John Reeves

Date: 2023-12-28 | Duration: 2h 49m

Episode Overview

John Reeves dives deep into the world of paleontology and fossil collecting, sharing his experiences uncovering and preserving Ice Age bones primarily from Alaska. He recounts the troubling discovery that many priceless fossils, including mammoth and saber-toothed tiger remains, were carelessly discarded or shipped off to museums like the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York, often without proper acknowledgment or return to their rightful origins. Reeves discusses the legal and ethical battles involved in reclaiming these artifacts, emphasizing their scientific and cultural importance, especially in understanding extinction events like the Younger Dryas and the comet impact hypothesis. Throughout the conversation, Reeves offers vivid stories about fieldwork challenges, such as excavating fragile bones from permafrost and interpreting evidence of ancient mass fires and predator-prey dynamics. He also touches on the broader implications of climate change and human history, highlighting how these fossils provide clues about past ecosystems and early human activity in Beringia. The episode blends scientific insight with personal anecdotes, revealing Reeves’s passion for protecting these ancient treasures and advocating for greater respect and stewardship of natural history collections.

About John Reeves

John Reeves is an adventurous Alaskan gold miner who first gained fame as a cast member on the 2012 National Geographic docu-series "Goldfathers." Known for his relentless pursuit of treasure, he recently made headlines with a groundbreaking discovery on his property—unearthing the remains of thousands of Ice Age animals preserved beneath the permafrost. This remarkable find is documented in the 2019 film "Boneyard Alaska," and has garnered attention on his popular Instagram account, @theboneyardalaska. With a unique blend of mining expertise and paleontological intrigue, John continues to captivate audiences with his extraordinary journey through Alaska’s rugged wilderness.

Key Moments

– Younger Dryas Event
– Carbon Dating
– Museum Collections
– Indigenous Land Rights
– Archaeological Ethics
– Climate Change
– Fossil Trade
– Documentary Filmmaking
– Legal Disputes
– Social Media Impact
– Military History
– Permafrost Preservation
– Extinction Events
– Ancient Human Species
– Mammoth Ivory
– Black Holes
– Scientific Speculation
– Historical Artifacts
– Paleontology
– Fossil Excavation
0:00:32 – Introduction and casual greetings
0:00:56 – Discussion about museum dumping bones in East River
0:03:03 – First time people actively searched for fossils
0:05:44 – Legal involvement regarding fossil ownership
0:09:03 – Evidence of mass fire indicated by carbon layer
0:10:32 – Possibility of fossils from two Younger Dryas events
0:14:13 – Introduction to local fossil hunter and boner community
0:16:35 – Discussion on marrow extraction from bones
0:22:33 – Criticism of museum academic management
0:24:36 – Bones hold answers to extinction event
0:29:43 – Recovery of tens of thousands of bones
0:33:03 – Inquiry about saber-toothed tiger skull fate
0:38:06 – Speculation on AI and real phenomena
0:49:07 – Reflection on harsh realities of life
0:53:13 – Short-faced bear predation behavior
0:59:43 – Discussion of the Shroud of Turin authenticity
1:07:20 – Ownership and auction possibilities of fossils
1:09:21 – Carbon dating reliability of bones
1:24:06 – Discovery of hybrid ancient human species
1:28:08 – Sheer volume of excavated material is minimal
1:31:27 – Underwater fossil discoveries in Japan
1:36:21 – Creative uses of mammoth ivory
1:43:11 – Mistakes and damage to bones in the field
1:45:32 – Carbon layer indicating impact event
1:47:37 – North American extinct big cats discussion
1:52:31 – Spears and hunting strategies of ancient peoples
1:54:29 – Wolf pack presence in hunting areas
2:00:12 – Geological theories about ancient artifacts
2:03:04 – Mystery of ancient hieroglyphs and myths
2:08:53 – Reflection on knowledge and motivation
2:13:05 – Call to action for fossil repatriation
2:20:32 – Fossil sales and membership limits
2:23:14 – Removal of remains from Manhattan burial ground
2:27:56 – Scientific paper on early man in Beringia
2:31:33 – Challenges with carbon dating and fossil verification
2:33:59 – Potential political mobilization via social media
2:42:35 – Plans for future podcast discussions
2:45:05 – Acknowledgment of remaining fossil discoveries

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 the Joe Rogan experience Starting point is 00:00:32 How's things cracking? Starting point is 00:00:56 So the museum dumped bones that belong to your property out there in the East River, Starting point is 00:01:17 that I read on your show. Starting point is 00:01:28 I think Dirty Water Don and those guys found three so far. Starting point is 00:01:39 Dirty Water Don. Starting point is 00:02:03 A research vessel? Starting point is 00:02:19 But I know he found that. Starting point is 00:02:32 So this is his Instagram is Dirty Water Dawn on Instagram. Starting point is 00:02:50 The 40s. Starting point is 00:03:03 this is the first time that people have actually gone looking for things, correct? Starting point is 00:03:25 Well, when Drew and Elora and I and my wife went to New York a few years ago, Starting point is 00:03:40 Well, I went there to the Explorers Club to show the documentary. Starting point is 00:03:57 Because I don't think they ever envisioned somebody like me owning this company. Starting point is 00:04:27 Yeah, because, you know, stand-up comedy is a truly American art form. Starting point is 00:05:12 not even them. You got to think this is all done in the 1940s. Everybody who did is probably dead. Starting point is 00:05:44 So do you have lawyers involved? Starting point is 00:06:10 that there's no other way they could have gotten there. Starting point is 00:06:34 Wow. Starting point is 00:06:58 What a weird way to talk. Starting point is 00:07:13 sent everything. They weren't supposed to Starting point is 00:07:39 Fairbanks Exploration. Starting point is 00:08:11 crates, the wooden crates and everything else. And what are they doing with them? Nothing. They're Starting point is 00:08:48 I only got 20 pieces. Starting point is 00:09:03 is a layer of carbon, a layer of dark carbon that seems to indicate a mass fire. Starting point is 00:09:46 Some of them with, like, broken leg bones that seemed to have died because of an impa...

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Who was the guest on Joe Rogan Experience #2080?

John Reeves was the guest on JRE #2080. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

What topics were discussed on JRE #2080?

On Joe Rogan Experience #2080 with John Reeves, topics include Younger Dryas Event, Carbon Dating, Museum Collections, and Indigenous Land Rights.

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The full searchable transcript for Joe Rogan Experience #2080 with John Reeves is available on this page, along with key topics and timestamps.