Speleothems are mineral deposits found in caves and karsts, which are classified and named, based on the type of formation, mineral constituents and morphology. Limestone caves are famous since its speleothems are made up of various carbonate compounds. Most of the caves of Sri Lanka have been formed in high grade silicate rocks commonly known as Gneisses. Chemical weathering of silicate rocks are different. Therefore speleothems in gneissic caves are unique. Under the auspicious of the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology, about 10 gneissic caves located in Rathnapura, Kuruwita, Ruwanwella and Mahiyanganaya areas in Sri Lanka were investigated. Discovered speleothems were mainly stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone and in addition curtains, ridges and rim pools like structures were also recorded. Comparative an

alyses showed that the caves located in wet zone are more prone to form speleothems than the dry zone caves. In the dry-zone of Mahiyanganaya, Keragoda Galge Cave (07┬░26′.43.53” N; 081┬░05’31.5”E) showed no spelothems of any kind. Most of the stalactites recorded in studied wet zone caves have similarities such as conical and bubble shapes with reddish brown to black tones. Spelothems were always found in clusters on

a crust of about 1-2cm thick. Flowstones of studied wet zone caves were white, yellowish, and black in color. Stalagmites were not

taller than 5 cm. Speleothems are collected by visitors as souvenirs therefore education and protection are important. Chemical compositions of the gneissic spelothems are not yet known and further studies are required.

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¹Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, 407, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.

²Research Laboratory, Central Cultural Fund, No 11, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka

The post Speleothems in Gneissic Caves of Sri Lanka appeared first on Sri Lanka Archaeology.

Abstract

Veddah is the last remaining group of people in Sri Lanka who are believed to be the descendents of the prehistoric man. Therefore an evolutionary point of view Veddah could be the true survival of the fittest present in Sri Lanka. A new project is launched under the auspicious of the Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology of the University of Kelaniya in order to obtain information from the Veddah particularly for the reconstruction of the prehistoric lifestyle and to characterize the artifacts found in the archaeological excavations. This attempt would be successful and efficient if the life and culture of the VeddahÔÇÖs is known better because Veddah it is hypothesized in this project that the Veddah would be the last remaining link to the prehistoric man in Sri Lanka. Once a month for one complete year Dambana and surrounding Veddah villages would be visited to observe how environment, ecology and human behavior change in an annual circler. Those three dimensions would be studied by living with them and from formal interviews. Basically, three topics have already been identified for further studies such as hunting practices, aboriginal taxonomy, and fishing practices.

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Weliange W.S1, A.S Dandeniya2, Prageeth Elgiriya1, B. Nalin Deepal Munasinghe3, Gamini Adikari1 & Nimal De Silva1

1Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, 407, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka
2BGJF

Consultancy Services, 35A ›, Sunethradewi Road Kohuwala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka

3Vanneale-eththo Heritage Center, Dambana

The post Aboriginal Ecology; finding missing link between prehistoric man and the modern man appeared first on Sri Lanka Archaeology.