Yamdena

{{Short description|Indonesian island}}

{{Infobox islands

| name = Yamdena

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| map = Indonesia Maluku

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| location = South East Asia

| coordinates= {{coord|7|36|S|131|25|E|type:isle_region:ID_scale:1000000|display=inline,title}}

| archipelago = Tanimbar Islands

| total_islands =

| major_islands =

| area_km2 = 2981

| highest_mount =

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| country = Indonesia

| country_admin_divisions_title = Province

| country_admin_divisions = Maluku

| country_largest_city = Saumlaki

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Yamdena (spelled Jamdena during the Dutch colonial period) is the largest of the Tanimbar Islands in the Maluku province of Indonesia. Saumlaki is the chief town, located on the south end of the island.

The island has a range of forested hills along its eastern coast, while its western coast is lower. The forests are inhabited by wild water buffalo.

The Yamdena language is spoken on and around the island.[http://language.psy.auckland.ac.nz/austronesian/language.php?id=78 Yamdena Wordlist at the Austronesian Basic Vocabulary Database] Christianity is the main religion, but ancestor worship is still practised. Handicrafts on the island include woodcarving, fine goldwork, and Ikat weaving (mainly on nearby Selaru Island). In 1987 a new species of Bush Warbler was recorded on the island.[http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/43413 Rozendaal]

Megalith: In the village of Sangliat Dol there is an antique stone stairway that leads from the beach to a boat shaped stone platform.[http://www.east-indonesia.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=294 Photo of the stairway]

There are several similar less preserved sites on the island[https://books.google.com/books?id=4GMBFsaFNN4C&dq=sangliat+dol+lonely+planet&pg=PA770 Lonely Planet Indonesia, 9th edition, page 770] which originally represented the boats on which the inhabitants' ancient ancestors arrived on the island.