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Story: Extinctions

Cave rubble

Image
Cave rubble

The remains of large birds often become preserved in caves where they sheltered and eventually died. Shown from above, this rubble on a cave floor at Honeycomb Hill, near Karamea, contains bone fragments. Above the floor is the cave’s limestone roof.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: CT007818

by Trevor Worthy

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Richard Holdaway, Extinctions – New Zealand extinctions since human arrival, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13658/cave-rubble (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by Richard Holdaway, published 2 March 2009.