DORAVAK LENA
7.183300,80.216700
Description
An archaeologically important rock shelter (DERANIYAGALA 2001b, 2002) or cave (DERANIYAGALA 2001b; 2002), which contained over 3 m of prehistoric deposits, is perhaps the only obvious pre-historic rock art site in Sri Lanka ETYMOLOGY: So far, I saw this site called, spelled, transcribed or edited as »Cave at Dorawaka Kanda« (DERANIYAGALA 1998) »Doravak-lena shelter« (DERANIYAGALA 2001b; 2002: 53, 63, 76 note 5) and »Doravak-lena« (DERANIYAGALA 2002: 46, 72, notes 5, 44). SITUATION 1 (DERANIYAGALA 1998): In an unidentified spatial relation »near« the town of Kegalle (N07°15'11”: E080°21'02” WGS84) and on a hill called, spelled, or edited as »Dorawaka Kanda« (note 1). SITUATION 2 (DERANIYAGALA 2001b; 2002): In the »low land wet zone« (DERANIYAGALA 2002 note) and in the vicinity of something (perhaps a village) spelled »Doravak« (sic). CAVE DESCRIPTION: None reported. CULTURAL HISTORY - rock art: According to WIJAYAPALA (2000 in: DERANIYAGALA 2002: 53), »symbols and representations of animals pecked into the walls« (note 2).
NOTE 2: DERANIYAGALA (1998): »The transition from the Mesolithic Balangoda Culture to the protohistoric Early Iron Age has been inadequately documented in Sri Lanka. Almost invariably, the relevant transitional deposits have been disturbed due to the extraction of fertiliser from prehistoric cave habitations. Recent excavations in the cave of Dorawaka-kanda near Kegalle could somehow have resolved this impasse. According to the excavator, W.H. Wijayapala, there are indications at this site of pottery (together with stone stools) being used as early as 6300 C14 BP, and possibly the cultivation of a cereal in these contexts (ibid.: 734; W.H Wijayapala 1992 in id. ip). The final analyses and the site report pend.«
Documents
Bibliography 28/04/2016- Deraniyagala, Siran Upendra 1998, 2001b, 2002; Wiyayapala W H 2000 in Deraniyagala Siran Upendra 2000a.
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Lenagala | ||
| 12.2 | ATTANAGALLA VIHARA CAVE DWELLING | ||
| 14.8 | KALUKOLA DENIYA CAVE | ||
| 14.8 | YATAHA LENA | ||
| 14.8 | HELAPITHA LENA | ||
| 14.8 | KADIGOMUWA NITRE CAVE | ||
| 21.0 | ALU LENA, Attanagoda | ||
| 22.5 | PILIKUTTUWA CAVE DWELLING | ||
| 24.0 | AA CAVE (Haafner 1810) |