Oldest Northern Sri Lanka Settlement Found on Velanai Island

Archaeological findings on Velanai Island, northern Sri Lanka, reveal the earliest confirmed prehistoric settlement in the region. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about early human occupation in northern Sri Lanka. Researchers previously believed the area was unsuitable for early human settlement due to its environment.

The study, published in the *Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology*, details excavations of a shell midden on Velanai Island. The midden's earliest marine deposit dates to between 6,300 and 5,970 years ago. The earliest human occupation at the site dates to approximately 3,460 years ago.

Analysis of the shell midden indicates that the inhabitants primarily consumed mollusks, particularly *Gafrarium pectinatum*. Their diet also included seabreams, deer, wild boar, dugongs, and dolphins. The presence of non-local quartz and chert flakes suggests early inhabitants transported raw materials from the mainland, indicating seafaring capabilities.

These findings suggest that the perceived gap in occupation between southern and northern Sri Lanka is likely due to preservation bias. Lower sea levels during the Late Pleistocene would have exposed coastal plains in the north. Rising sea levels during the Holocene submerged these earlier sites. The Velanai settlement likely represents post-submergence occupation along new shorelines.

Future research will explore uplifted coastal terrains and inland archaeological sites for marine-derived materials. Researchers also plan to examine submerged landscapes directly. Long-term ecological analysis of shell assemblages will continue to provide insights into human-environment interactions. This includes studying the reduction in mollusk size over time, which may indicate increasing human exploitation and environmental pressure.