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

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 [m.sup.3]. 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 [+ or -] 24 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 840 [+ or -] 25 years. According to this value the Egg baobab is 875 [+ or -] 75 years old. Keywords: AMS radiocarbon dating, Adansonia grandidieri, tropical trees, multiple stems, false cavity.