Science and Nature

First Peoples

See how the mixing of prehistoric human genes led the way for our species to survive and thrive around the globe. Archaeology, genetics and anthropology cast new light on 200,000 years of history, detailing how early humans became dominant.

Europe

54m 40s

When Homo sapiens turned up in prehistoric Europe, they ran into the Neanderthals. The two types of human were similar enough – intellectually and culturally - to interbreed. But as more Homo sapiens moved into Europe and the population increased, there was an explosion of art and symbolic thought which overwhelmed the Neanderthals.

Episodes

  • Europe: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Europe

    S1 E5 - 54m 40s

    When Homo sapiens turned up in prehistoric Europe, they ran into the Neanderthals. The two types of human were similar enough – intellectually and culturally - to interbreed. But as more Homo sapiens moved into Europe and the population increased, there was an explosion of art and symbolic thought which overwhelmed the Neanderthals.

  • Australia: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Australia

    S1 E4 - 54m 40s

    When humans arrived in Australia, they were, for the first time, truly alone, surrounded by wildly different flora and fauna. How did they survive and populate a continent? There is a close cultural and genetic link between early Australians and modern-day Aborigines; here the ancient and modern story intersect as nowhere else.

  • Asia: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Asia

    S1 E3 - 54m 40s

    Discover the ancient humans living across Asia when Homo sapiens arrived. Our ancestors mated with them and their genes found a home within our DNA. More than that, they’ve helped us face down extinction.

  • Africa: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Africa

    S1 E2 - 54m 40s

    200,000 years ago Homo sapiens appeared on the African landscape. While scientists have long imagined eastern Africa as a real-life Garden of Eden, the latest research suggests humans evolved in many places across the continent at the same time. Now, DNA reveals that our ancestors continued meeting, mating and hybridizing with other human type — creating ever greater diversity within us.

  • Americas: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Americas

    S1 E1 - 54m 40s

    As early humans spread out across the world, their toughest challenge was colonizing the Americas because a huge ice sheet blocked the route. It has long been thought that the first Americans were Clovis people, who arrived 13,000 years ago. But an underwater discovery in Mexico suggests people arrived earlier — coming by boat, not on foot.

Extras + Features

  • The Secret to Our Success - Connectivity: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Secret to Our Success - Connectivity

    S1 E2 - 2m 19s

    200,000 years ago, a new species, Homo sapiens, appeared on the African landscape. While scientists have long imagined eastern Africa as a real-life Garden of Eden, the latest research suggests humans evolved in many places across the continent at the same time.

  • The Clovis Point - The First American Invention: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Clovis Point - The First American Invention

    S1 E1 - 48s

    It has long been thought that the first Americans were Clovis people, who arrived 13,000 years ago. The Clovis point is an amazing piece of Stone Age technology used to hunt animals. In a lot of ways, the Clovis point can be considered the first American invention. On First Peoples: Americas, watch a demonstration of how the invention was used for ancient hunting.

  • Eva of Naharon - The First American?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Eva of Naharon - The First American?

    S1 E1 - 1m 2s

    Eva of Naharon was discovered by archaeologists on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Her remains, which are far older than any others found in the Americas, have changed what we know about the arrival of the first people on the double continent.

  • Official Trailer: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Official Trailer

    S1 - 2m 4s

    See how the mixing of prehistoric human genes led the way for our species to survive and thrive around the globe. Archaeology, genetics and anthropology cast new light on 200,000 years of history, detailing how early humans became dominant.

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