS41653 Historical Perspective of Human Right | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS41663 Modern World History | Optional | 03 | |
| ITS41612 Information and Communication Technology for Personal and Office Usage | Core | 02 | |
| ELG41612 Public Speaking | Core | 02 | |
| SES41611 Soft Skills and Personality Development | Core | 01 | |
| SES41632 Critical and creative thinking | Core | 02 | |
2nd Semester |
HIS42619 Dissertation | Core | 09 |
| HIS42623 Internship | Optional | 03 | |
| HIS4263 The Historical Perspective of Developmental and Environmental Challenges of Sri Lanka | Optional | 03 | |
| Course Modules Offered for Bachelor of Arts Degree Programme | |||
| Course Code & Name | Status (Core /Optional) | Credit Value | |
| 1000 Level | |||
| 1st Semester | HIS11513 Ancient History of Sri Lanka (From the beginning to 1215 AD) | Core | 03 |
| 2nd Semester | HIS12513 Medieval History of Sri Lanka (From 1215 AD to 16th Century AD) | Core | 03 |
| 2000 Level | |||
| 1st Semester | HIS21523 History of Colonial Period of Sri Lanka (From 16th Century AD to 181 5 AD) | Core | 03 |
| HIS21533 History of India (From the beginning to 1236 AD) | Core | 03 | |
| 2nd Semester | HIS22533 History of India 11 (From 1236 AD to 1947 AD) | Core | 03 |
| 3000 Level | |||
| 1st Semester | HIS31533 History of Europe (from 5th Century BC to 16th Century AD) | Core | 03 |
| 2nd Semester | HIS32533 History of Europe (from 16th Century AD to 1945 AD) | Core | 03 |
| HIS32513 Art History of Sri Lanka | Core | 03 | |
| Special | General | |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 Level 1st Semester |
HIS 11513 Foundation of Ancient Civilization | HIS 11513 Foundation of Ancient Civilization |
| 1000 Level 2nd Semester |
HIS 12513 Pre-history of India and Sri Lanka | HIS 12513 Pre-history of India and Sri Lanka |
| 2000 Level 1st Semester |
HIS 21613 Political History of Sri Lanka (from the beginning to 1215 AD) | HIS 21513 History of Sri Lanka (from the beginning to 16th Century AD) |
| HIS 21623 Study of Sri Lankan Historical Sources (from the beginning to 16th Century AD) | HIS 21523 Histroy of India (from 6th Century BC to 16th Century AD) | |
| HIS 21633 History of India (from 6th Century BC to 16th Century AD) | ||
| HIS 21643 Ancient Irrigation Technology and Water Management of Sri Lanka | ||
| HIS 21653 International Relations between Sri Lanka and South East Asia (from the beginning to 16th Century AD) | ||
| 2000 Level 2nd Semester |
HIS 22613 Political History of Sri Lanka (from 1215 AD to 1815 AD) | HIS 22513 Histroy of Europe (from 5th Century BC to 16th Century AD) |
| HIS 22623 Economic, Social and Cultural History of Sri Lanka (from the beginning to 16th Century AD) | HIS 22523 Study of Indigenous Knowledge of Sri Lanka | |
| HIS 22633 History of Rohana | ||
| HIS 22643 History of Europe (from 5th Century BC to 16th Century AD) | ||
| HIS 22653 Study of Indigenous Knowledge of Sri Lanka | ||
| 3000 Level 1st Semester |
HIS 31613 National Struggle Movements and Constitutional Development in Sri Lanka (from 1815 AD to 1948 AD) | HIS 31513 History of Sri Lanka (from 16th Century AD to 1948 AD) |
| HIS 31623 Study of Sri Lankan Historical Sources (from 16th Century AD to 20th Century AD) | HIS 31523 History of India (from 16th Century AD to 1947 AD) | |
| HIS 31633 History of India (from 16th Century AD to 1947 AD) | ||
| HIS 31643 History of United States of America (from the beginning to 1950 AD) | ||
| HIS 31653 History of Russia (19th and 20th Centuries AD) | ||
| HIS 31663 Cultural Heritage of Sri Lanka | ||
| 3000 Level 2nd Semester |
HIS 32613 Economic, Social and Cultural History of Sri Lanka (from 16th Century AD to 1948 AD) | HIS 32513 History of Europe (from 16th Century AD to 1945 AD) |
| HIS 32623 Study of GIS and Cartography for History | HIS 32523 Contemporary World History (from 1945 AD to 2000 AD) | |
| HIS 32633 Research Methodologies in History | ||
| HIS 32643 History of Europe (from 16th Century AD to 1945 AD) | ||
| HIS 32653 Contemporary World History (from 1945 AD to 2000 AD) | ||
| HIS 32663 History and Womanhood of Sri Lanka | ||
| 4000 Level 1st Semester |
HIS 41613 Historiography | |
| HIS 41623 Sri Lanka’s Political, Social and Economic Changes after Independence | ||
| HIS 41633 Internship | ||
| HIS 41643 Independent Research (Dissertation) | ||
| HIS 41653 Indo-Sri Lanka Relations | ||
| HIS 41663 New Political Trends of Indian Ocean Region | ||
| HIS 41673 China in the 20th Century | ||
| 4000 Level 2nd Semester |
HIS 42613 Foreign Policy and International Relations of Sri Lanka after Independence | |
| HIS 42623 Ethnic History and National Cohesion of Sri Lanka | ||
| HIS 42633 Asian and European Political Thought (from the beginning to 20th Century AD) | ||
| HIS 42643 Independent Research (Dissertation) | ||
| HIS 42653 War History and Military Organizations of Sri Lanka | ||
| HIS 42653 Perspective of Human Rights | ||
| Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) Degree Programme in Archaeology | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Code & Name | Status (Core /Optional) | Credit Value | |
| 1000 Level | |||
1st Semester |
ACL11613 An Introduction to Archaeology | Core | 03 |
| ELG11612 Elements of English Grammar | Core | 02 | |
| ITS11613 Computer Literacy & Basic ICT Skills | Core | 03 | |
| SES11612 Ethics, Values and Vision of Life | Core | 02 | |
2nd Semester |
ACL12613 An Introduction to Physical and Cultural Evolution of Man | Core | 03 |
| ELG12612 Reading Skills | Core | 02 | |
| ITS12612 Essential Skills in Digital Presentation | Core | 02 | |
| SLG12612 Sinhala Writing Skills | Core | 02 | |
| 2000 Level | |||
1st Semester |
ACL21613 Theoretical Archaeology | Core | 03 |
| ACL21623 Methods and Techniques in Archaeology | Core | 03 | |
| ACL21633 Research Methodology | Core | 03 | |
| ACL21643 History of Civilizations | Core | 03 | |
| MNS21613 Mathematical and Numerical Skills | Core | 03 | |
| TLG21613 Basic Tamil | Core | 03 | |
2nd Semester |
ACL22613 Pre and Proto-history of India | Core | 03 |
| ACL22623 Pre and Proto-history of Sri Lanka | Core | 03 | |
| ACL22633 Cartography, Photography and Drawing in Archaeology | Core | 03 | |
| ACL22643 Ancient Art and Architecture of India | Optional | 03 | |
| ACL22653 Archaeology of Ruhuna | Optional | 03 | |
| SES22613 Information Literacy and Scientific Communication Skills | Core | 03 | |
| SES22611 Socio-Emotional Skills | Core | 01 | |
| 3000 Level | |||
1st Semester |
ACL31613 Archaeological Conservation | Core | 03 |
| ACL31623 Computer Applications in Archaeology | Core | 02 | |
| ACL31633 Field Report I - Exploration | Core | 03 | |
| ACL31643 Ancient Art and Architecture in Sri Lanka | Optional | 03 | |
| ACL31653 History of Sri Lanka (From Beginning to AD 1815) | Optional | 03 | |
| CSE31612 Philosophy of knowledge and Research | Core | 02 | |
| ELG31613 Academic Writing Skills | Core | 03 | |
2nd Semester |
ACL32613 Paleography and Epigraphy of Sri Lanka | Core | 03 |
| ACL32623 Numismatics of India and Sri Lanka | Core | 03 | |
| ACL32633 Field Report II - Excavations/ Conservations | Core | 03 | |
| ACL32643 Archaeological Heritage Management and Museums | Optional | 03 | |
| ACL32653 Industrial Archaeology | Optional | 03 | |
| HRM32613 Human Resource Management | Core | 03 | |
| ELG32612 Business English | Core | 02 | |
| 4000 Level | |||
1st Semester |
ACL41613 World Prehistory: Global and Regional Perspectives | Core | 03 |
| ACL41623 Underwater Archaeology | Core | 03 | |
| ACL41633 Environmental Archaeology | Core | 03 | |
| ACL41643 Settlement and Ethno-archaeology | Optional | 03 | |
| ITS41612 Information and Communication Technology for Personal and Office Usage | Core | 02 | |
| ELG41612 Public Speaking | Core | 02 | |
| SES41611 Soft Skills and Personality Development | Core | 01 | |
| SES41632 Critical and creative thinking | Core | 02 | |
2nd Semester |
ACL42619 Dissertation | Core | 09 |
| ACL42623 Internship Training | Optional | 03 | |
| ACL42633 Archaeological Project Management | Optional | 03 | |
| Course Modules Offered for Bachelor of Arts Degree Programme | |||
| Course Code & Name | Status (Core /Optional) | Credit Value | |
| 1000 Level | |||
| 1st Semester | ACL11513 An Introduction to Archaeology | Core | 03 |
| 2nd Semester | ACL12513 An Introduction to Physical and Cultural Evolution of Man | Core | 03 |
| 2000 Level | |||
| 1st Semester | ACL21543 History of Civilizations | Core | 03 |
| 2nd Semester | ACL22523 Pre and Proto-history of Sri Lanka | Core | 03 |
| ACL22513 Pre and Proto-history of India | Optional | 03 | |
| ACL22543 Ancient Art and Architecture of India | Optional | 03 | |
| 3000 Level | |||
| 1st Semester | ACL31543 Ancient Art and Architecture in Sri Lanka | Core | 03 |
| ACL31513 Archaeological Conservation | Optional | 03 | |
| ACL31553 History of Sri Lanka (From Beginning to AD 1815) | Optional | 03 | |
| 2nd Semester | ACL32543 Archaeological Heritage Management and Museums | Core | 03 |
| Special | General | |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 Level 1st Semester |
ACL 11513 Introduction to Archaeology | ACL 11513 Introduction to Archaeology |
| 1000 Level 2nd Semester |
ACL 12513 Techniques in Archaeology | ACL 12513 Techniques in Archaeology |
| 2000 Level 1st Semester |
ACL 21613 History of Archeology in India and Sri Lanka | ACL 21513 History of Archaeology in India and Sri Lanka |
| ACL 21623 History of Archaeology – A Global Perspective | ACL 21523 History of Civilizations | |
| ACL 21633 Field Report I - Exploration: Cartography and Photography | ACL 21533 History of Sri Lanka: Trends and Dynamics | |
| ACL 21643 History of Civilizations | ||
| ACL 21653 History of Sri Lanka: Trends and Dynamics | ||
| 2000 Level 2nd Semester |
ACL 22613 Methods and Techniques in Archaeology | ACL 22513 Pre-history of Sri Lanka |
| ACL 22623 Theoretical Perspectives in Archaeology | ACL 22523 Ancient Art and Architecture of India | |
| ACL 22633 Ancient Art and Architecture of India | ||
| ACL 22643 Research Methodology | ||
| ACL 22653 Compilation of an Assessment Report - Historical Archaeology | ||
| 3000 Level 1st Semester |
ACL 31613 Palaeography and Epigraphy of Sri Lanka | ACL 31513 Palaeography, Epigraphy and Numismatics |
| ACL 31643 Archaeological Heritage Management and Elements of Museology | ACL 31523 Archaeological Heritage Management and Elements of Museology | |
| ACL 31653 Ancient Architecture in Sri Lanka | ACL 31533 Ancient Architecture in Sri Lanka | |
| 3000 Level 2nd Semester |
ACL 32613 Ancient Art in Sri Lanka | ACL 32513 Ancient Art in Sri Lanka |
| ACL 32623 Numismatics of Sri Lanka and India | ACL 32523 Ancient Technology and Intangible Heritage in Sri Lanka | |
| ACL 32633 Student Internship Programme | ||
| ACL 32643 Compilation of an Activity Report on a Selected Aspect of Ancient Art and Architecture in Sri Lanka | ||
| ACL 32653 Ancient Technology and Intangible Heritage in Sri Lanka | ||
| 4000 Level 1st Semester |
ACL 41613 World Pre-history: Global and Regional Perspectives | |
| ACL 41623 Pre and Proto-historic Archaeology in Sri Lanka | ||
| ACL 41633 Archaeology of Rohana | ||
| ACL 41643 Independent Research (Research Proposal and Presentation) | ||
| ACL 41653 Industrial Archaeology | ||
| ACL 41663 Ethno-archaeology | ||
| 4000 Level 2nd Semester |
ACL 42613 Computer Applications in Archaeology | |
| ACL 42623 Environmental Archaeology | ||
| ACL 42633 Underwater Archaeology | ||
| ACL 42643 Independent Research (Dissertation) | ||
| ACL 42653 Settlement Archaeology | ||