histoy G-10 E

Activity 1

Mark the distribution of the expansion of the
settlements in the prehistoric era so far discovered
in Sri Lanka on a map.

2.2 Settlements in Proto-historic Era

The period between the end of the prehistoric era
and the beginning of the historic era is named as
the proto-historic era. Technologically this was
an era of transition. The proto-historic era in Sri
Lanka is differentiated from the prehistoric era
that existed in Sri Lanka before proto-historic
era on the basis of several facts. Some practices
such as using burnt pots and following a
methodical burial system are prominent among
them. Using iron instead of the technology of
stone tools existed during the prehistoric era,
was started during this period. However, using
stone tools was completely given up during the
final stage of the proto-historic era. This age is
called the proto-historic Iron Age as well as the
early Iron Age, as using of iron began in this era.
And also the beginning of building permanent
settlements and starting agriculture are some
more transformations that could be seen in this
period.

Illustration 2.3. Clay urns with remains of burnt dead
bodies inside them were deposited in the burial boats
made of clay. It was a kind of ritual performed by the
people of this country from ancient time.

Fig 2.6 In these clay tub burials, used in the proto-historic

era to perform rituals for the dead, human skeletons were

cremated. Later the remains were deposited after putting

them into clay pots. This clay tub burial was discovered in

the proto-historic burial ground in Ranchamadama.

The Origin of the Proto-historic Era

The knowledge that we possess at present on

the transitory period between the beginning

of the proto-historic era and the end of the

prehistoric era in Sri Lanka is limited. The

changes such as dying down of the technology

of stone tools, hunting including the subsisting

method of gathering food and tendency towards

depending on plant food mostly and using iron

could not have happened suddenly. On the other

hand, there should be a strong cause for such a

transformation. Long term geographical changes

have influenced such cultural transformations in

other countries. Archaeologists and experts on

ancient climate have pointed out that a climatic

change, which affected the entire South Asian

region, had occurred between 7000 – 4500 B.C.,

which is called the middle of the recent geo-

period or Holocene era. That is, at the end of the

Ice-Age, a suitable environment was created for