In this episode Tristan explores the last chapters of Britain’s Ice Age story. Where archaeology and science are combining to reveal some incredible yet gruesome insights into how our ancestors survived at this edge of the inhabitable world 15,000 years ago.

We begin our venture by driving to the Mendip Hills in Somerset in south east England - a landscape rich in gorges and caves carved out during the Ice Age. An exciting excavation in Ebbor Gorge is Tristan’s first stop, where bone remains from a whole variety of beasts are shining a light on the animals that shared late Ice Age Britain with our ancestors. From great carnivores like brown bears to the massive herds of reindeer that were such a staple food resource for humans.

But no trip to the Mendips is complete without a visit to Cheddar Gorge. One of Britain’s most beautiful natural landscapes rich in its own Ice Age history.

In Gough’s Cave, the biggest cavern in the gorge, we explore the gruesome evidence for cannibalism taking place here 15,000 years ago. With DNA expert Dr Selina Brace, we explore what might have motivated these people to turn to cannibalism in that cave. Was it an act of desperation, of violence, or something more ritualistic? A trip to the Natural History Museum in London lets Tristan and Selina view these remains first hand. Alongside another recent revelation: the earliest known dog from anywhere in the world.

The final stop on the road trip is Creswell Crags, a stunning limestone gorge in the English midlands. It was here that, just over 2 decades ago, the first clear evidence of cave art in Britain was discovered. Tristan ventures deep into one of the caves to see some of these amazing carvings up close and the images they decided to depict.

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Want to learn more about Britain’s first dog? Check out Tristan’s podcast on History Hit, The Ancients, where we have a special episode with Dr Selina Brace and Dr William Marsh about their DNA work on this amazing discovery. Listen to The Ancients for free wherever you get your podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-ancients/id1520403988