Late Pleistocene Humans used Rice in Sri Lanka: Phytolith Investigation of the Deposits at Fahien Rock Shelter

Phytolith (microscopic plant silicate bodies) evidence suggests that anatomically modern humans lived at Fahien rock shelterin the south-western Sri Lanka in tensively used wild rice species (e.g. Oryza cf. nivara) in association with lowland rain forests from 48.35ka (48,350 calyrs BP). The intensive use of wild rice could be a local innovation.