Discovering Homo Naledi: Journey to Find a Human Ancestor, Part 2 | Nat Geo Live

Rick and Steve had no idea what type of

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