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Radiocarbon dating of the very large egg baobab from the andombiry forest, Madagascar

Patrut A., Patrut R.T., Leong Pock Tsy J.M., Rakosy L., Danthu P., Ratiu I.A., Bodis J., Woodbourne S.. 2023. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai. Chemia, 68 (3) : p. 141-151.

DOI: 10.24193/subbchem.2023.3.09

The article discloses the AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating results of the Egg baobab, a superlative Grandidier baobab (Adansonia grandidieri) from the Andomiry Forest, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar. The investigation of the baobab shows that it consists of 5 perfectly fused stems and exhibits a closed ring-shaped structure with a very large false cavity inside. The calculated overall wood volume of the Egg baobab is 450 m3. Two wood samples were collected from the exterior of the stems, out of which nine tiny segments were extracted and dated by radiocarbon. The oldest sample segment had a radiocarbon date of 921 ± 24 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 840 ± 25 years. According to this value the Egg baobab is 875 ± 75 years old.

Mots-clés : adansonia grandidieri; adansonia; adansonia digitata; bois; distribution géographique; anatomie végétale; détermination de l'âge; dendrochronologie; morphologie végétale; organisme indigène; madagascar

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