Prehistoric Pitted Stone Tools: a Review of their Technology, Utilization and Interpretation

Abstract

The history of research into Sri Lankan prehistory spans O\ n CI hundred ) L':trs Cind have revealed scientific dates for prehistoric sites '' hich ranging Ji·om .2:'0.000 BP to .1.200- 2800 BP (Deraniyagala, 1992: 686-710). Pn:historic stone tools can be considered the main source of prehistoric research. And pitted stone tools are one component of the numerous types of stone tools discovered from Sri Lanka. The exact reason for this pitted feature is subject to much debate. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the technology. utilization and existing hypotheses (as well as their validation) with regard to these tools. Pitted stone tools disco\ered from Sri Lankan prehistoric sites; display either one. two, three or more pits on their outer surJ~tee. In some instances these pits are all found on one face ofthe tool, at others pits can he found on alll~1ccs of the tool (ibid). Such tools have been discovered in places such as \lurunkan. I hibolketiya of thL' Iranamadu Formation. the \\et zone caves of Batadombalcna. l·a-hiengala. Kitulgala Belilena in the Rathnapura area (also known as the Rathnapura deposits) and the dry zone sites of Sigiriya, Aligala and Potana (Deraniyagala. 1992 Karunaratne and Adikari. 1994). These tools have been classified as 109a and 109b in Dcraniyagala's (1992)stone tool classification. Investigations of Sri Lanka's prehistoric period thus far hm\ever have revealed only relatively few tools of this type. However there have been several hypotheses as to the probable utilization of these tools, such as their use as a fire drill, nut cracker etc (ibid). It has also been suggested that they were used as a hunting tool.