agriculture due to the increase of temperature in
the world. Moreover, the population increased
considerably and a new social style was created.
The oldest proof about the proto-historic era
of Sri Lanka belongs to 2400 B.C. According
to the archaeological explorations carried out
so far, clearer proof regarding this era has been
discovered in the north-eastern part of the
Sabaragamuwa province and the south-western
part of the Uva province.
The megalithic burials constructed for the dead
in this country are a prominent source that can
be used to study the culture of proto-historic era
of Sri Lanka. Such megalithic burials have been
discovered from several areas in the country.
(Refer - Map No. 2.2)The burials, which were
made out of stone splinters in the shape of
squares, were covered with huge stone slabs.
Some pots containing human remains had been
deposited inside these burials. These are called cist
burials. Among those cemeteries Ibbankatuwa
megalithic burial located close to Dambulla
in the Central province, Galsohonkanaththa
burial in Yapahuwa and the Yatigalpoththa
burial located close to Galewela have now been
excavated. According to their scientific dating,
they belong to a period between 750 and 450
B.C. Proofs about several burial methods which
had belonged to the megalithic tradition have
been found in Sri Lanka. Among them, some are
methods in which the remains were deposited
in a clay urn and buried. Those tombs are called
‘urn burials’.Archaeological excavations have been done
in two burial grounds, which belong to the
proto-historic era, in Beragala and Haldummulla
in the Uva province. In these burial grounds
the remains have been deposited in a different
manner. Instead of a nucleus made out of
connecting stone slabs, the method followed
there was depositing the clay pots of remains in
a tub made out of raw clay in the shape of a boat.
Before depositing remains, human skeletons
have been cremated in these clay tubs. As a result,
these clay tubs were burnt well. That is the reason
that has affected them to remain for a long time
without perishing.