Living on the Edge: Dogs and People in Early New Zealand

Summary

New Zealand is situated on the southern margins of the Polynesian triangle in the Pacific Ocean. Its temperate climate and environment differs greatly from the tropical central East Polynesian islands, from where its first human colonists originated. Although possessing plentiful bird life, sea mammals and other marine taxa, people faced challenges adapting their tropical horticultural practices to this new land. This paper explores the changing fortunes of people and dogs during the settlement and occupation of New Zealand, and the extent to which early dog populations may reflect the economic success or otherwise of associated human communities.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20781