Contact: Jason L. Jenkins
Information Specialist
(573) 882-6217
JenkinsJL@missouri.edu
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Caves hold a special place in some cultures. For
example, while the Merina people of Madagascar regularly exhume their
dead and honor them with sacrificial feasts, the island's Tsimihety
people believe their ancestors must never be disturbed. Therefore,
they put the bodies in caves, which they regard as places of eternal
peace. This is just one of many unique cave uses a
University of Missouri-Columbia
researcher is uncovering as he studies cave use by cultures around
the world.
Joe Hobbs, professor of geography, has traveled the world to learn how different cultures value caves. Most recently, his travels have taken him to the island nation of Madagascar, which lies off the southeastern coast of Africa.
"Madagascar is a culturally rich nation with about 18 ethnic groups," he said. "Their use of caves is tremendously diverse with influences from both Africa and Asia. The importance of caves to these people is not completely understood, but by studying how each group values caves, we can appreciate the cave's important role in human history."
While in Madagascar, Hobbs visited two major cave regions occupied by two different ethnic groups - the Sakalava and the Antakarana.
"For the Antakarana, the caves were a refuge from prosecution from the Merina people in the 1800s," he said. "They survived in the caves for three years while hunting, foraging and growing crops in the hidden canyons."
The first four Antakarana kings are buried in the caves, and once every five years the current king leads a ceremonial pilgrimage to the tombs. "When I asked the king for permission to enter the royal cave, I was told it was taboo even for him to do so, but I was invited to take part in the next pilgrimage. I'm planning my return."
Hobbs also plans to study cave use in other parts of the world including Malaysia, New Guinea and Central America. He intends to place all of his experiences in a book that will encompass cave use around the world since prehistoric times.
This summer, the American Geographical Society will publish Hobbs' research in Madagascar in its magazine, Focus.