BBC One

BBC One is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964. It replaced BBC Television.

BBC One Cambridgeshire

Horizon

Horizon tells amazing science stories and reveals worlds you've never seen before.

Horizon tells amazing science stories, unravels mysteries and reveals worlds you've never seen before.

Horizon: 2002-2003: The Day We Learned to Think

20/02/2003

The Day We Learned to Think

2002-2003

BBC Two - Horizon, 2002-2003, The Day We Learned to Think

A small piece of stone found in an African cave is threatening to re-write human history. 

A small piece of stone found in an African cave is threatening to rewrite human history.  If the message it contains is true then one of the touchstones of evolutionary theory was based on a mistake.

A small piece of stone, unearthed in an African cave, may rewrite human history. If the message it contains is true, then one of the great sagas of human evolution - how our ancestors stopped being mere animals and became modern thinking human beings has all been based on a mistake.The history books say that some 37,000 years ago, our ancestors arrived in Europe for the first time. Suddenly, cave paintings appeared - clear evidence of sophisticated thought. It seemed there had been "Human Revolution".That revolution was so profound that it allowed us to triumph over even our nearest relatives, the Neanderthals. They were wiped out within years of our arrival in Europe. It seemed the sudden dawning of thought has led to us dominating the planet like no other creature. But now a small piece of ochre in a South African cave has changed everything. It appears to be a work of abstract art, an example of advanced thought - and yet it is twice as old as the human revolution. Evidence has also emerged suggesting that the Neanderthals were developing complex thinking too. Together these facts are forcing a huge rethink about our origins and what makes us human. 

Horizon: 2002-2003

BBC Two

BBC Two is a TV channel that started broadcasting on the 20th April 1964.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

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The Day We Learned to Think

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