  Pindai Caves location in New Caledonia | |
| Location | Népoui Peninsula, north-west coast ofGrande Terre |
|---|---|
| Region | New Caledonia |
| Coordinates | 21°21′S164°58′E / 21.350°S 164.967°E /-21.350; 164.967 |
ThePindai Caves ofNew Caledonia are anarchaeological andpalaeontological site important for the study of prehistoric human settlement as well as of theHolocenefauna of the island. The Pindai area has been occupied by humans for varying periods over the last 2,800 years.[1]
The site comprises six caves, incorallimestoneupraised about 5 m (16 ft), at the seaward tip of the Népoui Peninsula on the north-west coast ofGrande Terre, about 240 km (149.1 mi) north-west ofNoumea. Two of the caves have easy walk-in access; they contain the richest cultural material and the fewestfossils. The other four caves aresinkholes capable of trapping animals, especially ground-dwelling andflightless birds, and contain the most fossils. All the caves broaden from their entrances into large underground chambers.[1][2]
Numeroussubfossils of extinct fauna have been found in the caves, including theendemic terrestrial crocodileMekosuchus, the giant horned turtleMeiolania, and numerous birdtaxa, with remains of the giant flightlessSylviornis being especially common.[1]
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