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UID:pretalx-nss-convention-2026-LAMKYY@talks.caving.dev
DTSTART;TZID=EST:20260709T144500
DTEND;TZID=EST:20260709T150500
DESCRIPTION:In the 1950s\, cavers discovered aboriginal footprints deep wit
 hin Salts Cave and Floyd Collins Crystal Cave\, in areas where the two cav
 es are connected. The origins of these prints were unclear: it was unknown
  whether they were made by the same group of individuals and from which di
 rection the first aboriginal explorers entered these passages. Possible ro
 utes included a long-distance trip from the natural entrance of Salts Cave
 \, a daring descent through the nearby Unknown Cave pits\, or from a colla
 psed entrance in the Smith Avenue area of Crystal Cave.\n\nIn the 1960s\, 
 Patty Jo Watson made preliminary measurements of these prints. Her finding
 s suggested the presence of at least four individuals in the Lower Salts p
 assage (total of 16 footprints) and at least two individuals in the Unknow
 n Cave passage (12 or more footprints). However\, detailed recordings of t
 he prints were not made at that time\, apart from foot length measurements
 .\n\nInitiated in 2025\, the current footprint project aims to create a pe
 rmanent record of each set of prints using photogrammetry and 3D scanning 
 techniques. By capturing digital images and 3D scans\, we can better defin
 e foot morphology\, identify new prints that previously were not discernab
 le by visual observation\, and refine estimates of the minimum number of i
 ndividuals present in both cave areas.\n\nUpon completion of the project\,
  the new dataset will enable researchers to revisit questions about the ro
 utes and number of aboriginal explorers who entered the remote sections of
  the Mammoth Cave system more than three thousand years ago. This presenta
 tion outlines the project's objectives and describes our recording techniq
 ues\, providing examples from the preliminary data.
DTSTAMP:20260826T232220Z
LOCATION:102
SUMMARY:The Salts Cave/Unknown Cave Footprint Project\, Mammoth Cave Nation
 al Park\, Kentucky - 
URL:https://talks.caving.dev/nss-convention-2026/talk/LAMKYY/
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