When you study anthropology most of the time your lofty goal is finding an unknown

long dead civilization getting to make first contacts with a living, breathing, and brand new culture was like finding

the holy grail in a field full of four-leaf clovers.

So needless to say, that when my team and I got the opportunity, we were over the moon.

Our boat cut through the waters off the coast of Brazil, towards the modestly sized island.

My crew was small but experienced.

Amy, Greg, myself, and our translator Miguel.

Why bring a translator to a totally uncontacted tribe?

Well, it didn't hurt hoping that the tribe spoke Portuguese somehow.

We all knew it was a snowboard's chance in hell, but you never know.

Our boat slowed as we neared the beach.

We landed softly and our spirits were higher than ever.

God what a rush. The game plan was the lead with Miguel, obviously.

The other three of us didn't exactly look local even on the mainland, so we were hoping

that Miguel, having at least close to the same skin tone, would help.

There are about 50 feet of beach in front of us, followed by a dense tree line.

You couldn't see more than five feet into the brush,

so naturally the three of us imagine a tribe six feet in.

We were excited, but we knew what we were doing was dangerous.

Uncontacted tribes tend to be violent to outsiders.

We didn't want to look like we were bringing an army.

That's why there was only four of us. Saying we'd be

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