Entrance to Rising Star cave, where Lee Berger's team of 'underground astronauts' discovered the largest collection of hominin remains ever discovered on the African continent, in 2013.
Entrance to Rising Star cave, where Lee Berger's team of 'underground astronauts' discovered the largest collection of hominin remains ever discovered on the African continent, in 2013.
Courtesy Brett Eloff/Wits University
The Underground Astronauts : Becca Peixotto, Alia Gurtov, Elen Feuerriegel, Marina Elliott, Lindsay Hunter, and Hannah Morris. The six cavers helped uncover 1,500 fossils from Rising Star cave in South Africa.
The Underground Astronauts : Becca Peixotto, Alia Gurtov, Elen Feuerriegel, Marina Elliott, Lindsay Hunter, and Hannah Morris. The six cavers helped uncover 1,500 fossils from Rising Star cave in South Africa.
Courtesy John Hawks/University of Wiscons
"These people are heroic in their efforts, they're risking their lives to go in there," said expedition leader Lee Berger (pictured with caver Lindsay Eaves). "These explorers are squeezing their bodies through cracks and crevices where you have to cease breathing to push yourself through."<br />
"These people are heroic in their efforts, they're risking their lives to go in there," said expedition leader Lee Berger (pictured with caver Lindsay Eaves). "These explorers are squeezing their bodies through cracks and crevices where you have to cease breathing to push yourself through."
Courtesy Wits University
"It's damp, it's dark. If you slip in certain situations you can fall and injure yourself," explained Berger of Rising Star cave. Here, Lindsay Eaves manages to work on a laptop inside the cramped cave.
"It's damp, it's dark. If you slip in certain situations you can fall and injure yourself," explained Berger of Rising Star cave. Here, Lindsay Eaves manages to work on a laptop inside the cramped cave.
Courtesy Ellen Feuerriegel/Wits University
"I love communicating science," said American paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, pictured. "And I love the science that I've been privileged to do -- the search for human origins.
"I love communicating science," said American paleoanthropologist Lee Berger, pictured. "And I love the science that I've been privileged to do -- the search for human origins.
Courtesy Brett Eloff
While the Underground Astronauts searched the caves, Berger and his team monitored their every movement from a tent on the surface.
While the Underground Astronauts searched the caves, Berger and his team monitored their every movement from a tent on the surface.
Courtesy Brett Eloff
Cavers Steve Tucker and Rick Hunter originally discovered the fossils in Rising Star cave, taking photos which they later showed to Berger.<br />
Cavers Steve Tucker and Rick Hunter originally discovered the fossils in Rising Star cave, taking photos which they later showed to Berger.
Courtesy Brett Eloff