BAMBARAGALA SHELTER

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

A 750 metre wide gash at the base of a 40 m high cliff contains shallow rock shelter in the Balangoda - Ukgal Kaltota / Uggalkaltota escarpment area (note 1). ETYMOLOGY: The Sinhala -bambara- signifies cliff bee (DERANIYAGALA, P E P 1943: 101), the potentially lethal Asiatic giant honey bee, zoologically Apis dorsata (note 2). Another explanation interprets outstanding rocks as mythical Bamba metamorphosed into solitary boulders (note 3). SITUATION: DERANIYAGALA, P E P (1943: 101): Bambara Gala or Bambaragala is … a large rock about 1.5 km long, 500 m high, and located at about N06°38'30”: E080°50'30” [note 4]. It is about one kilometre to the west of Tanjama village which is about one kilometre to the south-west of the village of Tanjan Tänna [Tenna] lying north of the escarpment on the Balangoda and Ukgal Kaltota [Uggalkaltota] road. The ascent is steep, and from a distance the only space available for prehistoric man up on the rock shows as a gash running parallel with its baseand extending along the median third of its length. The approach to this gash is narrow and precipitous, and on arrival there the overhang above the visitor is at a height of about 40 m. On this roof are numerous combs of the 'Bambara' bee, Apis dorsata, from which the rock derives its name. It is necessary to travel for about three quarters of a kilometre along the 'gash' in the rock which is littered with heavy, angular, desquamated blocks and large 'bambara' combs fallen off the roof before a site capable of accommodating man is reached. At its extreme end, the gash narrows down and gives place to a series of narrow, terrace-like, rocky ledges which retain small pockets of dust and decomposing rock, disintegrated into a sand-like consistency. This is the only section providing adequate shelter for man from sun and rain, but the accommodation is scanty. A suitable terrace ledge about 1.5 m wide and 8 m long was selected for excavation. CULTURAL HISTORY - archaeology: Excvation yielded potsherds, quartz artifacts, rubbing worn pieces of graphite and mica, ashes, animal remains and a few stone tools.and extending along the median third of its length. The approach to this gash is narrow and precipitous, and on arrival there the overhang above the visitor is at a height of about 40 m. On this roof are numerous combs of the 'Bambara' bee, Apis dorsata, from which the rock derives its name. It is necessary to travel for about three quarters of a kilometre along the 'gash' in the rock which is littered with heavy, angular, desquamated blocks and large 'bambara' combs fallen off the roof before a site capable of accommodating man is reached. At its extreme end, the gash narrows down and gives place to a series of narrow, terrace-like, rocky ledges which retain small pockets of dust and decomposing rock, disintegrated into a sand-like consistency. This is the only section providing adequate shelter for man from sun and rain, but the accommodation is scanty. A suitable terrace ledge about 1.5 m wide and 8 m long was selected for excavation. CULTURAL HISTORY - archaeology: Excvation yielded potsherds, quartz artifacts, rubbing worn pieces of graphite and mica, ashes, animal remains and a few stone tools.