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Control of the ports became a major political and strategic issue. The new kingdom of Madagascar considered the monitoring of
slave trade points on the east coast as one of its prerogatives.
Numerous protagonists wanted to exploit the substantial resources generated by these ports. Many representatives of European
nations were hanging around the area, but the French and English proved to be the most active. Their rivalry was manifested by
competition for the favourable attention of the kings and princes of Madagascar. Assaults and treaties of alliance succeeded, but did
not prevent disputes from happening.
Added to the mix were individuals working for their own account: it was a period of great confusion.
The French murdered the French. The British attacked the French and vice versa. However, these two rival nations finally joined
forces to unite against the Malagasy. In 1845, a Franco-British squadron bombed Tamatave.
Before the growth of the role of ports, the relationship between the coast and hinterlands was facilitated by large rivers that were the
natural access routes.
In the study area, the Rianila River played a key role in the movement of goods and people, from its mouth up to Andevoranto, and
on to Anivorano, where a concentration of sites, with chlorite schist tableware artifacts manufactured in the Vohemar region, more
than 400 kilometers north, was located.
The Anivorano-Brickaville-Ranomafana area, located near the confluence of the Vohitra and Rianila Rivers, played the role of a
trader’s hub for the neighbouring areas. The intensity and quality of trades were also established based on the similarity between
pottery decorations. Some patterns are similar to those found in very remote locations of the region and even in the Comoros. The
presence of a few shards of imported pottery is further evidence of the existence of international trade relations.
