[Dion]

Originally Posted by troutman

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patterson–Gimlin_film

https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-...164653/p35.pdf

The Science Behind Bigfoot an Interview With Dr. Jeff Meldrum

Dr. Jeff Meldrum is a professor of anatomy and anthropology. He works at Idaho State University teaching classes like human anatomy and evolution. His special emphasis is on the study of bipedalism, the evolution of walking on two legs. Animals that are bipedal include great apes, humans and an as yet unconfirmed species, bigfoot.

Ever wonder what a sasquatch foot looks like? Meldrum says he has observed feet that are broader than a human foot, they are flatter, which makes sense since a creature of that size would not be able to have an arch, but still have some midfoot flexibility. They don’t have a thumb-like big toe like other apes but a big toe more like ours. Their toes are longer than ours and Meldrum says this is from gripping and navigating the irregular surfaces of mountains and forests.

He says the prints he studies are “elegantly” adapted for a large primate walking on two legs. He says through studying these feet he considers it is more incredible to say sasquatch doesn’t exist then to at least acknowledge the possibility that there might be something out there.

These feet could not, he said, be formed just by making an enlarged print of a human foot, carving it into wood and then strapping it onto a hiking boot as many people have suggested.

When talking to a colleague he remembers the person saying, “Well after all Jeff it’s just a story.” To that he says, “well stories that leave footprints, that shed hair, that void scat, that vocalize, that have been witnessed by intelligent, sober, experienced hunters and agency personal, it’s a lot more than just a story.”

Meldrum says science does not start with the identification of a body.

“Ok yes,” he said, “to conclusively demonstrate the existence of body, a type specimen, a piece that is diagnostic… science starts when you have a question.”

Based on everything Meldrum has observed and studies he says he does not believe in bigfoot, he is convinced, on the basis of the evidence, that bigfoot exists. He says any scientist should be amazed to discover that there is an ancient hominoid or hominin species still existing today. He points out the discovery of bones of a species of tiny humans now called the hobbit. “That made headlines,” he said, “well gee wouldn’t you think that the discovery of or the recognition of a large bipedal primate in North America in our own back yard would be headline news?”

He says an attitude he regularly comes across is “well they can’t exist so they don’t” he said. “Well what about looking at the evidence and then thinking ‘hmm, well how could we go about this question even more incisively? How could we get that conclusive evidence for or against its existence?”

https://www.byui.edu/radio/the-scien...r-jeff-meldrum