The Archaeology of Madagascar

Abstract This chapter surveys the archaeology of Madagascar, one of the world’s largest islands and one of the last major landmasses to be permanently settled by humans. Despite its proximity to Africa, Madagascar’s archaeological and linguistic records reveal a complex history of settlement by seafaring populations from across the Indian Ocean, especially Southeast Asia and East Africa. The authors trace the development of archaeological research on the island, from colonial-era antiquarianism and post-independence national scholarship to recent international and community-based initiatives. The chapter highlights emerging contributions of Malagasy archaeology to global island and coastal archaeology, particularly in areas such as human impacts on biodiversity, long-term sustainability, climate adaptation, and sociopolitical diversity. The authors spotlight innovative, interdisciplinary work led by Malagasy researchers that combines paleoecological, archaeological, oral historical, and geospatial methods. Structural barriers—including limited access to funding, publication, and training—remain serious challenges for Malagasy scholars, but new collaborative models and decolonial approaches offer promising paths forward. The authors argue that Madagascar’s archaeology is positioned to contribute substantially to international debates on resilience, mobility, inequality, and heritage justice. Realizing this potential will depend on a stronger commitment to inclusive, community-engaged, and ethically grounded scholarship that makes Madagascar’s past meaningful and accessible to local and global audiences alike.