Is the person who first published data on the site. *Only* having a masters degree, and as a doctoral student, he was shown the site by others that knew about it. But apparently, he is an excellent field researcher. Not an easy way to spend a summer, trust me. He and another graduate student did the first years of work, making sure they had a good story supported by evidence before they published. They brought a few experts there before they published, including Alverez, who discovered the original Iridium K-T anomaly. I think his not having a PhD rankled some - how dare this student go off on his own? But that is what getting a PhD is supposed to be about, in my opinion. When you spend that much time in the field you see things that the professors cannot grasp.

As I recall, when this was first discussed here on the HZ, I wasn't so much skeptical as I just wanted more boots on the ground to verify the discovery. We are getting that now. This is as big a find as the Burgess Shale, if not more so.

According to Wikipedia there are documentaries coming soon on The BBC and PBS. I'll be riveted to both.

Yeah, this young man should not only get his doctorate gown now, he'll likely get many honorary ones as well. Well done.

Just goes to show there are still discoveries to be made out there in the field. Lace up your boots, young geologists, and shoulder your packs. Mysteries await you out there.