The Pacific rat (kiore) is not native to New Zealand and could only have arrived here with humans. In 1996 scientist Richard Holdaway obtained 15 Pacific rat dates, by radiocarbon dating, that were significantly earlier than the accepted date of Polynesian settlement of 1250–1300 CE. He dated some rat bones at up to nearly 2,000 years of age (50–150 CE). Most subsequent research has not supported this finding.
Using this item
Department of Conservation
Reference:
1033848
Photograph by Dick Veitch
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Add new comment