September 12, 2024
A series of 35 circular niches excavated in the rock at Teniky, Madagascar. Credit: G. Schreurs et al.
An international team of researchers has made a surprising archaeological discovery in the heart of Madagascar that could rewrite the history of the island’s settlement and its connections with distant civilizations. In Teniky, a site located in the remote Isalo Massif in southern Madagascar, they have found an enigmatic rock-cut architecture that has no parallels anywhere else on the island or the East African coast.
The archaeologists, led by Guido Schreurs from the University of Bern, have documented extensive rock-carved structures that include artificial terraces, niches carved into cliffs, walls of carved sandstone, and stone basins.
Most astonishingly, the closest stylistic parallels to this architecture are found thousands of kilometers away, in present-day Iran, particularly in the Fars region, where similar rock-cut niches have been identified and are related to Zoroastrian communities from the first millennium AD or even earlier.
An international team of researchers has made a surprising archaeological discovery in the heart of Madagascar that could rewrite the history of the island’s settlement and its connections with distant civilizations. In Teniky, a site located in the remote Isalo Massif in southern Madagascar, they have found an enigmatic rock-cut architecture that has no parallels anywhere else on the island or the East African coast.
The archaeologists, led by Guido Schreurs from the University of Bern, have documented extensive rock-carved structures that include artificial terraces, niches carved into cliffs, walls of carved sandstone, and stone basins.
Most astonishingly, the closest stylistic parallels to this architecture are found thousands of kilometers away, in present-day Iran, particularly in the Fars region, where similar rock-cut niches have been identified and are related to Zoroastrian communities from the first millennium AD or even earlier.
Location of Teniky in Madagascar. The white circles are archaeological sites. Credit: G. Schreurs et al.
The site of Teniky has been known since the early 20th century for its archaeological structures within a riverine cirque, including the so-called “Grande Grotte” or “Cave of the Portuguese,” a large rock shelter bounded by carefully constructed sandstone walls.
However, recent investigations have revealed that the site is much more extensive than previously thought, encompassing several archaeological zones that extend for kilometers beyond the original cirque.
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal found during excavations indicates that these structures were built between the 10th and 12th centuries AD, coinciding with the presence of imported Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics dating approximately from the 11th to the 14th centuries.
The site of Teniky has been known since the early 20th century for its archaeological structures within a riverine cirque, including the so-called “Grande Grotte” or “Cave of the Portuguese,” a large rock shelter bounded by carefully constructed sandstone walls.
However, recent investigations have revealed that the site is much more extensive than previously thought, encompassing several archaeological zones that extend for kilometers beyond the original cirque.
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal found during excavations indicates that these structures were built between the 10th and 12th centuries AD, coinciding with the presence of imported Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics dating approximately from the 11th to the 14th centuries.
The Grande Grotte with the remains of the wall discovered in 1940. Credit: G. Schreurs et al.
This finding is particularly intriguing as it shows that the inhabitants of Teniky were part of Indian Ocean trade networks during the medieval period, despite being located more than 200 kilometers from the nearest coast.
The research team, which includes scientists from Switzerland, Madagascar, and other countries, has tentatively proposed that the rock-cut architecture of Teniky could be part of an ancient necropolis built by settlers of Zoroastrian origin.
If confirmed, this hypothesis would raise numerous fascinating questions about the nature of early settlement in Madagascar and the complex cultural interactions that took place in the Indian Ocean during the medieval period.
This finding is particularly intriguing as it shows that the inhabitants of Teniky were part of Indian Ocean trade networks during the medieval period, despite being located more than 200 kilometers from the nearest coast.
The research team, which includes scientists from Switzerland, Madagascar, and other countries, has tentatively proposed that the rock-cut architecture of Teniky could be part of an ancient necropolis built by settlers of Zoroastrian origin.
If confirmed, this hypothesis would raise numerous fascinating questions about the nature of early settlement in Madagascar and the complex cultural interactions that took place in the Indian Ocean during the medieval period.
Teniky: images of the niches: a–b) quadrangular rock-cut niches; c–d) the presence of tool marks in the niches. These are absent in the underlying brown-reddish layer in (d), which is friable and erodes more easily. Credit: G. Schreurs et al.
Dr. Schreurs and his colleagues emphasize the need for further archaeological research to test this hypothesis and address crucial questions, such as: Where and when did these settlers first arrive on the coast of Madagascar? Why and when did they move inland? How did they live and interact with other populations on the island? And finally, why and when was the site abandoned?
The discovery at Teniky adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the settlement of Madagascar was a complex and multicultural process. Recent genetic studies have identified African and Asian contributions as the primary components of the present Malagasy population, but with marked regional variability in the relative proportions of these two ancestries.
Archaeological evidence until now had only documented a relatively late settlement of Madagascar during the second half of the first millennium AD, with some possible exceptions suggesting an earlier human presence.
Dr. Schreurs and his colleagues emphasize the need for further archaeological research to test this hypothesis and address crucial questions, such as: Where and when did these settlers first arrive on the coast of Madagascar? Why and when did they move inland? How did they live and interact with other populations on the island? And finally, why and when was the site abandoned?
The discovery at Teniky adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the settlement of Madagascar was a complex and multicultural process. Recent genetic studies have identified African and Asian contributions as the primary components of the present Malagasy population, but with marked regional variability in the relative proportions of these two ancestries.
Archaeological evidence until now had only documented a relatively late settlement of Madagascar during the second half of the first millennium AD, with some possible exceptions suggesting an earlier human presence.
Teniky: Zone 4: a) aerial view of part of the quarry from which shrub and loose gravel were removed at the right; b) detail of a cleaned part of the quarry. Credit: G. Schreurs et al.
In this context, Teniky emerges as a site of exceptional importance that could shed light on a little-known chapter of Madagascar’s history. The presence of such elaborate and unprecedented architecture on the island, along with evidence of participation in Indian Ocean trade, suggests that Teniky may have been an important religious and commercial center in the interior of Madagascar during the Middle Ages.
The study highlights the need to reconsider existing models of Madagascar’s settlement and Indian Ocean trade networks. The possibility of a Zoroastrian presence on the island raises new questions about religious and cultural diversity in medieval Madagascar and migration routes across the ocean.
The researchers also point out the urgency of protecting and further studying the Teniky site. Despite being located within Isalo National Park, the site has suffered damage and looting in the past. Understanding its true historical and cultural significance could help ensure its preservation for future generations.
SOURCES
Schreurs, G., Allegro, T., Rouvinez, M., et al., (2024). Teniky: enigmatic architecture at an archaeological site in southern Madagascar. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa, 1–44. doi.org/10.1080/0067270X.2024.2380619
In this context, Teniky emerges as a site of exceptional importance that could shed light on a little-known chapter of Madagascar’s history. The presence of such elaborate and unprecedented architecture on the island, along with evidence of participation in Indian Ocean trade, suggests that Teniky may have been an important religious and commercial center in the interior of Madagascar during the Middle Ages.
The study highlights the need to reconsider existing models of Madagascar’s settlement and Indian Ocean trade networks. The possibility of a Zoroastrian presence on the island raises new questions about religious and cultural diversity in medieval Madagascar and migration routes across the ocean.
The researchers also point out the urgency of protecting and further studying the Teniky site. Despite being located within Isalo National Park, the site has suffered damage and looting in the past. Understanding its true historical and cultural significance could help ensure its preservation for future generations.
SOURCES
Schreurs, G., Allegro, T., Rouvinez, M., et al., (2024). Teniky: enigmatic architecture at an archaeological site in southern Madagascar. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa, 1–44. doi.org/10.1080/0067270X.2024.2380619
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