homo Naledi x’ story is changing our story the story of human origins and in
story the story of human origins and in
story the story of human origins and in fact this discovery is changing how
fact this discovery is changing how
fact this discovery is changing how paleoanthropologists and scientists
paleoanthropologists and scientists
paleoanthropologists and scientists think about and craft the story of our
think about and craft the story of our
think about and craft the story of our past all of you have actually seen this
past all of you have actually seen this
past all of you have actually seen this image before I’m hoping and it tells a
image before I’m hoping and it tells a
image before I’m hoping and it tells a story it tells a really good story and
story it tells a really good story and
story it tells a really good story and it’s a story about two cavers and some
it’s a story about two cavers and some
it’s a story about two cavers and some bones but it’s also about how that
bones but it’s also about how that
bones but it’s also about how that discovery led a paleoanthropologist to
discovery led a paleoanthropologist to
discovery led a paleoanthropologist to place a very unusual call for excavators
place a very unusual call for excavators
place a very unusual call for excavators of a particular type and how this call
of a particular type and how this call
of a particular type and how this call brought six women myself one of them
brought six women myself one of them
brought six women myself one of them together with a huge team of scientists
together with a huge team of scientists
together with a huge team of scientists volunteers and cavers to undertake an
volunteers and cavers to undertake an
volunteers and cavers to undertake an extraordinary three-week expedition in
extraordinary three-week expedition in
extraordinary three-week expedition in South Africa
South Africa
South Africa now the pictures and perhaps the video
now the pictures and perhaps the video
now the pictures and perhaps the video give you a little idea of what it’s like
give you a little idea of what it’s like
give you a little idea of what it’s like but as one of those people that had to
but as one of those people that had to
but as one of those people that had to traverse that route every day I’ll give
traverse that route every day I’ll give
traverse that route every day I’ll give you a slightly more personal idea of
you a slightly more personal idea of
you a slightly more personal idea of what that was like so that is some of
what that was like so that is some of
what that was like so that is some of the damage I am NOT the hairy ankle
the damage I am NOT the hairy ankle
the damage I am NOT the hairy ankle thank you very much but the top three
thank you very much but the top three
thank you very much but the top three pictures are of me at various stages
pictures are of me at various stages
pictures are of me at various stages during the expedition but it really was
during the expedition but it really was
during the expedition but it really was all worth it you saw the fantastic
all worth it you saw the fantastic
all worth it you saw the fantastic results of our expedition just an
results of our expedition just an
results of our expedition just an incredible treasure trove of material
incredible treasure trove of material
incredible treasure trove of material that we couldn’t possibly have imagined
that we couldn’t possibly have imagined
that we couldn’t possibly have imagined with images that really still send
with images that really still send
with images that really still send shivers down my back when I see them I
shivers down my back when I see them I
shivers down my back when I see them I was the first scientist into the chamber
was the first scientist into the chamber
was the first scientist into the chamber once the remains had been discovered and
once the remains had been discovered and
once the remains had been discovered and it really was one of those watershed
it really was one of those watershed
it really was one of those watershed moments there’s a little narrow hallway
moments there’s a little narrow hallway
moments there’s a little narrow hallway that then opens up into the denali
that then opens up into the denali
that then opens up into the denali chamber itself and as I squeezed through
chamber itself and as I squeezed through
chamber itself and as I squeezed through that hallway and looked into the dinna
that hallway and looked into the dinna
that hallway and looked into the dinna letty chamber for me what flashed
letty chamber for me what flashed
letty chamber for me what flashed through my head that very instant was
through my head that very instant was
through my head that very instant was Howard Carter and what it must have felt
Howard Carter and what it must have felt
Howard Carter and what it must have felt like for him to step into Tutankhamun’s
like for him to step into Tutankhamun’s
like for him to step into Tutankhamun’s tomb for the first time both of us only
tomb for the first time both of us only
tomb for the first time both of us only had a lamp to illuminate what was in
had a lamp to illuminate what was in
had a lamp to illuminate what was in that space and I think for me I I really
that space and I think for me I I really
that space and I think for me I I really felt like all I could see was what my
felt like all I could see was what my
felt like all I could see was what my headlamp showed me and that was flashes
headlamp showed me and that was flashes
headlamp showed me and that was flashes of bone everywhere I look
of bone everywhere I look
of bone everywhere I look and I really thought wow this is what
and I really thought wow this is what
and I really thought wow this is what Carter must have felt like when he saw
Carter must have felt like when he saw
Carter must have felt like when he saw flashes of treasure everywhere he looked
flashes of treasure everywhere he looked
flashes of treasure everywhere he looked it’s an exhilarating feeling and by now
it’s an exhilarating feeling and by now
it’s an exhilarating feeling and by now you know that these remains actually
you know that these remains actually
you know that these remains actually represent one of the most unusual and
represent one of the most unusual and
represent one of the most unusual and incredible assemblages of material in
incredible assemblages of material in
incredible assemblages of material in history and an entirely new species Homo
history and an entirely new species Homo
history and an entirely new species Homo Naledi
Naledi
Naledi when Homo Naledi was announced last
when Homo Naledi was announced last
when Homo Naledi was announced last September it trended number two on the
September it trended number two on the
September it trended number two on the Twitterverse briefly usurping the
Twitterverse briefly usurping the
Twitterverse briefly usurping the Kardashians which I understand is quite
Kardashians which I understand is quite
Kardashians which I understand is quite a feat but one of the reasons it made
a feat but one of the reasons it made
a feat but one of the reasons it made such a splash was the volume of the
such a splash was the volume of the
such a splash was the volume of the material I mean these 1500 and now 1700
material I mean these 1500 and now 1700
material I mean these 1500 and now 1700 specimens that we’d recovered was
specimens that we’d recovered was
specimens that we’d recovered was unprecedented and what people maybe also
unprecedented and what people maybe also
unprecedented and what people maybe also don’t realize is that all that material
don’t realize is that all that material
don’t realize is that all that material those 1500 fragments that we recovered
those 1500 fragments that we recovered
those 1500 fragments that we recovered during that initial expedition came out
during that initial expedition came out
during that initial expedition came out of an area 80 centimeters by 80
of an area 80 centimeters by 80
of an area 80 centimeters by 80 centimeters by 20 centimeters deep
centimeters by 20 centimeters deep
centimeters by 20 centimeters deep that’s the size of a child’s sandbox and
that’s the size of a child’s sandbox and
that’s the size of a child’s sandbox and for a discipline making you know is used
for a discipline making you know is used
for a discipline making you know is used to having making a fuss about one tooth
to having making a fuss about one tooth
to having making a fuss about one tooth or finding a jaw that’s really was quite
or finding a jaw that’s really was quite
or finding a jaw that’s really was quite traumatizing to the Paleo
traumatizing to the Paleo
traumatizing to the Paleo anthropological community you see for
anthropological community you see for
anthropological community you see for decades we believed the story that the
decades we believed the story that the
decades we believed the story that the human fossils were as rare as hen’s
human fossils were as rare as hen’s
human fossils were as rare as hen’s teeth that it took basically an act of
teeth that it took basically an act of
teeth that it took basically an act of God or a lottery ticket or being hit by
God or a lottery ticket or being hit by
God or a lottery ticket or being hit by lightning in order to find this material
lightning in order to find this material
lightning in order to find this material but here was a situation where not only
but here was a situation where not only
but here was a situation where not only was the material ridiculously abundant
was the material ridiculously abundant
was the material ridiculously abundant but had been found by someone who’d been
but had been found by someone who’d been
but had been found by someone who’d been electrocuted once before so what was
electrocuted once before so what was
electrocuted once before so what was going on here but what a lot of people
going on here but what a lot of people
going on here but what a lot of people forget about getting hit by lightning
forget about getting hit by lightning
forget about getting hit by lightning twice is that you can increase your odds
twice is that you can increase your odds
twice is that you can increase your odds tremendously by getting out there every
tremendously by getting out there every
tremendously by getting out there every day with a lightning rod and what we
day with a lightning rod and what we
day with a lightning rod and what we proved in finding sediba and then Naledi
proved in finding sediba and then Naledi
proved in finding sediba and then Naledi is that experienced persistence and
is that experienced persistence and
is that experienced persistence and knowledge really can pay off big-time
knowledge really can pay off big-time
knowledge really can pay off big-time but if you don’t look you certainly
but if you don’t look you certainly
but if you don’t look you certainly won’t find then we actually started
won’t find then we actually started
won’t find then we actually started looking at the bones and within those
looking at the bones and within those
looking at the bones and within those 1,500 fragments that we were looking at
1,500 fragments that we were looking at
1,500 fragments that we were looking at we had the skulls and the bodies of at
we had the skulls and the bodies of at
we had the skulls and the bodies of at least 15 individuals and we had almost
least 15 individuals and we had almost
least 15 individuals and we had almost every bone in the body represented more
every bone in the body represented more
every bone in the body represented more than once and what we found was totally
than once and what we found was totally
than once and what we found was totally unexpected
unexpected
unexpected a combination of features that we
a combination of features that we
a combination of features that we couldn’t possibly have imagined and
couldn’t possibly have imagined and
couldn’t possibly have imagined and couldn’t have predicted in advance what
couldn’t have predicted in advance what
couldn’t have predicted in advance what this meant though was that our
this meant though was that our
this meant though was that our understanding of skeletal shape and
understanding of skeletal shape and
understanding of skeletal shape and species identification kind of had to be
species identification kind of had to be
species identification kind of had to be rethought because if we took just a
rethought because if we took just a
rethought because if we took just a scrap of nollette ease jaw we would say
scrap of nollette ease jaw we would say
scrap of nollette ease jaw we would say it was one thing but if we took a scrap
it was one thing but if we took a scrap
it was one thing but if we took a scrap of its foot we would say it was
of its foot we would say it was
of its foot we would say it was something totally different and then
something totally different and then
something totally different and then there were parts of Naledi that were
there were parts of Naledi that were
there were parts of Naledi that were unique to it so it was really one of
unique to it so it was really one of
unique to it so it was really one of those situations where we had to start
those situations where we had to start
those situations where we had to start thinking about those stories again and
thinking about those stories again and
thinking about those stories again and trying to figure out what these features
trying to figure out what these features
trying to figure out what these features actually were telling us it presented a
actually were telling us it presented a
actually were telling us it presented a problem for paleoanthropology though
problem for paleoanthropology though
problem for paleoanthropology though because it meant that scraps really
because it meant that scraps really
because it meant that scraps really aren’t a good indication of the whole
aren’t a good indication of the whole
aren’t a good indication of the whole anymore and it raises questions about
anymore and it raises questions about
anymore and it raises questions about all those other little scraps that we’ve
all those other little scraps that we’ve
all those other little scraps that we’ve been making stories about so
been making stories about so
been making stories about so definitively for so long so it really is
definitively for so long so it really is
definitively for so long so it really is challenging us to go back and look at
challenging us to go back and look at
challenging us to go back and look at the material we have with new eyes and
the material we have with new eyes and
the material we have with new eyes and maybe think about how we need to
maybe think about how we need to
maybe think about how we need to reconfigure those stories in addition
reconfigure those stories in addition
reconfigure those stories in addition new Letty’s mosaic of features raises
new Letty’s mosaic of features raises
new Letty’s mosaic of features raises questions about how we view our origins
questions about how we view our origins
questions about how we view our origins in the first place now we don’t have a
in the first place now we don’t have a
in the first place now we don’t have a clear date for Naledi yet but even
clear date for Naledi yet but even
clear date for Naledi yet but even though if nobody is old or if it’s young
though if nobody is old or if it’s young
though if nobody is old or if it’s young either way it suggests that we don’t
either way it suggests that we don’t
either way it suggests that we don’t really understand that human family tree
really understand that human family tree
really understand that human family tree very well at all and then it reinforces
very well at all and then it reinforces
very well at all and then it reinforces the fact that you know we we just need
the fact that you know we we just need
the fact that you know we we just need to maybe think about that story again in
to maybe think about that story again in
to maybe think about that story again in a different way not only is the tree
a different way not only is the tree
a different way not only is the tree much bushier maybe then we originally
much bushier maybe then we originally
much bushier maybe then we originally thought about it but our family tree may
thought about it but our family tree may
thought about it but our family tree may not actually be a bush at all what we
not actually be a bush at all what we
not actually be a bush at all what we may be looking at is more like a river
may be looking at is more like a river
may be looking at is more like a river delta a whole bunch of rivulet coming
delta a whole bunch of rivulet coming
delta a whole bunch of rivulet coming down from a common source some that
down from a common source some that
down from a common source some that trickle down and dry out and we never
trickle down and dry out and we never
trickle down and dry out and we never see them again
see them again
see them again other rivulets come back and join
other rivulets come back and join
other rivulets come back and join another rivulet to make a bigger rivulet
another rivulet to make a bigger rivulet
another rivulet to make a bigger rivulet that continues on down and all of them
that continues on down and all of them
that continues on down and all of them ending up in a big pool at the bottom
ending up in a big pool at the bottom
ending up in a big pool at the bottom and that big pool is the now over seven
and that big pool is the now over seven
and that big pool is the now over seven billion humans that we see on the planet
billion humans that we see on the planet
billion humans that we see on the planet today and this analogy may stand the
today and this analogy may stand the
today and this analogy may stand the test of time or not we’ll have to see
test of time or not we’ll have to see
test of time or not we’ll have to see and as it turned out the next chapter
and as it turned out the next chapter
and as it turned out the next chapter doing the analysis and description of
doing the analysis and description of
doing the analysis and description of the material also knew
the material also knew
the material also knew did a bit of a rewrite Li and the team
did a bit of a rewrite Li and the team
did a bit of a rewrite Li and the team decided to open up the primary analysis
decided to open up the primary analysis
decided to open up the primary analysis of the fossils to young scientists early
of the fossils to young scientists early
of the fossils to young scientists early career scientists and not just a few
career scientists and not just a few
career scientists and not just a few almost 40 researchers met in South
almost 40 researchers met in South
almost 40 researchers met in South Africa to do the analysis of the
Africa to do the analysis of the
Africa to do the analysis of the material and even in estimating for a
material and even in estimating for a
material and even in estimating for a modest forty hour work week which we
modest forty hour work week which we
modest forty hour work week which we certainly exceeded this amounted to
certainly exceeded this amounted to
certainly exceeded this amounted to almost 10,000 hours of research
almost 10,000 hours of research
almost 10,000 hours of research something that would take a single
something that would take a single
something that would take a single researcher almost five years to match
researcher almost five years to match
researcher almost five years to match but it did rattle a few cages because it
but it did rattle a few cages because it
but it did rattle a few cages because it presented a new model for research one
presented a new model for research one
presented a new model for research one that was more inclusive one that allowed
that was more inclusive one that allowed
that was more inclusive one that allowed engagement and and discussion among each
engagement and and discussion among each
engagement and and discussion among each other and it was really exciting and I
other and it was really exciting and I
other and it was really exciting and I mean something in fact that I think our
mean something in fact that I think our
mean something in fact that I think our discipline has been very sadly
discipline has been very sadly
discipline has been very sadly neglectful of in the past and that
neglectful of in the past and that
neglectful of in the past and that actually brings us to the last way in
actually brings us to the last way in
actually brings us to the last way in which Naledi may be changing our human
which Naledi may be changing our human
which Naledi may be changing our human story and that is in how we tell it how
story and that is in how we tell it how
story and that is in how we tell it how anthropologists and scientists share
anthropologists and scientists share
anthropologists and scientists share that information with each other and
that information with each other and
that information with each other and with the public the scientific papers
with the public the scientific papers
with the public the scientific papers that describe Naledi were released in a
that describe Naledi were released in a
that describe Naledi were released in a open access journal called Elife shortly
open access journal called Elife shortly
open access journal called Elife shortly thereafter we released all the
thereafter we released all the
thereafter we released all the shapefiles for the fossils on a website
shapefiles for the fossils on a website
shapefiles for the fossils on a website called morph row source hosted by Duke
called morph row source hosted by Duke
called morph row source hosted by Duke University this meant that the primary
University this meant that the primary
University this meant that the primary information on Naledi and basically
information on Naledi and basically
information on Naledi and basically casts of all the fossils were available
casts of all the fossils were available
casts of all the fossils were available to anyone who wanted them free of charge
to anyone who wanted them free of charge
to anyone who wanted them free of charge our team really felt strongly that
our team really felt strongly that
our team really felt strongly that because this material is not ours to
because this material is not ours to
because this material is not ours to hoard its South African heritage it’s
hoard its South African heritage it’s
hoard its South African heritage it’s actually world heritage this material
actually world heritage this material
actually world heritage this material relates to the origins of all of us and
relates to the origins of all of us and
relates to the origins of all of us and it was really important for us to share
it was really important for us to share
it was really important for us to share that with all of us it’s a human
that with all of us it’s a human
that with all of us it’s a human question for me the open access model is
question for me the open access model is
question for me the open access model is actually one of the best parts of this
actually one of the best parts of this
actually one of the best parts of this story in the last year
story in the last year
story in the last year well since September I have done over
well since September I have done over
well since September I have done over 400 interviews and almost 60 talks on
400 interviews and almost 60 talks on
400 interviews and almost 60 talks on Naledi and everywhere I’ve gone the
Naledi and everywhere I’ve gone the
Naledi and everywhere I’ve gone the response has been the same excitement
response has been the same excitement
response has been the same excitement interest and a real desire to learn
interest and a real desire to learn
interest and a real desire to learn about human origins and scientific
about human origins and scientific
about human origins and scientific exploration but I think one of the
exploration but I think one of the
exploration but I think one of the things that I have seen in that is that
things that I have seen in that is that
things that I have seen in that is that people maybe try kind of feel isolated
people maybe try kind of feel isolated
people maybe try kind of feel isolated by scientific research
by scientific research
by scientific research not because they are stupid or the
not because they are stupid or the
not because they are stupid or the science is too hard but because perhaps
science is too hard but because perhaps
science is too hard but because perhaps we as scientists have done a poor job of
we as scientists have done a poor job of
we as scientists have done a poor job of telling the stories people cannot be
telling the stories people cannot be
telling the stories people cannot be expected to know what they haven’t
expected to know what they haven’t
expected to know what they haven’t learned and if they feel isolated from
learned and if they feel isolated from
learned and if they feel isolated from that learning it develops into mistrust
that learning it develops into mistrust
that learning it develops into mistrust and mistrust breeds breeds fear and fear
and mistrust breeds breeds fear and fear
and mistrust breeds breeds fear and fear blocks curiosity it’s really up to us as
blocks curiosity it’s really up to us as
blocks curiosity it’s really up to us as scientists and educators to make our
scientists and educators to make our
scientists and educators to make our research comprehensible and accessible
research comprehensible and accessible
research comprehensible and accessible to people and help them engage with what
to people and help them engage with what
to people and help them engage with what we do in a really meaningful way science
we do in a really meaningful way science
we do in a really meaningful way science really is all about adjusting one’s
really is all about adjusting one’s
really is all about adjusting one’s views in light of new evidence and in
views in light of new evidence and in
views in light of new evidence and in many ways by pushing the dark spaces of
many ways by pushing the dark spaces of
many ways by pushing the dark spaces of South Africa Homo Naledi ‘z discovery is
South Africa Homo Naledi ‘z discovery is
South Africa Homo Naledi ‘z discovery is pulling paleoanthropology into the light
pulling paleoanthropology into the light
pulling paleoanthropology into the light of new ways of doing and thinking about
of new ways of doing and thinking about
of new ways of doing and thinking about our science and as much as I love the
our science and as much as I love the
our science and as much as I love the underworld that I work in
underworld that I work in
underworld that I work in I think this research is really putting
I think this research is really putting
I think this research is really putting a necessary and very positive spotlight
a necessary and very positive spotlight
a necessary and very positive spotlight on human origins and giving
on human origins and giving
on human origins and giving paleoanthropologists an opportunity to
paleoanthropologists an opportunity to
paleoanthropologists an opportunity to tell some very cool news stories I hope
tell some very cool news stories I hope
tell some very cool news stories I hope that you will help me share those with
that you will help me share those with
that you will help me share those with the rest of the world thank you
”
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