Jørn Hurum: Sea Monster Island | Nat Geo Live

[Music]

[Music] my talk today is not about primates

my talk today is not about primates

my talk today is not about primates it’s about marine reptiles and I’m going

it’s about marine reptiles and I’m going

it’s about marine reptiles and I’m going to give you a short trip to an island

to give you a short trip to an island

to give you a short trip to an island north of the Norway called Svalbard or

north of the Norway called Svalbard or

north of the Norway called Svalbard or Spitsbergen some of you might know it’s

Spitsbergen some of you might know it’s

Spitsbergen some of you might know it’s at 78 degrees north east liked a

at 78 degrees north east liked a

at 78 degrees north east liked a northern tip of Greenland and the

northern tip of Greenland and the

northern tip of Greenland and the archipelago is actually it’s a there’s a

archipelago is actually it’s a there’s a

archipelago is actually it’s a there’s a Svalbard Treaty so it means that all

Svalbard Treaty so it means that all

Svalbard Treaty so it means that all nations can work there and stay there we

nations can work there and stay there we

nations can work there and stay there we were not far away from the main

were not far away from the main

were not far away from the main settlement called long a bein in this

settlement called long a bein in this

settlement called long a bein in this High Arctic landscape it’s easy access

High Arctic landscape it’s easy access

High Arctic landscape it’s easy access now there’s flights every day there’s

now there’s flights every day there’s

now there’s flights every day there’s boats there’s everything so I didn’t

boats there’s everything so I didn’t

boats there’s everything so I didn’t discover this areas we are digging in it

discover this areas we are digging in it

discover this areas we are digging in it was found about a hundred years ago but

was found about a hundred years ago but

was found about a hundred years ago but nobody did anything about these fossils

nobody did anything about these fossils

nobody did anything about these fossils for a hundred years

for a hundred years

for a hundred years the first that found fossils in the area

the first that found fossils in the area

the first that found fossils in the area was some Swedes in 1914 but then there

was some Swedes in 1914 but then there

was some Swedes in 1914 but then there were some medical doctors that came to

were some medical doctors that came to

were some medical doctors that came to small barge sponsored by the Rockefeller

small barge sponsored by the Rockefeller

small barge sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and they overwintered one

Foundation and they overwintered one

Foundation and they overwintered one winter to see how the common flu spread

winter to see how the common flu spread

winter to see how the common flu spread through an isolated a mining population

through an isolated a mining population

through an isolated a mining population in the islands during one winter it was

in the islands during one winter it was

in the islands during one winter it was one of the first epidemiological studies

one of the first epidemiological studies

one of the first epidemiological studies these are dr. paul doctor freeze and

these are dr. paul doctor freeze and

these are dr. paul doctor freeze and there’s also dr. malar that’s not on the

there’s also dr. malar that’s not on the

there’s also dr. malar that’s not on the paper i don’t know why but three of them

paper i don’t know why but three of them

paper i don’t know why but three of them might be Americans certainly this one

might be Americans certainly this one

might be Americans certainly this one looks like one that’s that’s probably a

looks like one that’s that’s probably a

looks like one that’s that’s probably a Norwegian sailor I don’t know about that

Norwegian sailor I don’t know about that

Norwegian sailor I don’t know about that looks like a janitor but might be an

looks like a janitor but might be an

looks like a janitor but might be an American too but the important thing is

American too but the important thing is

American too but the important thing is that they went for a trip just outside

that they went for a trip just outside

that they went for a trip just outside the city of long Abin or village or

the city of long Abin or village or

the city of long Abin or village or small settlement at that time and they

small settlement at that time and they

small settlement at that time and they discovered a skeleton of a plesiosaur

discovered a skeleton of a plesiosaur

discovered a skeleton of a plesiosaur and actually what they got here

and actually what they got here

and actually what they got here this is the only picture that remains of

this is the only picture that remains of

this is the only picture that remains of this but actually this is what we called

this but actually this is what we called

this but actually this is what we called Field Jacket made out of plaster and

Field Jacket made out of plaster and

Field Jacket made out of plaster and burlap so one of these people had the

burlap so one of these people had the

burlap so one of these people had the knowledge from North America the only

knowledge from North America the only

knowledge from North America the only place where they were digging dinosaurs

place where they were digging dinosaurs

place where they were digging dinosaurs with this kind of knowledge at that time

with this kind of knowledge at that time

with this kind of knowledge at that time so one of them had to have some idea on

so one of them had to have some idea on

so one of them had to have some idea on how to dig dinosaurs to preserve this

how to dig dinosaurs to preserve this

how to dig dinosaurs to preserve this specimen so it’s what an enigma at I

specimen so it’s what an enigma at I

specimen so it’s what an enigma at I tried to trace them back a little bit

tried to trace them back a little bit

tried to trace them back a little bit some of these guys but I couldn’t find

some of these guys but I couldn’t find

some of these guys but I couldn’t find too much about them but this fossil was

too much about them but this fossil was

too much about them but this fossil was given to the museum in in Oslo in 1931

given to the museum in in Oslo in 1931

given to the museum in in Oslo in 1931 on its stay there until as we’d describe

on its stay there until as we’d describe

on its stay there until as we’d describe it in 1962 but nobody cared about this

it in 1962 but nobody cared about this

it in 1962 but nobody cared about this area it’s too remote too much work to do

area it’s too remote too much work to do

area it’s too remote too much work to do any major days but and we started our

any major days but and we started our

any major days but and we started our digs in 2004 actually this area of

digs in 2004 actually this area of

digs in 2004 actually this area of course this is marine sediments that are

course this is marine sediments that are

course this is marine sediments that are now on land so they have been lifted up

now on land so they have been lifted up

now on land so they have been lifted up about 200 metres above sea level now

about 200 metres above sea level now

about 200 metres above sea level now when they were deposited it was about

when they were deposited it was about

when they were deposited it was about 100 metres below sea level but now we

100 metres below sea level but now we

100 metres below sea level but now we can actually camp on this Jurassic sea

can actually camp on this Jurassic sea

can actually camp on this Jurassic sea bottom and collect fossils this area was

bottom and collect fossils this area was

bottom and collect fossils this area was high latitude even in the Jurassic it

high latitude even in the Jurassic it

high latitude even in the Jurassic it was a cold water ecosystem also in the

was a cold water ecosystem also in the

was a cold water ecosystem also in the Jurassic so we’re trying to do several

Jurassic so we’re trying to do several

Jurassic so we’re trying to do several different kinds of studies here it’s now

different kinds of studies here it’s now

different kinds of studies here it’s now six field seasons we’re students into

six field seasons we’re students into

six field seasons we’re students into the seventh we only stay up there for a

the seventh we only stay up there for a

the seventh we only stay up there for a couple of weeks each time between two

couple of weeks each time between two

couple of weeks each time between two and three weeks because of the weather

and three weeks because of the weather

and three weeks because of the weather conditions we need the permafrost to

conditions we need the permafrost to

conditions we need the permafrost to melt into the mountains at least one

melt into the mountains at least one

melt into the mountains at least one meter so it’s easier to dig the first

meter so it’s easier to dig the first

meter so it’s easier to dig the first meter before you have to use jackhammers

meter before you have to use jackhammers

meter before you have to use jackhammers to get further into the mountainside and

to get further into the mountainside and

to get further into the mountainside and also we have the of course the problem

also we have the of course the problem

also we have the of course the problem with snow the snow can be there in July

with snow the snow can be there in July

with snow the snow can be there in July it usually it melts in July and it

it usually it melts in July and it

it usually it melts in July and it starts to cover the area again in the

starts to cover the area again in the

starts to cover the area again in the middle of August so we have no more than

middle of August so we have no more than

middle of August so we have no more than four weeks really to do this work but in

four weeks really to do this work but in

four weeks really to do this work but in this 4 weeks the slopes are really nice

this 4 weeks the slopes are really nice

this 4 weeks the slopes are really nice there’s nothing growing they’re really

there’s nothing growing they’re really

there’s nothing growing they’re really nice no plants no nothing it’s like a

nice no plants no nothing it’s like a

nice no plants no nothing it’s like a polar desert so you can walk on the

polar desert so you can walk on the

polar desert so you can walk on the shale and when you find big lumps or

shale and when you find big lumps or

shale and when you find big lumps or things that do not look like

things that do not look like

things that do not look like they order its bones every time so then

they order its bones every time so then

they order its bones every time so then we dig them out this is a typical day in

we dig them out this is a typical day in

we dig them out this is a typical day in excavation that’s me we have found this

excavation that’s me we have found this

excavation that’s me we have found this is a brain case of a huge plus or and

is a brain case of a huge plus or and

is a brain case of a huge plus or and we’re mixing the plaster and encasing it

we’re mixing the plaster and encasing it

we’re mixing the plaster and encasing it our main fossil groups are marine

our main fossil groups are marine

our main fossil groups are marine reptiles there are two main groups they

reptiles there are two main groups they

reptiles there are two main groups they are of course air-breathing they are

are of course air-breathing they are

are of course air-breathing they are land living they have land living

land living they have land living

land living they have land living ancestors they are highly evolved to

ancestors they are highly evolved to

ancestors they are highly evolved to live in the marine environment at this

live in the marine environment at this

live in the marine environment at this time this is 150 million years ago same

time this is 150 million years ago same

time this is 150 million years ago same time as the long-necked dinosaur ruled

time as the long-necked dinosaur ruled

time as the long-necked dinosaur ruled on earth these craters ruled in the

on earth these craters ruled in the

on earth these craters ruled in the ocean and they’re not dinosaurs we find

ocean and they’re not dinosaurs we find

ocean and they’re not dinosaurs we find articulated skeletons that means that

articulated skeletons that means that

articulated skeletons that means that you can see like here this is finger

you can see like here this is finger

you can see like here this is finger boats over huge flipper from a

boats over huge flipper from a

boats over huge flipper from a plesiosaur everything we find is

plesiosaur everything we find is

plesiosaur everything we find is articulated quite large specimens

articulated quite large specimens

articulated quite large specimens there’s no single bones found really if

there’s no single bones found really if

there’s no single bones found really if we find one bone we find a skeleton this

we find one bone we find a skeleton this

we find one bone we find a skeleton this is one we are just prepared now it’s an

is one we are just prepared now it’s an

is one we are just prepared now it’s an extremely oh you can see a model of it

extremely oh you can see a model of it

extremely oh you can see a model of it now it’s swimming up here this is the

now it’s swimming up here this is the

now it’s swimming up here this is the long-necked plesiosaurs this is the long

long-necked plesiosaurs this is the long

long-necked plesiosaurs this is the long neck this is part of the front of the

neck this is part of the front of the

neck this is part of the front of the body – the shoulder girdles this is the

body – the shoulder girdles this is the

body – the shoulder girdles this is the ribs from the stomach here’s the see a

ribs from the stomach here’s the see a

ribs from the stomach here’s the see a 3d scan we just made last week of the

3d scan we just made last week of the

3d scan we just made last week of the extremely long neck and the front of the

extremely long neck and the front of the

extremely long neck and the front of the body of this animal unfortunately it’s

body of this animal unfortunately it’s

body of this animal unfortunately it’s missing the head but still it’s a very

missing the head but still it’s a very

missing the head but still it’s a very complete nice specimen from a very

complete nice specimen from a very

complete nice specimen from a very crucial time in the evolution of

crucial time in the evolution of

crucial time in the evolution of resource so it’s described now as part

resource so it’s described now as part

resource so it’s described now as part of a PhD that will be published next

of a PhD that will be published next

of a PhD that will be published next year and I have several most students on

year and I have several most students on

year and I have several most students on the project they finish their master

the project they finish their master

the project they finish their master student thesis now in June

student thesis now in June

student thesis now in June so both Neela and Liana they two young

so both Neela and Liana they two young

so both Neela and Liana they two young women that finished their masters on

women that finished their masters on

women that finished their masters on flipper morphology and also on histology

flipper morphology and also on histology

flipper morphology and also on histology of the bolts it’s really cool to see

of the bolts it’s really cool to see

of the bolts it’s really cool to see inside the bones to see how they grow

inside the bones to see how they grow

inside the bones to see how they grow these animals as we know this is a cold

these animals as we know this is a cold

these animals as we know this is a cold watery environment we really like to see

watery environment we really like to see

watery environment we really like to see how reptiles survive as big marine

how reptiles survive as big marine

how reptiles survive as big marine mammal animals in in the cold water and

mammal animals in in the cold water and

mammal animals in in the cold water and of course we got some playa source they

of course we got some playa source they

of course we got some playa source they are

are

are not as big as blue whales but much

not as big as blue whales but much

not as big as blue whales but much cooler they are like their heads are up

cooler they are like their heads are up

cooler they are like their heads are up to between two and three meters that

to between two and three meters that

to between two and three meters that means almost 10 feet and the teeth are

means almost 10 feet and the teeth are

means almost 10 feet and the teeth are like large cucumbers so very nice

like large cucumbers so very nice

like large cucumbers so very nice animals but what I’m feeling

animals but what I’m feeling

animals but what I’m feeling finding most interesting at the moment

finding most interesting at the moment

finding most interesting at the moment is really the equal source we found a

is really the equal source we found a

is really the equal source we found a really really very complete one last

really really very complete one last

really really very complete one last year they look like fat over eaten

year they look like fat over eaten

year they look like fat over eaten dolphins but they’re not they are

dolphins but they’re not they are

dolphins but they’re not they are swimming in a different way as you can

swimming in a different way as you can

swimming in a different way as you can see if you study that animation and all

see if you study that animation and all

see if you study that animation and all the animations you see here is from this

the animations you see here is from this

the animations you see here is from this National Geographic documentary

this is the most remarkable hillside we

this is the most remarkable hillside we got you can see the cap we actually

got you can see the cap we actually

got you can see the cap we actually camped on top of one specimen these are

camped on top of one specimen these are

camped on top of one specimen these are if your source and place your source and

if your source and place your source and

if your source and place your source and they’re all in one hillside and for

they’re all in one hillside and for

they’re all in one hillside and for those of you that know a little bit

those of you that know a little bit

those of you that know a little bit about geology you will see that this

about geology you will see that this

about geology you will see that this looks like a cream cake with the layers

looks like a cream cake with the layers

looks like a cream cake with the layers that means that they are not in one

that means that they are not in one

that means that they are not in one layer like they it was a big meteorite

layer like they it was a big meteorite

layer like they it was a big meteorite hitting or whatever and killing all

hitting or whatever and killing all

hitting or whatever and killing all those animals actually this big time

those animals actually this big time

those animals actually this big time difference between the lower ones and

difference between the lower ones and

difference between the lower ones and upper ones and that’s so cool and we’re

upper ones and that’s so cool and we’re

upper ones and that’s so cool and we’re just starting to understand that now

just starting to understand that now

just starting to understand that now because what we have collected so far

because what we have collected so far

because what we have collected so far in the sixth the sixth field season

in the sixth the sixth field season

in the sixth the sixth field season we’re going to collect six more

we’re going to collect six more

we’re going to collect six more skeletons this summer so but now we have

skeletons this summer so but now we have

skeletons this summer so but now we have five partial amount complete take this

five partial amount complete take this

five partial amount complete take this or six portolan to almost complete

or six portolan to almost complete

or six portolan to almost complete please your source and to fragmented

please your source and to fragmented

please your source and to fragmented pliosaurus we’re in the process of

pliosaurus we’re in the process of

pliosaurus we’re in the process of submitting all this and it’s for new

submitting all this and it’s for new

submitting all this and it’s for new species or place the source three to

species or place the source three to

species or place the source three to four new species of accusers are not

four new species of accusers are not

four new species of accusers are not splitting up the two if the source but

splitting up the two if the source but

splitting up the two if the source but we have we have actually a lot of

we have we have actually a lot of

we have we have actually a lot of species select your source and we will

species select your source and we will

species select your source and we will wait with the description of some of

wait with the description of some of

wait with the description of some of them until well it takes two more years

them until well it takes two more years

them until well it takes two more years of gluing before we can start to get the

of gluing before we can start to get the

of gluing before we can start to get the skeleton salt but what we got them in

skeleton salt but what we got them in

skeleton salt but what we got them in the lab now we have more than sixty

the lab now we have more than sixty

the lab now we have more than sixty skeletons mapped in the area we also

skeletons mapped in the area we also

skeletons mapped in the area we also worked on the high resolution

worked on the high resolution

worked on the high resolution stratigraphy of the whole locality and a

stratigraphy of the whole locality and a

stratigraphy of the whole locality and a cool thing to use them is of course

cool thing to use them is of course

cool thing to use them is of course ammonites because ammonites they evolve

ammonites because ammonites they evolve

ammonites because ammonites they evolve very fast in the Mesozoic so if you find

very fast in the Mesozoic so if you find

very fast in the Mesozoic so if you find good ammonites you can actually divide

good ammonites you can actually divide

good ammonites you can actually divide the Mesozoic into half a million or 1

the Mesozoic into half a million or 1

the Mesozoic into half a million or 1 million year stratigraphic sections and

million year stratigraphic sections and

million year stratigraphic sections and that’s really good when you’re talking

that’s really good when you’re talking

that’s really good when you’re talking about this old face so we have mapped

about this old face so we have mapped

about this old face so we have mapped and we are also isotope stratigraphy all

and we are also isotope stratigraphy all

and we are also isotope stratigraphy all the whole thing and carbon isotopes and

the whole thing and carbon isotopes and

the whole thing and carbon isotopes and a lot of other things that I’m not going

a lot of other things that I’m not going

a lot of other things that I’m not going to talk about but now we know that one

to talk about but now we know that one

to talk about but now we know that one centimeter of shale is about 1,000 years

centimeter of shale is about 1,000 years

centimeter of shale is about 1,000 years we got 55 meters of shale here that

we got 55 meters of shale here that

we got 55 meters of shale here that means between 5 and 6 million years of

means between 5 and 6 million years of

means between 5 and 6 million years of time from from the first skeletons to

time from from the first skeletons to

time from from the first skeletons to the last

the last

the last and that is really interesting for us

and that is really interesting for us

and that is really interesting for us paleontologists because we can probably

paleontologists because we can probably

paleontologists because we can probably tell some stories from that so I will

tell some stories from that so I will

tell some stories from that so I will come back to that when it comes to

come back to that when it comes to

come back to that when it comes to future work well the later ethical fall

future work well the later ethical fall

future work well the later ethical fall what is really interesting because we

what is really interesting because we

what is really interesting because we have the highest concentration of

have the highest concentration of

have the highest concentration of Mesozoic marine reptiles in the world

Mesozoic marine reptiles in the world

Mesozoic marine reptiles in the world probably where I think we have more than

probably where I think we have more than

probably where I think we have more than a thousand skeletons weathering out and

a thousand skeletons weathering out and

a thousand skeletons weathering out and this is really what I would like to tell

this is really what I would like to tell

this is really what I would like to tell the story about in two or three years

the story about in two or three years

the story about in two or three years look at all the active source and you

look at all the active source and you

look at all the active source and you know from the beginning to the end of

know from the beginning to the end of

know from the beginning to the end of this section it’s five million years

this section it’s five million years

this section it’s five million years so all this active source seems to be of

so all this active source seems to be of

so all this active source seems to be of the same genus and then we can see more

the same genus and then we can see more

the same genus and then we can see more evolution in one section that’s so cool

evolution in one section that’s so cool

evolution in one section that’s so cool to end this we have still a lot of work

to end this we have still a lot of work

to end this we have still a lot of work to do it’s a lot of unpublished material

to do it’s a lot of unpublished material

to do it’s a lot of unpublished material we’re going to publish the first big

we’re going to publish the first big

we’re going to publish the first big report on the expedition’s next year as

report on the expedition’s next year as

report on the expedition’s next year as an expedition volume but description of

an expedition volume but description of

an expedition volume but description of a lot of the new species on the

a lot of the new species on the

a lot of the new species on the stratigraphy and all this hopefully we

stratigraphy and all this hopefully we

stratigraphy and all this hopefully we will also be able to say something about

will also be able to say something about

will also be able to say something about an extinction at some point ologist

an extinction at some point ologist

an extinction at some point ologist believe in and some part ologist don’t

believe in and some part ologist don’t

believe in and some part ologist don’t believe in that’s the border between the

believe in that’s the border between the

believe in that’s the border between the Jurassic and the Cretaceous because we

Jurassic and the Cretaceous because we

Jurassic and the Cretaceous because we got fossils just crossing that border in

got fossils just crossing that border in

got fossils just crossing that border in the Arctic part so that was my talk

the Arctic part so that was my talk

the Arctic part so that was my talk thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]