Origins Architecture of Madagascar

this house in south kalimantan bears many of iconic construction features brought borneo madagascar 2 thousand years ago: wood plank walls, piles raise house ground , steeply sloping roof topped crossed gable beams form roof horns.

the architecture of madagascar unique in africa, bearing strong resemblance architecture of southern borneo earliest inhabitants of madagascar believed have emigrated. traditional construction in part of borneo, known south kalimantan, distinguished rectangular houses raised on piles. roof, supported central pillar, steeply sloped; gable beams cross form roof horns may decoratively carved. central highlands of madagascar populated merina, peoples bear strong physiological , cultural resemblance kalimantan ancestors; here, traditional wooden houses of aristocracy feature central pillar (andry) supporting steeply sloped roof decorated roof horns (tandro-trano). in southeast of madagascar, actual zebu horns traditionally affixed gable peak. throughout madagascar, houses rectangular gabled roof in kalimantan, central pillars widespread, , in handful of regions, traditional homes built on piles in manner handed down generation generation, regardless of whether feature suited local conditions.

certain cosmological , symbolic elements common across indonesian , malagasy architecture well. central house pillar sacred in kalimantan , madagascar alike, , in both places, upon constructing new house pillar traditionally anointed blood. features of building or dimensions (length, size, , particularly height) symbolically indicative of status of occupants or importance of purpose on both islands. likewise, both madagascar , borneo have tradition of partially above-ground tomb construction , inhabitants of both islands practice carving of decorative wooden funerary posts, called aloalo in western madagascar , klirieng in kajang dialect of borneo.