Mid-holocene sea level changes in Sri Lanka

Abstract

r Sea level changes due to various factors cause shifts in the coastline of Sri Lanka, as in other regions of the World. They are valuable in understanding the long-term, factors that cause coastal erosion. The Mid-Holocene sea level changes were studied using geomorpho~ogicd maps aided by field work and a laboratory analysis of materials. The baybeachqmid-bay bars, barriers. spits, shell beds, wave-cut terraces, etc., which originated from an early marine transgcesion were observed along the inland areas of the Kalarnetiya, Lunama and Koholankala lagoons and the Minihagdkanda beds of the Southeast coast. They submerged the land tot form deep embayments and barrier chains. Information obtained through radiocarbon: dating and previous studies prove that these sea levels prevailed during 4040 + 7 0 BP to 3620 f 70 BP.