බටදොඹ ලෙන

Batadombalena - Batadomba Lena

Useful Information

Location:	Kuruwita, Sri Lanka. From Eratna along the Kuruwita–Eratna road for 3 km to Eknelingoda Walauwa (6.77654, 80.39622)
Open:	Cave: no restrictions. Museum: All year daily 6-18. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	Maha Lena: L=24 m, H=15 m, W=18 m. Kuda Lena: L=9 m, W=9 m. A=234 m asl.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Kenneth A. R. Kennedy, Siran U. Deraniyagala (1989): Fossil remains of 28,000-year old hominids from Sri Lanka Current Anthropology, Vol. 30, No. 3. (Jun., 1989), pp. 394–399. Kenneth A. R. Kennedy, T. Disotell, W. J. Roertgen, J. Chiment, J. Sherry (): Biological anthropology of upper Pleistocene hominids from Sri Lanka: Batadomba Lena and Beli Lena caves Ancient Ceylon 6: 165-265. Kenneth A. R. Kennedy, Siran U. Deraniyagala, W. J. Roertgen, J. Chiment, T. Disotell (1987): Upper Pleistocene fossil hominids from Sri Lanka American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 72: 441-461, 1987. A. Sumanarathna, B. Madurapperuma, J. Kuruppuarachchi, et al. (2016): Morphological Variation and Speciation of Acavidae Family: A Case Study from Fossil and Living Species of Batadombalena Cave Pre-historic Site in Sri Lanka Annals of Valahia University of Targoviste, Geographical Series, 16(2), pp. 59-68. DOI pdf
Address:	Batadomba Lena.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1938	first excavation by Dr. P.E.P. Daraniyagala, Director of Museum of Sri Lanka Museum Department.
1979-1981	excavation by Dr. S.U. Daraniyagala, the Assistant Commissioner of Archaeology.

Description

බටදොඹ ලෙන (Baṭadom̆ba Lena, Batadomba Cave) is normally written as Batadombalena, but unfortunately also as Batadombalena Cave in literature. It's not unusual that foreigners do not understand the name, and so they obviously thought Batadombalena was the name. However, lena means cave, so the commonly used name Batadombalena Cave actually translates Batadomba Cave Cave, which is obviously an unintended tautology.

It is a natural shelter where archaeologists discovered the remains of Balangoda Manawaya (Balangoda Man, Homo sapiens balangodensis). That's why Batadomba Lena, besides Pahiyangala and Beli Lena, is considered one of the three most important archaeological sites of Sri Lanka. Archaeologists unearthed an unusually large number of artifacts dated to between 31,000 and 18,000 years BP. The human bones of Batadomba Lena were examined at Cornell University in the USA. According to Cambridge University archaeologist Professor Paul Mellars, the site supports the Out of Africa hypothesis. He excavated stone arrowheads, stone spearheads, and carefully shaped and perforated beads made from ostrich eggshell fragments. The Balangoda people's prey included deer, monkeys, snails, and porcupines. They also traded with inhabitants of the coastal region, as shells were also found. Batadomba Lena is protected by an archaeological reserve with a size of more than 35 acres. This place has undergone several excavations since 1938, mostly conducted by the Department of Archaeology based on the information given by villagers.

The cave is located in a private rubber plantation in the foothills of Adam's Peak, on a hill called Vithana Kanda inside a 78 m high limestone rock. It is best reached from the Kuruwita-Sripada road starting from Ratnapura-Colombo highway. There are two caves which are called Maha Lena (Large Cave) and Kuda Lena (Small Cave). Actually, there are numerous small caves in the rock, with a total length of some 500 m. “Maha Lena” is spacious enough to shade easily little more or less than 1000 people at once.

The walk to the cave requires a 2 km hike uphill under tropical temperatures. Good shoes are essential. Not only for the hike, but also for the leeches which are abundant and bite through clothes. Washing with Sri Lanka's popular "blue soap" in not enough, using a repellent and salt on ankles and socks are recommended.