Belilena Cave (Sinhala: කිතුල්ගල බෙලි ලෙන) is a cave in Sri Lanka, located 8 km (5.0 mi) from the town of Kitulgala. Evidence of prehistoric human presence as early as 32,000 years ago was recorded at the site. The skeletal remains of ten individuals were discovered by Paul E. P. Deraniyagala, who attributed them to Balangoda Man (Homo sapiens balangodensis). Balangoda Man is assumed to have lived as early as 32,000 years ago and occupied high altitude territories of up to 2,000 ft (609.6 m) above sea level.[1]
The part of the cave beyond the lake that fills it a short way from its mouth still remains unexplored. A visit to the site requires the use of a rope or rope ladder.
From 1978 to 1983 the site was scientifically excavated and researched by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. Rich assemblages of cultural, faunal and human remains were discovered. The results of radiometric dating confirmed deposits of cultural material from 30,000 to 9,000 years before present. These materials include bone tools, evidence of the use of fire and geometric microlithic stone tools which, at 30,000 years old are of remarkable age. The site also yielded numerous remains of game animals, such as Sambar deer, Wild boar, Indian muntjac, several monkey species, porcupines, Indian giant squirrels and a large number of local reptiles and fish. Small mammals, aquatic and tree snails were prominent in the diet of Balangoda man, as were edible parts of plants such as wild breadfruit and the Kekuna nut.
A trade network in salt with occupants of coastal lagoons some 80 km (49.7 mi) away had been established by 30,000 years ago. Rubble foundations that date to 16,000 years before present constitute the earliest evidence of substantial structures in South Asia.[2]
The skeletal fossils of several humans were found in 16,000 year old sediments. These were intensively analysed by an international team of anthropologists and proved to be of great value for the understanding of the physical anthropology of Balangoda man.
Belilena cave occupies a very special place in the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka and research by future generations of archaeologists with more advanced technologies and methods is expected to yield more knowledge. As such, the site has been declared an Archaeological Reserve of the Archaeological Department under the Antiquities Ordinance.[3]
^. Srilankanexpeditions.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
^"WWW Virtual Library: Prehistoric basis for the rise of civilisation in Sri Lanka and southern India". Lankalibrary.com. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
^"PRE- AND PROTOHISTORIC SETTLEMENT IN SRI LANKA". Lankalibrary.com. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
Bibliographyedit
Kenneth A. R. Kennedy, T. Disotell, W. J. Roertgen, J. Chiment and J. Sherry, Biological anthropology of upper Pleistocene hominids from Sri Lanka: Batadomba Lena and Beli Lena caves, Ancient Ceylon 6: 165-265.
Kenneth A. R. Kennedy, Siran U. Deraniyagala, W. J. Roertgen, J. Chiment and T. Disotell, Upper Pleistocene fossil hominids from Sri Lanka, American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 72: 441-461, 1987.
Annual Review of Anthropology: 1980 By Bernard J. Siegel - Page 403 & 416
[1] Propaedia: outline of knowledge and guide to the Britannica.--[2]-[11] Micropaedia: ready reference and index.--[12]-[30] Macropaedia: knowledge in depth.
Kenneth A. R. Kennedy and Siran U. Deraniyagala, Fossil remains of 28,000-year old hominids from Sri Lanka, Current Anthropology, Vol. 30, No. 3. (Jun., 1989), pp. 394–399.
belilena, cave, sinhala, ගල, cave, lanka, located, from, town, kitulgala, evidence, prehistoric, human, presence, early, years, recorded, site, skeletal, remains, individuals, were, discovered, paul, deraniyagala, attributed, them, balangoda, homo, sapiens, ba. Belilena Cave Sinhala ක ත ල ගල බ ල ල න is a cave in Sri Lanka located 8 km 5 0 mi from the town of Kitulgala Evidence of prehistoric human presence as early as 32 000 years ago was recorded at the site The skeletal remains of ten individuals were discovered by Paul E P Deraniyagala who attributed them to Balangoda Man Homo sapiens balangodensis Balangoda Man is assumed to have lived as early as 32 000 years ago and occupied high altitude territories of up to 2 000 ft 609 6 m above sea level 1 Belilena CaveBeli Lena CaveLocationnear KitulgalaCoordinates7 0 8 N 80 26 8 8 E 7 00222 N 80 435778 E 7 00222 80 435778Height variation20 m 66 ft EntrancesoneFeaturesstalactites stalagmites skeletal fossils Contents 1 Overview 2 See also 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksOverview editThe part of the cave beyond the lake that fills it a short way from its mouth still remains unexplored A visit to the site requires the use of a rope or rope ladder From 1978 to 1983 the site was scientifically excavated and researched by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka Rich assemblages of cultural faunal and human remains were discovered The results of radiometric dating confirmed deposits of cultural material from 30 000 to 9 000 years before present These materials include bone tools evidence of the use of fire and geometric microlithic stone tools which at 30 000 years old are of remarkable age The site also yielded numerous remains of game animals such as Sambar deer Wild boar Indian muntjac several monkey species porcupines Indian giant squirrels and a large number of local reptiles and fish Small mammals aquatic and tree snails were prominent in the diet of Balangoda man as were edible parts of plants such as wild breadfruit and the Kekuna nut A trade network in salt with occupants of coastal lagoons some 80 km 49 7 mi away had been established by 30 000 years ago Rubble foundations that date to 16 000 years before present constitute the earliest evidence of substantial structures in South Asia 2 The skeletal fossils of several humans were found in 16 000 year old sediments These were intensively analysed by an international team of anthropologists and proved to be of great value for the understanding of the physical anthropology of Balangoda man Belilena cave occupies a very special place in the cultural heritage of Sri Lanka and research by future generations of archaeologists with more advanced technologies and methods is expected to yield more knowledge As such the site has been declared an Archaeological Reserve of the Archaeological Department under the Antiquities Ordinance 3 See also editList of caves in Sri Lanka Balangoda ManReferences edit Belilena Caves Sri Lanka Caving in Sri Lanka Locations in Sri Lanka Srilankanexpeditions com Archived from the original on October 1 2011 Retrieved March 6 2017 WWW Virtual Library Prehistoric basis for the rise of civilisation in Sri Lanka and southern India Lankalibrary com Retrieved March 6 2017 PRE AND PROTOHISTORIC SETTLEMENT IN SRI LANKA Lankalibrary com Retrieved March 6 2017 Bibliography editKenneth A R Kennedy T Disotell W J Roertgen J Chiment and J Sherry Biological anthropology of upper Pleistocene hominids from Sri Lanka Batadomba Lena and Beli Lena caves Ancient Ceylon 6 165 265 Kenneth A R Kennedy Siran U Deraniyagala W J Roertgen J Chiment and T Disotell Upper Pleistocene fossil hominids from Sri Lanka American Journal of Physical Anthropology 72 441 461 1987 Annual Review of Anthropology 1980 By Bernard J Siegel Page 403 amp 416 1 Propaedia outline of knowledge and guide to the Britannica 2 11 Micropaedia ready reference and index 12 30 Macropaedia knowledge in depth Kenneth A R Kennedy Fa Hien Cave in Encyclopedia of Anthropology ed H James Birx 2006 SAGE Publications ISBN 0 7619 3029 9 Kenneth A R Kennedy and Siran U Deraniyagala Fossil remains of 28 000 year old hominids from Sri Lanka Current Anthropology Vol 30 No 3 Jun 1989 pp 394 399 External links edithttp www lankalibrary com geo dera1 html http www lankalibrary com geo prehistory htm http www lankalibrary com geo palle2 html Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Belilena Cave amp oldid 1187078655, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
