Prehistoric Seafarers Found in Sri Lanka 2024 – January

Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Sri Lanka, unearthing 3,400-year-old human remains on Velanai Island near Jaffna. This marks the first confirmed discovery of prehistoric human remains in the Jaffna Peninsula, and suggests that these early inhabitants were seafarers who migrated to the island.

The discovery was made by a team from the University of Jaffna, who were excavating a site on the island. They found the remains of two adults and a child, buried in a shallow pit. The bones were well-preserved, and radiocarbon dating confirmed their age.

The researchers believe that the people who lived on Velanai Island were part of a larger group of seafarers who migrated from South India to Sri Lanka around 1500 BCE. These people were likely skilled boatbuilders and navigators, and they may have brought with them new technologies and cultural practices.

The discovery of the prehistoric human remains in Jaffna is a significant addition to our understanding of early Sri Lankan history. It provides new evidence for the migration of people from South India to the island, and it sheds light on the lives of these early seafarers.

Source: The First Evidence of Prehistoric Seafarers in Sri Lanka