Category: Prehistory

Archaeologists have found 3400-year-old prehistoric human remains in a shell midden on Jaffna Velanai Island. This is reported to be the first confirmed prehistoric human remains found in the Jaffna Peninsula. Researchers point out that the archaeological site with these data is located about one kilometer south of the well-known tourist attraction beach of Velanai […]

A large number of open-air sites are located on the hilltops and saddles in the dry patana grasslands indicating the Terminal Pleistocene / Early Holocene microlithic phase extending into the intermediate upland Dry Zone (Zone E). Indeed the Bandarawela region is one the best-studied areas in terms of revealing the traces of Sri Lanka’s so-called […]

Chandima Bandara Ambanwala Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of  Sri Lanka, Mihintale. Translated by. Chryshane Mendis Chandima Ambanwala The name Paleolithic simply means the Older Stone Age. As stated in the first article in this series, several periods within the prehistoric period can be identified. The common feature of these periods is the use […]

Chandima Bandara Ambanwala Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of  Sri Lanka, Mihintale. Translated by. Chryshane Mendis Prehistory of Sri Lanka 7 : the Pleistocene flora and fauna of Ratnapura Chandima Ambanwala The Pleistocene epoch is a scientific time period in geology which formed millions of years ago. During much of this epoch the world […]

By Dr. Nimal Perera Fa Hien-lena, one of the largest habitable rock shelters in Sri Lanka, is situated in south-western Sri Lanka, at Yatagampitiya of the small township of Bulathsinhala near Horana in the Kalutara District, approximately 75 km southeast of Colombo (80 12’ 55” E 6 38’ 55” N). Popular belief has it that […]

Chandima Bandara Ambanwala Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of  Sri Lanka, Mihintale. Translated by. Chryshane Mendis Chandima Ambanwala When looking at the history of prehistoric research in Sri Lanka, the last stage could be considered as the modern period which began from 1969. When going through the prehistoric explorations conducted during this period and […]

Dr.H. Nimal Perera Dr. Nimal Perera Halawathage Nimal Perera, born on the 23rd of December 1953 is a prominent prehistorian of Sri Lanka and was the former Director of Excavations and Acting Deputy Director-General of Archaeology; he is currently the Director of Sabaragamuwa Province of the Central Cultural Fund. He received his BA in Archaeology […]

Chandima Bandara Ambanwala Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of  Sri Lanka, Mihintale. Chandima Ambanwala Based on the qualitative features of the Prehistoric studies in Sri Lanka, it could be divided into three distinct periods. The previous article dealt with the beginning of Prehistoric research in Sri Lanka, this article would discuss the intermediate […]

Chandima Bandara Ambanwala Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of  Sri Lanka, Mihintale. Translated by. Chryshane Mendis Introduction: Prehistoric Research in Sri Lanka Chandima Ambanwala It is a known fact that different approaches need to be applied in examining a certain subject, therefore in studying a certain subject, there can be many different methods used. […]

Chaminda Bandara Ambanwala Department of Archaeology & Heritage Management, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mhintale. Translated by : Chryshane Mendis Chandima Ambanwala Archaeology is considered a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary subject. It could be said so as the knowledge generated from other natural sciences and social sciences are used to get an overview of archaeology. When […]