WEBVTT 00:00:12.145 --> 00:00:14.813 IF THERE'S ONE THING WE'VE DISCOVERED OVER THE YEARS 00:00:14.848 --> 00:00:16.949 IN OUR JOURNEYS THROUGH CALIFORNIA 00:00:16.983 --> 00:00:19.551 IS THAT SOME OF OUR MOST EXCITING ADVENTURES 00:00:19.586 --> 00:00:21.687 AND OUR MOST IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES 00:00:21.721 --> 00:00:24.690 HAVE OCCURRED WHEN WE WEREN'T EVEN LOOKING FOR THEM. 00:00:24.724 --> 00:00:27.226 WE KIND OF HAD TO LOOK BENEATH THE SURFACE 00:00:27.260 --> 00:00:29.328 AND DIG A LITTLE BIT TO FIND THEM. 00:00:29.362 --> 00:00:32.398 WELL, I HAVE A FEELING THIS IS GOING TO BE AN EXAMPLE 00:00:32.432 --> 00:00:35.067 OF ONE OF THOSE ADVENTURES, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, 00:00:35.101 --> 00:00:38.570 IT MAY APPEAR THAT I'M OUT HERE ON JUST YOUR AVERAGE OLD LAKE. 00:00:38.605 --> 00:00:42.875 BUT, BELIEVE ME, THERE IS NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT THIS LAKE. 00:00:42.909 --> 00:00:46.879 THIS LAKE IS FILLED WITH METHANE GAS AND PETROLEUM. 00:00:46.913 --> 00:00:49.915 THERE'S OIL EVERYWHERE IN THIS WATER. 00:00:49.949 --> 00:00:54.186 AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO ON THIS PARTICULAR ADVENTURE 00:00:54.220 --> 00:00:57.489 IS FIND OUT WHAT IS UNDERNEATH THIS LAKE. 00:00:57.524 --> 00:00:59.925 WELL, IF THIS PIQUES YOUR INTEREST, 00:00:59.959 --> 00:01:03.228 AS ALWAYS, YOU'RE INVITED TO COME ON ALONG WITH US 00:01:03.263 --> 00:01:05.597 AS WE CONTINUE OUR SEARCH TOGETHER 00:01:05.632 --> 00:01:07.499 FOR CALIFORNIA'S HIDDEN GOLD. 00:01:07.534 --> 00:01:09.735 Man: � NOW, ALLAN HANCOCK HAD A TAR PIT � 00:01:09.769 --> 00:01:11.570 � E-I-E-I-O � 00:01:11.604 --> 00:01:13.405 � AND IN THAT TAR PIT HE HAD A SABER-TOOTH � 00:01:13.440 --> 00:01:14.940 � E-I-E-I-O � 00:01:14.974 --> 00:01:17.309 � WITH A [GROWLS] HERE AND A [GROWLS] THERE � 00:01:17.344 --> 00:01:19.144 � HERE A [GROWLS] THERE A [GROWLS] � 00:01:19.179 --> 00:01:20.512 � EVERYWHERE A [GROWLS] � 00:01:20.547 --> 00:01:21.914 � ALLAN HANCOCK HAD A TAR PIT � 00:01:21.948 --> 00:01:24.350 � E-I-E-I-O � 00:01:24.384 --> 00:01:26.652 � NOW, ALLAN HANCOCK HAD A TAR PIT � 00:01:26.686 --> 00:01:28.320 � E-I-E-I-O � 00:01:28.355 --> 00:01:30.656 � AND IN THAT TAR PIT HE HAD A MAMMOTH � 00:01:30.690 --> 00:01:32.257 � E-I-E-I-O � 00:01:32.292 --> 00:01:33.992 � WITH A [TRUMPETS] HERE � 00:01:34.027 --> 00:01:35.627 � AND A [TRUMPETS] THERE � 00:01:35.662 --> 00:01:37.529 � HERE A [TRUMPETS] THERE A [TRUMPETS] � 00:01:37.564 --> 00:01:39.631 � EVERYWHERE A [TRUMPETS] � 00:01:39.666 --> 00:01:41.734 � ALLAN HANCOCK HAD A TAR PIT � 00:01:41.768 --> 00:01:45.671 � E-I-E-I-O � 00:01:45.705 --> 00:01:52.244 � CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME � 00:01:52.278 --> 00:01:58.817 � CALIFORNIA, HERE I COME � 00:02:05.725 --> 00:02:08.861 Howser: IT'S A STRANGE AND WONDERFUL PLACE, 00:02:08.895 --> 00:02:12.664 MADE EVEN MORE BIZARRE BY THE FACT THAT IT'S LOCATED 00:02:12.699 --> 00:02:15.634 RIGHT ALONGSIDE BUSY WILSHIRE BOULEVARD 00:02:15.669 --> 00:02:17.503 RIGHT IN THE CITY OF L.A. 00:02:17.537 --> 00:02:18.837 WE'RE TALKING 00:02:18.872 --> 00:02:21.473 ABOUT THE WORLD-FAMOUS LA BREA TAR PITS. 00:02:21.508 --> 00:02:25.444 AND TO SAY THIS PLACE HAS A LOT OF HISTORY CONNECTED WITH IT 00:02:25.478 --> 00:02:26.945 IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. 00:02:26.980 --> 00:02:29.048 YOU SEE, 40,000 YEARS AGO, 00:02:29.082 --> 00:02:33.719 THIS AREA WAS FULL OF ASPHALT BUBBLING UP FROM UNDERGROUND. 00:02:33.753 --> 00:02:36.822 IT FORMED POOLS WHICH TRAPPED ANIMALS. 00:02:36.856 --> 00:02:40.259 AND OVER A 30,000-YEAR SPAN OF TIME, 00:02:40.293 --> 00:02:43.262 THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS 00:02:43.296 --> 00:02:47.232 WERE TRAPPED AND PRESERVED IN THIS STICKY STUFF. 00:02:47.267 --> 00:02:52.905 JUMPING AHEAD TO THE 1870s, THIS AREA WAS AN ASPHALT MINE, 00:02:52.939 --> 00:02:54.807 AND WHEN THE WORKERS WERE DIGGING, 00:02:54.841 --> 00:02:56.675 THEY FOUND ALL KINDS OF BIG BONES 00:02:56.710 --> 00:02:58.310 AND NEARLY THREW THEM AWAY. 00:02:58.345 --> 00:03:00.312 THEY DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THEIR SIGNIFICANCE. 00:03:00.347 --> 00:03:04.249 BUT IN THE EARLY 1900s, SCIENTISTS AND ARCHAEOLOGISTS 00:03:04.284 --> 00:03:07.553 DID START TO APPRECIATE JUST WHAT WAS HERE, 00:03:07.587 --> 00:03:11.090 AND AS THEY DUG, THEY UNCOVERED A TREASURE 00:03:11.124 --> 00:03:14.426 OF PERFECTLY PRESERVED ANIMAL SKELETONS 00:03:14.461 --> 00:03:16.295 FROM AN AGE LONG PAST. 00:03:16.329 --> 00:03:18.497 THIS WAS A MAJOR DISCOVERY, 00:03:18.531 --> 00:03:21.967 AND THE OWNER OF THIS LAND, COLONEL G. ALLAN HANCOCK, 00:03:22.002 --> 00:03:24.703 DONATED IT TO THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES 00:03:24.738 --> 00:03:26.271 IN 1916. 00:03:26.306 --> 00:03:31.877 TODAY, THE ORIGINAL ASPHALT MINE FROM THE 1870s IS STILL AROUND 00:03:31.911 --> 00:03:35.447 AND IS FULL OF BUBBLING, OILY WATER. 00:03:35.482 --> 00:03:37.316 IT'S KNOWN AS THE LAKE PIT, 00:03:37.350 --> 00:03:40.853 AND IT'S THE PLACE MOST TOURISTS AND SCHOOLCHILDREN 00:03:40.887 --> 00:03:43.722 THINK OF WHEN THEY THINK OF THE TAR PITS. 00:03:43.757 --> 00:03:47.860 BUT WHEN YOU WALK AROUND THE GROUNDS OF HANCOCK PARK, 00:03:47.894 --> 00:03:52.364 YOU ALSO FIND OTHER PITS, SOME INACTIVE FROM EARLIER DIGS, 00:03:52.399 --> 00:03:56.702 AND SOME ACTIVE, LIKE GOOD OL' PIT NUMBER 91, 00:03:56.736 --> 00:03:59.605 WHICH IS STILL FULL OF GOODIES. 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:04.043 BOY, THIS IS AN INTERESTING FEELING DOWN HERE. 00:04:04.077 --> 00:04:05.477 DIFFERENT. 00:04:05.512 --> 00:04:08.180 IT'S ALSO KIND OF AN INTERESTING SENSE OF HISTORY 00:04:08.214 --> 00:04:09.915 TO REALIZE THAT YOU'RE DIGGING 00:04:09.949 --> 00:04:12.051 WHERE PEOPLE DUG 80, 90 YEARS AGO. 00:04:12.085 --> 00:04:13.452 YES, THAT'S RIGHT, 00:04:13.486 --> 00:04:15.721 AND WE'RE DOING A MUCH MORE CAREFUL JOB. 00:04:15.755 --> 00:04:17.156 WE KNOW TO DO THAT NOW. 00:04:17.190 --> 00:04:19.224 THE ORIGINAL BONES THAT WERE DUG OUT 00:04:19.259 --> 00:04:22.194 WERE SIFTED, ESSENTIALLY, THROUGH A 1/4-INCH MESH SCREEN. 00:04:22.228 --> 00:04:24.229 AND WHATEVER WAS SMALL IN THERE, 00:04:24.264 --> 00:04:26.498 THEY DIDN'T KNOW TO PAY ATTENTION TO. 00:04:26.533 --> 00:04:28.834 SO, MOSTLY, THE BULK OF THE COLLECTION 00:04:28.868 --> 00:04:30.336 IS LARGE-ANIMAL BONES, 00:04:30.370 --> 00:04:32.738 BUT IF WE GO BACK INTO THE COLLECTION NOW -- 00:04:32.772 --> 00:04:34.807 FOR EXAMPLE, IN THESE CANS HERE... 00:04:34.841 --> 00:04:37.543 YOU CAN SEE THE ASPHALT THAT'S IN THESE BUCKETS. 00:04:37.577 --> 00:04:39.712 THIS IS MATERIAL THAT'S BEEN DUG OUT 00:04:39.746 --> 00:04:41.413 THAT HAS NO LARGE BONES IN IT. 00:04:41.448 --> 00:04:44.316 BUT WHEN WE TAKE SOLVENT AND DISSOLVE THE TAR AWAY, 00:04:44.351 --> 00:04:46.485 YOU'RE GOING TO FIND LIZARDS' TEETH, 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:48.654 YOU'RE GOING TO FIND SNAKE VERTEBRAS, 00:04:48.688 --> 00:04:50.956 YOU'RE GOING TO FIND PIECES OF BIRDS... 00:04:50.990 --> 00:04:52.124 IN THAT? 00:04:52.158 --> 00:04:53.292 YES. 00:04:53.326 --> 00:04:55.794 THIS IS FILLED WITH FOSSIL BONES. 00:04:55.829 --> 00:05:01.600 INSECTS AND SEEDS AND SHELLS AND... 00:05:01.634 --> 00:05:03.202 POLLEN. 00:05:03.236 --> 00:05:04.770 POLLEN? 00:05:04.804 --> 00:05:06.972 SO THIS THING CAPTURED EVERYTHING. 00:05:07.007 --> 00:05:08.474 THERE IS A CROSS SECTION 00:05:08.508 --> 00:05:11.143 OF THE WHOLE PLEISTOCENE-AGE ECOLOGY IN THIS. 00:05:11.177 --> 00:05:12.378 RIGHT HERE. 00:05:12.412 --> 00:05:14.279 DO YOU FIND YOURSELF FLASHING BACK 00:05:14.314 --> 00:05:15.914 TO WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE 00:05:15.949 --> 00:05:18.117 WHEN THESE ANIMALS WERE WALKING AROUND? 00:05:18.151 --> 00:05:19.551 ALL THE TIME. 00:05:19.586 --> 00:05:22.221 THE INTERESTING THING IS WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS 00:05:22.255 --> 00:05:24.556 ON THOSE MATERIALS, THERE'S A FEELING 00:05:24.591 --> 00:05:26.859 THAT COMES ALONG WITH THAT MATERIAL. 00:05:26.893 --> 00:05:28.994 WHEN WE TAKE A BONE OUT OF HERE, 00:05:29.029 --> 00:05:31.830 IT'S THE FIRST TIME IT'S SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY 00:05:31.865 --> 00:05:33.432 IN 20,000 OR 50,000 YEARS. 00:05:33.466 --> 00:05:36.101 THAT'S A PIECE OF HISTORY THAT IS QUITE UNIQUE, 00:05:36.136 --> 00:05:38.704 AND THE FEELING OF FINDING OUT WHAT WAS HERE 00:05:38.738 --> 00:05:40.773 IS PART OF THE REASON WE'RE HERE. 00:05:40.807 --> 00:05:42.341 HIDDEN ALL THESE YEARS. 00:05:42.375 --> 00:05:44.910 YES. PART OF OUR INTRINSIC PRIMATE CURIOSITY -- 00:05:44.944 --> 00:05:47.413 TO FIND OUT HOW THE WORLD'S PUT TOGETHER. 00:05:47.447 --> 00:05:50.149 THIS IS A PIECE OF IT. IT'S A VERY UNIQUE ONE. 00:05:50.183 --> 00:05:53.018 Howser: NOW, IS THIS PART OF YOUR JOB? 00:05:53.053 --> 00:05:56.522 UM, I'M WHAT'S CALLED A RESEARCH VOLUNTEER HERE, 00:05:56.556 --> 00:05:59.992 AND I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH IN THE COLLECTION 00:06:00.026 --> 00:06:01.593 FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS, 00:06:01.628 --> 00:06:05.030 AND I'VE BEEN WORKING DOWN HERE FOR A SEASON NOW. 00:06:05.065 --> 00:06:07.399 BOY, THIS IS NOT GLAMOROUS WORK, IS IT? 00:06:07.434 --> 00:06:09.635 NO, IT'S NOT, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN. 00:06:09.669 --> 00:06:12.237 YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND HERE. 00:06:12.272 --> 00:06:14.807 THERE'S, YOU KNOW -- YOU TAKE OUT ONE BONE, 00:06:14.841 --> 00:06:17.409 AND YOU GET TO SEE WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THERE. 00:06:17.444 --> 00:06:19.678 AND THERE LITERALLY COULD BE ANYTHING 00:06:19.713 --> 00:06:22.548 FROM ANOTHER HUMAN BEING THAT MIGHT BE DOWN THERE 00:06:22.582 --> 00:06:25.351 TO ANOTHER DIRE WOLF TO ANOTHER SABER-TOOTH CAT 00:06:25.385 --> 00:06:28.020 OR SOME ANIMAL WE'VE NEVER FOUND HERE BEFORE. 00:06:28.054 --> 00:06:30.456 AND IN ORDER TO GET TO THE BONES, 00:06:30.490 --> 00:06:33.692 YOU HAVE TO DIP THAT TAR OUT ONE THING AT A TIME? 00:06:33.727 --> 00:06:34.860 THAT'S RIGHT. 00:06:34.894 --> 00:06:36.829 THERE'S NO EASY WAY TO DO IT. 00:06:36.863 --> 00:06:38.797 DO THAT ONE MORE TIME FOR US. 00:06:38.832 --> 00:06:40.366 THIS IS NOT GLAMOROUS. 00:06:40.400 --> 00:06:42.668 THIS IS... 00:06:42.702 --> 00:06:45.170 THIS IS NOT A WAY TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTEERS 00:06:45.205 --> 00:06:47.339 TO COME OVER HERE, YOU UNDERSTAND? 00:06:47.374 --> 00:06:49.975 WELL, THOSE OF US WITH THAT KIND OF MIND-SET 00:06:50.010 --> 00:06:51.143 WILL SHOW. 00:06:51.177 --> 00:06:52.911 Howser: LEAVING PIT 91, 00:06:52.946 --> 00:06:55.714 WE HEADED TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK 00:06:55.749 --> 00:06:59.585 FOR THE GEORGE C. PAGE MUSEUM OF LA BREA DISCOVERIES. 00:06:59.619 --> 00:07:02.621 IT'S PART OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 00:07:02.655 --> 00:07:04.289 OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY 00:07:04.324 --> 00:07:07.893 AND IS FILLED WITH THE BONES TAKEN FROM THE PITS 00:07:07.927 --> 00:07:09.161 OVER THE YEARS. 00:07:09.195 --> 00:07:11.497 TO GET FROM PIT 91 TO THE MUSEUM 00:07:11.531 --> 00:07:14.466 ENDED UP BEING AN ADVENTURE IN ITSELF 00:07:14.501 --> 00:07:16.502 BECAUSE THE PARK WAS FILLED 00:07:16.536 --> 00:07:19.271 WITH THESE OUTCROPPINGS OF ASPHALT 00:07:19.305 --> 00:07:21.106 SEEPING UP FROM UNDERGROUND. 00:07:21.141 --> 00:07:23.175 THE STICKY STUFF WAS EVERYWHERE. 00:07:23.209 --> 00:07:24.643 LOOK AT THIS. 00:07:24.678 --> 00:07:27.146 THIS IS JUST SEEPING OUT EVERYWHERE. 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:29.481 Woman: RIGHT. ALL OVER THE PLACE. 00:07:29.516 --> 00:07:31.750 THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT VENTS, 00:07:31.785 --> 00:07:33.252 AND SO IN THE SUMMER -- 00:07:33.286 --> 00:07:35.654 Howser: LOOK AT MY FEET. LOOK AT THIS. 00:07:35.689 --> 00:07:38.190 THERE'S A FOOTPRINT ALREADY FROM JUST -- 00:07:38.224 --> 00:07:40.025 IT'S A WARM DAY, SO -- 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:43.262 THERE'S ONLY ABOUT THIS MUCH TAR ON THE SURFACE OF THE GROUND, 00:07:43.296 --> 00:07:46.398 BUT IT'S A WARM DAY, SO IT'S GONNA GET REALLY GUSHY. 00:07:46.433 --> 00:07:48.000 IN THE WINTERTIME, 00:07:48.034 --> 00:07:50.402 YOU CAN WALK ACROSS MOST OF THIS AND NOTHING HAPPENS. 00:07:50.437 --> 00:07:52.738 BUT AS IT GETS HOTTER AND HOTTER IN THE SUMMER, 00:07:52.772 --> 00:07:54.340 IT GETS STICKIER AND STICKIER. 00:07:54.374 --> 00:07:56.141 THERE ARE MY TRACKS THAT I LEFT BEHIND 00:07:56.176 --> 00:07:58.077 BY JUST STANDING HERE FOR A MINUTE. 00:07:58.111 --> 00:08:01.914 IF IT WAS A LITTLE BIT DEEPER, WE'D HAVE YOU STUCK. 00:08:01.948 --> 00:08:05.150 AND HERE IT IS, ALL -- COMING ALL OUT -- 00:08:05.185 --> 00:08:07.119 THAT'S THE LIQUID ASPHALT 00:08:07.153 --> 00:08:10.289 COMING OUT OF THE GROUND RUNNING ALONG. 00:08:10.323 --> 00:08:13.892 THIS IS PRETTY MUCH HOW THE ANIMALS GOT STUCK. 00:08:13.927 --> 00:08:17.062 IT WASN'T REALLY A PIT IN THE GROUND -- 00:08:17.097 --> 00:08:18.397 WHAT YOU SEE NOW. 00:08:18.431 --> 00:08:20.599 THOSE ARE THE OLD EXCAVATION SITES 00:08:20.633 --> 00:08:22.401 WHERE THE GROUND'S COLLAPSED. 00:08:22.435 --> 00:08:25.371 IT WAS THE TAR FLOWING ON THE SURFACE OF THE LAND. 00:08:25.405 --> 00:08:28.407 WHICH IS VERY DECEIVING BECAUSE YOU WOULDN'T THINK 00:08:28.441 --> 00:08:30.576 THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, 00:08:30.610 --> 00:08:32.845 BUT I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH RIGHT NOW -- 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:34.113 MY FOOT... 00:08:34.147 --> 00:08:35.481 YOU'RE STUCK. 00:08:35.515 --> 00:08:36.749 ...IS STUCK. 00:08:36.783 --> 00:08:37.816 MM-HMM. 00:08:37.851 --> 00:08:40.519 SEE, I'M TRYING TO PULL IT OUT -- 00:08:40.553 --> 00:08:42.955 I'M STUCK, TOO. I'M SERIOUS. 00:08:42.989 --> 00:08:44.623 YEAH, YOU'RE STUCK. 00:08:44.657 --> 00:08:48.227 WE GOT A BIT OF A CLEAN-UP JOB TO DO WITH YOUR SHOE. 00:08:48.261 --> 00:08:49.461 [ BOTH LAUGH ] 00:08:49.496 --> 00:08:51.463 WELL, BUT I'M TRYING TO GET THE FEEL 00:08:51.498 --> 00:08:53.932 OF WHAT THESE ANIMALS MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED. 00:08:53.967 --> 00:08:56.235 OH, YEAH, AND IF YOU CAN IMAGINE IT BEING 00:08:56.269 --> 00:08:59.204 JUST A LITTLE BIT DEEPER AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT, 00:08:59.239 --> 00:09:01.373 IT MUST HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. 00:09:01.408 --> 00:09:02.441 HORRIFYING. 00:09:02.475 --> 00:09:03.942 YEAH, FRIGHTENING. 00:09:03.977 --> 00:09:06.645 Howser: WELL, I FINALLY GOT UNSTUCK, 00:09:06.680 --> 00:09:09.148 AND WE MADE IT TO THE PAGE MUSEUM 00:09:09.182 --> 00:09:11.884 WHERE WE MET UP WITH MR. PAGE HIMSELF 00:09:11.918 --> 00:09:15.988 WHO INSISTED ON TAKING US ON A PERSONAL TOUR OF THE PLACE, 00:09:16.022 --> 00:09:18.057 STARTING WITH THE BONE ROOM. 00:09:18.091 --> 00:09:20.926 NOW, IS THIS THE BONE LADY OVER HERE? 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:22.594 THIS IS THE BONE LADY. 00:09:22.629 --> 00:09:24.229 HI, I'M HUELL HOWSER. 00:09:24.264 --> 00:09:27.633 TELL US WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT AROUND IN HERE. 00:09:27.667 --> 00:09:31.937 OKAY, WELL, RIGHT NOW WE'VE GOT LOTS AND LOTS OF LARGE BONES 00:09:31.971 --> 00:09:33.939 FROM MAMMOTHS AND MASTODONS 00:09:33.973 --> 00:09:37.242 THAT CAME FROM OUR EARLIER EXCAVATIONS HERE, 00:09:37.277 --> 00:09:40.779 AND NOW WE'RE TRYING TO REASSEMBLE THOSE PIECES, 00:09:40.814 --> 00:09:44.216 AND, UM, WE USE A LOT OF MASKING TAPE AND GLUE 00:09:44.250 --> 00:09:45.551 IN THIS AREA. 00:09:45.585 --> 00:09:48.253 AND YOUR WORKERS ARE DOING ALL OF THIS 00:09:48.288 --> 00:09:51.190 WITH THE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE MUSEUM 00:09:51.224 --> 00:09:52.891 LOOKING AT WHAT'S GOING ON. 00:09:52.926 --> 00:09:55.494 RIGHT. WE REFER TO THIS AS THE FISHBOWL. 00:09:55.528 --> 00:09:58.364 NOW, HOW ARE YOU EVER GONNA PUT THAT TOGETHER 00:09:58.398 --> 00:10:00.632 INTO ANYTHING THAT WE'D RECOGNIZE? 00:10:00.667 --> 00:10:02.201 WELL, I TAKE THE PIECES, 00:10:02.235 --> 00:10:04.536 AND IT'S JUST LIKE A JIGSAW PUZZLE, 00:10:04.571 --> 00:10:06.171 AND I PUT THEM TOGETHER -- 00:10:06.206 --> 00:10:07.339 OH, THAT FITS. 00:10:07.374 --> 00:10:09.008 YES, YEAH. THAT FITS. 00:10:09.042 --> 00:10:11.944 AND THEN, EVENTUALLY, WHEN I GET ENOUGH TOGETHER, 00:10:11.978 --> 00:10:15.214 I WILL TAPE IT AND THEN PUT IT ONTO THE LARGER BONE, 00:10:15.248 --> 00:10:17.783 AND THEN WE WILL HAVE IT ALL COMPLETED. 00:10:17.817 --> 00:10:20.052 AND YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME OF THIS 00:10:20.086 --> 00:10:22.721 HAS ALREADY BEEN TAPED OR GLUED IN PLACE. 00:10:22.756 --> 00:10:25.924 NOW, WE SAW THE BONES DOWN IN PIT 91 00:10:25.959 --> 00:10:27.359 COVERED IN TAR. 00:10:27.394 --> 00:10:29.728 THIS IS THE NEXT STAGE HERE. 00:10:29.763 --> 00:10:30.929 RIGHT. 00:10:30.964 --> 00:10:33.866 THEN THEY WOULD COME OVER HERE, 00:10:33.900 --> 00:10:37.036 AND WITH SOLVENT AND TOOTHBRUSHES, 00:10:37.070 --> 00:10:40.105 DENTAL PICKS, COTTON SWABS, RAGS, 00:10:40.140 --> 00:10:43.976 WE DISSOLVE THE MATRIX -- THE TARRY SANDS -- 00:10:44.010 --> 00:10:47.146 OFF OF THE BONES WITH THE SOLVENT, 00:10:47.180 --> 00:10:50.516 AND THEN DO A LITTLE BIT OF POLISHING TO CLEAN THEM. 00:10:50.550 --> 00:10:53.085 SO THIS IS JUST AS BASIC AS IT GETS -- 00:10:53.119 --> 00:10:54.586 CLEANING THE TAR OFF. 00:10:54.621 --> 00:10:57.456 THERE'S NOTHING HIGHLY TECHNICAL ABOUT THIS. 00:10:57.490 --> 00:10:59.958 WE'RE JUST GETTING TAR OFF THE BONES. 00:10:59.993 --> 00:11:02.327 RIGHT. WE'RE CLEANING THESE BONES. 00:11:02.362 --> 00:11:05.464 SOMETIMES THEY'RE BROKEN IN PLACE IN THE GROUND, 00:11:05.498 --> 00:11:08.901 AND WHEN YOU'VE CLEANED THEM, PIECES HAVE COME APART, 00:11:08.935 --> 00:11:11.270 SO THESE FOLKS WILL ALSO BE SEEING 00:11:11.304 --> 00:11:13.939 IF ANY OF THESE PIECES GO BACK TOGETHER, 00:11:13.973 --> 00:11:17.643 THEN DOING THE IDENTIFICATION FOR CAMEL OR BISON OR HORSE. 00:11:17.677 --> 00:11:19.978 LOOK, YOU'VE GOT BONES EVERYWHERE. 00:11:20.013 --> 00:11:22.915 EVERYWHERE, AND THIS IS JUST A SMALL PORTION. 00:11:22.949 --> 00:11:25.584 THIS IS JUST WHAT'S BEEN WORKING ON NOW. 00:11:25.618 --> 00:11:28.020 BACK IN OUR COLLECTIONS, YOU'LL SEE, 00:11:28.054 --> 00:11:30.322 THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE BUILDING, 00:11:30.357 --> 00:11:31.890 TRAY AFTER TRAY OF BONES 00:11:31.925 --> 00:11:34.827 THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CLEANED, IDENTIFIED, 00:11:34.861 --> 00:11:37.296 AND ARE AVAILABLE NOW FOR RESEARCH. 00:11:37.330 --> 00:11:39.298 CAN WE TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR BONES? 00:11:39.332 --> 00:11:40.632 CERTAINLY. 00:11:40.667 --> 00:11:42.768 WE'RE GONNA GO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BONES. 00:11:42.802 --> 00:11:44.269 YOU'LL FIND THAT INTERESTING. 00:11:44.304 --> 00:11:46.105 BY ALL MEANS, SEE THAT. 00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:48.040 OKAY, WE'RE PICKING UP -- 00:11:48.074 --> 00:11:51.777 OKAY, THESE ARE FROM THE LOWER HIND LEG OF A MAMMOTH. 00:11:51.811 --> 00:11:53.112 GOOD GRIEF! 00:11:53.146 --> 00:11:54.680 THIS IS A TIBIA, 00:11:54.714 --> 00:11:58.450 AND YOU CAN SEE FROM WHERE THE LABELS ARE 00:11:58.485 --> 00:12:02.121 HOW MANY PIECES IT WAS IN TO START WITH. 00:12:02.155 --> 00:12:04.289 IT'S BEEN RECONSTRUCTED, 00:12:04.324 --> 00:12:09.328 AND THEN TO FILL IN THE GAPS WHERE WE WERE MISSING PIECES, 00:12:09.362 --> 00:12:13.432 WE USE AN EXPANDING STYROFOAM THAT WE POUR IN, 00:12:13.466 --> 00:12:15.701 AND IT FILLS IN THE GAPS. 00:12:15.735 --> 00:12:17.870 BOY, THIS IS A BIG BONE. 00:12:17.904 --> 00:12:19.204 BIG BONE. 00:12:19.239 --> 00:12:20.639 BIG ANIMAL. 00:12:20.674 --> 00:12:24.243 AND THIS IS THE PRIMARY COLLECTION BACK HERE. 00:12:24.277 --> 00:12:27.713 THIS HOLDS ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE FOSSILS 00:12:27.747 --> 00:12:30.582 EXCAVATED HERE FROM THE TAR PITS. 00:12:30.617 --> 00:12:32.918 SO EACH ONE OF THESE TRAYS... 00:12:32.952 --> 00:12:36.555 IS FULL OF IDENTIFIED AND CURATED SPECIMENS. 00:12:36.589 --> 00:12:40.025 WE HAVE SCIENTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD 00:12:40.060 --> 00:12:43.328 WHO COME TO STUDY THE COLLECTIONS HERE. 00:12:43.363 --> 00:12:46.598 ALL THESE TRAYS AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE -- 00:12:46.633 --> 00:12:47.966 RIGHT. 00:12:48.001 --> 00:12:50.602 THE LENGTH OF THE BUILDING AND AROUND THE CORNER. 00:12:50.637 --> 00:12:51.970 HOW MANY BONES? 00:12:52.005 --> 00:12:54.173 WELL, WE'LL ASK OUR COLLECTIONS MANAGER. 00:12:54.207 --> 00:12:55.774 CHRISTOPHER, HOW MANY BONES? 00:12:55.809 --> 00:12:58.410 WELL, WE ESTIMATE CONSERVATIVELY 00:12:58.445 --> 00:13:01.213 THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 3 MILLION ITEMS. 00:13:01.247 --> 00:13:02.715 3 MILLION? 00:13:02.749 --> 00:13:07.586 ONLY ABOUT 426,000 HAVE BEEN CATALOGED AND IDENTIFIED, 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:12.691 BUT MANY MORE HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY SHELLEY AND OTHERS, 00:13:12.726 --> 00:13:14.526 AND WE CONTINUE EVERY YEAR 00:13:14.561 --> 00:13:17.863 TO BUILD THE COLLECTION OF CATALOG SPECIMENS -- 00:13:17.897 --> 00:13:20.566 PROBABLY AROUND 16,000 A YEAR OR SO. 00:13:20.600 --> 00:13:23.535 AND THAT DOESN'T EVEN COUNT ALL THE BONES 00:13:23.570 --> 00:13:25.337 THAT ARE STILL OUT THERE. 00:13:25.372 --> 00:13:28.540 NO. ALL THE ONES THAT ARE STILL IN THE GROUND 00:13:28.575 --> 00:13:30.042 JUST WAITING FOR US. 00:13:30.076 --> 00:13:32.544 HERE'S THE BIG DADDY OF THEM ALL. 00:13:32.579 --> 00:13:34.813 RIGHT. NOW, FROM THOSE PIECES 00:13:34.848 --> 00:13:37.716 WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER IN THE LABORATORY 00:13:37.751 --> 00:13:39.084 OF A MAMMOTH -- 00:13:39.119 --> 00:13:41.587 A SPECIMEN LIKE THIS IS PUT TOGETHER 00:13:41.621 --> 00:13:43.455 FROM THE COMPLETED PIECES. 00:13:43.490 --> 00:13:46.258 NOW, HOW MANY OF THESE HAVE YOU FOUND? 00:13:46.292 --> 00:13:49.828 WE HAVE PARTS OF AT LEAST 28 INDIVIDUALS OF MAMMOTH 00:13:49.863 --> 00:13:52.564 THAT WERE STUCK HERE IN THE TAR PITS. 00:13:52.599 --> 00:13:54.066 REALLY? 00:13:54.100 --> 00:13:57.236 MR. PAGE, THIS IS AMAZING, TO SEE... 00:13:57.270 --> 00:13:58.570 IT IS. 00:13:58.605 --> 00:14:00.706 ...THE SIZE OF THESE THINGS. 00:14:00.740 --> 00:14:02.141 WE MUST REALIZE 00:14:02.175 --> 00:14:05.344 THEY EXISTED HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA -- 00:14:05.378 --> 00:14:07.646 ALL THESE HUGE ANIMALS -- 00:14:07.681 --> 00:14:11.617 AND SABER-TOOTH CATS AND THE LARGE SLOTHS -- 00:14:11.651 --> 00:14:13.819 ALL THESE FANTASTIC ANIMALS 00:14:13.853 --> 00:14:16.889 EXISTED HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 00:14:16.923 --> 00:14:24.196 WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS PLACE THAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL? 00:14:24.230 --> 00:14:27.700 Cox: WELL, IT'S JUST -- IT'S MAGIC. 00:14:27.734 --> 00:14:30.936 IT'S A WINDOW INTO ANOTHER TIME, 00:14:30.970 --> 00:14:32.771 AND BECAUSE WE HAVE 00:14:32.806 --> 00:14:36.942 SO MANY FOSSILS AND SUCH A VARIETY OF FOSSILS, 00:14:36.976 --> 00:14:39.011 THAT IT'S THE PLANTS, THE ANIMALS, 00:14:39.045 --> 00:14:41.146 THE BUGS THAT FLEW THROUGH THE AIR, 00:14:41.181 --> 00:14:43.415 THE SNAILS THAT CRAWLED ON THE GROUND, 00:14:43.450 --> 00:14:46.618 AND IT GIVES YOU JUST THIS MOST COMPLETE PICTURE POSSIBLE 00:14:46.653 --> 00:14:49.855 OF WHAT LIFE WOULD'VE BEEN LIKE HERE ON WILSHIRE BOULEVARD 00:14:49.889 --> 00:14:51.223 20,000 YEARS AGO. 00:14:51.257 --> 00:14:54.793 CAPTURED AND HIDDEN FOR 20,000 YEARS 00:14:54.828 --> 00:14:56.695 BY ALL OF THIS TAR. 00:14:56.730 --> 00:14:58.397 RIGHT, BY ALL THAT TAR 00:14:58.431 --> 00:15:02.101 AND ALL THE DIRT THAT BUILT UP OVER THE TOP OF IT 00:15:02.135 --> 00:15:05.771 JUST WAITING FOR US TO DIG IT UP AND DISCOVER IT. 00:15:05.805 --> 00:15:09.408 [ ELEPHANT TRUMPETS ] 00:15:09.442 --> 00:15:12.244 Howser: LEAVING THE TAR PITS IN LOS ANGELES, 00:15:12.278 --> 00:15:14.880 WE CONTINUED OUR SEARCH FOR HIDDEN GOLD 00:15:14.914 --> 00:15:16.382 IN SAN DIEGO. 00:15:16.416 --> 00:15:19.251 WE WERE THERE AT THE INVITATION OF THE GOOD FOLKS 00:15:19.285 --> 00:15:21.754 FROM THE SAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY 00:15:21.788 --> 00:15:25.824 WHO INVITED US TO VISIT THE JUNIPERO SERRA MUSEUM, 00:15:25.859 --> 00:15:27.526 A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING 00:15:27.560 --> 00:15:30.696 LOCATED ATOP A HILL IN PRESIDIO PARK. 00:15:30.730 --> 00:15:33.132 LITTLE DID WE KNOW WHEN WE ARRIVED 00:15:33.166 --> 00:15:34.767 THAT WE WERE AT THE SITE 00:15:34.801 --> 00:15:37.836 OF ONE OF CALIFORNIA'S TRUE HIDDEN TREASURES. 00:15:37.871 --> 00:15:40.272 GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, HUELL. 00:15:40.306 --> 00:15:42.708 NICE TO MEET YOU. IT'S A PLEASURE. 00:15:42.742 --> 00:15:45.377 I'M MARK ALLEN, SAN DIEGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 00:15:45.412 --> 00:15:46.945 I KNOW THIS IS MARK ALLEN 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:49.348 BECAUSE WE MET A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO 00:15:49.382 --> 00:15:50.716 AT A CONVENTION 00:15:50.750 --> 00:15:52.918 OF THE CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 00:15:52.952 --> 00:15:55.754 AND YOU INVITED ME AT THAT TIME TO COME HERE 00:15:55.789 --> 00:15:57.089 BECAUSE YOU SAID 00:15:57.123 --> 00:15:59.625 THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST HISTORIC PLACES 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:01.994 IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. 00:16:02.028 --> 00:16:03.462 NOW, EXPLAIN YOURSELF. 00:16:03.496 --> 00:16:05.364 ALL RIGHT. NOW, THIS IS SOMETHING 00:16:05.398 --> 00:16:07.700 THAT NOT A LOT OF CALIFORNIANS KNOW ABOUT, 00:16:07.734 --> 00:16:09.735 NOT A LOT OF SAN DIEGANS KNOW ABOUT. 00:16:09.769 --> 00:16:12.471 BUT ON THIS HILLSIDE WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW 00:16:12.505 --> 00:16:14.540 WAS THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT 00:16:14.574 --> 00:16:17.376 ON THE WEST COAST OF THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. 00:16:17.410 --> 00:16:19.578 ON THE EAST COAST, THEY HAVE JAMESTOWN, 00:16:19.612 --> 00:16:21.480 PLYMOUTH ROCK, AND ST. AUGUSTINE. 00:16:21.514 --> 00:16:23.916 WELL, THIS COULD BE CONSIDERED 00:16:23.950 --> 00:16:27.186 THE PLYMOUTH ROCK OF THE ENTIRE WEST COAST. 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:30.756 AND 200 YEARS AGO, IN 1769, ABOUT 226 YEARS AGO, 00:16:30.790 --> 00:16:33.359 THIS PLACE WAS THE FIRST MISSION, 00:16:33.393 --> 00:16:36.195 AND THE FIRST SETTLEMENT WAS FOUNDED 00:16:36.229 --> 00:16:39.765 BY FATHER JUNIPERO SERRA AND GASPAR DE PORTOLA 00:16:39.799 --> 00:16:42.267 AND AN EXPEDITION OF SPANIARDS, 00:16:42.302 --> 00:16:45.204 AND IT GREW INTO WHAT'S NOW SAN DIEGO. 00:16:45.238 --> 00:16:49.074 SO THIS WAS LITERALLY THE FIRST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT 00:16:49.109 --> 00:16:52.644 ON THE ENTIRE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES? 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:54.113 THAT'S RIGHT -- 00:16:54.147 --> 00:16:56.482 FROM HERE TO ALASKA, HERE TO THE NORTH POLE. 00:16:56.516 --> 00:16:57.649 IN 1769? 00:16:57.684 --> 00:16:58.817 THAT'S RIGHT. 00:16:58.852 --> 00:17:01.754 NOW, WE HAVE A PICTURE OVER HERE, 00:17:01.788 --> 00:17:05.391 A DRAWING OF WHAT... WHAT THIS LOOKED LIKE. 00:17:05.425 --> 00:17:08.827 SO THE PRESIDIO, WHAT WAS FOUNDED HERE, 00:17:08.862 --> 00:17:11.563 WAS RIGHT HERE, IS THAT RIGHT? 00:17:11.598 --> 00:17:14.700 THAT'S RIGHT, JUST 100 YARDS BELOW WHERE WE STAND, 00:17:14.734 --> 00:17:17.936 AND 200 YEARS AGO, IF YOU'D STOOD ON THIS SAME SPOT, 00:17:17.971 --> 00:17:21.173 YOU WOULD'VE BEEN LOOKING OUT OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN 00:17:21.207 --> 00:17:24.343 AND SEEING A COMPLEX OF LOW, TILE-ROOFED BUILDINGS. 00:17:24.377 --> 00:17:25.611 RIGHT HERE. 00:17:25.645 --> 00:17:27.546 THIS IS THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SPANISH 00:17:27.580 --> 00:17:29.481 IN ALL OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 00:17:29.516 --> 00:17:31.817 BEFORE THERE WAS A LOS ANGELES, BEFORE THERE WAS ANYTHING. 00:17:31.851 --> 00:17:33.152 THIS WAS THE OUTPOST. 00:17:33.186 --> 00:17:34.486 THIS WAS THE PRESIDIO? 00:17:34.521 --> 00:17:35.954 THAT'S RIGHT. 00:17:35.989 --> 00:17:38.624 AND IT CERTAINLY LOOKS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT TODAY. 00:17:38.658 --> 00:17:41.193 THERE WERE NO FREEWAYS, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC, 00:17:41.227 --> 00:17:43.929 JUST QUIET, AND LOOKING STRAIGHT OUT TO THE SEA. 00:17:43.963 --> 00:17:46.632 AND ALSO, THIS BEAUTIFUL TREE-SHADED PARK HERE, 00:17:46.666 --> 00:17:49.001 THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A TREE IN SIGHT 00:17:49.035 --> 00:17:51.236 BECAUSE THIS WAS PRACTICALLY A DESERT, 00:17:51.271 --> 00:17:54.039 AND IF WE TOOK AWAY ALL THE COLORADO RIVER WATER, 00:17:54.074 --> 00:17:56.108 IT WOULD PROBABLY BE DESERT AGAIN. 00:17:56.142 --> 00:17:58.911 NOW, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PRESIDIO OVER THE YEARS? 00:17:58.945 --> 00:18:00.846 WELL, IT LASTED ABOUT 60 YEARS. 00:18:00.880 --> 00:18:03.449 IT WAS THE KEY POINT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 00:18:03.483 --> 00:18:05.017 THAT THE SPANISH HELD. 00:18:05.051 --> 00:18:07.553 AND THEN, AFTER THAT TIME, PEOPLE DIDN'T NEED 00:18:07.587 --> 00:18:10.155 THE PROTECTION OF A WALLED OUTPOST ANYMORE. 00:18:10.190 --> 00:18:13.325 THEY STARTED MOVING DOWNHILL TO MORE CONVENIENT PLACES 00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:15.394 WHERE THEY COULD LIVE NEAR WATER 00:18:15.428 --> 00:18:18.263 AND DIDN'T HAVE TO HAUL IT UP ON THEIR BACKS EVERY DAY. 00:18:18.298 --> 00:18:21.467 THEY MOVED DOWN AND THEY STARTED FOUNDING WHAT'S NOW OLD TOWN. 00:18:21.501 --> 00:18:24.670 AND WHEN THEY STARTED BUILDING THEIR LITTLE HOUSES DOWN THERE, 00:18:24.704 --> 00:18:27.306 THEY CAME BACK TO THEIR OLD HOUSES IN THE PRESIDIO 00:18:27.340 --> 00:18:28.907 AND TOOK ALL THE TILES OFF, 00:18:28.942 --> 00:18:30.909 AND THOSE THAT THEY DIDN'T ALREADY OWN, 00:18:30.944 --> 00:18:32.244 WELL, THEY STOLE. 00:18:32.278 --> 00:18:34.413 THEY SCAVENGED WHATEVER THEY COULD 00:18:34.447 --> 00:18:37.082 BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LABOR-INTENSIVE PROCESS. 00:18:37.117 --> 00:18:39.518 THE PRESIDIO WAS LEFT TO SORT OF DECAY. 00:18:39.552 --> 00:18:42.755 WHEN YOU TAKE THE TILE ROOFS OFF OF AN ADOBE, IT MELTS. 00:18:42.789 --> 00:18:45.057 AND SO OVER THE PROCESS OF 150 YEARS, 00:18:45.091 --> 00:18:47.493 THIS THING MELTED BACK INTO THE GROUND, 00:18:47.527 --> 00:18:51.230 UNTIL TODAY WHEN ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE FINALLY STARTED UNCOVERING 00:18:51.264 --> 00:18:53.632 WHAT HASN'T BEEN SEEN FOR 150 YEARS -- 00:18:53.667 --> 00:18:56.135 THE FLOORS AND THE BOTTOMS OF THE WALLS 00:18:56.169 --> 00:18:58.604 OF THIS FIRST SETTLEMENT OF CALIFORNIA. 00:18:58.638 --> 00:19:02.474 SO, THE PRESIDIO, LITERALLY, FROM ABOUT THE MIDDLE -- 00:19:02.509 --> 00:19:05.210 OR ABOUT 1830, 1840, ON UP TILL NOW 00:19:05.245 --> 00:19:08.847 HAS BEEN NONEXISTENT AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE, 00:19:08.882 --> 00:19:12.151 BUT IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN THERE THE WHOLE TIME. 00:19:12.185 --> 00:19:13.619 IN SAN DIEGO, 00:19:13.653 --> 00:19:16.288 A POPULAR PASTIME FOR KIDS FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS 00:19:16.322 --> 00:19:19.158 HAS BEEN TO GET IN THIS PARK AND RIDE BLOCKS OF ICE 00:19:19.192 --> 00:19:21.827 OVER THESE LITTLE MOUNDS AND HUMPS AND HOLLOWS. 00:19:21.861 --> 00:19:23.662 NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY WERE. 00:19:23.697 --> 00:19:26.432 EXACTLY. HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY'RE RIDING OVER THE WALLS 00:19:26.466 --> 00:19:28.600 OF THE FIRST SETTLERS OF CALIFORNIA. 00:19:28.635 --> 00:19:30.803 NOW WE HAVE COME DOWN THE HILL. 00:19:30.837 --> 00:19:32.638 THERE'S THE MUSEUM UP THERE, 00:19:32.672 --> 00:19:35.541 AND WE'RE ACTUALLY STANDING IN THE PRESIDIO. 00:19:35.575 --> 00:19:36.909 WE ARE STANDING 00:19:36.943 --> 00:19:39.478 ON WHAT'S PROBABLY THE OLDEST TILE FLOORS 00:19:39.512 --> 00:19:41.246 IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. 00:19:41.281 --> 00:19:42.414 RIGHT HERE. 00:19:42.449 --> 00:19:43.882 WE'RE WALKING DOWN 00:19:43.917 --> 00:19:46.085 RIGHT THROUGH ONE OF THE BUILDINGS, 00:19:46.119 --> 00:19:48.721 AND THE BIG, OPEN PLAZA WOULD BE RIGHT HERE, 00:19:48.755 --> 00:19:50.389 THE BACKYARDS ARE EVERYTHING 00:19:50.423 --> 00:19:52.491 ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THESE WALLS. 00:19:52.525 --> 00:19:55.060 NOW, IS THIS THE DOOR WE'RE GOING THROUGH? 00:19:55.095 --> 00:19:56.562 STEP ON THROUGH THE DOOR. 00:19:56.596 --> 00:19:58.530 OH, WOW. AND LOOK AT THIS TILE. 00:19:58.565 --> 00:20:00.866 THIS HAS BEEN HIDDEN... 00:20:00.900 --> 00:20:03.135 FOR 150 YEARS OR MORE. 00:20:03.169 --> 00:20:05.037 ...OVER 150 YEARS. 00:20:05.071 --> 00:20:06.372 WOW. 00:20:06.406 --> 00:20:08.340 A LOT OF ACTIVITY OVER HERE. 00:20:08.375 --> 00:20:09.408 THAT'S RIGHT. 00:20:09.442 --> 00:20:10.776 HI. HUELL HOWSER. 00:20:10.810 --> 00:20:13.679 PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, SIR. JACK WILLIAMS. 00:20:13.713 --> 00:20:14.847 NOW, JACK IS... 00:20:14.881 --> 00:20:16.281 DR. WILLIAMS 00:20:16.316 --> 00:20:19.051 IS THE ARCHAEOLOGIST IN CHARGE OF THIS PROJECT. 00:20:19.085 --> 00:20:21.153 HE'S BRINGING IT ALL BACK FOR US. 00:20:21.187 --> 00:20:23.188 SO THIS IS YOUR BABY RIGHT HERE. 00:20:23.223 --> 00:20:25.057 I WAS A VERY LUCKY YOUNG MAN. 00:20:25.091 --> 00:20:26.492 WHEN I WAS ABOUT 13, 00:20:26.526 --> 00:20:28.727 I GOT A CHANCE TO COME HERE AND VOLUNTEER. 00:20:28.762 --> 00:20:31.230 IT'S BEEN ONE OF MY PASSIONS TO BE ABLE TO SEE 00:20:31.264 --> 00:20:33.732 THESE WALLS AND TILED FLOORS COME BACK TO LIFE 00:20:33.767 --> 00:20:36.468 AND MAYBE TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT EARLY CALIFORNIA. 00:20:36.503 --> 00:20:38.337 NOW, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? 00:20:38.371 --> 00:20:40.973 MARK, DO YOU NEED TO STAY OR YOU GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK? 00:20:41.007 --> 00:20:42.508 I'M GONNA GET BACK TO WORK. 00:20:42.542 --> 00:20:44.510 HE'S GOT WORK TO DO UP AT THE MUSEUM. 00:20:44.544 --> 00:20:46.178 WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY? 00:20:46.212 --> 00:20:48.447 WELL, YOU'RE SEEING A GROUP OF MEMBERS 00:20:48.481 --> 00:20:50.683 OF ONE OF THE AMERICORPS PROGRAMS -- 00:20:50.717 --> 00:20:53.085 THE NATIONAL CIVILIAN COMMUNITY CORPS -- 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:56.555 WORKING AT EXCAVATING THE SOILS THAT KIND OF HAVE ACCUMULATED 00:20:56.589 --> 00:20:59.158 SINCE THE PRESIDIO WAS ABANDONED ABOUT 1835. 00:20:59.192 --> 00:21:01.760 SO IT'S A VERY METICULOUS PROCESS 00:21:01.795 --> 00:21:04.830 OF DIGGING THE DIRT OUT BY SPECIFIC AREA, 00:21:04.864 --> 00:21:06.932 THEN SCREENING IT, LOOK FOR ARTIFACTS, 00:21:06.966 --> 00:21:09.568 CAREFULLY KEEPING RECORDS OF EVERYTHING THEY FIND. 00:21:09.602 --> 00:21:12.438 THROUGH THIS, WE LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT EARLY CALIFORNIA. 00:21:14.574 --> 00:21:16.041 OH, LOOK. 00:21:16.076 --> 00:21:18.410 THAT'S A TINY PIECE OF BLUE TRANSFER WARE. 00:21:18.445 --> 00:21:20.713 THAT CAME FROM STAFFORDSHIRE IN BRITAIN. 00:21:20.747 --> 00:21:22.948 AND IT'S PROBABLY SOME SORT OF A SCENE, 00:21:22.982 --> 00:21:24.683 BUT IT'S SUCH A TINY PIECE 00:21:24.718 --> 00:21:27.219 THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY MAKE OUT WHAT IT COMPOSED OF. 00:21:27.253 --> 00:21:28.887 BUT THAT WAS CHINA? 00:21:28.922 --> 00:21:31.323 YES. IT WAS ORIGINALLY PART OF A BOWL IS MY GUESS -- 00:21:31.358 --> 00:21:32.958 MAYBE, LIKE, A SUGAR BOWL. 00:21:32.992 --> 00:21:35.060 AND IT WAS MADE IN ENGLAND MAYBE IN THE 1790s, 00:21:35.095 --> 00:21:37.429 CAME OVER HERE ABOARD ENGLISH MERCHANT SHIPS, 00:21:37.464 --> 00:21:40.366 AND WAS TRADED TO THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE UP AT THE PRESIDIO 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.667 FOR HIDES. 00:21:41.701 --> 00:21:44.003 WOW. SO YOU REALLY -- YOU GOT AN EAGLE EYE. 00:21:44.037 --> 00:21:46.271 YOU SPOTTED THAT IN THAT WHOLE BIG -- 00:21:46.306 --> 00:21:47.773 YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR. 00:21:47.807 --> 00:21:49.842 COBALT BLUE USUALLY DOESN'T OCCUR 00:21:49.876 --> 00:21:51.276 JUST ON ROCKS OUT HERE. 00:21:51.311 --> 00:21:53.445 SO IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE THAT. 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:57.049 THERE'S LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OBJECTS HERE. 00:21:57.083 --> 00:21:59.518 WE'VE RECOVERED OVER A MILLION AND A HALF ARTIFACTS 00:21:59.552 --> 00:22:01.987 SINCE WE STARTED LAST MAY, SO IT GIVES YOU AN IDEA. 00:22:02.022 --> 00:22:03.856 IT'S A STAGGERING QUANTITY OF STUFF. 00:22:03.890 --> 00:22:06.325 WELL, THIS IS AN UNUSUAL PIECE OF TILE, 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:08.560 A SPECIAL ONE BECAUSE IT HAS WRITING ON IT. 00:22:08.595 --> 00:22:11.063 IT'S ONE OF THE VERY FEW WE HAVE FROM CALIFORNIA. 00:22:11.097 --> 00:22:13.232 I'VE TAKEN IT AROUND TO LINGUISTIC EXPERTS 00:22:13.266 --> 00:22:14.566 OF A VARIETY OF TYPES 00:22:14.601 --> 00:22:16.201 TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT SAYS, 00:22:16.236 --> 00:22:17.870 AND IT'S A GROUP OF LETTERS, 00:22:17.904 --> 00:22:20.005 BUT IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE IN LATIN OR SPANISH 00:22:20.040 --> 00:22:22.574 OR ANY OTHER EUROPEAN LANGUAGE ANYONE'S RECOGNIZED. 00:22:22.609 --> 00:22:23.909 SO, WHAT IS IT? 00:22:23.943 --> 00:22:25.511 WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. 00:22:25.545 --> 00:22:27.379 IT'S A MYSTERY MESSAGE FROM THE 18th CENTURY. 00:22:27.414 --> 00:22:29.848 AND WHY WAS IT PUT ON A TILE? WHY WAS IT IN SOMEONE'S ROOF? 00:22:29.883 --> 00:22:31.216 I DON'T KNOW. 00:22:31.251 --> 00:22:33.852 IT SEEMS TO BE THE LETTERS O-A-R-P-K-I OR U. 00:22:33.887 --> 00:22:35.287 IS IT AN ABBREVIATION? 00:22:35.321 --> 00:22:37.489 I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER KNOW, 00:22:37.524 --> 00:22:40.359 BUT IT'S A MYSTERY OF THE PRESIDIO, FOR SURE. 00:22:40.393 --> 00:22:42.995 WELL, SEE, THAT'S ONE OF THE NICE THINGS, 00:22:43.029 --> 00:22:46.231 THAT THESE MYSTERIES ARE CONSTANTLY BEING UNCOVERED. 00:22:46.266 --> 00:22:49.068 IT IS EXCITING. I WISH I KNEW WHAT IT MEANT. 00:22:49.102 --> 00:22:50.803 WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU GOT HERE? 00:22:50.837 --> 00:22:53.038 WELL, I HAVE A VERY UNUSUAL BEAD. 00:22:53.073 --> 00:22:54.773 IT'S CALLED A CHEVRON BEAD. 00:22:54.808 --> 00:22:58.077 IT COMES FROM VENICE, AND IT HAS A VERY DISTINCT FORM. 00:22:58.111 --> 00:23:00.746 AND SOME EXPERTS BELIEVE THAT THESE BEADS 00:23:00.780 --> 00:23:03.082 WERE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY DISTRIBUTED 00:23:03.116 --> 00:23:05.684 TO NORTHERN NEW SPAIN OR NORTHERN MEXICO 00:23:05.719 --> 00:23:07.052 IN THE 16th CENTURY. 00:23:07.087 --> 00:23:09.521 WE DO KNOW THAT JUAN RODRIGUEZ CABRILLO 00:23:09.556 --> 00:23:12.791 AND SEBASTIAN VIZCAINO PROBABLY VISITED THIS HILLSIDE. 00:23:12.826 --> 00:23:15.794 IT'S QUITE CONCEIVABLE THAT SOMEONE LIKE CABRILLO 00:23:15.829 --> 00:23:18.364 COULD'VE DROPPED THAT HERE, IN WHICH CASE 00:23:18.398 --> 00:23:20.866 IT'S 200 YEARS OLDER THAN THE PRESIDIO. 00:23:20.900 --> 00:23:22.434 SOME EXPERTS THINK 00:23:22.469 --> 00:23:24.503 THAT MAYBE THESE WERE MADE UP UNTIL THE 18th CENTURY, 00:23:24.537 --> 00:23:26.405 SO I WOULD HATE TO TELL YOU THAT THAT'S 00:23:26.439 --> 00:23:28.607 THE OLDEST EUROPEAN OBJECT FOUND IN CALIFORNIA, 00:23:28.641 --> 00:23:30.142 BUT IT MIGHT BE. 00:23:30.176 --> 00:23:31.710 ANOTHER MYSTERY. 00:23:31.745 --> 00:23:32.778 YEAH. 00:23:32.812 --> 00:23:34.480 THEY JUST KEEP COMING. 00:23:34.514 --> 00:23:38.384 AS MANY QUESTIONS AS WE ANSWER, WE CREATE NEW QUESTIONS. 00:23:38.418 --> 00:23:39.685 YEAH, IT'S EXCITING, FUN. 00:23:39.719 --> 00:23:41.353 NOW, WHAT'S GOING ON OVER HERE? 00:23:41.388 --> 00:23:43.422 THE KIDS ARE LOOKING THROUGH THE SCREEN. 00:23:43.456 --> 00:23:46.025 THIS IS WHERE WE REMOVE THE DIRT FROM THE ARTIFACTS, 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:48.260 AND THEN THEY LOOK THROUGH WHAT'S LEFT OVER, 00:23:48.294 --> 00:23:50.796 AND THEY FIND THE TILE AND THE DIFFERENT ARTIFACTS, 00:23:50.830 --> 00:23:52.297 AND WE HAVE THEM COME UP 00:23:52.332 --> 00:23:54.199 AND SEE IF THEY CAN FIND DIFFERENT THINGS. 00:23:54.234 --> 00:23:56.368 SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING A LITTLE BIT 00:23:56.403 --> 00:23:58.470 OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL WORK FOR YOU TODAY. 00:23:58.505 --> 00:24:00.506 AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL GET INSPIRED, 00:24:00.540 --> 00:24:03.308 AND THEY'LL FIND SOMETHING, AND THEY'LL CONTINUE ON. 00:24:03.343 --> 00:24:05.177 MAYBE THEY'LL WANT TO PURSUE IT. 00:24:05.211 --> 00:24:08.447 YOU GOT A HISTORIC PIECE OF TILE THERE. 00:24:08.481 --> 00:24:11.717 YEAH. IT'S A ROOF PIECE -- OF THE ROOF. 00:24:11.751 --> 00:24:13.452 BOY, THESE ARE NICE. 00:24:13.486 --> 00:24:15.754 HOLD THEM UP, BOYS AND GIRLS. 00:24:15.789 --> 00:24:17.723 LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT IT. 00:24:17.757 --> 00:24:21.560 THERE IT IS -- HISTORIC TILE FROM THE PRESIDIO. 00:24:21.594 --> 00:24:26.598 WHAT WOULD THIS SEASHELL BE ALL ABOUT? 00:24:26.633 --> 00:24:28.634 WELL, THERE'S TWO WAYS THEY CAME UP HERE. 00:24:28.668 --> 00:24:30.602 ONE WAS THEY WERE REALLY BIG ON SEAFOOD. 00:24:30.637 --> 00:24:32.571 IN FACT, ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND OUT 00:24:32.605 --> 00:24:34.707 ABOUT THE EARLY CALIFORNIANS THAT LIVED HERE 00:24:34.741 --> 00:24:37.309 WAS THEY LIED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW MUCH FOOD THEY GOT, 00:24:37.344 --> 00:24:39.445 BECAUSE THEY WERE EATING A LOT OF SHELLFISH, 00:24:39.479 --> 00:24:42.047 AND THEY NEVER WROTE THAT DOWN IN THE OFFICIAL RECORDS. 00:24:42.082 --> 00:24:43.916 SO IT MIGHT BE FROM THEIR FOOD WASTE. 00:24:43.950 --> 00:24:45.818 THEY ATE A LOT OF SCALLOPS AND MUSSELS 00:24:45.852 --> 00:24:48.087 AND JUST ALL SORTS OF THINGS THEY COULD COLLECT 00:24:48.121 --> 00:24:49.555 ALONG THE SHORELINE. 00:24:49.589 --> 00:24:51.690 THE OTHER THING IS THEY USED THOSE SHELLS -- 00:24:51.725 --> 00:24:54.193 THEY BURNED THEM UP AND THEY TURNED THEM INTO LIME 00:24:54.227 --> 00:24:56.161 FOR LIME WHITEWASH FOR THE BUILDINGS, 00:24:56.196 --> 00:24:57.863 AND THEY MADE CEMENT OUT OF IT. 00:24:57.897 --> 00:24:59.765 ONE THAT SIZE IS PROBABLY FROM FOOD. 00:24:59.799 --> 00:25:02.601 SO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THIS OLD SHELL 00:25:02.635 --> 00:25:05.537 COULD TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT WHAT THEY ATE. 00:25:05.572 --> 00:25:08.440 ABSOLUTELY. IN FACT, WE'RE RECONSTRUCTING 00:25:08.475 --> 00:25:11.343 A WHOLE LOST CUISINE OF EARLY CALIFORNIA. 00:25:11.378 --> 00:25:13.512 AND HERE COME THE SCHOOLKIDS RIGHT NOW. 00:25:13.546 --> 00:25:15.314 THAT MUST MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. 00:25:15.348 --> 00:25:17.850 WELL, IT IS WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT A LOT OF THESE KIDS 00:25:17.884 --> 00:25:20.052 CAN GET A CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE HISTORY 00:25:20.086 --> 00:25:22.287 AS SOMETHING MORE THAN A STORY IN A BOOK. 00:25:22.322 --> 00:25:24.623 YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE IT COME OUT OF THE GROUND. 00:25:24.657 --> 00:25:27.092 YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY EASY TO KIND OF GET DISTRACTED 00:25:27.127 --> 00:25:29.428 AND THINK HISTORY IS SOME SORT OF A DRY SUBJECT 00:25:29.462 --> 00:25:31.764 UNTIL YOU'VE SEEN A PIECE OF A FLINTLOCK MUSKET 00:25:31.798 --> 00:25:33.098 COME OUT OF THE GROUND 00:25:33.133 --> 00:25:34.433 OR A CRUCIFIX 00:25:34.467 --> 00:25:36.368 OR A PIECE OF POTTERY FROM THE 18th CENTURY. 00:25:36.403 --> 00:25:38.103 IT HELPS TO MAKE IT ALIVE TO THEM, 00:25:38.138 --> 00:25:39.471 AND I KNOW FOR A FACT 00:25:39.506 --> 00:25:41.306 THAT IF WE CAN MAKE IT ALIVE TO THEM, 00:25:41.341 --> 00:25:43.442 THIS WILL BE SAVED FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS -- 00:25:43.476 --> 00:25:45.878 NOT ONLY OF SCHOLARS, BUT OF CALIFORNIANS TO ENJOY. 00:25:45.912 --> 00:25:48.580 THERE'S SO FEW THINGS LIKE THIS LEFT IN THE UNITED STATES. 00:25:48.615 --> 00:25:51.183 IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE TAKE THESE REMAINING ONES 00:25:51.217 --> 00:25:53.152 AND DO SOMETHING THAT WILL PRESERVE THEM 00:25:53.186 --> 00:25:54.486 FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. 00:25:54.521 --> 00:25:56.455 WELL, THERE YOU HAVE IT -- 00:25:56.489 --> 00:25:58.924 TWO EXAMPLES OF HOW WE ARE LITERALLY UNEARTHING