Rick and Steve had no idea what type of bones they were looking at but they
bones they were looking at but they
bones they were looking at but they seemed intriguing they took pictures and
seemed intriguing they took pictures and
seemed intriguing they took pictures and decided to show them to Pedro so
decided to show them to Pedro so
decided to show them to Pedro so needless to say I called professor
needless to say I called professor
needless to say I called professor Berger he didn’t answer his phone we
Berger he didn’t answer his phone we
Berger he didn’t answer his phone we decided we’re going to drive to his
decided we’re going to drive to his
decided we’re going to drive to his house because now we’re all excited
house because now we’re all excited
house because now we’re all excited bubbling of course arriving at his home
bubbling of course arriving at his home
bubbling of course arriving at his home a rung the bell and when he answered my
a rung the bell and when he answered my
a rung the bell and when he answered my words to him was Lee you really want to
words to him was Lee you really want to
words to him was Lee you really want to talk to us I knew immediately that that
talk to us I knew immediately that that
talk to us I knew immediately that that was a fossil hominid and it was not a
was a fossil hominid and it was not a
was a fossil hominid and it was not a human I could tell by the proportions of
human I could tell by the proportions of
human I could tell by the proportions of the teeth I could tell by its size you
the teeth I could tell by its size you
the teeth I could tell by its size you can see that fine scientific scale that
can see that fine scientific scale that
can see that fine scientific scale that I’m lucky we have not gotten trouble for
I’m lucky we have not gotten trouble for
I’m lucky we have not gotten trouble for because if you read carefully says home
because if you read carefully says home
because if you read carefully says home sewing aid only on the side of it but I
sewing aid only on the side of it but I
sewing aid only on the side of it but I could see that this was something
could see that this was something
could see that this was something extraordinary second to that it was just
extraordinary second to that it was just
extraordinary second to that it was just lying there on the ground now that
lying there on the ground now that
lying there on the ground now that doesn’t happen in South Africa I assure
doesn’t happen in South Africa I assure
doesn’t happen in South Africa I assure you it doesn’t happen in South Africa
you it doesn’t happen in South Africa
you it doesn’t happen in South Africa that skull that you saw that Matthew had
that skull that you saw that Matthew had
that skull that you saw that Matthew had found in that hard rock that rock is
found in that hard rock that rock is
found in that hard rock that rock is like concrete that skull and skeleton
like concrete that skull and skeleton
like concrete that skull and skeleton just one of them took about 22,000
just one of them took about 22,000
just one of them took about 22,000 preparation hours to get to that state
preparation hours to get to that state
preparation hours to get to that state this is lying there the next picture
this is lying there the next picture
this is lying there the next picture confirmed that this was something truly
confirmed that this was something truly
confirmed that this was something truly extraordinary every one of those bones I
extraordinary every one of those bones I
extraordinary every one of those bones I realized was hominid believe me they are
realized was hominid believe me they are
realized was hominid believe me they are anyone trained for me would look at that
anyone trained for me would look at that
anyone trained for me would look at that and say my gosh and they’re just lying
and say my gosh and they’re just lying
and say my gosh and they’re just lying there in dirt even more extraordinary
there in dirt even more extraordinary
there in dirt even more extraordinary there was a skull can you see the
there was a skull can you see the
there was a skull can you see the curvature there just sitting in dirt on
curvature there just sitting in dirt on
curvature there just sitting in dirt on a floor and it looked tiny so I decided
a floor and it looked tiny so I decided
a floor and it looked tiny so I decided I needed to put someone in there that I
I needed to put someone in there that I
I needed to put someone in there that I absolutely trusted that could take a
absolutely trusted that could take a
absolutely trusted that could take a scientific photograph of these things
scientific photograph of these things
scientific photograph of these things and I happen to know someone who fit the
and I happen to know someone who fit the
and I happen to know someone who fit the physiological profile that could get
physiological profile that could get
physiological profile that could get down that cave oh I trusted immensely my
down that cave oh I trusted immensely my
down that cave oh I trusted immensely my then six-foot-four son who’s sitting in
then six-foot-four son who’s sitting in
then six-foot-four son who’s sitting in the audience today who is
the audience today who is
the audience today who is physiologically appropriate to get down
physiologically appropriate to get down
physiologically appropriate to get down said
said
said 1/2 inch slot showed him how to use a
1/2 inch slot showed him how to use a
1/2 inch slot showed him how to use a scientific camera gave him a scale and a
scientific camera gave him a scale and a
scientific camera gave him a scale and a few days later we went into this cave a
few days later we went into this cave a
few days later we went into this cave a torturous route that took us almost 50
torturous route that took us almost 50
torturous route that took us almost 50 minutes to get to the base of dragon’s
minutes to get to the base of dragon’s
minutes to get to the base of dragon’s back up we went up this thing where if
back up we went up this thing where if
back up we went up this thing where if you slip off you die we get to the edge
you slip off you die we get to the edge
you slip off you die we get to the edge of that crevasse and we look down it and
of that crevasse and we look down it and
of that crevasse and we look down it and down I sent Matthew with Rick and Steve
down I sent Matthew with Rick and Steve
down I sent Matthew with Rick and Steve because I’m trying for father of the
because I’m trying for father of the
because I’m trying for father of the year there i sat in the dark looking at
year there i sat in the dark looking at
year there i sat in the dark looking at this impossible route how in the world
this impossible route how in the world
this impossible route how in the world was I going to accomplish an expedition
was I going to accomplish an expedition
was I going to accomplish an expedition in excavation here 45 minutes or so go
in excavation here 45 minutes or so go
in excavation here 45 minutes or so go by and I hear scrabbling Matthews head
by and I hear scrabbling Matthews head
by and I hear scrabbling Matthews head pops up because I’m going for father a
pops up because I’m going for father a
pops up because I’m going for father a year I didn’t go you know are you okay I
year I didn’t go you know are you okay I
year I didn’t go you know are you okay I went and and Matthew handed me the
went and and Matthew handed me the
went and and Matthew handed me the camera and said daddy it’s amazing it’s
camera and said daddy it’s amazing it’s
camera and said daddy it’s amazing it’s beautiful
beautiful
beautiful it was everything that those original
it was everything that those original
it was everything that those original pictures had said and that’s when I knew
pictures had said and that’s when I knew
pictures had said and that’s when I knew I had to push the button except I didn’t
I had to push the button except I didn’t
I had to push the button except I didn’t know what button to push because I
know what button to push because I
know what button to push because I needed people to work in there I needed
needed people to work in there I needed
needed people to work in there I needed people to effectively risk their lives
people to effectively risk their lives
people to effectively risk their lives in a well-known cave down a seven and a
in a well-known cave down a seven and a
in a well-known cave down a seven and a half inch slot underground in a fragile
half inch slot underground in a fragile
half inch slot underground in a fragile relatively shallow environment that
relatively shallow environment that
relatively shallow environment that could have gases in it could collapse at
could have gases in it could collapse at
could have gases in it could collapse at any time I had no idea how I was going
any time I had no idea how I was going
any time I had no idea how I was going to find people with skills and to be
to find people with skills and to be
to find people with skills and to be paleoanthropologists or archaeologists
paleoanthropologists or archaeologists
paleoanthropologists or archaeologists and to be able to excavate they had to
and to be able to excavate they had to
and to be able to excavate they had to have climbing skills all these things I
have climbing skills all these things I
have climbing skills all these things I did what any one of you would do I put a
did what any one of you would do I put a
did what any one of you would do I put a Facebook ad out that Facebook had asked
Facebook ad out that Facebook had asked
Facebook ad out that Facebook had asked for skinning scientists they had to be
for skinning scientists they had to be
for skinning scientists they had to be able to work in underground environments
able to work in underground environments
able to work in underground environments climbing skills not claustrophobic that
climbing skills not claustrophobic that
climbing skills not claustrophobic that wasn’t telling them what they do that to
wasn’t telling them what they do that to
wasn’t telling them what they do that to drop everything be ready within three
drop everything be ready within three
drop everything be ready within three weeks from that date to come for a month
weeks from that date to come for a month
weeks from that date to come for a month South Africa I wasn’t going to pay you
South Africa I wasn’t going to pay you
South Africa I wasn’t going to pay you oh and by the way you have to have a PhD
oh and by the way you have to have a PhD
oh and by the way you have to have a PhD or master’s in pale anthropology
or master’s in pale anthropology
or master’s in pale anthropology archaeology etc etc hit Send
archaeology etc etc hit Send
archaeology etc etc hit Send thinking there were probably three
thinking there were probably three
thinking there were probably three people in the world that would fit that
people in the world that would fit that
people in the world that would fit that within 10 days I had
within 10 days I had
within 10 days I had almost 60 qualified applicants 80% of
almost 60 qualified applicants 80% of
almost 60 qualified applicants 80% of which were young women I selected from
which were young women I selected from
which were young women I selected from that six extraordinary scientist who
that six extraordinary scientist who
that six extraordinary scientist who just happened to be young women these
just happened to be young women these
just happened to be young women these extraordinary scientists dropped
extraordinary scientists dropped
extraordinary scientists dropped everything and flew to South Africa
everything and flew to South Africa
everything and flew to South Africa within three weeks we’d put together a
within three weeks we’d put together a
within three weeks we’d put together a 60 person expedition all the support
60 person expedition all the support
60 person expedition all the support teams you need the safety cavers
teams you need the safety cavers
teams you need the safety cavers planning this extensive underground
planning this extensive underground
planning this extensive underground expedition at the same time this great
expedition at the same time this great
expedition at the same time this great society took another risk they agreed to
society took another risk they agreed to
society took another risk they agreed to do this live to the world because I
do this live to the world because I
do this live to the world because I thought this may be the last moment in
thought this may be the last moment in
thought this may be the last moment in history where we actually can bring the
history where we actually can bring the
history where we actually can bring the world the recovery of a fossil hominid
world the recovery of a fossil hominid
world the recovery of a fossil hominid skeleton and so they let us create this
skeleton and so they let us create this
skeleton and so they let us create this blog and website already to tweet and
blog and website already to tweet and
blog and website already to tweet and Facebook and blog and go live on the day
Facebook and blog and go live on the day
Facebook and blog and go live on the day we went underground a very brave move by
we went underground a very brave move by
we went underground a very brave move by the way because if I was wrong this was
the way because if I was wrong this was
the way because if I was wrong this was going to be a rather large embarrassment
going to be a rather large embarrassment
going to be a rather large embarrassment on November the 7th that 60 team
on November the 7th that 60 team
on November the 7th that 60 team expedition launched in the field over
expedition launched in the field over
expedition launched in the field over the next couple of days we laid three
the next couple of days we laid three
the next couple of days we laid three and a half kilometers of military-grade
and a half kilometers of military-grade
and a half kilometers of military-grade audio-visual cables cameras all the
audio-visual cables cameras all the
audio-visual cables cameras all the machinery that we would need to conduct
machinery that we would need to conduct
machinery that we would need to conduct this excavation live underground we
this excavation live underground we
this excavation live underground we would create command centers caving
would create command centers caving
would create command centers caving tents a science tent to take this
tents a science tent to take this
tents a science tent to take this skeleton out live in front of the world
skeleton out live in front of the world
skeleton out live in front of the world on November 10th we launched the rising
on November 10th we launched the rising
on November 10th we launched the rising star expedition there we sent those
star expedition there we sent those
star expedition there we sent those scientists into this cave led initially
scientists into this cave led initially
scientists into this cave led initially by Matthew and we watched these amazing
by Matthew and we watched these amazing
by Matthew and we watched these amazing images very quickly these amazing
images very quickly these amazing
images very quickly these amazing scientists became known as underground
scientists became known as underground
scientists became known as underground astronauts and yes I have received
astronauts and yes I have received
astronauts and yes I have received enough hate mail about why they
enough hate mail about why they
enough hate mail about why they shouldn’t be called astronauts they
shouldn’t be called astronauts they
shouldn’t be called astronauts they should be called Terra knots or Trog
should be called Terra knots or Trog
should be called Terra knots or Trog Lynott’s or some other version of that I
Lynott’s or some other version of that I
Lynott’s or some other version of that I am I apologize but I’m not that
am I apologize but I’m not that
am I apologize but I’m not that sorry because it really was like
sorry because it really was like
sorry because it really was like watching astronauts on a spacewalk it
watching astronauts on a spacewalk it
watching astronauts on a spacewalk it kid up in the safety year helmets on all
kid up in the safety year helmets on all
kid up in the safety year helmets on all this stuff in equipment and they would
this stuff in equipment and they would
this stuff in equipment and they would vanish from our sights and they would
vanish from our sights and they would
vanish from our sights and they would appear in these black-and-white images
appear in these black-and-white images
appear in these black-and-white images as they crawled through these cave
as they crawled through these cave
as they crawled through these cave systems taking often 4045 minutes to get
systems taking often 4045 minutes to get
systems taking often 4045 minutes to get to that chute and then they would vanish
to that chute and then they would vanish
to that chute and then they would vanish from our communications as they went
from our communications as they went
from our communications as they went down this slot where they could wear no
down this slot where they could wear no
down this slot where they could wear no safety gear because it’s a tight and
safety gear because it’s a tight and
safety gear because it’s a tight and they began to excavate material and
they began to excavate material and
they began to excavate material and these are the kind of images that we
these are the kind of images that we
these are the kind of images that we were watching I could communicate live
were watching I could communicate live
were watching I could communicate live with them they couldn’t see me but I
with them they couldn’t see me but I
with them they couldn’t see me but I could talk to them the collection began
could talk to them the collection began
could talk to them the collection began we designed technology that had never
we designed technology that had never
we designed technology that had never been used before underground white light
been used before underground white light
been used before underground white light laser scanners that were giving us
laser scanners that were giving us
laser scanners that were giving us real-time scans on computers like that
real-time scans on computers like that
real-time scans on computers like that down to resolutions 0.3 of a millimeter
down to resolutions 0.3 of a millimeter
down to resolutions 0.3 of a millimeter as we are mapping underground with these
as we are mapping underground with these
as we are mapping underground with these scanners it was amazing and material
scanners it was amazing and material
scanners it was amazing and material began to come out and by the second day
began to come out and by the second day
began to come out and by the second day we realized I had been wrong it was not
we realized I had been wrong it was not
we realized I had been wrong it was not a skeleton it was more than one skeleton
a skeleton it was more than one skeleton
a skeleton it was more than one skeleton by day two we had three right femurs I
by day two we had three right femurs I
by day two we had three right femurs I assure you there’s no primate in the
assure you there’s no primate in the
assure you there’s no primate in the world that has three right legs as we
world that has three right legs as we
world that has three right legs as we would go by the end of the first week we
would go by the end of the first week we
would go by the end of the first week we had discovered more fossil hominid
had discovered more fossil hominid
had discovered more fossil hominid material than in the richest site ever
material than in the richest site ever
material than in the richest site ever discovered in the search for human
discovered in the search for human
discovered in the search for human origins in southern Africa in one week
origins in southern Africa in one week
origins in southern Africa in one week and I could see that site right out my
and I could see that site right out my
and I could see that site right out my command center because it was less than
command center because it was less than
command center because it was less than a mile away
”
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