Spirit Eye Cave

Рет қаралды 39,049

Жыл бұрын

In the limestone of West Texas near the Mexican border there's a cave that harbored the 5,000 year old mummified remains of some of the humans that have lived in this region for millennia. This cave also contains evidence of habitation by now-extinct megafauna like ground sloths and 3-toed horses.
Unfortunately, as this cave is on private property (as most land in Texas is), rights to explore this cave and excavate were sold off decades ago by one of the former property owners. As a result, countless artifacts and other materials (including the human remains) were lost. The current landowner supports archeological excavation as well as returning the materials here to the modern-day descendants of the indigenous people that once lived here.
In this episode we join an archaeologist on a brief exploration of the cave as well as exploring the background and human history of the region.
Thanks To Bryon Schroeder and Rachel Monroe for help in production of this episode.
Your contributions support this content. It sounds clichéd, but it's true. Whether it's travel expenses, vehicle repair, or medical costs for urushiol poisoning (or rockfalls, beestings, hand slices, toxic sap, etc), your financial support allows this content to continue so the beauty of Earth's flora can be made accessible to the rest of us in the degenerate public. At a time when so much is disappearing beneath the human footprint, CPBBD is willing to do whatever it takes to document these plant species and the ecological communities they are a part of before they're gone for good.
Plants make people feel good. Plants quell homicidal (and suicidal!) thoughts. To support Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't, consider donating a few bucks to the venmo account "societyishell" or the PayPal account email crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt@gmail.com...
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Пікірлер: 373

@frankmacleod2565 Жыл бұрын

As an archaeologist in an era focused on preservation of what's left, it's difficult to imagine the level of destruction of a site like this.

@swayback7375 Жыл бұрын

You mean a site like… earth? The human tumor has spread back and forth in waves of destruction, but to be fair, in time the erosion and natural forces eventually obliterate all evidence of everything, man made or not, but it does take a long time for most stone to succumb to natural forces and people are REMARKABLY good at making a mess and wrecking everything! Especially there’s a little money to make

@frankmacleod2565 Жыл бұрын

@@swayback7375 yep its all transitory.

@dreamingone615 Жыл бұрын

"One man gathers what another man spills."

@throckmorton1972 Жыл бұрын

It’s easy to love nouns you just gotta respect them

@frankmacleod2565 Жыл бұрын

@@dreamingone615 sure but we can't go gathering up everything. I cant go quarry the Washington Monument, or Mt. Rushmore if I need some road rock

@uncletrash8770 Жыл бұрын

Hey Joey, just wanted to say, you awoke a passion for botany in me I didn't know was there. I'm thinking of going back to University, there's a program here in Vancouver at the BC Institute of Technology called Ecological Conservation, and I'm genuinely considering going, thanks to you.

@mikexibalbafarms4169 Жыл бұрын

Heck yea uncle get it!

@swayback7375 Жыл бұрын

Don’t go into debt! Do you guys do that up there? Take on more educational debt than you can reasonably pay off… huh? Do ya?

@uncletrash8770 Жыл бұрын

@@swayback7375 No, I also had a good paying job to finance my education so I don't think I'll go in debt

@itookallthenames Жыл бұрын

Do it!

@MegaMaxiene Жыл бұрын

I've got a couple friends who have done BCIT's Ecological Restoration program. One just graduated this spring! She got to work on a wetlands restoration out in Chilliwack and it sounds like so much fun. Wishing you the best of luck!!

@better.better Жыл бұрын

great video! I always like when you go on trips with people from other disciplines. it helps showcase how important it is for people of different fields of expertise to work together to come to conclusions that otherwise would be impossible. in this particular case you have information from geologists and botanists informing an archaeologist to help date a piece of dung. biologist knowing what conditions specific preserved plants required, geologist to date when those conditions those plants favored were around

@othon_87 Жыл бұрын

"Walls of piss, that's the name of a grindcore band!" You fucking beat me to it 😆😆😆

@X3R0D3D Жыл бұрын

when he said that, it immediately reminded my of the grindhouse we used to party at...

@johnnewton8017 Жыл бұрын

I fucking love this dude!

@8happyperson Жыл бұрын

it’s so incredibly frustrating how selfish people are. like mummified bodies? textiles? baskets? such valuable artifacts to learn about past humans and people just wanna keep that in their house having no interest to learn anything from it? it boggles my mind, especially if they don’t want to give back the bodies to the peoples who’s ancestors they are. it’s even more frustrating knowing they probably aren’t being preserved properly and even probably thrown away once the people who originally excavated them die.

@paytonlott5183 Жыл бұрын

It's sad to think about. I can *sort of* fathom keeping textiles or tools but a body? do people have no concept of preservation or respect?

@eastindiaV Жыл бұрын

They left all the valuable stuff behind... necrophiliacs don't see value in a digsite. It's just a sexual fetish to them.. normal people would obviously steer clear of any dead body.

@wanidouse Жыл бұрын

They ATE mummies, keep that in mind. The British came in and ATE the mummies. They ATE them!

@paytonlott5183 Жыл бұрын

@@wanidouse that was primarily egyptian mummies. The US wasn't shipping indigenous mummies to the UK lol

@tylerphillips4083 Жыл бұрын

They may have preserved them well. It’s shameful to think that just because their amateurs that they can’t keep and preserve history.

@mgxa_ Жыл бұрын

1) Thanks so much to Brian for sharing his wealth of truly fascinating knowledge! I love how humble he was and didn't hesitate to say "I don't know" rather than to speculate on answers that he didn't have. People really need to say "we just don't know the answer" more often rather than spewing bullshit. 2) Nice to see Tony not knowing anything for a change--most of his guesses on his questions were way off, or just speculation.

@k33k32 Жыл бұрын

There is a lot of 'we don't know' in archeology

@paytonlott5183 Жыл бұрын

I really liked that drone shot with the person in the entrance to the cave. Helped me imagine what it would have looked like back in the day

@petehoover6616 Жыл бұрын

Pebble you are holding at 6:50 looks to me like a grommet for leather. I use them a little smaller for tightening the head of a water drum I made out of a 5-gallon ceramic vat. Jagged stones would cut the leather. (Been there. Done that.) The stone you are holding looks like it held a hide that would have been used to shelter the millers. A windbreak, I would guess.

@stillwaterpaiutedecoys5744 Жыл бұрын

Great video on consequences of encroachment. If you are interested in touring the hidden cave/spirit cave area near Fallon NV let us know. The questions about what’s lost still remain in numerous sites of the Numu (northern Paiute people) and are facing further erasure from the navy, lithium/water wars, and upstream contamination. Thanks for such great material to share are valuable tools should be easy to access and understand. 🖐🏾

@itskarl79 Жыл бұрын

You might try reaching out to him via email.

@PaulBTheLibrarian Жыл бұрын

As a recovering archaeologist I loved this episode! Keep it up!

@Fishtory Жыл бұрын

As a former archaeologist, i love...Love this type of content. Thank you

@amityb4402 Жыл бұрын

This is my favorite video you've made so far! It's sad that human ego and greed leads to the looting of ancient cultural sites such as these... I hope that this video reaches out to some of those people, that they have a change of heart and decide to preserve history instead of horde it for themselves

@katiekane5247 Жыл бұрын

Can you imagine keeping a mummified human? 😨 That's gotta bring bad karma

@amityb4402 Жыл бұрын

@@katiekane5247 Riiight?? If ghosts exist they must be haunted af

@johnnierohnson3889 Жыл бұрын

Joey, I have listened to you for the last two years every night..I click play all an enjoy the best sleep I've had in years..thanks man. Don't be so hard on yourself, we're all off in the head a little.. 😆

@paytonlott5183 Жыл бұрын

This video is great, archeology was what originally interested me in natural sciences. Great info and beautiful landscape. I am liking the texan botany content as well

@mrantssfpv Жыл бұрын

HAha yes. The “Texan Botany content” is pure gold.

@goodlifegreenscapesbrecken5928 Жыл бұрын

7:00 you might love Aztec Ruins NM in New Mexico, South of Durango. beautiful location on the vast landscape to understand broad trading routes and outposts of the Native American People of pre-500 years ago.

@Biophile23 Жыл бұрын

Im fascinated by Pre Columbian native american life. There is so much more than what we are taught in history classes. I highly recommend Cahokia Mounds, its right next to Saint Louis. Its amazing how they used native plants to survive.

@iseriver3982 Жыл бұрын

Used native plants to survive, like every other human has?

@Biophile23 Жыл бұрын

@@iseriver3982 we humans are mostly relying on domesticated/exotic species today and have been for thousands of years in many places. But yes originally all humans had to rely on what was immediately around them.

@bartendersdaughter6003 Жыл бұрын

I suspect that our Tony here was the easiest kid to underestimate back in the day. Few who knew him then would have guessed he'd grow up to change the world. We love you Tony! BACIAME!

@The_k81 Жыл бұрын

Yet another excellent video, dense with learning and curiosity. Always inspiring stuff, thanks Joey!

@craighoover1495 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Tony, et al, for bringing us this interesting bit of West Texas history and for finding cool plants and for showing us what happens when you don't learn how to swim.

@kgforce1 Жыл бұрын

I was just trying to learn more about Spirit Eye Cave….and now I’m hooked. Subscribed!

@Anthony-il9ob Жыл бұрын

While in school in NM for archaeology I heard tons of looting stories like this. A local bank even had mummies in they're lobby for years before giving to the school, which was in the process of repatriating. But pretty much every old timer in the area has a huge collection of stone tools and pottery.

@TCannonATX Жыл бұрын

Joey have you ever considered doing like guided hikes or meet ups or anything? I think it would really heal my soul to go botanizing or looking at rocks with other people who are interested and it would be such an awesome experience. Like one or those fantasy baseball camps for being who love plants and being cussed at.

@TCannonATX Жыл бұрын

*for money of course. So botany could pay a little

@LeilahT 11 ай бұрын

Legitimately cried when he talked about getting folks back to their family. Even more when he talked about how these people have direct descendants still here. That gets glossed over so often, and it’s so hard to educate people once the bullshit takes hold. Thank you so, so, so much for this one. ❤

@gonzo432619 Жыл бұрын

Love this , I’m from west Texas and learning a lot thanks to you!

@raymonddettlaff1386 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely incredible. I love when you cross topics like archeology and geology. I'm waiting for the day you do a show with Geology professor Nick Zentner. Please do more shows on how ignorant humans are. Maybe just the exposure of human greed.

@Dinlitla Жыл бұрын

Nick is awesome. I would love to see them together.

@texicaliblues Жыл бұрын

About a year or so ago, Nick Zentner did about a minute or two intro to a video in a thick Wisconsin accent giving a shout out to this channel. It was pretty funny. He does so many videos that I can't remember which one it was.

@raymonddettlaff1386 Жыл бұрын

@@texicaliblues I did see that one

@hemkesis Жыл бұрын

Please come do the mismaloya hike up to the waterfalls in Jalisco-Vallarta. Very unique changing vegetation. Such a delight.

@dorotheadiallo5790 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for making and loading up this fantastic video

@2.7petabytes Жыл бұрын

You provide such an important record of plants and our history, in this video in particular! I’ve been a long time follower of your channel. Im happy for you that you have been able to turn this into something that works for you! Thank you sir!

@innovativeatavist159 Жыл бұрын

I've said it for years and I'll say it again, we need something like imminent domain but for scientific discoveries. The amount of times I've heard about this stuff is depressing. If a species is found in only one spot? Too bad, land owner wants condos built. Amazing archeological sight? Land owner has exclusive rights and can charge people to essentially destroy it. We need an act that says "Nope, sorry, we'll compensate you for time spent studying and preserving things on the property, but you can't do jack with it for X amount of years."

@lelandsmith2320 Жыл бұрын

Eminent domain means you pay fair market value. Otherwise it is government thievery.

@innovativeatavist159 Жыл бұрын

@@lelandsmith2320 not thievery in this case, just restriction while it's assessed. For instance there's no reason the guy who "owns" this cave can't let cattle graze in the area. But profiting off of literal grave robbing? No. Fck no.

@zechsblack5891 Жыл бұрын

There's similar laws in California. But then you can end up with shit like what happened on Santa Cruz Island where they go around and destroy/hide/loot/move stuff in a focused effort to prevent people from finding more stuff and getting more land placed under control.

@mjstecyk Жыл бұрын

Some places have laws that require archeological assessment of a property before it can be developed, like for example Ontario Canada. The developer bares the cost of assessment and if required, excavation. The private archeologist submits a report to the province for sign-off before development can continue. It's not a perfect solution but better than nothing.

@innovativeatavist159 Жыл бұрын

@@mjstecyk sort of related to that- My dad has sold concrete construction materials for a couple decades now. On more than one occasion, he was on site when people digging for foundations unearthed unmistakable finds, namely a human femur and the capstone of a stone box grave. Both times the foreman/supervisor shut any talk down with "It's a cow." or "Just a rock." and then kept digging. They were afraid that if archeological finds were present that it would interfere with the job. Money over morality. Makes me sick. And my dad didn't say anything because...well he's a pretty sh** person tbh.

@-ius-6502 Жыл бұрын

Very cool! Thanx for taking us along for the trip. Great content

@metafuel Жыл бұрын

I really enjoyed this slight departure from the normal. Edit: I look forward to Uncle Tony tells bedtime stories for adults.

@valeerie6423 Жыл бұрын

that view!! i need to visit the Americas soon

@f_youtubecensorshipf_nazis Жыл бұрын

if you can't do it before 2024 I would wait a while

@alistercaddy1208 Жыл бұрын

We got a lot of views out here, especially in the western part of the country.

@lettersnstuff Жыл бұрын

just make sure you’re white and/or not pregnant before coming, genuinely some absolutely gorgeous vistas though.

@xxxsnowleoparxxx Жыл бұрын

This was one of my favorite episodes of yours. Do more archaeology ones!!

@SA-bc6jw Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this with us.

@kaissos5 Жыл бұрын

You are such a great interviewer, bringing us along with your knowledgeable curiosity.

@dot1shots61 Жыл бұрын

Your videos are such a learning experience. Love it. And mother nature just keeps on giving!!

@txbirdman01 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this experience with us.

@DDrew67 Жыл бұрын

Thanks...Tony

@nathanielvargas3863 3 ай бұрын

It was very difficult to find this video again. This is definitely one of my favorite videos from this channel.

@juanramos.jr.7948 Жыл бұрын

One of the best episodes yet! Very entertaining and mind opening . Loved it ! Your narration sills are the best. It's nice to listen to a normal person.👏👏👏👏👍

@b0tanica Жыл бұрын

I’m loving all the west Texas videos!

@eliharper6616 Жыл бұрын

When I watch your content, I always find myself saying "This is so cool"

@linden5165 Жыл бұрын

The layers of history are incredible. It is very hard to reconcile the selfishness of taking things that just don't belong to you or your people. At least some things have been returned, especially the ancestral remains.

@lowowl Жыл бұрын

Love the caving stuff. Thank you for making these videos. I went and got a copy of Thomas Elpel’s book and getting into it. Thank you

@analogtom Жыл бұрын

Love the drone, provides a great additional fractal view on the site, bravo

@cece_marie Жыл бұрын

Really interesting, so tragic, but inspiring to see dedicated people preserving what they can. Would listen to bedtime stories - sometimes the cold honest truth is the most comforting. 🌵

@fantasticsituation9461 Жыл бұрын

i am appreciating the new drone shot intros

@geelee1977 Жыл бұрын

Nice vid 👍 You never disappoint on giving me an informative Texas Sunday morning. This is my church✌

@nearlydone Жыл бұрын

Beautiful video, much appreciation

@josephprimavera2545 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic! Thank you!

@cassiebowling1854 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely in love with this video! The intersection of botany, geology, and archaeology really gives you a glimpse of the big picture on ancient peoples. Plus I love technical terms like “4,000 year old shit” 👌

@gweppner4006 Жыл бұрын

Simpletons abound. Part of the human condition. I live near RMNP. Must go with someone (my son usually) to help stifle me when I go off on tourists who won't stay on paths especially in alpine regions. I am old with an attitude. BTW gr8 episode.👍

@LukeMcGuireoides Жыл бұрын

This was a nice departure. Good stuff, Tone

@WiseSnake Жыл бұрын

This is incredible.

@somerando280 Жыл бұрын

This was an awesome field trip

@blk77sunshn Жыл бұрын

It saddens me greatly to think of the so many things we could have learned from those stolen items. I read once that a strain of bacteria was discovered in buried remains that helped develop a treatment for some disease in the tropics. So many other things could've been learned.

@mrantssfpv Жыл бұрын

I absolutely love this. Legend for documenting. Sad about all the cave looting imagine what we could have found.

@mrantssfpv Жыл бұрын

At the near end I also really appreciate the man’s approach to not dwell on what is lost but focus on what can still be learned.

@-ius-6502 Жыл бұрын

WOW the view from the front door in amazing!

@greenbeecolony1911 Жыл бұрын

Hell yea I love caves finally I’ve been waiting for this one

@scottyrush1523 Жыл бұрын

Amazing! Thanks

@MC4TWT Жыл бұрын

I do fall asleep listening to you. Not because you're boring, but your eloquent and soothing voice. I could listen to you ramble about plants, rocks, and sloth shit all night. Thanks for the awesome videos. 🙌

@KidwithLamp Жыл бұрын

another brilliant video thanks

@redins6232 Жыл бұрын

@ 9:03 when he zooms in the plant in the water you can see some aquatic creature scurry off lol

@SimonSozzi7258 Жыл бұрын

6:42 This looks smaller than the ones I've seen but indigenous peoples used dinosaur gastroliths they found in fossil beads. Much smoother than any river stone. They look like they've been in a tumbler.

@v2gbob Жыл бұрын

Great video, thanks!

@briard8874 Жыл бұрын

Just discovered your channel a couple days ago. Hope there’s more like this in your backlog but if not, holy shit is it interesting so keep it coming!

@kassiapencek6185 Жыл бұрын

Oh this video is award winning!!! Im glad i caught it high.

@KeefBox Жыл бұрын

i do listen to you narrate my last waking moments quite often

@Hollywiththeflowers 7 ай бұрын

Mindblowing shit right there. Just to see a landscape like this is unimaginable to me. But to know about the archaeological finds & what they tell us about the flora and fauna from thousands of years ago? Absolutely fascinating, as always thank you for taking the time to show us this. IT’s appreciated.

@happiman9484 Жыл бұрын

I know it's not really the theme of your channel but it's nice to have stuff like this once in a while, especially as someone interested in history.

@moniquerigling3577 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting episode!

@aviefallis7534 Жыл бұрын

Make some story time videos! I would totally watch them. I love listening to you

@susanmullaney9359 Жыл бұрын

Did scientists manage to get any of the textiles? I'd love to know something about fibers and the weaving and sewing patterns.

@gaywizard2000 Жыл бұрын

No!

@williambrandondavis6897 Жыл бұрын

Look up Arnold research cave in Missouri. They recovered artifacts up to about 9000 years old including woven shoes and sandals, bags, a fish net and atalatl darts.

@LookAtThisJerkFace Жыл бұрын

Man, your channel is so fuckin' interesting. Your passion for all of the things you see and share with us is damned infectious and the approachable, funny way you share your knowledge is just the best. Thanks for doing what you do.

@herelieskittythomas3726 Жыл бұрын

Great video!!!

@hikingwithjackieboy Жыл бұрын

I met Dr. Bryan Schroeder at the dedication of murals at Sul Ross U. That was over a year ago. Very interesting gentleman. Cool video.

@rgpark69 Жыл бұрын

Thank you.

@Clarytee217 Жыл бұрын

Fascinated and claustrophobic at the same time.

@andersstrksonberge2874 Жыл бұрын

Love the droneshot and music

@gardengatesopen Жыл бұрын

Fascinating!!

@R3l3ntl3sss Жыл бұрын

Freaking love this channel.

@Isiloron Жыл бұрын

28:43 When you see the drone shots of the entrances with MOUNDS of excavated debris from looters just outside... Makes you real frustrated, and sad.

@grvyszn5700 Жыл бұрын

Love the archaeological stuff super cool

@lionscircle4700 Жыл бұрын

Spelunking, poachers, looters, and hanta virus; all in a days work for Joey. NIce music on the introduction-drone footage!

@shaneflickinger Жыл бұрын

Very cool video. It's a real shame what has happened to that cave.

@shabazzmcclain5049 Жыл бұрын

The music was perfect!

@KoroWerks Жыл бұрын

One thing about all the volcanic rock in the ovens is sedimentary rock and porous rocks that absorb water like limestone, can crack and explode when heated, so it's possible they learned that certain rocks are safer to line their stove or oven with and brought them to their seasonal cooking sites as they followed the herds or what have you. Thanks for the continual great content!

@mckalcm7494 Жыл бұрын

Hellz yeah.... first thumb. Bang our mind yet again, Tone!

@monkeytoes90 Жыл бұрын

8:55 you didn't mention it, but the size, shape, and water body for that sagitaia longiloba definitely was a crop field. Native Americans may have been cultivating that population for food(or had rice there previously)

@aaa111XP Жыл бұрын

I'd love a narration series. I often fall asleep after watching these

@Bootsz2010 Жыл бұрын

I could listen to you for sleepy storytime!

@technodrone313 Жыл бұрын

thanks for the drone footage too!!

@hikingwithjackieboy Жыл бұрын

Beautiful

@LynnGorman Жыл бұрын

Awesome cave!

@steverogers6131 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, now I need a tee shirt with a sloth, smoking a bong on a couch! Great stuff!

@SpasmGazm Жыл бұрын

Man those are some incredible shots with that drone

@v5k359 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, GFY bro!

@noelbreitenbach8673 Жыл бұрын

Videos keep getting better and they were never not good

@bybeach4865 Жыл бұрын

Good show, appreciated just getting to see any of this, really. Amazing all that material, was brought in for human processing of food and perhaps other use. Don't know if a rotting varmint would add nuance to a bedside story tho... I do get the idea people in the 50's or so, very often dug up Indian remains for grave goods/afterlife perhaps, by my exposure to a book I love: House of Rain, by Craig Childs.