Environmental Assessment
Volume E-5.2
Tailings Facility
Cultural Property
Ambatovy Project
200
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
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 tailings area, seven tomb sites, 12 ceremonial sites,
10 archaeological sites, and one symbolic tomb site were located
(see Figure 5.2-1). Seven ceremonial sites, three tomb sites, and two
archaeological sites were also found near (<1 km) the tailings area boundary.
5.2.4
Issue Scoping
The main potential issues relating to cultural resources are:
•
destruction of cultural sites during tailings construction (primary
impacts); and
•
disturbance of nearby cultural sites during and after tailings operation
(secondary and tertiary impacts).
