Human evolution can’t help but fascinate us - the story of where we came from. Today we, Homo sapiens, are the only human species left. But that wasn’t always the case….
For millions of years, there thrived a great range of early human species. From small-brained island dwellers in Indonesia to the robust Neanderthals that dominated so much of Eurasia for hundreds of thousands of years.
With the help of human evolution specialists Dr Chris Stringer and Dr Fred Spoor, Tristan Hughes explores a list of five extraordinary early humans that went extinct.
Interviews shot at the Natural History Museum.
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Maps: Our Place in the World
Many of us can’t help but be obsessed with maps – including Dan. They tell us where we are in the world and let us know how our environment has changed overtime. History, geography and philosophy – maps cross all these fields of study. The history of mapmaking has its roots in the ancient world, ...
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Life on the Wall
In this episode, Tristan Hughes visits two key sites along Hadrian’s Wall that can tell us more about everyday life on this far flung frontier, with a particular focus on hygiene and worship. First on the list is Chesters Roman Fort. Described as one of the most complete cavalry forts that surviv...
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The Hag of Beara
The Hag of Beara, also known as the Hag of Winter, was a mythical figure that predated Christianity in Ireland. She was regarded by people as the mother protector / creator of the landscape. Like many pagan gods and traditions, she did not escape the intolerant wave of Christianity that swept acr...
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