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• Sites of the Ambibe and Sahamamy Phase (19th – 20th century)
The comparison of these two phases, which are only a hundred years apart, helped identify the significant expansion of piedmont
sites to the detriment of those located in the low-lying areas. It would appear that in more recent times, the villagers migrated to the
hilly areas of the piedmont, abandoning the lowland basins.
The beginning of this phase is marked by the deployment of the Kingdom of Antananarivo to this region. Many centers run by
‘Governors’ were established on the route between Antananarivo and Tamatave. Policies implemented by these local representatives
made them unpopular. As they were required to meet their own material needs, these ‘Governors’ behaved as bullies and swindled
the population. To escape this new rule, many people fled into the forest, where very small village units proliferated, a few of which
were discovered during the installation of the pipeline.
After a period of distress and insecurity, business resumed very quickly. Goods traffic increased significantly. The demand for raffia
provided a livelihood for the population of Ampasimbe region: it was a time when every household had its own weaving loom, some
families even had several.
This recent period strengthens the trends already seen in the previous phase: imported objects gradually increased. Artifacts
discovered from this time are almost contemporary.
