Fig 1.
Map of Madagascar showing the large distribution area of Adansonia za and the location of the two investigated baobabs, Reakala and Analave in the southern Toliara province.
Fig 2.
General view of the spectacular Anzapalivoro (“the sacred za baobab, palace of birds”), which is surrounded by a flock of white birds.
Fig 3.
Another image of Anzapalivoro, which rises from a field of cacti, showing its big trunk and the large branches.
Fig 4.
The entrance to the inner cavity of Anzapalivoro, photographed from the exterior (a) and from the interior (b).
Fig 5.
General view of the Big cistern za with its 4 partially fused stems.
Fig 6.
The image presents the high opening (2.60 m) to the cistern which was dug in the largest stem.
Fig 7.
Cross-section of Anzapalivoro (at 1 m above ground), displaying the false cavity, the projection of the positions of the three internal sampling points (labelled 1, 2 and 3) and of the two external sampling points (labelled 12 and 13), with the sampling directions.
The five fused stems (labelled I, II, III, IV and V) are also shown.
Fig 8.
Collecting samples from the false inner cavity of Anzapalivoro.
One can notice the bark which covers the cavity walls.
Table 1.
AMS radiocarbon dating results and calibrated calendar ages of samples collected from Anzapalivoro (AZA) and Big cistern za (BCZ).
Table 2.
Age sequence determined from the dating results of the opposite samples AZA-3 and AZA-13 collected from Anzapalivoro.