Radiocarbon Investigation of the Historic African Baobabs of Omusati, Namibia
The Omusati region belongs to historic Ovamboland, an area of northern Namibia populated by tribes of the Ovambo group. Four very large African baobabs of Omusati played an important role in historic events of the area, such as the tribal wars and the Namibian War of Independence. The four historic...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/11/1899 |
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| author | Adrian Patrut Roxana T. Patrut Laszlo Rakosy Demetra Rakosy Willie Oliver Ileana Andreea Ratiu Daniel A. Lowy Gebhardt Shiimbi Stephan Woodborne Karl F. von Reden |
| author_facet | Adrian Patrut Roxana T. Patrut Laszlo Rakosy Demetra Rakosy Willie Oliver Ileana Andreea Ratiu Daniel A. Lowy Gebhardt Shiimbi Stephan Woodborne Karl F. von Reden |
| author_sort | Adrian Patrut |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Omusati region belongs to historic Ovamboland, an area of northern Namibia populated by tribes of the Ovambo group. Four very large African baobabs of Omusati played an important role in historic events of the area, such as the tribal wars and the Namibian War of Independence. The four historic baobabs are the Ombalantu baobab (8 stems; circumference 24.50 m), Okahao baobab (4+ stems; around 25 m), Amadhila baobab (12 stems; 25.35 m) and Sir Howard baobab (9 stems; 31.60 m). Two historic baobabs collapsed totally or partially. The stems of the Amadhila baobab toppled and died in 2021, while 3 stems of the Okahao baobab collapsed a long time ago, but are still alive. Our research aimed to determine the architecture and age of these baobabs. Three baobabs (Ombalantu, Amadhila, Sir Howard) exhibit a closed ring-shaped structure, with a false cavity inside. One baobab (Okahao) had an open ring-shaped structure, before its collapse. Several wood cores were extracted from the baobabs and investigated by radiocarbon dating. The dating results indicate ages of 770 ± 50 years for the Ombalantu baobab, 650 ± 50 years for the Okahao baobab, 1100 ± 50 years for the Amadhila baobab and 750 ± 50 years for the Sir Howard baobab. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:19:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c9a0d947ddd04383b9b6928cdabd0a7e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:19:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-c9a0d947ddd04383b9b6928cdabd0a7e2023-11-24T08:23:45ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-11-011311189910.3390/f13111899Radiocarbon Investigation of the Historic African Baobabs of Omusati, NamibiaAdrian Patrut0Roxana T. Patrut1Laszlo Rakosy2Demetra Rakosy3Willie Oliver4Ileana Andreea Ratiu5Daniel A. Lowy6Gebhardt Shiimbi7Stephan Woodborne8Karl F. von Reden9Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, 11 Arany Janos, RO-400028 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, 11 Arany Janos, RO-400028 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaFaculty of Biology and Geology, Babeş-Bolyai University, 44 Republicii, RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment for Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, 15 Permoserstr, D-04318 Leipzig, GermanyIndependent Researcher, Windhoek 10005, NamibiaFaculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, 11 Arany Janos, RO-400028 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaGenesis Sustainable Future Ltd., 33 Rakoczi St., H-3950 Sarospatak, HungaryOmbalantu Baobab Tree Heritage Site, Outapi P.O. Box 15, NamibiaiThemba LABS, Private Bag 11, WITS, Johannesburg 2050, South AfricaWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution, NOSAMS Facility, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USAThe Omusati region belongs to historic Ovamboland, an area of northern Namibia populated by tribes of the Ovambo group. Four very large African baobabs of Omusati played an important role in historic events of the area, such as the tribal wars and the Namibian War of Independence. The four historic baobabs are the Ombalantu baobab (8 stems; circumference 24.50 m), Okahao baobab (4+ stems; around 25 m), Amadhila baobab (12 stems; 25.35 m) and Sir Howard baobab (9 stems; 31.60 m). Two historic baobabs collapsed totally or partially. The stems of the Amadhila baobab toppled and died in 2021, while 3 stems of the Okahao baobab collapsed a long time ago, but are still alive. Our research aimed to determine the architecture and age of these baobabs. Three baobabs (Ombalantu, Amadhila, Sir Howard) exhibit a closed ring-shaped structure, with a false cavity inside. One baobab (Okahao) had an open ring-shaped structure, before its collapse. Several wood cores were extracted from the baobabs and investigated by radiocarbon dating. The dating results indicate ages of 770 ± 50 years for the Ombalantu baobab, 650 ± 50 years for the Okahao baobab, 1100 ± 50 years for the Amadhila baobab and 750 ± 50 years for the Sir Howard baobab.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/11/1899age determinationradiocarbon dating<i>Adansonia digitata</i>ring-shaped structurefalse cavitymultiple stems |
| spellingShingle | Adrian Patrut Roxana T. Patrut Laszlo Rakosy Demetra Rakosy Willie Oliver Ileana Andreea Ratiu Daniel A. Lowy Gebhardt Shiimbi Stephan Woodborne Karl F. von Reden Radiocarbon Investigation of the Historic African Baobabs of Omusati, Namibia Forests age determination radiocarbon dating <i>Adansonia digitata</i> ring-shaped structure false cavity multiple stems |
| title | Radiocarbon Investigation of the Historic African Baobabs of Omusati, Namibia |
| title_full | Radiocarbon Investigation of the Historic African Baobabs of Omusati, Namibia |
| title_fullStr | Radiocarbon Investigation of the Historic African Baobabs of Omusati, Namibia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radiocarbon Investigation of the Historic African Baobabs of Omusati, Namibia |
| title_short | Radiocarbon Investigation of the Historic African Baobabs of Omusati, Namibia |
| title_sort | radiocarbon investigation of the historic african baobabs of omusati namibia |
| topic | age determination radiocarbon dating <i>Adansonia digitata</i> ring-shaped structure false cavity multiple stems |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/11/1899 |
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