The differences of annual rainfall levels are
considered in deciding these environmental
zones. If there is a difference in the rainfall, it
directly affects the animals and the plants in
that particular area. Therefore, the people in the
Stone Age who adapted themselves to different
environmental zones had differences in their
food consumption and technology. For example
the community of the Stone Age who lived in the
lowland wet zone used mostly oysters living on
the land as their food. Different types of oysters
are abundant in the lowland wet zone. But it is
not so in the lowland dry zone. In those areas
some animals, mostly living in the dry zone like
deer and iguana, were hunted.
Time Periods
Some evidence of the Stone Age has been
discovered from the gravel layer belonging to
the Iranamadu formation located in the depth
of 45 feet from the surface level of the earth in
the area called Pathirajawela in Hambanthota
district belonging to the Southern Province of Sri
Fig 2.1. This cave, located in Pahiyangala, Bulathsinhala in Kaluthara District, was a habitation of the prehistoric men who
lived 38000 years ago. This Pahiyangala cave reveals significant information of the prehistoric people who lived in the
lowland wet zone in Sri Lanka.Lanka. When the gravel layer was dated using the
scientific analysis, it proved that the gravel layer
was 125000 years old. The gravel layer found in
the depth of 24 feet from the surface of the ground
level in the area of Bundala, Wellegangoda in the
same district belongs to a period of 80000 years
back. Approximately this Stone Age had existed
continuously from before 125000 years up to 1800
B.C. minimum. The dates which substantiate the
longevity of the culture have been confirmed
with the evidence found in several provinces in
Sri Lanka.Pahiyangala - 38000 years
Kuruwita Batadombalena - 28000 years
Kitulgala Belilena - 15000 years
Bellanbendipelassa - 12000 years
Attanagoda Alulena - 10350 years
Maniyamgala - 7900 years
Sigiriya Pothana - 5800 years
Sigiriya Aligala - 5500 years
Udamalala - 5330 years
Mathota - 3800 years