Title: Links between paleoclimate and prehistorical human dispersal in Sri Lanka: a critical view

Authors: Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake

Addresses: Department of Geoscience, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Shimane University, Nishikawatsu-cho 1060, Matsue 690-8504, Japan

Abstract: Sri Lanka represents rich sources of prehistorical archaeological data such as the earliest: 1) Homo sapiens fossils; 2) geometric microliths in South Asia. Climatic and geological events were considered with known archaeological evidences that provide opportunities for comparative research. The author proposed that climatic transition from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 to MIS 3 and MIS 3 to MIS 2 could probably identify as main traverse periods of prehistoric modern Homo sapiens into Sri Lanka. Glacial eustatic sea-level drops create possible prehistoric migration routes between India and Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait during a number of phases under semi-arid climate. The interglacial sea-level rise had opened supplementary routes towards tropical inland rainforests along river valleys. The early-middle to late Holocene sea-level highstands can be recognised as the latest geographic isolation of island Sri Lanka.

Keywords: paleoclimate; prehistory; glacial period; geoarchaeology; sea-level changes; coastal route; South Asia; India; Sri Lanka; Batadomba Lena Cave; Fahien Lena Cave; Beli Lena Kitulgala Cave; homo sapiens; climatic transition; climate change; prehistoric migration routes.

DOI: 10.1504/IER.2016.080245

Interdisciplinary Environmental Review, 2016 Vol.17 No.3/4, pp.249 - 260

Received: 18 May 2016
Accepted: 30 Aug 2016

Published online: 08 Nov 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article