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]

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

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

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