FF 578
Famous find12th century, reign of Parakramabahu I (1153-1186) · found 1951
The Dedigama elephant lamp: sealed in a Sri Lankan king's stupa 800 years ago, it still held the soot of its last flame
In 1951 archaeologists opening the relic chamber of the Kota Vehera stupa at Dedigama, Sri Lanka, found two bronze elephant lamps standing in its corners, their oil dishes still sooty. Made in the 12th century, the lamps refill themselves from oil stored inside the elephant.