Social Sciences
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Item Implications of Evolving and Use of Ancient Writing Systems up to the Invention of Paper.(Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka., 2017) Nelunika, S.In the modern world writing systems have changed from traditional systems to modern technological and ICT based systems. One cannot overlook these rational systems owing to many factors like the beauty, historical and cultural value, and the implicit knowledge behind these writing systems. The purpose of this paper is to explore historical and chronological scenario of ancient writing systems to modern systems. The earliest ancestors did not have any idea of a writing system however they later used to write pictures about their feelings, thoughts and work they performed for expressing views and ideas. This communication system may be the foundation for earliest writing system. However with the rapidity of emerging subject like medicine, astronomy, asterism, useful arts, divine and later theology particularly religious knowledge they used oral tradition. With the promptness of developing these knowledge domain many educational establishments were introduced by the then society. Owing to many changes and effects there have been a threat to this oral tradition and with the growth of early civilizations systems different ancient writing systems also evolved. Approximately before six thousand years, the Mesopotamian founded way to writing. These river based civilization systems were Mesopotamian, Babylonian/ Sumerian – Yuppratries, River, TyGreece River, Assyrian, and Indu Civilization .Mesopotamian, Babylonian, Assyrian People found a way of writing on clay that was found in river banks. They found clay tablets. The first world map was drawn on the clay tablet.They carved in the rock surface by using hard tools or small rock pieces. But it’s not good with practically so they used stone boards they were useful for long time because damage is less than other materials. Since clay tables were difficult to be maintained the papyrus was found by Nile river bank which were grew well on wet zone. Egypt used Papyrus for stored knowledge. In Alexandria library which is famous for the largest library in the past world. There were about 700,000 papyrus rolls stored in that library. Vellum and Parchment were made by used animal skin. Vellum was made from skin of Sheep s and Goats. These animal skins were mostly use for writing valuable details like religious purposes and secrets documents because there were rare and exist for long time period. In Asian countries used bamboos and silk cloths because they didn’t have papyrus or animal s skin. But they realized it’s not suitable way and tried to find more and more alternatives. As the result of that Paper were found by Cai Lung in china. The inferences out of this study shown that the writing systems have evolved with causing several factors. The profound challengers and changers both human and environment have brought these writing systems from one to the other. Other thing that they have used their local resources and items available in nearby vicinity for different wiring systems and tools such as clay from river basin, bamboo from jungle and animal skin from their own homestead or from jungle.Item Establishing Settlement of Homo sapiens around Belilena: An Analysis of Environment(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Sumangala, P.Belilena Cave is located at Yatiyanthota divisional secretariat area (Kithulgala) in kegalle district. According to current excavation researches, the settlement dates back 31,000 years. Belilena cave is recognized as one of the oldest settlements in south Asia. Research problem was “what are the environmental factors influenced in establishing settlements of Homo Sapiens at Belilena Cave?” Information and data were gathered through primary and secondary sources including literary sources, field based survey, site observation conducted during two weeks in September 2015. The research discusses how strongly the geophysical factors have affected on Homo Sapiens in establishing settlements around Belilena Cave. Geophysical factors including location, drainage pattern, soil, flora and fauna, climate, rock and minerals and physiography were identified as the key factors in establishing human settlement nearby the cave. Hunter gathering pattern was the basic livelihood of the Pre historic man. Natural environment, specific landscape, geophysical condition with hedge stone caves around the periphery can be recognized as the much supportive elements for human settlement. As the cave is located at a high elevation from the sea level pre historic man had occupied this cave mainly to escape from torrential rain, natural hazards and anima affects. Pre historic man has created stone tools using the quartz and chert minerals were found nearby cave. Geometric micro lithic of exceptionally high quality, beautifully pressure-flaked, bone tools, beads of marine shells and anatomically modern human skeletal remains-from the earliest layer upwards.Item Sri Lanka and Northern India relations: An Archaeological study (3rd century B.C. to 9th century A.D.)(Research Centre for Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Bandara, N.According to the archaeological evidences, the Balangoda culture is considered as the earliest civilization in Sri Lanka. The aim of this paper is to present archaeological evidences to prove northern Indian association in ancient Sri Lanka from 3rd century B.C. to 9th century A.D. Even in the present Sri Lanka is considered as a multinational country. The geographical situation of Sri Lanka is the main reason for these migrations from the ancient past. Some of the migrants, who had come to Sri Lanka in various time periods, had returned to their motherland and of course, some were settle down in Sri Lanka. Among these nations Indians were in the first place. To prove this relationship, written sources (Mahawamsa Deepawamsa, Travelogues from Hiyun Sian and Fa Hien) and archaeological / numismatic resources like inscriptions, coins, statues, carvings which are belonged to 3rd century B.C to 9th century A.D. is used as the basement for this research. The relationship with Sri Lanka up to 1st century A.D. mainly limited with India. Form that also the northern Indian relationship was seemed to be strong. A considerable number of symbols can be seen in Sri Lankan early Brahmi inscriptions which have Harappa culture influences but not Brahmi. Also this relationship can be seen in the potters that found in archaeological excavations. Fine red polished wares, red slipped pinkish buff ware, black Hellenistic ware are among these potters. Also the Northern Indian characteristics can be seen in Punch make coins, Lakshimi and Svasthika coins. Also the relationship between Northern India can be seen in language styles that used in initial inscriptions in Sri Lanka.Item An Anthropological Analysis on the Present Face of Ancient Hydraulic Civilization in Sri Lanka: With Special Reference to the Socio Economic and Cultural Study on Kapirikgama Cascade of North Central Province(University of Kelaniya, 2005) Perera, S.; Jayatilleke, Y.D.; Jayasiri, J.A special feature of the Sinhala civilization of ancient Sri Lanka was its irrigation network. The purpose of this system was to impound the water in a reservoir during the rainy season and release it through channels to the rice fields during the dry season. The lands thus brought under rice civilization covered the whole of the vast plains of Rajarata, the realm of the earliest rulers of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruva that lasted from the latter half of the first millennium B. C. to the thirteenth century A.D. (Seneviratna 2002: 13). The present study of the ancient irrigation work is limited to the on going situation of the Kapirikgama cascade in North Central province of Sri Lanka. Present government (2004) has been paid its attention to the ancient Sri Lankan grandeur which has been lost from the captive of colonial rulers from 1505. This situation had become more worst under the British rulers (1796). However the Government (2004) has begun a massive irrigation project to reconstruct ten thousand damaged and devastated reservoirs which spread all over the country. Under this project we conduct a socio- economic and cultural research in Kaprikgama cascade during the month of March 2005. Kaprikgama cascade is consisting of three ‘gramaseva’ divisions which named Kaprikgama, Peenagama and Konakumbukwewa. There are more than twenty reservoirs available in the Kaprikgama cascade. Basically we collected two kinds of data named quantitative and qualitative. Through a questionnaire we gathered quantitative data. By using of interview method we able to collect ample of qualitative data. Thereby we explore various socio-economic and cultural aspects of the rural people in the area and also the culture and beliefs which pertaining to the reservoirs of the Kaprikgama cascade of North Central province in Sri Lanka.