At the moment of its construction Jetavanaramaya was the 3rd highest building (122 m) in the world after the pyramids of Khufu (the Great Pyramid) and Khafre in Giza.
Taking into account the period when the dagoba was built, the used technologies are amazing. The gaps between bricks were filled with earth; the ideal elliptic form of the building made it possible to construct such a big structure. When making the foundation the cracks were filled with stones, and elephants beetled bedding with their legs. The bricks used in this dagoba show the significant level of Sri Lankan architecture achievements: they consisted 60% of sand and 35% of clay, thus they could handle great weights. After the end of the construction the building was covered with lime plaster. The plaster also contained seashells, sugar syrup, egg whites, coconut juice, oil, resin, sand, clay, pebbles. The plaster protected the roof from the water, insects and plant intrusions. Now after another reconstruction the dagoba hasn't been covered with the plaster yet, which makes it very different from the others.