Technological behavior of the Late Pleistocene Human habitation at Rajagala Maha Lena rock shelter in Eastern Province of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Stone artifacts assemblages have long been used for the identification of social entities and the tracing of cultural relationships through space and time. To do this, archaeologists have focused primarily on variations in lithic morphology. The period approximating 50 kya. Relates to Mesolithic Age technological behaviors that are generally characterized by prepared microlithic technology, an expanding range of Geometric tools, retouched tools, and the novel exploitation and sourcing of raw materials.Late Pleistocene geometric microliths tradition in Sri Lanka dated to 48000 years ago. Research into lowland natural rock shelter has revealed a large number of chronological records as well as a large number of cultural materials. The main objective of this research paper is to provide lithic technology on stone artifact found during excavations carried out at Rajagala in Ampara District, Eastern Province. Accordingly, from 2016 to 2019, selected cave called Maha Lena was excavated for further investigation. This cave was excavated jointly by Deccan College and University of Sri Jayawardanepura. Stone tools found in Rajagala are part of the tradition of microlithc tools used in the Mesolithic man. However, the evidence from Rajagala is valuable because the information found in the Eastern Province is very little of the country's prehistoric information. In addition to that, we have very little knowledge and information about technology and mankind in the Eastern Province.