BELI LENA, Athula

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

No dimensions have been reported from an allegedly small cave or rock shelter of great archaeological importance. ETYMOLOGY: The Beli Lena (literally: Snail Cave) at Athula near Maniyangama (DERANIYAGALA) has also been called, spelled, transcibed, edited or printed as Beli Lena Athu POSSEHL (1988: 173) Beli-lena Athula DERANIYAGALA (2002: 5) Beli-lena Maniyangama cave DERANIYAGALA (1987: 101, 105). SITUATION (DERANIYAGALA 2002: 5): Somewhere in the vicinity of Athula (DERANIYAGALA) or, perhaps, near the village of Atulugama (note 1) near Maniyangama (N06°56': E080°14')CULTURAL HISTORY: Archaeological excavation (note 2) of this site yielded not only radiocarbon dated (note 3) mesolithic deposits (DERANIYAGALA 1980) but also upper Pleistocene hominid remains (note 4) but these were too fragmented for proper analysis (DERANIYAGALA 1987: 105).No dimensions have been reported from an allegedly small cave or rock shelter of great archaeological importance. ETYMOLOGY: The Beli Lena (literally: Snail Cave) at Athula near Maniyangama (DERANIYAGALA) has also been called, spelled, transcibed, edited or printed as Beli Lena Athu POSSEHL (1988: 173) Beli-lena Athula DERANIYAGALA (2002: 5) Beli-lena Maniyangama cave DERANIYAGALA (1987: 101, 105). SITUATION (DERANIYAGALA 2002: 5): Somewhere in the vicinity of Athula (DERANIYAGALA) or, perhaps, near the village of Atulugama (note 1) near Maniyangama (N06°56': E080°14')CULTURAL HISTORY: Archaeological excavation (note 2) of this site yielded not only radiocarbon dated (note 3) mesolithic deposits (DERANIYAGALA 1980) but also upper Pleistocene hominid remains (note 4) but these were too fragmented for proper analysis (DERANIYAGALA 1987: 105).