Mechanics of overkill in the extinction of New Zealand moas

Abstract

The prehistoric extinction of moas (Dinornithiformes) in New Zealand was caused in some way by the first arrival of people about 1000 bp. Overkill is the preferred hypothesis and two aspects of it are considered in this paper: the structure of the radiocarbon chronology and quantification of over-exploitation of moa populations. Moa-hunting occupied the same time span on each main island and peaked at about the same point, c. 650 bp. Initial settlement was coastally dispersed and there is no evidence of explosive radial expansion of an extinction front. Modelling of moa and human population sizes, and culling and consumption levels, indicates that substantially more moas must have been killed than is apparent in the archaeological evidence to satisfy the requirements of an overkill explanation of extinction. Overkill remains the most probable explanation of extinction but it cannot yet be demonstrated. Show more