The prehistory of Madagascar : microbotanical and archaeological evidence from coastal and highland sites
Despite nearly one hundred years of archaeological and palaeoecological research in Madagascar, the human colonisation of the island remains poorly understood. Long- standing narratives of this colonisation described the arrival of Austronesian- speaking peoples by AD 400, eventually reaching the Central Highlands by the 12th century. The recent discovery of microlithic tools at the rockshelter of Lakaton'i Anja has radically disrupted conventional narratives for this colonisation by more than doubling the known period of Madagascar's human history, and questioning the presumed Austronesian origins of these first Malagasy peoples. This discovery also challenges existing models for the late Holocene extinction of the island's megafauna. This thesis constitutes the first systematic review in the last thirty years of literature relating to the colonisation of the island, as well as the first to approach this multidisciplinary material in light of new archaeological evidence from Lakaton'i Anja. This study also represents the first comprehensive and comparative phytolith analysis conducted on Madagascar. Despite the wide application of phytolith analysis across regional archaeological and palaeoecological contexts,
Pomerantz, Solomon
Archaeology ; Palaeoecology ; Madagascar ; Phytoliths ; Archaeological Science
The prehistory of Madagascar : microbotanical and archaeological evidence from coastal and highland sites. Despite nearly one hundred years of archaeological and palaeoecological research in Madagascar, the human colonisation of the island remains poorly understood. Long- standing narratives of this colonisation described the arrival of Austronesian- speaking peoples by AD 400, eventually reaching the Central Highlands by the 12th century. The recent discovery of microlithic tools at the rockshelter of Lakaton'i Anja has radically disrupted conventional narratives for this colonisation by more than doubling the known period of Madagascar's human history, and questioning the presumed Austronesian origins of these first Malagasy peoples. This discovery also challenges existing models for the late Holocene extinction of the island's megafauna. This thesis constitutes the first systematic review in the last thirty years of literature relating to the colonisation of the island, as well as the first to approach this multidisciplinary material in light of new archaeological evidence from Lakaton'i Anja. This study also represents the first comprehensive and comparative phytolith analysis conducted on Madagascar. Despite the wide application of phytolith analysis across regional archaeological and palaeoecological contexts,
prehistory archaeological_evidence coastal highland site despite nearly hundred_year archaeological palaeoecological human colonisation island remain_poorly understood long stand narrative colonisation describe arrival speaking people eventually reach central highlands recent_discovery tool radically disrupt conventional narrative colonisation double known period human_history question presumed origin first people discovery also challenge_exist model late_holocene extinction island constitutes_first systematic_review literature_relate colonisation island well first multidisciplinary material light_new archaeological_evidence study also represent_first comprehensive comparative phytolith analysis_conduct despite wide application phytolith analysis across regional archaeological palaeoecological context