Vidyodaya Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences VJHSS (2021), Vol. 06 (01) Nature of Prehistoric Archaeological Investigation and Research in Sri Lanka (1992 – 2019) D. S. A. Munasinghe*, H. A. S. N. Hanchapola2, N. A. D. M. Nissanka3 and A. H. M. J. M. Athapathtu4 *1Department of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 3Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka, 1234Post Graduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 4Research Centre, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka Article Info ABSTRACT Article History: Received 30 August 2020 Sri Lankan prehistoric investigations can be divided into several Accepted 07 February phases. Identifying the nature of prehistoric archaeological 2021 investigation and research in Sri Lanka between 1992 – 2018 is Issue Published Online the research problem of this paper. The main objective of the 01 January 2021 research is to collect data and information of Prehistoric Archaeological Investigation and Research (Exploration and Key Words: Excavation) in Sri Lanka between 1992 – 2018 and arrange them Prehistory in chronological order. In this process data and information were Prehistoric Archaeology collected using primary and secondary sources through library Researchers survey, Field study, web survey and interviews were conducted to Chronology obtain more quantitative data The key research findings of the Multidisciplinary research are based on the identified several extraordinary features of this period compared to the early research periods such *Corresponding author as systematic excavations, chronological methods, multi- E-mail address: disciplinary approach, researches in associated with new scientific [email protected] methodologies and innovative scientific methodologies including genealogical experiments. Journal homepage: http://journals.sjp.ac.lk/i ndex.php/vjhss http://doi.org/10.31357/ fhss/vjhss.v06i01.10 VJHSS (2021), Vol. 06 (01), pp. 128-143 ISSN 1391-1937 ISSN 2651-0367 (Online) ©Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences 2021 Munasinghe et al., VJHSS (2021) Vol. 06 (01) pp. 128-143 1. Introduction identifying the interest and awareness about such investigation in Sri Lanka among In the journey of the human race from the university community and Identifying the origin to a modern human, we fined different nature of prehistoric archaeological periods which have caused to sharpen human investigation and research in Sri Lanka (1992 society. Among these periods Prehistory – 2018). holds an important period in the time of the development of the Human race. In this 2. Materials and Methods journey, our ancestors left much material evidence which is hidden and undiscovered. The methodology that has been applied for These hidden treasures always become a this study is based on the processual piece of a Jigsaw puzzle of the historical archaeological perspective. In order to journey of mankind. In the same way, collect primary data from the prehistoric Prehistoric archaeological investigation and archaeologists, semi-structured interviews research help to draw a clear picture of were conducted via online interviews and prehistoric society. Sri Lanka has one of the face-to-face interviews. Library survey, Web best recorded prehistoric sequences in South sites and field studies were also used to Asia. A revived of prehistory is a vast subject. collect primary data. In the library survey, I These reasons prove that there is a great referred to field reports, excavation reports, potentiality for prehistoric archaeological exploration reports, administrative reports investigation and research in Sri Lanka. and laboratory reports. Secondary Data were Therefore, this paper explores the collected from textbooks, journal articles, importance of the “Prehistoric archaeological web sites and newspapers. For web sources, investigation and research in Sri Lanka web sites which published high standard between 1992 – 2018” and how they helped academic research papers like “Academia, the development of the Sri Lankan prehistoric Research Gate, Nature, The Science and archaeology. Google scholars" and website of international high ranked universities, main scientific Prehistoric archaeological investigation and magazines, laboratories, government and research in Sri Lanka between 1992 to non-government offices were used. present had focused on various important prehistoric archaeological facts. On the other 2.1 Prehistory & Prehistoric Archaeology hand, many scholars have conducted many prehistoric archaeological investigation and Archaeology is the study of human cultures research in Sri Lanka between 1992 to through the study of material and present. But these have not been environmental remains. (Renfrew & Bahn, systematically collected to a single database 2016, p.22-50). Archaeology can be further and not arranged in chronological order. subdivided into prehistoric archaeology and historic archaeology. Prehistoric archaeology The main objective is this research is to refers to cultures that did not develop systematically arrange data and information writing. The term prehistory, in major of “Prehistoric archaeological investigations dictionaries and encyclopedias, varies. and researches between 1992 to 2018" into a As an example, New World Encyclopedia and single database in chronological order. Other The Penguin Dictionary of Archaeology objectives of this research are identifying the explain the etymology of the term Prehistory multidisciplinary practice of such as: investigation and research, enlisting publications and research papers of “Prehistory (Greek words προ = before and prehistoric archaeological Investigation and ιστορία = history) is the period before written research in Sri Lanka. between 1992 – 2018, 129 Munasinghe et al., VJHSS (2021) Vol. 06 (01) pp. 128-143 history became available to assist our information He also has to collect together all understanding of the past. The term was the clues which are independent of writing to introduced into English by Daniel Wilson compile a valid restoration of the past and (1816–1892), President of Toronto extend the boundaries of history, for his basic University College, in 1851. The term Pré- objective in the history of the human race. Historique had been used in France Touranal, French since the 1830s to describe the time In this way, prehistoric archaeology is both a before writing. Paul Tournal originally coined physical activity out on the field, either for the term in describing the finds he had made exploration work or excavation process or in the caves of southern France.” both. It is also an intellectual pursuit, analyzing the collected materials in the The Penguin Dictionary of Archaeology laboratory and writing reports. It is an describes the term prehistory with more exciting quest that is the quest for knowledge detail: about early man who existed in the distant past. The most challenging task for a "In the strict sense, 'history' is written an prehistoric archaeologist is to know how to account of thaw past recovered from the interpret the past material culture in human written record, but such as an account can be terms. Many questions confront a prehistoric prepared from other sources, notably archaeologist or prehistorian. archaeology. The term 'prehistory' was coined to cover the sorry of man's Who were they? development before the appearance of writing. it is succeeded by Protohistory, the What did they eat? period for which we have some records but must still really largely on archaeological How did they make stone, bone? Antler and evidence to give us a coherent account. (Bray conch shell tools? & Trump, 1972, p.189). How were these tools and pots used? Prehistory differs from history in many other How were societies organized? ways. It deals with the activities of a society or culture, not of individuals; is it restricted to What did the environment look like? the material evidence, and only such of that has survived; and it is in the strictest sense What contacts did they have? anonymous since without records we cannot know the name people, people or places and What did they think? are forced to invent arbitrary labels to serve instead." How did things change? Therefore, prehistoric archaeology is the To address all these questions, prehistoric reconstruction of mankind's most distant archaeologists study the material culture left past before the invention of writing. Instead by the forerunners in different angles using of beginning history with 'Our ancestors the or applying the methods of natural and Gauls', or dating our origins back to the physical sciences such as Zooarchaeology, Homeric age, Mahawamsha, Depawansha age Paleobotany, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology, or the Biblical fourth millennium, the Palynology, Paleontology, Biological prehistorian plunges into the bewildering Anthropology, Archaeogenetic, depths of the geological past. This is still part Ethnoarchaeology, Geoarchaeology, of history, however, and in the absence of Pedology, Speleology, Radiometric dating written evidence, the prehistorian has to methods, geology, geography, Climatology, make use of many more sources of and Archaeological chemistry etc. 130 Munasinghe et al., VJHSS (2021) Vol. 06 (01) pp. 128-143 During the last fifty years, prehistoric in the South. These were dated to 6000 yBP. archaeology has developed with (Somadeva, 2006) According to S.U. extraordinary rapidity into a firmly Deraniyagala, Keneth Kennedy and Diane established branch of science. A system has