Madagascar cave art hints at ancient connections between Africa and Asia Premium

Unique, prehistoric rock art drawings have been discovered in the Andriamamelo Cave in western Madagascar. The author was part of a team that discovered and described these ancient treasures. The discoveries contained several surprises, including hints at some remarkable cultural connections. First, scenes depicted in some cases linked up fairly directly to Egyptian religious motifs from the Ptolemaic period. Second, other inferences from symbols and writing on the walls showed connections to the Ethiopian and Afro-Arab worlds. Finally, prevalent symbology and motifs evoked a two-millennia-old cave art style from Borneo.

Unique, prehistoric rock art drawings have been discovered in the Andriamamelo Cave in western Madagascar.

I was part of a team that discovered and described these ancient treasures. They’re the first truly pictorial art, depicting images of nature with human-like and animal-like figures, to be seen on the island. Until recently, rock art in Madagascar had only yielded a few sites with basic symbols.

The dramatic discoveries contained several surprises, including hints at some remarkable cultural connections.

First, scenes depicted in some cases linked up fairly directly to Egyptian religious motifs from the Ptolemaic period (300-30 BCE)

Second, other inferences from symbols and writing on the walls showed connections to the Ethiopian and Afro-Arab worlds.

Finally, prevalent symbology and motifs evoked a two-millennia-old cave art style from Borneo.

An additional realm of surprises: at least three extinct animals of Madagascar (thought to have been extinct for many centuries) may be depicted – a giant sloth lemur, elephant birds and a giant tortoise.