A World Away: Stonehenge and Ancestor Stones in Madagascar

Stonehenge is one of the most world famous archaeological sites, which has long fascinated both scholars and the general public. Mike Parker Pearson is an Archaeologist who has worked at Stonehenge, and has developed an analogy between the monument and modern stone structures in Madagascar with the help of a local Archaeologist named Ramilisonina. The two are compared in order to form a new interpretation of Stonehenge.

What are the ancestor stones from Madagascar? They are used in tombs and monuments. They are the possessions of the ancestors, as stone is a sacred material. The living do not use stone, but they use wood instead. The analogy Parker Pearson and Ramilisonia developed compares the use of stone in both monuments to connect them to ancestors.

There are no doubt similarities between modern burial traditions in Madagascar and ancient burial traditions from Neolithic England seen through the standing stones. However, an analogy between the two is not that applicable in my opinion. It is possible for similar ideas to arise independently, but the causes of those similarities are most likely completely different. The comparison is between two vastly different cultures separated by both time and geography. Analogies can be useful between two contemporaneous cultures to show cultural preferences and customs. However, we do not know that much about Neolithic England. We cannot verify our information.

For instance, we know that the stones in Madagascar are for ancestors, however we cannot confirm this in Neolithic England. There are theories interpreting Stonehenge as everything from a calendar to an alien monument. The monument’s main purpose was most likely much more complex, and probably changed through time. We cannot test these ideas because it was constructed in the Neolithic. In Madagascar we can consult the actual people performing the ritual surrounding the remaining burial site. Therefore any direct comparison between the two is restricted.

 

 Madagascar Ancestor Stones.

An aerial view of Stonehenge.