The early Antandroy Kingdom : Excavations and survey in Androy 1995

A two-month field season was undertaken in October and November 1995 by a team of seven from the University of Shefield and the MusCe d'Art et d'Archtologie, Antananarivo. We were joined for much of the time by Georges Heurtebize whose considerable knowledge and experience of the region proved invaluable. The research can be divided into three main fields: the early Antandroy kingdom, its origins and development between the 16th and 19th centuries; the tombs and sacred forests of the contemporary landscape; and the earliest coastal settlements and their relationship with the extinction of Aepyomis, the flightless Elephant Bird. A full interim report is available on request (Parker Pearson et al. 1995).