DEMELIYA GALGE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A modified natural rock shelter, which contained man-made walls, and where archaeological excavation (SARASIN & SARASIN 1908: 1-15, 1939: 151) unveiled fluvially rounded stones buried in accumulated loam covering the cave floor (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: No locally known name has been identified for a rock shelter which appears to have been named after the village of Demeliya (SARASIN & SARASIN 1908; SARASIN 1939), which probably lies in one way or another -near- (or so) the rock shelter. So far, I saw this item called, spelled, transcribed, or edited as Demaliya Galge CEYLON TRAVELLER (1974: 253; 1983: 255) Demeliya Galge SARASIN & SARASIN (1908); SARASIN (1939) Telulla alu galgé DERANIYAGALA (1965: 144 figure 21) Telulla Cave Brooks (1995 Mss: no 6) Tellula Lena Cave Brooks (1995 Mss: no 6) SITUATION 1: SARASIN & SARASIN (1908: 1-15, 1939: 151) reached Demeliya Galge (sic!) by marching from Wellawaya (N06°39'43”: E081°06'03” WGS84) via Tellula (N06°31'23-: E081°06'20- WGS84) and aross the Kirindi Oya to an outcrop of gneiss, probably the Demaliyagala (N06°33': E081°11'), and behind one lake Radgama Wewa / Radgamaeewa. SITUATION 2: The Demaliya Galge (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: 253; 1983: 255) is unmarked in most maps [and the cave entrance lies at a location] due east of Huratgamuwa [N06°33': E081°08'] on the main road between Tanamalvila [circa N06°25': E081°10'] and Wellawaya [N06°39'43': E081°06'03- WGS84]. The Demaliya Galge and the Ulwala Galge [N06°30': E081°00'] may be reached along a gravel road that takes off to the right of the main road at Huratgamuwa, and beyond along a track. CAVE DESCRIPTION: None. Brooks (1995 Mss: no 6) was led to believe that Telulla Cave / Telulla Lena Cave is an allegely small (so what?) but undecided cave / rock shelter believed to be the first cave to be excavated (1908) on Sri Lanka island (note 2).ross the Kirindi Oya to an outcrop of gneiss, probably the Demaliyagala (N06°33': E081°11'), and behind one lake Radgama Wewa / Radgamaeewa. SITUATION 2: The Demaliya Galge (CEYLON TRAVELLER 1974: 253; 1983: 255) is unmarked in most maps [and the cave entrance lies at a location] due east of Huratgamuwa [N06°33': E081°08'] on the main road between Tanamalvila [circa N06°25': E081°10'] and Wellawaya [N06°39'43': E081°06'03- WGS84]. The Demaliya Galge and the Ulwala Galge [N06°30': E081°00'] may be reached along a gravel road that takes off to the right of the main road at Huratgamuwa, and beyond along a track. CAVE DESCRIPTION: None. Brooks (1995 Mss: no 6) was led to believe that Telulla Cave / Telulla Lena Cave is an allegely small (so what?) but undecided cave / rock shelter believed to be the first cave to be excavated (1908) on Sri Lanka island (note 2).