Late Pleistocene to Late Holocene Broad Spectrum Rainforest Economies of Sri Lanka - Speaker Dr Pat Faulkner
Abstract
With known occupation dating from at least 48,000 years ago, archaeological sites in the lowland rainforest zone of Sri Lanka have become well known for providing evidence of early human occupation, use of tropical rainforest resources, bow and arrow technology and a significant focus on fast, small-bodied, arboreal vertebrate fauna. Fa-Hien Lena, the site with the longest occupation sequence, albeit one that is punctuated and falling into four main phases through the late Pleistocene into the mid-Holocene, has also been discussed in the broader context as indicating environmental and economic continuity. Seen to reflect a broad-spectrum economy based primarily on vertebrate faunal analyses, little attention has been paid to the malacofaunal assemblages. Representing a substantial set of small-bodied faunal resources found within the forest and waterways, considering these data raises questions around the role of non-vertebrate resources in the economy, and how they may add to notions of continuity in broad-spectrum rainforest economies.
About the Author
With known occupation dating from at least 48,000 years ago, archaeological sites in the lowland rainforest zone of Sri Lanka have become well known for providing evidence of early human occupation, use of tropical rainforest resources, bow and arrow technology and a significant focus on fast, small-bodied, arboreal vertebrate fauna. Fa-Hien Lena, the site with the longest occupation sequence, albeit one that is punctuated and falling into four main phases through the late Pleistocene into the mid-Holocene, has also been discussed in the broader context as indicating environmental and economic continuity. Seen to reflect a broad-spectrum economy based primarily on vertebrate faunal analyses, little attention has been paid to the malacofaunal assemblages. Representing a substantial set of small-bodied faunal resources found within the forest and waterways, considering these data raises questions around the role of non-vertebrate resources in the economy, and how they may add to notions of continuity in broad-spectrum rainforest economies.
About Archaeology Working Papers
The Working Papers in Archaeology seminar series provides a forum for dissemination of archaeological research and ideas amongst UQ archaeology students and staff. All students are invited to attend the series and postgraduate students, from honours upwards, are invited to present their research. The aim is to provide opportunities for students, staff and those from outside UQ, to present and discuss their work in an informal environment. It is hoped that anyone interested in current archaeological directions, both within and outside the School and University, will be able to attend and contribute to the series.