Research and Reason
Research and Reason
Faculty of Arts and Education, University of Auckland
Birds, ancient DNA, and shared histories
32 minutes Posted Apr 28, 2026 at 12:15 pm.
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What can tiny fragments of ancient bird bones and DNA reveal about the past?

Anthropology doctoral candidate Patricia Pillay's research uncovers how humans and wildlife in the Marquesas Islands have interacted over the past 700 years.

In conversation with our media adviser Julianne Evans, Patricia also shares how tiny bird bones and Indigenous knowledge tell big stories about history, culture and conservation.

Watch another interview of Patricia here: https://www.facebook.com/531pi/videos/699301126539966/


Read more here: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2026/03/02/bird-s-eye-view-of-ancient-pacific-life.html