I In just a few days, my colleagues Luis Espinasa, Mike Sandone, and I are embarking on an exciting journey to explore a cave rich in megafauna remains. Luis initially stumbled upon these fossils while researching blind cave fish in the area. Remarkably, the cave houses hundreds of bones in relatively pristine condition, partially preserved by manganese oxide permineralization.

The primary objective of our upcoming expedition is to investigate several submerged passages in the cave. The cave often experiences flooding, leading to passages being almost entirely submerged. These areas seem to be key locations for the collection of fossils, likely because the water currents move the remains towards areas near sumps. To navigate and study these underwater pathways, we’ll be employing specialized remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This exploration promises to provide valuable insights into this unique and ancient ecosystem.

I will be adding additional updates to this expedition post while we are onsite.