Birds, ancient DNA, and shared histories

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