Faunal and floral remains from F1, a cave near Waitomo

The fauna of F1, a cave near Waitomo, is described. The excavated sediments range in age from contemporary to about 14,000 years old, and contained 26 species of birds, along with other vertebrate species. At least 25 species of subfossil insects were found, including four extinct species from a layer dated to 1,680 ± 50 years BP by ¹⁴C methods. At least 289 subfossil birds were represented, and the range of body size in the local populations of Notornis, Gallirallus and Aptornis are given. Macro- and microfloras indicated that a podocarp forest dominated by rimu existed in the area during deposition of the upper layers of the deposit.