The First Toolmakers
The Ancients20 Apr 2023

The First Toolmakers

Invention and innovation are two concepts that have propelled humankind forward for as long as people can remember - but who were the first, original tool makers, and what can we learn from them? Travelling back nearly 3 million years ago to the African continent, in modern Kenya, recent archaeological discoveries have altered long standing opinions about who the first tool makers were - so which hominin species deserves the title 'the first toolmakers', and just how related to them are we?


In this episode Tristan welcomes the Professor Fred Spoor back to the podcast to help answer some of these questions. Together they look at some of these recent archaeological discoveries and how they change our understanding of human history. Examining, and questioning, some long-held assumptions about our distant ancestors, they journey through the mid-pliocene to help piece together this murky moment of history.


The Senior Producer was Elena Guthrie

The Assistant Producer was Annie Coloe

Mixed & edited by Aidan Lonergan


For more Ancients content, subscribe to our Ancients newsletter here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Avsnitt(598)

The Minoan Labyrinth

The Minoan Labyrinth

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey immerses players in the mythology of Ancient Greece. In particular, they can walk in the footsteps of Theseus through the Labyrinth and come face to face with the mythical Min...

25 Dec 202542min

Emperor Diocletian and the Great Persecution

Emperor Diocletian and the Great Persecution

How did a humble Balkan soldier ascend to the heights of Roman power?Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. David Gwynn to explore the tumultuous reign of Emperor Diocletian and the significant reforms that ...

21 Dec 202557min

Paestum: Ancient Greeks in Italy

Paestum: Ancient Greeks in Italy

The story of ancient Italy is so much more than just Rome. In this special episode, we're shining a light on the extraordinary site of Paestum in southern Italy, home to some of the greatest ancient G...

18 Dec 202555min

Stegosaurus: Titan of the Jurassic

Stegosaurus: Titan of the Jurassic

Few dinosaurs are as instantly recognisable as the plated titan Stegosaurus - it's the Jurassic giant with a brain the size of a walnut and a tail that could kill.In this episode of The Ancients, Tris...

14 Dec 202545min

Rise of King Herod

Rise of King Herod

He’s the villain of the Nativity. An alleged killer of innocents, remembered as one of history’s great monsters. But the truth about Herod the Great is far more dramatic, far more complex, and far mor...

11 Dec 202548min

The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

Did Moses really receive the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, or is that just ancient legend? Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Dylan Johnson to unpack how the Book of Exodus disagrees with Deuteronomy,...

7 Dec 202556min

Origins of Chocolate

Origins of Chocolate

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Cameron McNeil, Mesoamerican archaeologist, to explore cacao, in ancient Mesoamerican societies like the Maya, Aztecs, and Olmecs. They discuss how was used as food, dr...

4 Dec 202544min

The Khmer Empire: Angkor Wat

The Khmer Empire: Angkor Wat

How did Indian culture shape the wonders of Southeast Asia?Tristan Hughes is joined by William Dalrymple to explore the fascinating first millennium AD, from vibrant trade dynamics with the Roman Empi...

30 Nov 202537min

Populärt inom Historia

motiv
massmordarpodden
historiska-brott
p3-historia
olosta-mord
historiepodden-se
historianu-med-urban-lindstedt
rss-massmordarpodden
rss-brottsligt
rss-seriemordarpodden
konspirationsteorier
krigshistoriepodden
podme-bio-4
nu-blir-det-historia
harrisons-dramatiska-historia
rss-arkiv-stieg
militarhistoriepodden
vetenskapsradion-historia
rss-folkets-historia
rss-borgvattnets-hemligheter