Belilena is a very large prehistoric cave, in which the 12,000 year old skeletal remains of the prehistoric ?Balangoda man? (Homesepiens Balangodensis) have been found. This is the most ancient archaeological site discovered in Sri Lanka and located in the Ratnapura District. Excavations have discovered many fossils more than 28,500 years old and among the findings were three skeletons and some instruments used for hunting. This site is of much interest to paleontologists and caving fanatics because it has been found to contain large middens of shells from some unknown civilisation.

The well-preserved evidence at Beli Lena near Kitulgala indicates that a wide range of plants, animals and seafood (oysters) were consumed as food by the man who lived here popularly known as the Balangoda man. This mixed gourmet diet was well balanced as attested by the robusticity of the human skeletal remains 16,000 years old. The average height of the Balangoda man was over 6 feet. They were quite healthy, despite the lack of modern medicines, antibiotics and immunizations. (The Veddah chief Tissahamy died at the ripe age of 104 years. It is believed that he descended from a branch of the Balangoda man).

Belilena Caves Related references