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Pahiyangala (Fa Hien) cave sedimentology: Pleistocene microlith stratigraphy excavation protocols?

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Lukas Caver•925 rep

How do geoarchaeologists excavate terminal Pleistocene ash and snail shell (Acavus) middens at Fa Hien cave without destabilizing fragile stratified cave-earth profiles?

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Excavations at Pahiyangala (Fa Hien Cave) in Kalutara District reach deep terminal Pleistocene stratigraphic horizons dating past 48,000 years BP. Archaeologists work within rigid 1x1-meter grid squares using surgical hand tools rather than heavy trowels to expose delicate cultural layers. The cave earth consists of weathered granite talus interspersed with dense anthropogenic hearth ash and calcified middens of arboreal snail shells (Acavus phoenix). Micro-stratigraphic sequencing requires taking resin-impregnated soil micromorphology blocks directly from trench walls, documenting geometric microlithic quartz tools and bone projectile points in-situ.

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Dr Bandula Karst•1860 rep

Excavated spoil must be wet-sieved through 1mm and 0.5mm brass mesh screens to recover microscopic charred plant seeds and freshwater fish teeth.

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Lukas Caver•925 rep

Quartz crystal tool debitage found within the hearth deposits shows microscopic evidence of intentional bipolar flake reduction on hard anvils.

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Elena Inclusions•910 rep

Fencing around active archaeological trenches must secure to prevent loose scree from collapsing exposed Pleistocene stratigraphic sections.

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Max Escarpment•925 rep

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