Aspects of the prehistory of the Sigiriya-Dambulla region

Abstract

In this thesis an attempt has been done to depict a part of the story of the Sri Lankan stone ageman according to the archaeological investigations and excavation done within and area of about 500 km associated with Sigiriya which is in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. ~ .)e e.-'f CD \[£A k-i w'7 (,,,UU ~c. Through these excavations. some of the skeletons of people who lived in this area and dated to be about 10000 years old according to radio active dating processes.e.nd some ofth~stone and bone tools appearing to have been used by them were found. Some of the remains of animal bones and plant parts which had been consumed by them, were also found. This has ~' ~s o\.,,\C\\US,"S \ s made possible to get some idea of there food processes. But these analyses are not sufficient --- 'I ((\.\., to say something definite above the stoneage people. It is possible to get more information by study of phytoliths and diatoms in their grinding stones and their stone tools. To complete this task the animal bones also should be analysed formally. The next stage is to complete these tasks. This thesis has been written by collecting information that could be obtained through statistical and sciencetific analysis. This makes it possible for scholars to get an idea of how ~l . I'; I the people who lived in and around Sigiriya about 10000 years ago, found t-heir shelters and conducted their lives as members of a hunting and gathering society. Q If any scholats interested in studying these details they could be obtained from the appendices.