Sieving the excavations.
This is a Mauritian-European research initiative with the aim to:
“Reconstruct the world of the Dodo and determine the factors of its demise.”
The Dodo Research Programme was put together as the result of an initial find of Dodo and Tortoise bones in a small section of Mare aux Songes in 2005:
“On Friday 28 October 2005, a research team consisting of Kenneth
Rijsdijk, Frans Bunnik, Pieter Floore, with the aid of Alan Grihault, a local
expert on the Dodo, and Christian Foo Kune, General Manager of Mon Trésor
and Mon Desert Ltd. (MTMD), who own the Estate, have recovered vertebrate bone
fauna including Raphus cucullatus (Dodo), at Mare aux Songes in Mauritius.”
The present International Team consists of Palaeo Botanists, Palaeontologists,
Archaeologists, DNA Researchers, a Geologist, a Geophysicist, and local experts
from the National Heritage Fund, Mauritius Museums Council, MSIRI and the University
of Mauritius.
Sieving the excavations.
The following Fieldwork has been carried in and around Mare aux Songes during the month of June 2006:
• A non-destructive geophysical survey was carried out in the first three days, using geo-radar and geo-electric equipment to analyse and to map the existence of sub-surface lava tunnels, and to determine the best sites for excavations.
• Twelve core holes have been drilled in selected places to a depth of up to 8 metres to obtain an insight of the composition of the sedimentary layers.
• Excavations started on the 16th June and uncovered remains of bones, seeds and wood. All soil scoops containing fossils have been sieved, sub-sampled and classified for more in-depth classification. These include Dodo, Tortoise and various other bones, as well as Palm trees, Ebony and Tambalacoque seeds.
• The excavation was moved to a different location on the 21st June, and the results obtained tend to indicate the existence of a different layer than that found previously, and this new location might produce different results.
Beak of a dodo, found in 2005
The importance of this find lies in the fact that the bones are found lying in a bed of mud which contains other bones of animals that lived side by side with the Dodo, and also includes the pollen, seeds, leaves and wood of the forests surrounding the area before man came on the scene. Some bones have been found in-situ, lying beside each other, which includes a complete Dodo leg.
The work was continued in August 2007. A section of Mare aux Songes measuring 4m x 4m was enclosed in a dam so that the existing water could be pumped out to leave all the deposits in situ. So many bones were found in digging out the 16m trench for the dam wall that time ran out for the Team. However, once again, all the bones were examined and catalogued, and a temporary cover was placed over the site so as work could continue again in 2008.
Alan Grihault
Member of the DRP Team.
Tibia of dodo, found in 2006