Meet the “Underground Astronauts” Recovering Hominid Fossils | National Geographic

well we’re here at the rising star

well we’re here at the rising star expedition it’s day three tomorrow’s

expedition it’s day three tomorrow’s

expedition it’s day three tomorrow’s d-day tomorrow’s the day we go

d-day tomorrow’s the day we go

d-day tomorrow’s the day we go underground to look for and recover

underground to look for and recover

underground to look for and recover hopefully some hominid fossils in an

hopefully some hominid fossils in an

hopefully some hominid fossils in an incredible dangerous situation

incredible dangerous situation

incredible dangerous situation I brought together a team of remarkable

I brought together a team of remarkable

I brought together a team of remarkable what should only be called underground

what should only be called underground

what should only be called underground astronauts they had to be masters or

astronauts they had to be masters or

astronauts they had to be masters or PhDs in paleontology archaeology related

PhDs in paleontology archaeology related

PhDs in paleontology archaeology related science they had field experience at at

science they had field experience at at

science they had field experience at at caving experience and they had to be

caving experience and they had to be

caving experience and they had to be able to fit through an 18 centimeter

able to fit through an 18 centimeter

able to fit through an 18 centimeter squeeze it ended up the most qualified

squeeze it ended up the most qualified

squeeze it ended up the most qualified human beings on this planet to do this

human beings on this planet to do this

human beings on this planet to do this very dangerous very remarkable job we’re

very dangerous very remarkable job we’re

very dangerous very remarkable job we’re young women and they’re gonna go down

young women and they’re gonna go down

young women and they’re gonna go down and they’re gonna recover what I hope

and they’re gonna recover what I hope

and they’re gonna recover what I hope are some of the most extraordinary human

are some of the most extraordinary human

are some of the most extraordinary human ancestor fossils ever found I’m Becca

ancestor fossils ever found I’m Becca

ancestor fossils ever found I’m Becca I’m marina I’m Hannah we’re gonna be the

I’m marina I’m Hannah we’re gonna be the

I’m marina I’m Hannah we’re gonna be the first team of archaeologists to get into

first team of archaeologists to get into

first team of archaeologists to get into the deepest part of the cave tomorrow

the deepest part of the cave tomorrow

the deepest part of the cave tomorrow none of us have been into the final

none of us have been into the final

none of us have been into the final chamber yet we have all been to what’s

chamber yet we have all been to what’s

chamber yet we have all been to what’s called base one which is at the top of

called base one which is at the top of

called base one which is at the top of Dragon’s Back and it’s sitting right

Dragon’s Back and it’s sitting right

Dragon’s Back and it’s sitting right above the final chute which has the the

above the final chute which has the the

above the final chute which has the the big or rather small squeeze going it

big or rather small squeeze going it

big or rather small squeeze going it down into the final chamber I’m less

down into the final chamber I’m less

down into the final chamber I’m less nervous today than it was yesterday

nervous today than it was yesterday

nervous today than it was yesterday I am still a little bit nervous about

I am still a little bit nervous about

I am still a little bit nervous about this squeeze down into the actual

this squeeze down into the actual

this squeeze down into the actual chamber but I’ve seen it from above and

chamber but I’ve seen it from above and

chamber but I’ve seen it from above and I think it’s gonna go well tomorrow

I think it’s gonna go well tomorrow

I think it’s gonna go well tomorrow still a dangerous environment despite

still a dangerous environment despite

still a dangerous environment despite all that as perhaps that we’ve done and

all that as perhaps that we’ve done and

all that as perhaps that we’ve done and more comfortable we feel the better

tickled pink to be here this is amazing

tickled pink to be here this is amazing yeah chance of a lifetime