10
Presentations
Socio-cultural anthropology fromMangoro to Ivondro
Mamialisoa Razanamaro, Research Professor – Ethnological and Linguistics
Research Centre, CEREL, University of Toamasina
“I will start by presenting the CEREL Centre, which currently stores the remains discovered during
Ambatovy’s Construction Phase. An agreement was signed between the University of Toamasina
and Ambatovy, through the CEREL Centre. It consists of fieldwork, conservation of the archaeological
excavation findings and treatment of the collected items. The small archaeological laboratory established
in the CEREL really helps the University students. Now, let me talk about CEREL’s activities.
Since its creation in 1985, this research centre at the University of Toamasina has been an strong supporter
of the cultural, museology and artistic activities conducted in the region and beyond.
We are currently conducting research work with Ambatovy to understand the characteristics and the
diversity of the history of migration along the RN2 highway connecting Toamasina and Antananarivo. The
research is focused on the impact of the colonial administration inheritance, land issues, evolution of the
village social structures and the market penetration rates.
The CEREL has a database combining all the customs and traditions of various groups in the Bezanozano
and Betsimisaraka areas.
To conclude, here are some recommendations that may help perpetuate the collaboration on the
conservation work with Ambatovy:
• Virtual restitution of the damaged sites;
• Study of ancient ethnic groups and migration influx in the project’s neighbouring areas;
• Study of the biological environment in the damaged archaeological sites in order to collect the
information on former inhabitants’way of life;
• Study of the evolution of the population’s way of life and cultural customs;
• Transformation of the cultural heritage into income generating activities for the population;
• Study of the current and ancient population migration in Ambatovy’s impacted areas;
• Study of the population’s traditional way of life and cultural customs;
• Socio-political and cultural anthropological study of the immigration first group in the east coast of
Madagascar.”
