P R E H I S T O R I C O F B A T A D O B A L E N A [ G E O T O U R I S M P R O J E C T]
Research of Unit_Eco Astronomy Sri Lanka
The Ministry of Provincial Roads
Development,Rural Infrastructuer,Tourism, Sabaragamuwa
provincial Council
Mr.Aravinda Ravibhanu Sunamarahtna1[EASL].
Dr.Kamal Abywardana2[PGAIR]
Background
Sri Lanka Has been Famous as a
tourist location since ancient time. Named the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”. It
has been visited written about and acclaimed in many ancient chronicles. Being
close to the equator, it has a year – round sunny weather and with its
topography it harbors a host of rich biodiversity promoting ecotourism. With a
costal belt right round the island it has attract many visitors to its beaches.
The ancient history and monuments have called in tourist to its cultural sites.
Currently, after the advent of
the terrorist conflict, new vistas have opened up in the tourism trade. These
are popularly known as a ‘Eco Tourism’, ‘Nature Tourism’ , ‘Adventure tourism’,
‘ Ayurvedic tourism’, ‘Religious
tourism’, ‘Agriculture tourism’, ‘Cave tourism’, Culture tourism’,ect
Palaeo biodiversity is the
biodiversity of ancient times. It addresses ancient man and his interaction
with his palaeo environment. It Speak of the geological eras, the prehistoric
people. Therefore, this subject has another aspect of interest to the visitor.
With the prehistory that dates far back as
125000 BP and its locations situated amidst forests and streams it
mainly attracts the ecotourism.
Since this subject has been
introduced newly it is not possible to market this product alone. Therefore it
is much more convenient to market it along with other product such as
ecotourism, nature tourism, adventure tourism and cave tourism.
Batadombalena rock shelter is one
such location which can be developed as a polio tourism site. It is situated
2.5 hours from Colombo near Ekneligoda.
Previous excavations
Batabombalena first excavation by
P.E.P.Deraniyagala in 1938.The finds included fragmentary human remains and
stone artifacts. The excavation was of 4 feet and deraniyagala assigned the
assemblage of stone artifacts, in particular the association of microliths and
human remains, to the Balangoda phase.
A preliminary examination was
made by Dr.S.U.Deraniyagala in 1979 which revealed a rich occupational
deposit.Thereafter,an excavation of 2.6 m was conducted.
The stratigraphic sequence of
seven main occupational layers and 3 underlying strata directly above bed rock
has been described by Daraniyagala in 1982.
Layers 1 – 3 from top downwards
were considered to have been described in resent time by the extraction of
guano fertilizer for village paddy fields, and leaving of the floor by monks
who used to live in the rock shelter. The occupational deposited in layer 4 was
described as a massive homogenous stratum with brownish sand and silt containing
stone artifacts and faunal remains. Layers 5 and 6 were considered to be the
site’s major occupational layer 7 contains many stone artifacts including
geometric microliths which were radiocarbon dated to approx 30 000 years BP
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| Fig:02:Batadobalena Pre_Historic Site[Image:Mr.Aravinda Ravibhnau] |
Research Adminstrator Center 1, Research
Adminstrator Center 2,
Research and amateur training
unit, Secretary,
Eco Astronomy Sri lanka, Divisional
Secretariat,
Panawala Road,Eheliyagoda,
Kuruwita.
Ecoastronomysrilanka@gmail.com
+94452262239|+94452262228
+94719147303|+718300886|+94452263914
ecoastronomysrilanka.dsdweb.infor
