Utilizations of marine molluscs - Sri Lanka; an archaeomalacological study

Abstract

History of exploitation of marine resources in Sri Lanka goes back to the prehistoric period. Remains of various marine animals had been found from many coastal and inland archaeological sites. One of such marine animal class is Mollusc, which have a broad value in archaeological studies and oldest evidence in Sri Lanka is dated to be 37,000 BC. In environmental archaeological approach, mollusc study is developed as a sub research area, known as Archaeomalacology. In Sri Lankan archaeology, such approaches are still not widely concerned for studying the man - environment relationship.

This study is mainly concerning about selected main two molluscan classes, Gastropoda and Bivalvia. Continuous use of both shells and flesh of marine mollusc species from prehistoric period to current period can see in Sri Lankan society, which can study with traditional and historical sections with economy, technology, Socio - cultural backgrounds. Results of this study provide an overall picture of mollusc utilization in Sri Lanka. Some animals are highly use in whole culture and in other hand various animals are use in regional maritime cultures. If outlined, individual species as Pearls oyster (Pinctada vulgaris) and Chank (T .pyrum) have a historical and archaeological record from more than 2,400 years in Sri Lanka. Such species create way to study cultural interactions of Sri Lanka and above said sections. Sri Lankan marine mollusc food group is dominating by bivalves, 60% of all studied species and remainder is gastropods. Nutrient or food needs of coastal communities is providing by these animals. Aesthetic, ornamental, medicinal, construction, religious values of marine mollusc is also studied with archaeomalacological remains from prehistoric, protohistoric, historic monastic complexes and habitation sites, and living cultural societies. Shallow water fishing practices as in lagoons, estuaries, and littoral areas begin in Mesolithic period and deep water is from protohistoric Indian cultural transmissions. Ethnography of current traditional maritime communities and active fishing groups are adding vital evidences for this study. Value of linguistic for ethnobiology is specifically identified because of clear regional variations in maritime communities. Shell deposits have archaic formation and utilizations on its shells and floor show the cultural and socio-economic changes in regions.
The value of understanding the marine mollusc utilization pattern can be expressed with regard to, development of archaeology through animal studies, regular changes in maritime cultures, formation pattern of the archaic shell middens and the identification of activity areas.