extraordinary people doing extraordinary things by the end of a 21-day excavation
things by the end of a 21-day excavation
things by the end of a 21-day excavation we had discovered the richest early
we had discovered the richest early
we had discovered the richest early hominid site ever discovered this site
hominid site ever discovered this site
hominid site ever discovered this site is one mile away from the site of sterk
is one mile away from the site of sterk
is one mile away from the site of sterk frente it’s less than half that distance
frente it’s less than half that distance
frente it’s less than half that distance from the second best known site in the
from the second best known site in the
from the second best known site in the entire continent of Africa the side of
entire continent of Africa the side of
entire continent of Africa the side of Swart krons 800 meters away it was right
Swart krons 800 meters away it was right
Swart krons 800 meters away it was right under our nose it was an incredible
under our nose it was an incredible
under our nose it was an incredible environment of science there we had a
environment of science there we had a
environment of science there we had a fossil tent where we kept joking that we
fossil tent where we kept joking that we
fossil tent where we kept joking that we need a bigger safe and we had to buy
need a bigger safe and we had to buy
need a bigger safe and we had to buy more boxes and more bags and we ever
more boxes and more bags and we ever
more boxes and more bags and we ever envisioned we’d set up a thing to find a
envisioned we’d set up a thing to find a
envisioned we’d set up a thing to find a skeleton and we had first hundreds of
skeleton and we had first hundreds of
skeleton and we had first hundreds of remains and by the end of it
remains and by the end of it
remains and by the end of it thousands of remains of hominids we
thousands of remains of hominids we
thousands of remains of hominids we would work late into the night
would work late into the night
would work late into the night I sometimes couldn’t get the scientists
I sometimes couldn’t get the scientists
I sometimes couldn’t get the scientists out of the cave as they excavated four
out of the cave as they excavated four
out of the cave as they excavated four shifts of six or seven hours in these
shifts of six or seven hours in these
shifts of six or seven hours in these cramped humid conditions and no one
cramped humid conditions and no one
cramped humid conditions and no one could go get them anyway so they could
could go get them anyway so they could
could go get them anyway so they could just stay there as long as we want some
just stay there as long as we want some
just stay there as long as we want some people have said well it really isn’t
people have said well it really isn’t
people have said well it really isn’t that dangerous
that dangerous
that dangerous rick is going to demonstrate to you
rick is going to demonstrate to you
rick is going to demonstrate to you though the just because we did not kill
though the just because we did not kill
though the just because we did not kill anyone that this is every bit as
anyone that this is every bit as
anyone that this is every bit as dangerous and extraordinary a risk as
dangerous and extraordinary a risk as
dangerous and extraordinary a risk as has ever been undertaken these are the
has ever been undertaken these are the
has ever been undertaken these are the easy parts you’re looking at this was an
easy parts you’re looking at this was an
easy parts you’re looking at this was an original thing we called Superman crawl
original thing we called Superman crawl
original thing we called Superman crawl which you go through I can get through
which you go through I can get through
which you go through I can get through that so that’s not a particularly tight
that so that’s not a particularly tight
that so that’s not a particularly tight squeeze in the scheme of what we’re
squeeze in the scheme of what we’re
squeeze in the scheme of what we’re doing here for those of you who are
doing here for those of you who are
doing here for those of you who are squeamish about closed spaces you may
squeamish about closed spaces you may
squeamish about closed spaces you may look away because it gets worse the this
look away because it gets worse the this
look away because it gets worse the this is the type of journey that these
is the type of journey that these
is the type of journey that these remarkable scientists the runners the
remarkable scientists the runners the
remarkable scientists the runners the people who assisted us would take on a
people who assisted us would take on a
people who assisted us would take on a daily basis usually three four five
daily basis usually three four five
daily basis usually three four five times
times
times getting to these sites some people said
getting to these sites some people said
getting to these sites some people said to me why haven’t you opened this cave
to me why haven’t you opened this cave
to me why haven’t you opened this cave up I hope you can begin see how fragile
up I hope you can begin see how fragile
up I hope you can begin see how fragile this cave is you do not want to do any
this cave is you do not want to do any
this cave is you do not want to do any opening of caves in that environment
opening of caves in that environment
opening of caves in that environment because if you do you may destabilize
because if you do you may destabilize
because if you do you may destabilize the entire system and it could collapse
the entire system and it could collapse
the entire system and it could collapse and secondly I didn’t want to do that
and secondly I didn’t want to do that
and secondly I didn’t want to do that who was it for me
who was it for me
who was it for me to destroy a cave that’s potentially
to destroy a cave that’s potentially
to destroy a cave that’s potentially millions of years old just so it could
millions of years old just so it could
millions of years old just so it could be large enough that my ego can get in
be large enough that my ego can get in
be large enough that my ego can get in there when there is technology and
there when there is technology and
there when there is technology and extraordinary people who have the
extraordinary people who have the
extraordinary people who have the capability of doing that work today here
capability of doing that work today here
capability of doing that work today here this is kind of a normal narrow passage
this is kind of a normal narrow passage
this is kind of a normal narrow passage you’re going to see the chute and parts
you’re going to see the chute and parts
you’re going to see the chute and parts of it here and you’ll get an idea of the
of it here and you’ll get an idea of the
of it here and you’ll get an idea of the depth as you see Steve Tucker’s light in
depth as you see Steve Tucker’s light in
depth as you see Steve Tucker’s light in the distance as we look down into the
the distance as we look down into the
the distance as we look down into the chute you get an idea of how narrow
chute you get an idea of how narrow
chute you get an idea of how narrow those spaces are that they are
those spaces are that they are
those spaces are that they are traversing down you’ll see how dangerous
traversing down you’ll see how dangerous
traversing down you’ll see how dangerous some of the loose rocks are this rock
some of the loose rocks are this rock
some of the loose rocks are this rock that Rick is about to touch actually
that Rick is about to touch actually
that Rick is about to touch actually fell on the National Geographic
fell on the National Geographic
fell on the National Geographic photographer and shattered his fingers
photographer and shattered his fingers
photographer and shattered his fingers as he was under there
as he was under there
as he was under there oh and Rick can dislocate his shoulders
oh and Rick can dislocate his shoulders
oh and Rick can dislocate his shoulders watch I just show you that for fun
extraordinary people doing extraordinary
extraordinary people doing extraordinary things by the end of a 21-day excavation
things by the end of a 21-day excavation
things by the end of a 21-day excavation we had discovered the richest early
we had discovered the richest early
we had discovered the richest early hominid site ever discovered in the
hominid site ever discovered in the
hominid site ever discovered in the history of the planet more fossil
history of the planet more fossil
history of the planet more fossil hominids had come out individually
hominids had come out individually
hominids had come out individually they’d been discovered in the previous
they’d been discovered in the previous
they’d been discovered in the previous 90 year history of the search for human
90 year history of the search for human
90 year history of the search for human origins in southern Africa all because
origins in southern Africa all because
origins in southern Africa all because of these remarkable scientists we would
of these remarkable scientists we would
of these remarkable scientists we would name a new species Homo Naledi Homo
name a new species Homo Naledi Homo
name a new species Homo Naledi Homo Naledi was an incredible creature a
Naledi was an incredible creature a
Naledi was an incredible creature a brain the size of the Norns
brain the size of the Norns
brain the size of the Norns primitive characters and advanced
primitive characters and advanced
primitive characters and advanced characters teeth that are remarkable and
characters teeth that are remarkable and
characters teeth that are remarkable and being a little bit human-like and
being a little bit human-like and
being a little bit human-like and primitive in so many other ways things
primitive in so many other ways things
primitive in so many other ways things we’d never seen before we would
we’d never seen before we would
we’d never seen before we would eventually find 15 individuals 1574
eventually find 15 individuals 1574
eventually find 15 individuals 1574 fossils from an area that big by that
fossils from an area that big by that
fossils from an area that big by that big the entire floor is comprised of
big the entire floor is comprised of
big the entire floor is comprised of these fossils we had every age group
these fossils we had every age group
these fossils we had every age group represented from near fetal aged infants
represented from near fetal aged infants
represented from near fetal aged infants to the extreme elderly with their teeth
to the extreme elderly with their teeth
to the extreme elderly with their teeth worn right out and everything in between
worn right out and everything in between
worn right out and everything in between males and females
males and females
males and females we had fossils like this field has never
we had fossils like this field has never
we had fossils like this field has never seen before that is the most complete
seen before that is the most complete
seen before that is the most complete foot ever discovered in the history of
foot ever discovered in the history of
foot ever discovered in the history of paleoanthropology one of six this is the
paleoanthropology one of six this is the
paleoanthropology one of six this is the most complete hand ever discovered in
most complete hand ever discovered in
most complete hand ever discovered in the history of paleoanthropology one of
the history of paleoanthropology one of
the history of paleoanthropology one of eight the assemblage was remarkable
eight the assemblage was remarkable
eight the assemblage was remarkable remarkable in its diversity remarkable
remarkable in its diversity remarkable
remarkable in its diversity remarkable in its preservation remarkable in its
in its preservation remarkable in its
in its preservation remarkable in its quality we simply had seen nothing like
quality we simply had seen nothing like
quality we simply had seen nothing like it all lying on the floor of this
it all lying on the floor of this
it all lying on the floor of this chamber we would name a new species Homo
chamber we would name a new species Homo
chamber we would name a new species Homo Naledi
Naledi
Naledi it’s a crazy creature brain the size of
it’s a crazy creature brain the size of
it’s a crazy creature brain the size of an orange ape-like shoulders human-like
an orange ape-like shoulders human-like
an orange ape-like shoulders human-like arms ending in a human-like hand with
arms ending in a human-like hand with
arms ending in a human-like hand with the most curved fingers we have ever
the most curved fingers we have ever
the most curved fingers we have ever seen outside the most primitive hominids
seen outside the most primitive hominids
seen outside the most primitive hominids four or five million year old
four or five million year old
four or five million year old equivalents it’s bizarre its thorax
equivalents it’s bizarre its thorax
equivalents it’s bizarre its thorax start ape-like becomes more and more
start ape-like becomes more and more
start ape-like becomes more and more advanced its pelvis is
advanced its pelvis is
advanced its pelvis is that of Lucy wide and flared so we know
that of Lucy wide and flared so we know
that of Lucy wide and flared so we know what its legs and feet look like they
what its legs and feet look like they
what its legs and feet look like they should be primitive too but they are at
should be primitive too but they are at
should be primitive too but they are at the top and become progressively more
the top and become progressively more
the top and become progressively more and more and more and more human-like
and more and more and more human-like
and more and more and more human-like until you reach the feet and those are
until you reach the feet and those are
until you reach the feet and those are the most human-like feet ever discovered
the most human-like feet ever discovered
the most human-like feet ever discovered since humans look at the size of that
since humans look at the size of that
since humans look at the size of that head that is a normal sized modern human
head that is a normal sized modern human
head that is a normal sized modern human in the background that is an adult
in the background that is an adult
in the background that is an adult female of Homo Naledi about 450 cubic
female of Homo Naledi about 450 cubic
female of Homo Naledi about 450 cubic centimeters we had truly never seen
centimeters we had truly never seen
centimeters we had truly never seen anything like this to give you an idea
anything like this to give you an idea
anything like this to give you an idea of how strange they would have looked
of how strange they would have looked
of how strange they would have looked that’s Lucy on the left in the middle is
that’s Lucy on the left in the middle is
that’s Lucy on the left in the middle is a very famous skeleton culture Khanna
a very famous skeleton culture Khanna
a very famous skeleton culture Khanna boy of Homo erectus and there you can
boy of Homo erectus and there you can
boy of Homo erectus and there you can see a relatively human like this there
see a relatively human like this there
see a relatively human like this there on the right is that almost without
on the right is that almost without
on the right is that almost without being derogatory pinheaded look of Homo
being derogatory pinheaded look of Homo
being derogatory pinheaded look of Homo Naledi with it’s very strange profile
Naledi with it’s very strange profile
Naledi with it’s very strange profile and it is not an aberrancy because we
and it is not an aberrancy because we
and it is not an aberrancy because we have multiple individuals and they all
have multiple individuals and they all
have multiple individuals and they all look exactly alike we now know more
look exactly alike we now know more
look exactly alike we now know more about this remarkable species perhaps
about this remarkable species perhaps
about this remarkable species perhaps than almost any other species of
than almost any other species of
than almost any other species of primitive human relative that’s ever
primitive human relative that’s ever
primitive human relative that’s ever been discovered we very quickly realized
been discovered we very quickly realized
been discovered we very quickly realized something was strange going on with the
something was strange going on with the
something was strange going on with the way in which these fossils were in that
way in which these fossils were in that
way in which these fossils were in that chamber during the course of the
chamber during the course of the
chamber during the course of the excavation we had found on the first day
excavation we had found on the first day
excavation we had found on the first day to be transparent three bird bones there
to be transparent three bird bones there
to be transparent three bird bones there were ow that were lying on the surface
were ow that were lying on the surface
were ow that were lying on the surface that were clearly much younger somehow
that were clearly much younger somehow
that were clearly much younger somehow it got in there and then we found during
it got in there and then we found during
it got in there and then we found during the course of the excavation a few tiny
the course of the excavation a few tiny
the course of the excavation a few tiny rodent incisors mixed into the sediment
rodent incisors mixed into the sediment
rodent incisors mixed into the sediment and nothing else nothing but hominids
and nothing else nothing but hominids
and nothing else nothing but hominids now we had on the team world experts in
now we had on the team world experts in
now we had on the team world experts in many many different things but all of us
many many different things but all of us
many many different things but all of us had the same basic training in Physical
had the same basic training in Physical
had the same basic training in Physical Anthropology forensic anthropology
Anthropology forensic anthropology
Anthropology forensic anthropology archeology all related to human Balaji
archeology all related to human Balaji
archeology all related to human Balaji and those senior members of the team
and those senior members of the team
and those senior members of the team knew that there was something very
knew that there was something very
knew that there was something very strange from word go when you see an
strange from word go when you see an
strange from word go when you see an assemblage like that we of course began
assemblage like that we of course began
assemblage like that we of course began trying to eliminate the obvious it’s got
trying to eliminate the obvious it’s got
trying to eliminate the obvious it’s got to be a predator accumulation but there
to be a predator accumulation but there
to be a predator accumulation but there are no predatory damp marks of damage on
are no predatory damp marks of damage on
are no predatory damp marks of damage on in
in
in of this phone there’s no marks of
of this phone there’s no marks of
of this phone there’s no marks of scavenging we knew very early on that
scavenging we knew very early on that
scavenging we knew very early on that the material had not been transported in
the material had not been transported in
the material had not been transported in there was no sign in the sediments of
there was no sign in the sediments of
there was no sign in the sediments of water transport we also could tell from
water transport we also could tell from
water transport we also could tell from the way they were set that they’d come
the way they were set that they’d come
the way they were set that they’d come in one by one by one over time there was
in one by one by one over time there was
in one by one by one over time there was time involved in this over on the right
time involved in this over on the right
time involved in this over on the right hand side of this image is where that
hand side of this image is where that
hand side of this image is where that chute is you can see that the floor
chute is you can see that the floor
chute is you can see that the floor slopes away from that and quite
slopes away from that and quite
slopes away from that and quite literally from that point all the way to
literally from that point all the way to
literally from that point all the way to the end are these bones of Homo Naledi
the end are these bones of Homo Naledi
the end are these bones of Homo Naledi literally from underneath the chute we
literally from underneath the chute we
literally from underneath the chute we have used I can tell you
have used I can tell you
have used I can tell you ground-penetrating radar and other
ground-penetrating radar and other
ground-penetrating radar and other methods we can find no other entrance
methods we can find no other entrance
methods we can find no other entrance and we were left eventually with the
and we were left eventually with the
and we were left eventually with the unlikely conclusion that in fact this
unlikely conclusion that in fact this
unlikely conclusion that in fact this must be some sort of deliberate body
must be some sort of deliberate body
must be some sort of deliberate body disposal site that we had for the first
disposal site that we had for the first
disposal site that we had for the first time found a species other than humans
time found a species other than humans
time found a species other than humans that in a ritualized and I mean repeated
that in a ritualized and I mean repeated
that in a ritualized and I mean repeated fashion had taken its dead into a
fashion had taken its dead into a
fashion had taken its dead into a chamber and secreted them there over
chamber and secreted them there over
chamber and secreted them there over time to prevent whatever from happening
time to prevent whatever from happening
time to prevent whatever from happening to them for whatever reason and that is
to them for whatever reason and that is
to them for whatever reason and that is the hypothesis we put forward that’s a
the hypothesis we put forward that’s a
the hypothesis we put forward that’s a fairly remarkable thing because until
fairly remarkable thing because until
fairly remarkable thing because until that moment on September 10 last year
that moment on September 10 last year
that moment on September 10 last year when we announced the existence of Homo
when we announced the existence of Homo
when we announced the existence of Homo Naledi and this situation we had seen
Naledi and this situation we had seen
Naledi and this situation we had seen deliberate body disposal as sort of the
deliberate body disposal as sort of the
deliberate body disposal as sort of the last bastion of what identified us is
last bastion of what identified us is
last bastion of what identified us is human
human
human when Jane Goodall wrote to Louis Leakey
when Jane Goodall wrote to Louis Leakey
when Jane Goodall wrote to Louis Leakey saying I have seen a chimpanzee using
saying I have seen a chimpanzee using
saying I have seen a chimpanzee using tools
tools
tools he said prophetically we are going to
he said prophetically we are going to
he said prophetically we are going to have to redefine what it means to be
have to redefine what it means to be
have to redefine what it means to be human
human
human we had precious little left until
we had precious little left until
we had precious little left until September 10th except we deliberately
September 10th except we deliberately
September 10th except we deliberately disposed of our dead and whatever that
disposed of our dead and whatever that
disposed of our dead and whatever that means and should this hypothesis hold
means and should this hypothesis hold
means and should this hypothesis hold true the first time in history you are
true the first time in history you are
true the first time in history you are meeting another species that did just
meeting another species that did just
meeting another species that did just that what these discoveries tell you is
that what these discoveries tell you is
that what these discoveries tell you is that we may have walked or set foot over
that we may have walked or set foot over
that we may have walked or set foot over most of this planet but we have not seen
most of this planet but we have not seen
most of this planet but we have not seen what we were walking on we’ve not
what we were walking on we’ve not
what we were walking on we’ve not understood what we were looking at there
understood what we were looking at there
understood what we were looking at there are extraordinary things to be found and
are extraordinary things to be found and
are extraordinary things to be found and if it is true in a field like
if it is true in a field like
if it is true in a field like paleoanthropology then it must be true
paleoanthropology then it must be true
paleoanthropology then it must be true in every field of science we need to use
in every field of science we need to use
in every field of science we need to use discoveries like this to inspire this
discoveries like this to inspire this
discoveries like this to inspire this and the next generation to be explorers
and the next generation to be explorers
and the next generation to be explorers to get out in the field to look to
to get out in the field to look to
to get out in the field to look to prepare yourself to make discoveries to
prepare yourself to make discoveries to
prepare yourself to make discoveries to use the technology to inform you but to
use the technology to inform you but to
use the technology to inform you but to physically go out and make those
physically go out and make those
physically go out and make those discoveries we need ladies and gentlemen
discoveries we need ladies and gentlemen
discoveries we need ladies and gentlemen to inspire exploration thank you very
to inspire exploration thank you very
to inspire exploration thank you very much
”
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