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Archaeological sites along Madagascar’s eastern coast
Robert Dewar, Professor – University of Cambridge (UK) / Yale University (USA)
“Madagascar’s archaeology is closely linked to that of other Indian Ocean regions. Under the supervision of
ICMAA and in line with its river mouth archaeological research program, we have prospected and worked
for several years in the area between Soanierana Ivongo and Toamasina.
Data provided by the various sites, in particular those of Fenerive Est can be linked to the ancient well-
known cultural phases like Sandrakatsy, in the Mananara Nord region. The Lakaria phase is dated from
the 12th century into the 15th century in comparison with the potsherd found in Mahilaka in the North-
West. This type of potsherd is coarse and very thick. The Lakaria phase has chlorite schist as the previous
Sandrakatsy phase.
The next period between the 16th and the 17th century consists of the Seranambe phase. It corresponds
to the first contacts with Europeans. The villages are more numerous and have progressively settled
towards the inland along the rivers. Fénérive remains an important centre where French people (i.e.
Francois Martin) came to buy rice and cattle in the mid-17th century. This is the evidence of the eastern
region’s agricultural riches at that time.
From the 18th century, during the Ambitsika phase, villages were growing and trade regions like
Foulpointe were developing. Archaeological sites were identified increasingly in the inlands. Contact with
the outside was confirmed by the presence of European objects, including ceramics, glass, lead, etc. The
Andadoany site, near the current hospital of Fénérive is one example of that. This period also corresponds
to a change in the local pottery features, which lasted throughout the 19th century with the Ambibe phase.
The evolution of these sites starting from the ancient period, when the founding ancestors stayed on the
Vohidrazana hill which is prominent to the valley located ten kilometers West of Fenerive, is similar to what
we have discovered between Toamasina and Moramanga.”
Presentations
