Background:

Indian History and Archaeology is taught across universities in Sri Lanka for obvious historical relations between the two countries. Great strides have been made in both disciplines in India and Sri Lanka in the recent past. Similarly, considerable interest has grown in stone knapping (stone tool production) in Prehistoric studies. The Sharma Centre for Heritage and Education in India is well-known for conducting stone knapping workshops.

This workshop and lecture series is Organized by the Department of History & Archaeology in collaboration with the Consulate General of India

Aim of the Lecture Series and Workshop:

While the Lecture Series aim to recap recent advances in History & Archaeology and research on Sri Lanka-South India relations, workshop provides a hands-on training in stone knapping

Target Group:

Junior academic staff, students of the Special Degree Programmes of the History and Archaeology at universities, junior archaeological officers of CCF, Department of Archaeology, Museums and PGIAR

Venue: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka

Dates: 5^th and 6^th of September 2018

Totally Free: Registration, workshop and lecture series material, workshop, lodging and food

Certification:  Certificate of Participation will be given to the participants

Eminent Resource Persons:

Dr. Siran Deraniyagala, Former Director- General of Archaeology, Sri Lanka

Prof. Sudharshan Seneviratne, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Dr. Shanti Pappu, Founder/Secretary, Sharma Centre for Heritage, Culture and Education, India

Prof. K. Rajan, Dept. of History, School of Social Sciences & International relations, Pondicherry, India

Dr. V. Selvakumar, Dept. of Maritime history & Marine Archaeology, Tamil University, Thanjavur, India

Dr. Kumar Akhilesh, Director, Sharma Centre for Heritage, Culture and Education in India

Workshop Facilitators:

Dr. Nimal Perera, Former Assistant Commissioner, Department of Archaeology

Dr. Padmakumara Jayasinghe, Senior Scientist, NBRO, Colombo

Dr. W. Bohingamuwa, Senior Lecturer, Dept. of History and Archaeology, University of Ruhuna

by Sankha Randenikumara

How did the hunter become a hunter-gatherer? What would have been the origin of agriculture in Sri Lanka? How did our ancestors pave the way to civilization? Evidence emerging from recent archaeological excavations.

Dr. Randenikumara is a practicing medical practitioner whose hobby is archaeology. The talk is based on excavations he has participated in.