Rock art from Andriamamelo Cave in the Beanka Protected Area of western Madagascar

Abstract

Stylistically unique black rock drawings have been discovered in Andriamamelo Cave in western Madagascar. Several image groupings comprise naturalistic scenes with anthropomorphic, zoomorphic, and therianthropic figures. These complex images are not similar to the polychrome painted symbols previously described from the Isalo region of SW Madagascar. Eight instances were noted where images and themes suggest Ptolemaic Egyptian mythological characters and symbols, some possibly of stellar constellations. One type of M-shaped figure occurred 16 times throughout the entire design field. We have not found this figure in other rock art around the Indian Ocean, except a rare occurrence in Borneo, believed to have been created about 2000 years ago. It also matches one distinctive character found in the Amharic alphabet of Ethiopia. One set of eight curvilinears resemble Arabic characters or indigenous Sorabe. Extant animals were tentatively identified, and also three of the extinct megafauna may be pictured (elephant bird, tortoise, and sloth lemur). The latter appears in an inferred hunting scene, with a hunter pointing a weapon, the giant lemur upside down, and two dogs. Images suggest connections between traditional Malagasy symbology and the disparate worlds of the island’s ancient influences, both from NE Africa and Borneo. Milligram-sized samples of the black pigment were collected from an image for AMS ¹⁴C dating, but they contained insufficient carbon in aggregate.

Keywords:

• Cave art
• rock art
• Madagascar
• Sorabe
• Egypt
• Borneo
• extinct megafauna

Acknowledgements

The scientific study authorization was provided by the Bureau du Cadastre Minier de Madagascar. Many thanks to faculty of the Université d’Antananarivo and staffs of Association Vahatra and Institut de Civilizations for assistance with permits and logistics. We extend special thanks to the staff of BCM, including Aldus Andriamamonjy and Didier Harison Joseph Nandianina for transporting us safely to and from remote places. To the people of the village of Anahidrano, we extend thanks for hospitality and assistance with field work. Local field assistants who accompanied us throughout our mission in the area included René Rafidison, André Tsimiefitsy, Justin Maro, and Georges Ratsimbazafy. Misaotra betsaka to our anonymous local informant for granting us an interview. Laurie Rohde Godfrey, Lida Pigott Burney and Gail Willis Cannon provided helpful comments on the manuscript. We are also grateful to Dr. Rachel Hoerman of the University of Hawaìi—Manoa for pointing out to us the similarities with Bornean rock art, and for giving us permission to use her photographs of Bornean examples.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Research at Beanka was supported by the National Geographic Society via Waitt Foundation grants W263-13 and W388-15 to DAB, and by the site managing organization, Biodiversity Conservation Madagascar (BCM).