Description

Papers of the Bell family releating to archaeology in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]; history of the Archaeological Survey; biographies of figures in Sri Lankan archaeology.

Donated by Ms Heather Bell.

File 1: Articles and pamphlets on the history of the archaeology of Ceylon [Sri Lanka].

• Devendra, D.T., ‘Seventy years of Ceylon archaeology’ in Artibus Asiae, vol. 22, 1959, pp. 23-40.
• Devendra, D.T., The story of Ceylon archaeology, Archaeological Society of Ceylon, 1969.
• Godakumbura, C.E., ‘History of archaeology in Ceylon’, photocopy from the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Ceylon Branch, vol. 13, 1969, pp. 2-38.
• Karunaratne, W.S., ‘Archaeology in Ceylon’, in Ceylon today, vol. 5, no. 1, 1956, pp. 1-8.
• Levers, R.W., Manual of the North-Central Province, photocopy of chapter 15, ‘Archaeology’, pp. 211-242.
• Ancient inscriptions in Ceylon, collected and published for the Government by Dr Edward Muller, London, 1883.
• Pakeman, S.A., ‘A hundred years of the Royal Asiatic Society in Ceylon’, in Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Ceylon Branch, vol. 1, 1956, pp. 1-12.
• Vimalananda, T., H.C.p. Bell and archaeology in Ceylon, 1890-1912, in Ceylon Historical journal, vol. 2, 1952, pp. 86-91.
• White, H., ‘Archaeological survey’, in E.B.F. Sneter (ed), Ceylon Manual, Colombo, 1912-13, pp. 228-233.

File 2:  Annual reports of the Archaeological Survey.

• Annual reports on the working of the Archaeological Survey, printed in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society Ceylon Branch, 1891-1912.

File 3: Papers relating to the organisation and management of the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon.

• Report into the Archaeological Survey of Ceylon, 1899.
• Photocopy of BL file C0541/716, Ceylon Office No. 8234 – Report on proposals by Bell for the reorganisation of the staff of the Archaeological Survey, with comments by govt. officials (esp. R.E. Stubbs).
• Photocopy from BL file C056/12. Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Ceylon, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof. No. 17–1887. An ordinance relating to treasure trove. 2pp.
• Photocopy from BL file C056/13. Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Ceylon, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof. No. 3–1891. An ordinance to amend the law relating to treasure trove. 2pp.
• Photocopy from BL file C056/15. Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Ceylon, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof. No. 15 of 1900. An ordinancefor the better preservation of the antiquities of the Island. 4pp.

File 4: Papers relating to the sites and monuments at Anurahapura and Sigiriya.

File 5: Notes and reports on outlying sites

File 6: Short biographical notes

File 7: Reactions to a report on ‘concubinage’.