Emergence and practice of personal ornamentation in a prehistoric period are often considered as evidence for symbolic behaviour. Although prehistory of Sri Lanka had dated back to more than 125,000 years ago, prehistoric ornaments and rituals come from Mesolithic period onwards (notably after 38,000 BP). Sri Lanka is bestowed with the earliest and comparatively vast assemblage of prehistoric ornaments which are made of a variety of material such as freshwater or marine shells and shark teeth and vertebrae. In here, we propose that these personal adornments of Sri Lanka could be considered not as mere art but implicate usage of symbolic language which facilitates long-distance trade, social relationships, language and communication. Further, we suggest that these shell beads also indicate ritualistic behaviour.
