A history of ancient Britain

[Roadkillphil]

Anyone else enjoying this series on the BBC?
I watched episode 3 and 4 on TV, then caught 1 and 2 on http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ysr2l/A_History_of_Ancient_Britain_Series_1_Age_of_Ances tors/

I have a growing interest of ancient man and our now extinct cousins, and I'm quite enjoying this series. The evolution of homo sapien is something I've recently been reading about from various sources. An interesting article for those that are interested can be found here http://www.actionbioscience.org/newfrontiers/eldredge2.html
It is merely a collection of scientific data, make of it what you will.

To get back on topic, I was really interested in this weeks episode on the Bronze Age, a truly magical time of invention and of course, labour intensive innovation.

[jus_young]

Watching the one on stone age at the mo whilst swmbo is asleep on the sofa again.

[Edwin]

Have worked a little with the Bronzesmith. Moulding and working bronze is fun.

There is a project on Early man, Homo Britannicus is the book about it.
Homo Britannicus by Chris Stringer, it is on Amazon cheap
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=homo+britannicus&x=16&y=19

It is also in stock in Cornwall Libraries.

Another good source is the video "Walking with Cavemen" a BBC series
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dvhs&field-keywords=walking+with+cavemen&x=15&y=17

[Roadkillphil]

Have worked a little with the Bronzesmith. Moulding and working bronze is fun.

There is a project on Early man, Homo Britannicus is the book about it.
Homo Britannicus by Chris Stringer, it is on Amazon cheap
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=homo+britannicus&x=16&y=19

It is also in stock in Cornwall Libraries.

Another good source is the video "Walking with Cavemen" a BBC series
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dvhs&field-keywords=walking+with+cavemen&x=15&y=17

Thanks for the links :)

The idea of copper from one place and tin from another forged together back then is just the soul and centre of invention.... lets try this and see what happens... already smelting was an arduous and magical task, then to arrive at bronze, I can't imagine the awe and presence that this new metal must have stirred within our ancesters.

Thanks for the PM also, checking it out now :D

[swkieran]

yea im loving it phil :) im an avid fan of time team aswell,shame they cant more of these programmes on instead of they trash we have to indure i.e x factor ,take me out etc etc, i think benidorm is brilliant thou so funny once you start watching it

[beechnut mick]

thought she described our ancestors well... to quote.."like us but without the clothes or technology"...in some ways they were as if not more clever than us,being solely self sufficent and very inventitive and resourcefull in using their surroundings,where as we are solely dependant on energy and modern tech which without we would struggle.
Loved the 5000 year old foot prints and tracking the past.

[beechnut mick]

sorry i was thinking of the severn ages of britian,bit of a brain fart there.

[klause]

yea im loving it phil :) im an avid fan of time team aswell,shame they cant more of these programmes on instead of they trash we have to indure i.e x factor ,take me out etc etc, i think benidorm is brilliant thou so funny once you start watching it

Benidorm has many excellent examples of early Homo Sapiens still walking the earth today ! Funny though.....

[Roadkillphil]

sorry i was thinking of the severn ages of britian,bit of a brain fart there.

Haha :) I watched that one too, same sorta thing, and I like seeing different views on stuff.

[Ashley Cawley]

This one has been on my agenda to watch for a while, just got round the watching the first episode and really enjoyed it.

I love how it's focusing on primitive-man, his tools & survival whilst living on a varying landscape with different flora & fauna.

Looking forward to watching episode 2! Thanks for reminding me about this one Phil ;)

[Ashley Cawley]

Oh and it was really great to see John Lord in it Flint Knapping! :D Such a sound guy, I've been taught & made tools alongside him, you can see him at work part way through this video I made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-ZFPJZoBPo

Lovely to see John Lord paddling a coracle, setting up camp using deer hides to make a shelter and making fire using the bow-drill. :o

[Roadkillphil]

I love how it's focusing on primitive-man, his tools & survival whilst living on a varying landscape with different flora & fauna.

Looking forward to watching episode 2! Thanks for reminding me about this one Phil ;)

No worries. Glad you like it. I enjoy the way the journey of homonids is followed from actual archaelogical facts rather than speculation. The presentation of these in chronological order, together with the changing environment totally gripped me. Especially the idea of our cousins and how they devoloped skills and stone age technologies independent to homo sapien. Would love to have met Neanderthal...Too bad our species has a natural instinct of disregard for other species in our conquest of the planet. It seems since we first left Africa 100,000 years ago all competition in our locale was, and still is, to be made the enemy and to be extinguished without hesitation....

Sorry, wafflin agin!! :D

Great series tho, can't wait for the next installment :D

[Ashley Cawley]

Watched episode 2 and Will Lord was in it! John's Son :) ...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_dzoenG8Svds/TF_gs-3ki_I/AAAAAAAA57k/vojc1UPNiHI/s640/DSCF1395.JPG

He made a lovely Ash bow, flint-tipped arrows, it was amazing to see the power of the bow; how deep & efficiently the arrows penetrated that pig!

Enjoying this series!

[Celt_Ginger]

Ahhh. I missed them and they are not available any more. I'm sure they will be repeated soon though.

[J_P]

Watched episode 2 and Will Lord was in it! John's Son :) ...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_dzoenG8Svds/TF_gs-3ki_I/AAAAAAAA57k/vojc1UPNiHI/s640/DSCF1395.JPG

He made a lovely Ash bow, flint-tipped arrows, it was amazing to see the power of the bow; how deep & efficiently the arrows penetrated that pig!

Enjoying this series!


Will's a top bloke and a good mate, his skills are awesome. He looks and sounds more and more like his dad big time lol.