Monday, June 29, 2026
Science

Northern Sri Lanka's oldest confirmed settlement reshapes what archaeologists thought about early island life

A study published in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology has identified the earliest evidence of prehistoric occupation by island dwellers of northern Sri Lanka. Long thought to be unsuitable for human occupation due to its scarce stone resources and semi-arid landscape, the findings at Ve...

Northern Sri Lanka's oldest confirmed settlement reshapes what archaeologists thought about early island life
Image: Phys.org
A study published in the Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology has identified the earliest evidence of prehistoric occupation by island dwellers of northern Sri Lanka. Long thought to be unsuitable for human occupation due to its scarce stone resources and semi-arid landscape, the findings at Velanai Island challenge this long-held belief and offer insights into early raw-material exploitation, seafaring capabilities, and subsistence behavior.

Originally published at Phys.org

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