Ampasambazimba is a mountain peak and
subfossil site in Madagascar, most known for being the site of the remains of the extinct giant sloth lemur
''Archaeoindris''.
Ampasambazimba is located at 1,036 meters above sea level. It was discovered in 1902 by Monsieur Raybaud, a colonial administrator at the time. In 1909, the giant sloth lemur ''Archaeoindris'' was described by
Herbert F. Standing using subfossil fragments. A complete skull was later discovered by
Charles Lamberton
Charles Lamberton (23 April 18768 October 1960) was a French paleontologist who lived and studied on the island of Madagascar between 1911 and 1948 and specialized in the recently extinct subfossil lemurs. He made significant contributions towa ...
in 1925, which he then published in 1934.
Ampasambazimba is regarded as one of the most productive and most well-known subfossil sites in Madagascar.
A number of sporadic excavations were conducted at Ampasambazimba, ranging from 1902 to 1984. Excavations resulted in the discovery of 15 lemuroid species, of which seven were extinct. Excavations also resulted in the discovery of 13 bird species, of which eight were extinct.
History
Prehistoric
Radiocarbon dating suggests lemuroid species were living on Ampasambazimba over 22,000 years ago.
The dating also showed that tree specimens had existed over 8,000 years ago.
It has been believed that the giant
sloth lemur
The sloth lemurs (Palaeopropithecidae) comprise an extinct family of lemurs that includes four genera. The common name can be misleading, as members of Palaeopropithecidae were not closely related to sloths. This clade has been dubbed the ‘‘s ...
''
Archaeoindris'' had been living when humans first set foot on Madagascar at approximately 350 BC. Subfossil evidence suggested that ''
Megaladapis grandidieri'' was the last extant lemuroid species, with the subfossil sample being dated 900–1040 AD.
Birds and eagles, including ''
Stephanoaetus mahery'', were also thought to have been living at Ampasambazimba over 5,500 years ago.
Prior to human arrival, Ampasambazimba was thought to have been a more open habitat, rather than a completely forested area. It consisted of a mix of woodlands, bushlands, and savanna.
Discovery
In 1902, Monsieur Raybaud, a colonial administrator, discovered Ampasambazimba
and constructed a report to then-
President of France
The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (french: Président de la République française), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency i ...
Émile Loubet
Émile François Loubet (; 30 December 183820 December 1929) was the 45th Prime Minister of France from February to December 1892 and later President of France from 1899 to 1906.
Trained in law, he became mayor of Montélimar, where he was not ...
.
This prompted a number of sporadic excavations, ranging from 1902 to 1984. Excavations unearthed an "enormous amount of bone material".
15 lemur species, including ''Archaeoindris'' and ''Megaladapis'', were unearthed; seven were extinct.
13 bird species, including ''Stephanoeatus mahery'', were also unearthed; eight were extinct.
References
Sources
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* {{Cite journal , last1 = MacPhee , first1 = R. D. E. , last2 = Burney , first2 = D. A. , last3 = Wells , first3 = N. A. , doi = 10.1007/BF02735571 , title = Early Holocene chronology and environment of Ampasambazimba, A Malagasy subfossil lemur site , journal = International Journal of Primatology , volume = 6 , issue = 5 , pages = 463–489 , year = 1985 , s2cid = 44449535
Mountains of Madagascar