Environmental Assessment
Volume E-5.2
Tailings Facility
Cultural Property
Ambatovy Project
205
January 2006
Table 5.2-4 General Procedure for Relocating Tombs
Steps
Procedures
Comments
1
identification of owners / descendants
this must be formally verified
2
initial discussion of options with owners
this first meeting is only to discuss options, not
determine a final solution
3
later re-visit to enquire about owners’ ideas
and conditions
the choice of when and where the relocation
should take place is left to the tomb owners
4
another re-visit to discuss:
1) materials and financial aspects of the
owners’ stated conditions
2) details of the ceremony
5
launch the construction of new tombs, and
probably new coffins
this requires a small ritual to be performed
6
gathering of required materials: burial linens,
alcohol, zebu cattle, etc.
money may also be given to the locals in order for
them to partially do this on their own
7
on the appointed day, the ritual will be
conducted by an important village person
it would be ideal to conduct this entire process of
exhumation and inhumation in one day
5.2.5.5 Conclusions
Following mitigation, the tailings facility will have a neutral effect on cultural
resources during the construction phase. Although archaeological sites will be
destroyed by mitigative excavations, the information obtained from these will
offset their destruction (Prof. Jean-Aimé Rakotoarisoa pers. comm.; Volume K,
Appendix 2.1). Because the tombs, symbolic tomb, and ceremonial sites located
within the tailings project area may be displaced without altering their inherent
cultural meaning, a neutral effect is also envisioned.
No secondary effects due to off-site hydrologic or erosion impacts are predicted.
A potential moderate, medium-term effect on cultural resources adjacent to the
tailings may occur during the operations phase, depending on whether the non-
local residents working in this area will come into contact with these.
No effects are envisioned for the tailings closure phase.
