Chantal Radimilahy – författare

On the northeast coast of Madagascar, near the town of Vohémar, is a large cemetery dating to the fourteenth century. During World War II, French troops excavated the site but left no comprehensive report. University of Michigan archaeologist Henry T. Wright led an intensive archaeological survey in the region, hoping to find evidence of earlier settlements. In four seasons, the researchers found evidence of several settlements dating to different periods: a large port site dating to the same era as the cemetery; early estuarine villages of the 7th and 8th centuries; and a rock shelter with microlithic tools. In this study, Wright presents the survey results in detail, including the evidence for settlements as well as illustrations of the ceramics and stone tools.

This book shows for the first time that NW Madagascar supponcd an urban population fron1 c. I 000 AD onwards. New methods of archaeological investigation show that Mahilaka on the coast of Ampisindava Bay was a walled to,vn supponing a wide range of crafts including stone bowl manufacture and glass bead making. Finds from Mahilaka demonstrate an active participation of Madagascar in the trading networks of the Western Indian Ocean and beyond.