NGM AUGUST 2025
THE HIDDEN WORLD OF CAVE DWELLERS
 
Humans have lived in caves for millions of years. But this ancient lifestyle has become increasingly rare as communities are forced out of their traditional homes by government bureaucrats, climate change, and tourism. Over the last two years, photographer Tamara Merino traveled the world to seek out the remaining practitioners of this dwindling way of life to discover the advantages their enduring tradition provides. From small pockets of Mormon fundamentalists in Utah to a town of 3,000 in Southern Spain, she found that while life in these communities seems more precarious than ever, they have much to teach us about human ingenuity and resilience.
Other features in this issue include:
• Searching for the Sahara’s Dinosaurs – Inside one of the trickiest fossil-finding missions ever
• On the Hunt for Smugglers – Can new forensic science stop the illegal wildlife trade?
• The Treasure That Eluded Rom – How a fresh discovery finally resolved an ancient mystery