This is The Detail's Long Read - one in-depth story read by us every weekend.
The skull of a 16-million-year-old duck found in St Bathans. Photo: George Driver/North & South
This week, it's an abridged version of Bone Hunters: The ancient lake revealing New Zealand's mysterious past, written by George Driver and published in the July issue of North & South magazine.
You can get the full story, including photos, in July's issue of North & South, or read it online here.
Beneath famously dry Central Otago are the remains of an enormous, ancient subtropical lake that was once home to crocodilians, turtles, giant parrots, bipedal vampire bats and palm trees. The kilometre-thick layer of lake bed is helping to unravel the mystery of our bizarre land of birds.
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