The original inhabitants of Sri Lanka, historically known as Ceylon, are believed to be the Veddas. The Veddas are an indigenous group who are thought to have descended from the island’s earliest inhabitants, dating back to at least 16,000 to 18,000 years ago. They were hunter-gatherers with a deep connection to the forest and a unique cultural and linguistic identity that is distinct from the later Sinhalese and Tamil populations that settled on the island.
These people, the Veddas, or Veddahs, are known for their traditional lifestyle that has historically been centred around hunting, gathering, and fishing. Here are some key aspects of their lifestyle…
- Subsistence:
Veddas traditionally relied on hunting wildlife such as deer and wild boar, gathering wild fruits, honey, and yams, and fishing. Their diet was supplemented by these activities, which required deep knowledge of the environment and sustainable living practices. - Housing:
Their traditional dwellings were simple and made from natural materials available in the forest. These structures, called “wattle and daub” houses, were typically small, with thatched roofs made from leaves and branches, demonstrating their sustainable approach to living. - Tools and Weapons:
Veddas used bows and arrows as their primary hunting tools. The arrows were often tipped with poison derived from natural sources to ensure the effectiveness of their hunting. They also used axes and knives made from iron, which they either produced themselves or obtained through trade. - Religious Beliefs and Practices:
The Veddas have animistic beliefs, where they hold sacred various elements of nature, including trees, rocks, and water bodies. They perform rituals to honor the spirits of their ancestors and the forces of nature, which they believe will ensure their well-being and success in hunting and gathering. - Language:
The Veddas have their own language, known as Vedda language, which is considered endangered today. It contains elements of Sinhalese and has its own unique vocabulary, especially related to the natural environment and their traditional practices. - Cultural Practices:
Traditional Vedda culture includes unique dances, songs, and storytelling, which are often performed during community gatherings and rituals. These performances are integral in passing down knowledge and stories from one generation to another.
They represent a direct link to the island’s prehistoric past, and their lifestyle offers insights into the sustainable and deeply ecological ways in which human beings can interact with their environment.
The Veddas were traditionally semi-nomadic. This means that while they had areas where they would set up more permanent settlements, their lifestyle also required them to move within certain regions depending on the seasons and the availability of resources.
Key aspects of their semi-nomadic lifestyle include:
Mobility
The Veddas moved between temporary camps throughout the year as part of their hunting and gathering activities. Their mobility allowed them to exploit different resources, such as game, fish, honey, and wild fruits, as these became available in different areas.
Their dwellings were typically temporary, constructed from materials like branches, leaves, and other natural resources that could be easily assembled and disassembled as they moved from one location to another.
Language
The Veddas traditionally did not have a form of written language. Their culture has been largely oral, with knowledge, traditions, and history passed down through generations by word of mouth. This includes stories, songs, rituals, and the practical knowledge necessary for their survival, such as information about hunting, gathering, and living in harmony with the natural environment.
The Vedda language itself, which is distinct but has influences now from the Sinhalese language, has primarily been a spoken language. With the encroachment of modern influences and the integration of the Veddas into broader Sri Lankan society, many Veddas now also speak Sinhalese, which does have a written form. However, efforts to preserve the Vedda language and culture typically focus on oral traditions and practices, reflecting their historical reliance on spoken communication.
Appearance
The Veddas are often distinguished by certain physical and cultural characteristics that set them apart from other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka. Physically, they are typically described as having:
- Darker skin: Their skin tone tends to be darker compared to the majority Sinhalese and Tamil populations of Sri Lanka.
- Robust build: Historically, Veddas had a sturdy and robust physique, which was well-suited to their traditional lifestyle of hunting and gathering.
- Facial features: They may exhibit distinct facial features, which could include broader noses and strong jawlines, although there is considerable variation within the group.
- Hair: Traditionally, Veddas had curly or wavy hair, often worn long by both men and women.
Culturally, their appearance has also been characterized by their traditional attire and adornments:
- Men typically wore a loin cloth or a simple wrap-around cloth.
- Women traditionally wore a piece of cloth that covered them from waist to knee, although with modern influences, many now wear saris or other common Sri Lankan attire.
- Ornaments: They used to wear ornaments made from forest products such as beads made from seeds, but such practices have diminished over time.
The overall appearance of the Veddas, as with any group, can vary widely among individuals and has also evolved as they have increasingly integrated into broader Sri Lankan society. These descriptions are general and based on historical and cultural contexts, and modern Veddas might not distinctly exhibit all these traditional characteristics.
Tribal
The Veddas can be described as tribal in the sense that they are an indigenous group with distinct social structures and cultural practices. Historically, they lived in small, clan-based groups, each with its own territorial range where they hunted and gathered. These clans were relatively autonomous but shared cultural and linguistic traits that distinguished them as a cohesive ethnic group.
The social organization of the Veddas was characterized by:
- Kinship Ties:
Kinship and family connections were crucial in defining social relations and responsibilities within the community. These ties determined the organization of hunting parties, sharing of resources, marriage alliances, and other social activities. - Leadership:
Leadership within Vedda groups was typically not highly formalized. Leaders or elders were respected based on age, wisdom, and their ability to contribute to the welfare of the group. Leadership roles could involve decision-making, conflict resolution, and directing communal activities like hunting or rituals. - Territoriality:
Although semi-nomadic, Vedda clans were closely tied to specific territories, which they knew intimately and utilized sustainably. These territories were recognized among the clans, and there were informal rules governing the use of resources and movement. - Cultural Identity:
Their tribal identity was also reinforced through shared cultural practices, such as rituals, dances, songs, and the transmission of knowledge and folklore, all of which helped maintain a strong sense of community and continuity.
As with other tribal societies, modern influences and the integration into the larger national culture have impacted traditional Vedda lifestyles significantly, with many adopting agricultural practices and other forms of economic activities. However, efforts to preserve their cultural heritage and identity continue, reflecting their historical status as a distinct tribal community within Sri Lanka.
Before the Veddas
The term “Veddas” refers to the indigenous people who are believed to be the direct descendants of the earliest known inhabitants of Sri Lanka. There isn’t a distinction between an earlier group and the Veddas in the archaeological and historical records of Sri Lanka; rather, the Veddas are considered to be the continuation of the island’s first inhabitants, the island’s original Mesolithic inhabitants, often associated with the “Balangoda Man.” Archaeological findings, such as human skeletal remains found in several caves in Sri Lanka, date back to about 30,000 to 12,000 years ago, showing traits of continuity between these ancient populations and the later Veddas.
These earliest inhabitants, often associated archaeologically with the “Balangoda Man,” are considered the ancestors of the Veddas. Here’s more on this:
- Balangoda Man:
This term is derived from findings of skeletal remains in the Balangoda area of Sri Lanka. These remains, which are attributed to the Mesolithic period, provide evidence of one of the earliest anatomically modern human populations in South Asia. The physical and cultural traits of the Balangoda Man, such as hunting tools and burial practices, suggest a sophisticated level of development and have been linked directly to the Veddas. - Chronological Continuity:
There is a direct lineage in terms of habitation from the Balangoda Man to the historical period of the Veddas. The archaeological evidence does not suggest a clear break or the introduction of a distinctly different population until much later with the arrival of Indo-Aryan speakers from the Indian subcontinent. - Cultural and Genetic Legacy:
The cultural practices, genetic studies, and the physical anthropology of the Veddas show continuity from these ancient inhabitants, supporting the view that the Veddas are their direct descendants, rather than a separate group that came later.
In summary, the people who inhabited Sri Lanka before the historical period recognised as the era of the Veddas are not named differently; they are considered part of the continuum that leads to the Vedda community known even today. The term “Balangoda Man” is used to refer to these ancient populations based on the archaeological site but isn’t used to denote a different or separate group from the Veddas.