SOME ETHNO-ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE SUBSISTENCE STRATEGIES OF THE VEDDAS IN SRI LANKA
Journal Title: Social Affairs - Year 2016, Vol 1, Issue 4
Abstract
Veddas are considered to be the indigenous people of Sri Lanka. A century ago, the Veddas were scattered across the Eastern Province, and some parts of the North-Central and Uva Provinces, although at present they are confned to Bintanne that stretches to some parts of the Uva and Eastern provinces. This paper explores the subsistence pattern of the Veddas in Sri Lanka in relation to their old equipment and practices. It builds on ethno-archaeological interpretations drawing from archaeological evidence from Prehistoric to Historical periods. Evidence of interaction of humans, technology, faunal and floral resources found from archaeological sites in relation to subsistence was interpreted through the method of ethnographic analogy. Evidence suggests that during the historical period, the Veddas lived in various parts of Sri Lanka including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura, Buttala, Tambalagam pattu, Kattakulam pattu, Bintannae, Nilgala and Batticaloa. They bartered deer hide, dried flesh, cotton and honey for rice, Kurrakkan (Elusine coracana) , tobacco, salt, clothes and iron arrow heads a century ago. The existence of charred bones and arrow head type of bone tools shows the practice of hunting during the protohistoric and early historic periods. The Veddas did not adopt Sinhalese mode of life up till the 19th century. However, acculturation is gradually taking place at least in the lifestyle of Veddas in Dambana at present. Especially the Anuradhapura Veddas who lived outside the Bintanne area do not seem to possess traditional Vedda livelihoods, and maintain a lifestyle comparable with the Sinhalese Buddhist culture. Based on the above evidence, the paper concludes that the subsistence patterns of Veddas prior to the last century are quite comparable with similar evidence found from the Mesolithic, Proto and the Early Historic periods in Sri Lanka, though a certain decline in the distinction between Vedda culture and the dominant culture may at present be observed.
Authors and Affiliations
R. M. M. Chandraratne
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP31421
- DOI -
- Views 283
- Downloads 1
PERADENIYA ACADEMICS OF THE EARLY DAYS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO SINHALA STUDIES
The contribution of the University of Peradeniya to the theatre and literary arts is well known. The ‘Golden Era’ of Peradeniya was characterized by a succession of truly phenomenal works in the felds of fction, poetry...
PERADENIYA THROUGH TIMES: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE
Prof. Arjuna Aluwihare, after Trinity College, Kandy obtained his bachelor’s degree in the Natural Sciences and Biochemistry from King’s College, Cambridge, UK in 1960, and MBBChir(Cantab) and MRCS&LRCP at the London H...
THE ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT, AND CURRENT PERSPECTIVES ON ARCHAEOLOGY
In the early decades of the 20th century, archaeology was introduced as a subject in Pirivena education which mainly consisted of a segment of epigraphy. In the 1950s, the Department of History, University of Ceylon of...
WASAGAMA (SURNAME) AND INDIVIDUAL NAME CHANGES AMONG THE SINHALESE OF SRI LANKA: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY
There appears a good number of newspaper notices to effect changes in surname (Wasagama) and individual names by the Sinhalese of Sri Lanka. Surname and name indicate the social status of an individual in the broad lin...
SURVIVAL AND REVIVAL OF TIBETAN ETHNIC IDENTITY IN INDIA
Ethnic identity is a complex multifaceted phenomenon that is constructed or negotiated to form a nation-state. Once formed, it occupies an intrinsic part of the development of an individual. Multiple circumstances have...