For centuries, humans have lived underground. Today, that ancient practice is under dire threat—even as cave life makes more sense than ever in a warming world. National Geographic Explorer Tamera Merino has traveled the world searching for some of Earth’s last remaining cave societies to document. From Turkey to Australia, Spain, Tunisia and beyond, she found shelter from heat and hardship, as well as enduring traditions shaped by resilience and ingenuity. As modernization spreads, these ancient cave societies are quietly disappearing—along with the lessons they hold about sustainable living and what it means to adapt without erasing the past. Learn more about these modern-day cave societies at the link in bio. Photographs by @tamaramerino_photography
07.23 06:14