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Story: Ngā tupu mai i Hawaiki – plants from Polynesia

Microfossils

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Microfossils

Evidence of early Māori gardening remains as microfossils in the soil. These include pollen, starch grains and phytoliths (minute silica deposits present in plant stems). This composite image shows the micro footprints of aute (top), hue (centre) and kūmara (bottom).

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How to cite this page

Louise Furey, Ngā tupu mai i Hawaiki – plants from Polynesia – From Polynesia to New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/17496/microfossils (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Louise Furey, published 1 March 2009.