2022/148: Ancestors: A Prehistory of Britain in Seven Burials — Alice Roberts

2022/148: Ancestors: A Prehistory of Britain in Seven Burials — Alice Roberts

Man had emerged from the Ice Age to become a weapon of mass extinction. Here we were, divorcing ourselves from Nature, wreaking havoc with the climate, and crucifying biodiversity. [loc. 1692]

Alice Roberts examines seven burials, ranging from the 'Red Lady' of Paviland (34,000 years ago), via the Amesbury Archer (4,500 years ago) and the Pocklington chariot burial (2,300 years ago), to the cremation -- very unusual for the time -- of archaeologist Pitt-Rivers (120 years ago). She uses these examples to discuss the waves of migration, and the 'restlessness', of the past, and to explore ideas about race, gender and culture.( Read more... )