Who are the original settlers of Sri Lanka?

Who are the original settlers of Sri Lanka? The oldest man in CEYLON  The oldest man in CEYLON The earliest stage is known as the Stone Age because only stone implements were used by the earliest man. Stone Age can be divided into the paleolithic period Early Stone Age Middle Stone age as the Mesolithic Age, the New Stone Age as Neolithic Age.

In Sri Lanka some fossils of cattle, elephants and even Rhinoceros were found in Ratnapura and the Iranamadu formation, belonging to the Paleolithic Age. A set of teeth belonging to the Homopithecus was also found along with some very crude stone implements. There is also evidence of Mesolithic Age finds, where the stone implements have advanced and made of chert and quartz. They were found close to Bundala. Srilanka could definitely trace its pre - history to 32000 B C. the proof could be obtained from the archaeological diggings of Fa-hsien Lena in Bulathsinghala (32000 - 25000 BC), Batadomba Lena in Kuruwita (27000-10000 BC). Belilena in Kitulgala (25o00-15oo0 BC) and Alulena of Attanagoda near Kcgalle.  As these are carbon dated, they are accurate.

The excavations conducted by P E P Deraniyagala at Bellan-Bendi Pelessa near Embiliyapitiya resulted in the discovery of remains of 12 human skeletons. They have been classified as Homo - sinhalayus Neanderthal, Homo Sinhalayus lrectus and Homo Sapicns Balangodensis. With carbon dating and careful scrutiny the archeologists have come to the conclusion that there are physical differences between the Balangoda lf1ulf and rhe skeletal remains fpund at Pomparippu. Even during 700. 500 Bc Anurndhapura settlement spread over 5o hectares. There was a small settlement in Ibbankatuwa. There may have bcen, settlements in Kandurugoda, Matara, Kclaniya (Pilapitiy) and http://Tissamaharama. It is from Balangoda man from we measure the culiure of the Mesoliahic period before and after. There is evidence of a type of cereal, iron implements and shards of clay pots in caves of this area.

in 1972 archaeological diggings at Pathirajawela new Bundala, they have unearthed evidence of the Middle Paleolitiic era. These are 108 places of research evidence of 125000 years to 5000 years old. The evidence they have found were parts of fossils of humans, animals and tools used by people. Of tlie animals found, were those of bison. rhinoceros hippopotamus, woolly Elephant and rarre animals.

The earliest man in Aisa is found in Sri Lanka at Fahiengla These humans were Austroloid . This man lived in nuclear units in caves. They hunted and ate barbecued meat. They had also discovered fire. The had also used pots. These pots were made by covering a reed basket with clay. They also performed funeral rites. From the evidence at Bellanbendipelessa they came across a grave site. From the holes and the Colour and the skull found at Fahiengala (pahiyangala ) these could have undergone special funeral rites. Balangoda man was about 174 centimeters and wonan about 166 Centimeters in height.

Comparing the Balangoda man to the European counterparts, we meet them 12,000 years ago while Sri Lankan early man goes beyond 40,000 years. but the Afriean counterpart is almost parallel to that of sri Lankan man. Peking man from China. Java man from Java in Indonesia and Solo man from Solo in Africa are the parallels. The earliest man in Aisa is found in Sri Lanka at Fahiengnla( pahiyangala) , the skull is 31 ,0o0 years old while those found at Batadbmbalena are 28,000 years old, of a young woman.