SEM–EDS analysis of copper, glass and iron recovered from the 1st century AD shipwreck site off Godawaya, Southern Sri Lanka

Abstract

Recent maritime archaeological explorations conducted at a shipwreck site in the offshore regions of Godawaya, a fishing village on the south coast of Sri Lanka led to the retrieval of several artifacts such as copper slag, glass ingots, iron concretions and wood pieces1. This ship wreck site, at a water depth of 33 m, is situated approx. 4 km offshore in the vicinity of river mouth of the Walawe Ganga on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. A carved inscription on a natural rock located to the north of the Stupa, states about the existence of a seaport at Godawaya during the historical period.