PLoS ONE (Jan 2018)

New evidence of megafaunal bone damage indicates late colonization of Madagascar.

  • Atholl Anderson,
  • Geoffrey Clark,
  • Simon Haberle,
  • Tom Higham,
  • Malgosia Nowak-Kemp,
  • Amy Prendergast,
  • Chantal Radimilahy,
  • Lucien M Rakotozafy,
  • Ramilisonina,
  • Jean-Luc Schwenninger,
  • Malika Virah-Sawmy,
  • Aaron Camens

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204368
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 10
p. e0204368

Abstract

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The estimated period in which human colonization of Madagascar began has expanded recently to 5000-1000 y B.P., six times its range in 1990, prompting revised thinking about early migration sources, routes, maritime capability and environmental changes. Cited evidence of colonization age includes anthropogenic palaeoecological data 2500-2000 y B.P., megafaunal butchery marks 4200-1900 y B.P. and OSL dating to 4400 y B.P. of the Lakaton'i Anja occupation site. Using large samples of newly-excavated bone from sites in which megafaunal butchery was earlier dated >2000 y B.P. we find no butchery marks until ~1200 y B.P., with associated sedimentary and palynological data of initial human impact about the same time. Close analysis of the Lakaton'i Anja chronology suggests the site dates <1500 y B.P. Diverse evidence from bone damage, palaeoecology, genomic and linguistic history, archaeology, introduced biota and seafaring capability indicate initial human colonization of Madagascar 1350-1100 y B.P.