Environmental Assessment
Volume B-5.2
Mine
Cultural Property
Ambatovy Project
352
January 2006
Table 5.2-1 Potential Types of Cultural Sites in the Cultural Resources Study
Area
Site Category
Sub-Categories
Cultural Relevance
Fasana
Tranomanara
tombs
Feraomby
considered ancestral residences, their displacement
requires careful attention to proper ritual
cemeteries
--
as above
Jiro
family prayer altar
ceremonial sites
Fisokona
communal prayer altar
nefarious places
Tany Mahery
bad luck area
sacred waterfalls
Riana
symbolize purity; place for offerings
Vatolahy
large raised stone commemorating an important person or
event of the past
Tsangambato
small raised stones symbolizing a tomb
other cultural /
archaeological sites
Tanana Taloha
ancient abandoned villages
The general development area has been settled at least since the 18th century
with populations who have based their livelihoods on rice and livestock, focusing
on slash and burn (Tavy) agriculture. This type of agriculture, combined with a
preference for small villages rather than isolated houses, results in the fact that
villages are periodically partially or completely abandoned as people move closer
to new lands.
With the exception of the ancient abandoned villages, which are purely
archaeological, the rest of these sites listed in Table 5.2-1 may be considered
cultural because they continue to play a role in the current culture of the area.
5.2.3.3 Results
During the assessment of the minesite area, three sacred waterfalls, three
ceremonial centres, two symbolic tombs, and several ancient villages were
located (see Figure 5.2-1). Of these cultural resources, however, only one sacred
waterfall is located within the actual minesite boundary. In addition, about eight
kilometres east of the Ambatovy ore body, a hill named Ambavahadivohitra has
been identified as being a principal cult (fisokona) area, used by the regional
population as a whole.
