Teniky: An Enigmatic Architectural Marvel at an Archaeological Site in Southern Madagascar
Teniky is a unique archaeological site in the Isalo massif of southern Madagascar, featuring distinctive rock-cut architecture. Early 20th-century visitors noted structures within a fluvial cirque, including terraces and rock shelters.
Recent investigations revealed additional features like terraces, stone basins, and quarries 2.5 km away. AMS radiocarbon dating suggests these structures were built between the 10th and 12th centuries, coinciding with pottery sherds from Chinese and Southeast Asian origins, indicating participation in Indian Ocean trade despite the site’s distance from the coast.
The architecture resembles Zoroastrian rock-cut niches found in Iran, leading to the hypothesis that it served as a necropolis for Zoroastrian settlers. Further research is needed to explore the origins, lifestyle, and eventual abandonment of these settlers.
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Schreurs, G., Allegro, T., Rouvinez, M., Radimilahy, C., Raharinoro, J., Fanny Sabe, N., … Szidat, S. (2024). Teniky: enigmatic architecture at an archaeological site in southern Madagascar. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa, 1–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/0067270X.2024.2380619
