A History of the World in 100 Objects

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Factual: History

Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, retells humanity's history through objects

Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, narrates 100 programmes that retell humanity's history through the objects we have made.

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A History of the World in 100 Objects: After the Ice Age: Food and Sex (9000 - 3500 BC): Bird-shaped Pestle

Bird-shaped Pestle

After the Ice Age: Food and Sex (9000 - 3500 BC)

A History of the World in 100 Objects Omnibus

BBC Radio 4 - A History of the World in 100 Objects, After the Ice Age: Food and Sex (9000 - 3500 BC), Bird-shaped Pestle

Neil MacGregor reveals how man-made objects reflect the story of human development

Neil MacGregor, continues his series retelling humanity's history through the objects it has made.  Today, he's investigating early attempts at cookery

Neil MacGregor continues his retelling of human history using 100 selected objects from the British Museum.  This week he explores the profound changes that humans experienced at the end of the Ice Age. By this period, humanity is reconsidering its place in the world and turning its attention to food, power, worship, and human relationships.

But then, as now, one of the most important parts of human existence was finding enough food to survive.  Taking a pestle from Papua New Guinea as an example, Neil asks why our ancestors decided to grow and cook new foods.  The answer provides us with a telling insight into the way early humans settled on the land.  Becoming farmers and eating food that was harder for other animals to digest made us a formidable force in the food chain.  The impact on our environment of this shift to cookery and cultivation is still being felt.

Neil is joined by Indian food writer Madhur Jaffrey, campaigner Sir Bob Geldof and archaeologist Professor Martin Jones


A History of the World in 100 Objects: After the Ice Age: Food and Sex (9000 - 3500 BC)

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Why did farming start at the end of the Ice Age? Clues remain in objects left behind

Neil MacGregor's story takes him to the end of the Ice Age, as the first farmers created objects to consume new foods, venerate new gods and even take a new look at sex

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A History of the World in 100 Objects

After the Ice Age: Food and Sex (9000 - 3500 BC)

Bird-shaped Pestle

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