Lesson 2- Ancient Settlements Flashcards
(139 cards)
1
Q
When did Sri Lanka become a human habitation?
A
125 000 years ago
2
Q
Homo Sapiens migrated to this country through what ocean?
A
The Indian Ocean
3
Q
Name the 3 stages that the Sri Lankan history of human existence has been divided to
A
- Pre-historic era
- Proto-historic era
- Early historic era
4
Q
What is the Pre-historic era?
A
The period before historical records were taken into writing
5
Q
Name the two cultural stages of the pre-historic era
A
- Stone age
- The period where herbal food was consumed prominently
6
Q
According to what did early man decide their habitations?
A
According to climatic conditions/zones
7
Q
What were the two main ways of pre-historic man’s food gathering?
A
- Roaming
- Hunting
8
Q
Name 2 places where evidence of the Stone Age was found in Sri Lanka
A
- The Rathnapura gem mines
- The Iranamadu foundation
Stone tools and animal bones too were found about 90 feet underground.
9
Q
What caused gravel layers to deposit in the lowlands?
A
The erosion of mountain regions
Occured mostly during the Pleistocene geographical era
In the Pleistocene geographical era, heavy rains were present.
10
Q
What is the Iranamadu foundation?
A
The gravel layer covered with sandy soil mixed with clay in the semi-arid zone
11
Q
When was the Iranamadu foundation formed?
A
During the short warm periods of the Pleistocene geographical era
12
Q
The 6 main climate zones of the Stone age
A
- Arid-zone
- Semi-arid zone
- Lowland dry zone
- Lowland intermediate dry zone
- Mountainous dry intermediate zone
- Wet zone
13
Q
The area, district and province of the gravel layer found in the Iranamadu foundation at a depth of 45 feet.
A
Pathirajawela, Hambantota district, Southern Province
This gravel layer was 125 000 years old
14
Q
The area, district and province of the gravel layer found at a depth of 24 ft.
A
Bunala, Wellangoda, Hambantota district, Southern Province
This gravel layer is belived to be 80 000 years old
15
Q
The time period of the Stone Age
A
125 000 - 1 800B.C. (Approximately)
16
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Pahiyangala cave?
A
38 000 years
17
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Kuruwita Batadombalena?
A
28 000 years
18
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Kitulgala Belilena?
A
15 000 years
19
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Bellanbendipelassa?
A
12 000 years
20
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Attanagoda Alulena?
A
10 350 years
21
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Maniyamgala?
A
7 900 years
22
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Sigiriya Pothana?
A
5 800 years
23
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Sigiriya Aligala?
A
5 500 years
24
Q
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Udamalala?
A
5 330 years
25
Information which dates back to how many years ago can be found in Mathota?
3 800 years
26
Where is Pahiyangala located?
Bulathsinhala in the Kaluthara District
27
What information can be identified through the cave in Pahiyangala?
Information regarding pre-historic people living in the lowland wet zone
28
Why did pre-historic man live in places such as lowland rain forests, dry zone forests, coastal lagoons, creeks and hill country grasslands?
Abundance of water and availabity of numerous stones to make tools
29
Where did pre-historic man live in the dry season?
Open areas
30
Where did pre-historic man live in the rainy season?
Natural caves
31
Name 3 outdoor camps in the coastal areas
1. Minhagalkanda
2. Bundala
3. Pathirajawela
32
Name 3 lowland wet zone caves
1. Pahiyangala
2. Batadombalena
3. Kithulgala belilena
33
Name 2 lowland dry zone caves
1. Pothana in Sigiriya
2. Aligala in Sigiriya
34
Name an outdoor camp in the lowland wet zone
Bellanbendipelessa
35
Name 2 outdoor hunting places in the hillside areas
1. Bandarawela
2. Horton plains
36
Why did pre-historic man live a nomadic life?
Because they were migrating from place to place(roaming) and hunting for food
37
Pre-historic man's groups usually consisted of how many members?
15-20 members
38
What is the maximum number of members belived to be in a group of pre-historic man?
50
39
How many square meters were enough for a group of 5 members?
50 square meters
40
Where is Church Hill located?
In Bandarawela
41
What is the area of Church Hill?
150 square meters
42
How many people lived in Church Hill?
25 people
43
The community of a place in Bellanbendipelessa lived in an area of how many square meters?
120 square meters
44
How many human skeletons were found in Bellanbendipelessa?
30 human skeletons
45
What is the name of the tools used by pre-historic man?
Geometric micro stone tools
46
About how far did pre-historic man walk in search of food?
About 7km
47
Why did pre-historic man sometimes bury dead bodies in caves?
Because they lived there temporarily
48
Name 2 ways in which pre-historic man had buried dead bodies
1. Burying bodies in the caves they lived in
2. Digging up a pit with a horn or stick, placing the body in the pit and covering it up with garbage. (12 skeletons were found in Kithulgala belilena buried in this manner)
49
Which age did the 30 skeletons buried in Bellanbendipelessa belong to?
The Stonge age
50
Where were 9 skeletons belonging to different ages found?
In a cave in Pahiyangala
51
The nature of what can be identified through caves in the lowland dry zone and wet land?
The nature of food
52
Name 17 animals pre-historic man hunted and consumed
1. Gaur
2. Buffalo
3. Black bear
4. Wild boar
5. Deer
6. Spotted deer
7. Mongoose
8. Wild fowl
9. Monkey
10. Civet cat
11. Iguana
12. Fish
13. Porcupine
14. Hedgehog
15. Hare
16. Stag
17. Giant squirrel
53
Which zone were small fish caught in natural ponds in?
In the lowland wet zone
54
2 plant food eaten by pre-historic man to gain starch
1. Wild breadfruit
2. Wild plantains
55
Where was the evidence regarding wild breadfruit being baked and eaten 12 500 years ago found?
In Kithulgala Belilena
56
4 food rich in starch eaten by pre-historic man
1. Gonala
2. Katuala
3. Seeds of Kithul
4. Kernel of Dothalu
57
Where did pre-historic man find tree-snails and oysters?
In lagoons
58
Evidence regarding the use of salt in food can be found in .....
Kithulgala Belilena
59
Why were pre-historic man's tools called 'Geometric micro stone tools'?
Because they had geometric shapes
60
How long were the stone tools made back then?
4.5cm
61
2 materials used to make stone tools
1. Quartz
2. Kahanda stones
62
What are the uses of stone tools for pre-historic man?
Cutting, chopping, digging, hunting
63
What are the average heights of males and females during the pre-historic era respectively?
174cm and 166cm
64
Describe the facial stature of pre-historic man
Large teeth, having a wide nose and chin
65
What are the sizes of the brains of males and females during the pre-historic period?
Male - 1600 cubic cm
Female - 900 cubic cm
66
The average lifespan of pre-historic man
35-40 years
67
Name the place where a perforated skull was found
| One side of the skull was also covered in red ochre
In Rawana Ella, near Badulla
68
The place where human skeletons covered in red ochre were found
In a cave in Pahiyangala
69
A place where dead bodies had been curled and buried
Kuruwita Batadomba lena
70
Who are aborigines?
The Vedda community
71
What is the proto-historic era?
The era between the pre-historic era and the historic era
72
Name some significances which contrast the pre-historic era and the proto-historic era
In the proto-historic era,
methodical burial systems started,
the technology of making burnt clay pots started,
the use of iron started,
agricultural activities were started
settlements were permanent.
73
What is the proto-historic Iron Age?
The period in which the use of iron tools began
74
When was the use of iron tools fully adapted?
At the final stage of the proto-historic era
75
What is believed to have caused cultural changes of proto-historic man?
Long term geographical changes
76
The time period of the climatic change that affected the entire South Asian region
7000B.C. - 4500B.C.
77
The name of the climatic change that occurred in the South Asian region from 7000B.C.-4500B.C.
(Middle of) The Geo-Holocene period/era
| This was also the end of the Ice Age
78
What year does the oldest proof of the proto-historic period belong to?
2400B.C.
79
Where was clear evidence regarding the proto-historic era found?
North-east of the Sabaragmuwa province
South-west of the Uva province
80
Name 3 burial sites that belonged to the period between 750B.C. and 450B.C. which were part of the proto-historic era alongside the area they were found in.
1. Ibbankatuwa, Dambulla, Central Province
2. Galsohonkanaththa, Yapahuwa
3. Yatigalpoththa, Galewela
| These belonged to the megalithic burial tradition
81
What are urn burials?
Burials in which dead bodies were deposited in urns
82
Name 2 places where clay tub burials were performed in the proto-historic era
1. Beragala, Uva province
2. Haldumulla, Uva province
83
What is sedentism?
The practice of living in one place for a long time
84
When was the Udaranchamadama house found?
2009
85
Which district is the Udaranchamadama house in?
Rathnapura
86
What are the dimensions of the Udaranchamadama house?
10.2m X 6.8m
87
What are the dimensions of the Udaranchamadama house?
10.2m X 6.8m
88
What were the walls of the Udaranchamadama house made of?
Wattle and daub
89
What was the roof of the Udaranchamadama house made of?
Something similar to 'Iluk'
90
When was the Udaranchamadama house built?
3000 years ago
91
Name 6 things found inside the Udaranchamadama house that helps us understand the lifestyle of prot-historic man
1. A pot painted in red lines
2. Stone and iron tools
3. Animal bones
4. Clay beads
5. An iron stick
6. Two brown stones
7. Two grinding stones
92
Write 4 items found inside the Udaranchamadama house and what each of those items depict about the lifestyle of proto-historic man
1. The pot - Engagement in the pottery
2. Iron tools - Development in craftsmanship/technology of tools
3. Animal bones - Hunting was not fully abandoned
4. The iron stick - Consideration of beauty of women
93
When was the clay pot found in Udaranchamadama made?
1129B.C.
94
What is the time period of the early historical period?
450B.C. - 300A.D
95
What is the main source of identifying the areas in which historic settlements had been established?
The expansion of small village tanks
96
Close to what were most villages of the historic period built?
Close to tanks
97
5 Factors that influenced the expansion of settlements
1. Annual rainfall
2. Nature of soil
3. Abundance of resources
4. Geo-diversity
5. Drainage
98
What is the zone which has an annual rainfall of 1000ml - 1250ml?
The dry zone
99
What is the zone which has an annual rainfall less than 1000ml?
The arid zone
100
Why did man establish settlements in the dry zone even though water was scarce?
Because there was soil which was fertile and suitable for agriculture
101
What is the name of the soil present in the dry zone?
Red-brown soil
102
What are the 2 ways in which man received water in dry zones?
1. By monsoons
2. River water
103
Why did man construct tanks more often rather than anicuts and canals which carry water from rivers?
Constructing anicuts and canals was too labour intensive and time consuming
104
Why did man construct settlements outside river valleys before the 1st Century B.C.?
Because there was no flood-control technology at that time
105
When did man start controlling floods by constructing anicuts across rivers?
At the end of the 1st Century B.C. or during the 1st Century A.D.
106
What is King Ilanaga's ruling period?
33A.D.-43A.D.
107
What tank did King Ilanaga construct?
The Tissamaharama tank
108
Where was the word 'Avarana' inscribed?
In Brahmi inscriptions in the caves in Ganekanda temple and Gallena temple in Kurunegala
109
What is the meaning of Avarana?
Amuna(anicut)
110
What is Vapigama?
The name used to refer to settlements built on the basis of tanks
111
4 villages built around tanks mentioned in the Mahawamsa
1. Sumanavapigama
2. Viharavapigama
3. Hundirivapigama
4. Kadahavapigama
112
6 types of tanks categorized according to the professions of people who lived there with meanings
1. Kasikaragama - Villages where farmers lived
2. Manikaragama - Villages where gem miners lived
3. Gopalagama - Villages where cowherds lived
4. Kewattagma - Villages where fishermen lived
5. Kumbhakaragama - Villages where potters lived
6. Vadtakigama - VIllages where carpenters lived
113
The meanings of Pattanagama, Niyamgam and Olagam
1. Pattanagama - Villages situated close to harbours
2. Niyamgam - Trading villages
3. Olagam - villages around tanks deserted by people
114
What is thte size of a small-scale village?
Less than 0.15 hectares
115
What is the size of a medium-scale village?
About 2 hectares
116
What is the size of a large-scale village?
More than 2 hecatres
117
How many families live in villages on average?
5 - 6 families
118
How many families live in villages on average?
5 - 6 families
119
According to literary sources, about ..... families have lived in some large-scale villages
30
120
By the 6th Century A.D., what was the population of the Magama city and cities adjacent to it?
35 000
121
What are the names given to villages protected by fences and not protected by fences respectively?
Parikitta gam and aparikitta gam
122
What was the name used to introduce vast urban settlements?
Pura (city)
123
What was the word mentioned in Brahmi inscriptions written in 250 B.C. that referred to the main architect of a city?
Pura Kamatha
124
What is the meaning of the word Nurapura and where was it mentioned?
Meaning - Anuradhapura
Mentioned - In the Panakaduwa Copper plate written by KIng Vijayabahu I (1055 - 1110 A.D.)
125
What was King Vijayabahu I's ruling period?
1055A.D.-1110A.D.
126
What is a Nagara/Nakara?
A settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city
127
Taking commodities produced in villages for trading in big cities was coordinated by what?
Nagara/Nakara
128
Who is the chief householder?
The gahapathi
129
Who acted on behalf of a few chief householders?
| Also called the chief of a village
The Gamika/ Gramika
130
What is the name given to the panel of ten chief householders?
Dasa Gam Eththan
131
What are the duties of Dasa Gam Eththan?
Solving administrative issues in an area of ten vilages
132
Name an evidence which shows that Dasa Gam Eththan should work together to solve a problem regarding the alms- giving
An inscription at the Buddhist temple called Kaludiya Pokuna in Dambulla, Matale
133
What were the wallls and roofs of houses in Anuradhapura made out of?
Walls - wattle, daub
Roof - thatched with leaves
133
What were the wallls and roofs of houses in Anuradhapura made out of?
Walls - wattle, daub
Roof - thatched with leaves
134
Name a village in which the marks of an ancient house were found in alongside the area it was located
Walagampaththuwa in Tissamaharamaya
135
How was the floor of the house in Walagampaththuwa made?
By digging the ground and adding clay
136
When was the house in Walagampaththuwa used?
3rd Century A.D.
137
What was the means of subsistence of people who lived in areas away from overflowing river valleys?
Chena cultivation
138
4 Chena crops that grow in the dry zone
1. Kurakkan
2. Meneri
3. Sesame
4. Thanahal
