The first archaeological site recorded in the far north of Madagascar, near the mouth of the Irodo river between Antsiranana and Vohemar, occupied mainly from the twelfth to the fourteenth century, with soapstone net weights, iron and slag.
On 1 January 1200 a coastal village of fishers and smiths.
Who holds it
- Title
- Not known
- Since
- Not pinned
- Confidence
- low
Lord in 1200
None recorded.
How things stand that morning
A village.
Charter
None known: Swahili towns had no written charters.
Council
Village elders, presumably.
Communities
Malagasy-speaking villagers.
Fairs and markets
No fairs; trade follows the monsoon season (ships arrive with the north-east kaskazi from about November and leave with the south-west kusi from about April).
Militia
Not recorded.
Trade and crafts
Fishing, ironworking, soapstone.
Where the sources disagree
- A single radiocarbon date on mangrove shell reads about 1090 BP, but marine correction pushes it to the fourteenth century or later (Dewar and Wright). Coordinates approximate.
Evidence: Survey and excavation (Verin and others).
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.