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Witness History: Piltdown Man

Piltdown Man

BBC World Service - Witness History, Piltdown Man

In 1912, Britain's top palaeontologists were hoaxed by a "missing link" in human evolution

4 Extra Debut. In 1912, Britain's top palaeontologists were hoaxed by a "missing link" in human evolution. Simon Watts explores what happened.

In 1912, Britain's top paleontologists were tricked by one of the biggest hoaxes in scientific history - a skull thought to be the "missing link" in human evolution.

The remains were discovered in a gravel pit in rural Sussex and became known as Piltdown Man.

Witness tells the story of the hoax using contemporary accounts of what happened.

The programme also hears from Dr Miles Russell of Bournemouth University, author of 'Piltdown Man: Case Closed'.

Presented and produced by Simon Watts. 

First broadcast on BBC World Service December 2012.

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