Sri Lanka is an island with a very high density of caves. The lithology of the country is characterized by mostly Precambrian metamorphic rocks and Miocene limestone in the northern area of the country. Although caves are considered as dark spaces with many legendary tales, the scientific background of Sri Lankan caves were recently discovered after initiating scientific studies by Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology of the University of Kelaniya. During this project of speleology, first ever attempt was made to classify Sri Lankan caves based on lithology, morphology and genesis. This particular classification was done comparing the investigated caves located in Rathnapura, Ruwanwella and Mahiyanganaya and other documented caves of Sri Lanka.

Arjuna Thantilage Phd Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology – Sri Lanka *This was first published in the Sirimal Lakdusinghe felicitation volume. I am privilege to write an article to this special volume dedicated to Mr. Sirinimal Lakdusinghe. I am even more privileged that I being able to write this article for this special volume dedicated to him since it discusses one of his valuable discovery on two Hindu images by art historical means, based on scientific evidences.

Arjuna Thantilage1,Senake R. Ratnayake2 1 Lecturer, Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology 2 Chemical Conservation Officer, Department of Archaeology Abstract It is a well known fact that there was no way of producing liquid iron from wrought iron in historical period and hence, casting of iron implements was impossible. An ancient bowl made of iron was subjected to microscopic investigations with a view to find its manufacturing technology. By means of these microscopic images, it was possible to understand some important technological aspects of ancient Sri Lankan iron implements manufacturing process.

Chandima Bandara Ambanwala1* Mahinda Karunaratne2* 1 Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Arts, University of Peradeniya,Peradeniya. 2 Department of Social Sciences & Comparative Studies, Buddasrawaka Bikshu University, Anuradhapura. Introduction The central hill region which had been named as Malaya Desa (=Malaya Country) in historical age has not got the due recognition as far as archaeological researches are concerned. Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratna has attempted to shed new light on the archaeological findings on the region and the purpose of the paper is to add some facts to help his argument. The main focus of this paper is to explore some findings that were obtained through basic archaeological researches in and around Pahala Mawela Rajha Maha Vihara.

Applications of Geological methodologies in archeological research have been rapidly increased around the world and developed as a new field known as Geo archaeology. The field Geo archaeology provides the knowledge and the skills to understand the site formation processes, human occupations and their activities. Particle size analysis, organic matter content and phosphate analysis of sediments are commonly used techniques in Geo archaeological studies. Sediments from an excavation carried out in Varana rock shelter no 5, which is a prehistoric site were analyzed by above mentioned Geo archeological methods to study stratigraphic of the sediment layers and prehistoric human occupation.