Greg Jenner is joined in the Palaeolithic era by Dr Isobel Wisher and comedian Seán Burke to learn about cave art. Tens of thousands of years ago, human ancestors all over the world began drawing and painting on cave walls, carving figurines, and even decorating their own bodies. Although archaeologists have known about Palaeolithic art since the late 19th century, cutting-edge scientific techniques are only now helping to uncover the secrets of these paintings and the artists who created them. From a warty pig painted on a cave wall in Indonesia, to a comic strip-like depiction of lions chasing bison in France, this episode explores the global phenomenon of cave art, and asks why humans have always felt the need to express their creative side. This is a radio edit of the original podcast episode. For the full-length version, please look further back in the feed. Hosted by: Greg Jenner Research by: Jon Norman Mason Written by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Emma Nagouse, and Greg Jenner Produced by: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow and Greg Jenner Audio Producer: Steve Hankey Production Coordinator: Ben Hollands Senior Producer: Emma Nagouse Executive Editor: James Cook
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK.
This week on Witness History, in partnership with the BBC 100 Women list, we're bringing you stories about inspiring and influential women from around the world.
Renowned feminist Gloria Steinem tells us how she launched the first magazine in America, which was owned, run and written by women.
The the former Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard remembers her famous misogyny speech.
And Nalini Malani from India explains why she was compelled to create art about nuclear war.
Search and subscribe to Witness History wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
Do you know what was the first capital of our civilization?
Historians debate to this day, but according to some sources, the only capital you need to know about is capital.com.
invest your capital with us.
Go to capital.com CFD's trading carries risk.
Capital.com is regulated by the securities and Commodities Authority.
BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts.
Hello and welcome to youo DENSER Me, the Radio 4 comedy podcast that takes history seriously.
My name is Greg Jenner.
I'm a public historian, author and broadcaster.
And today we are cracking out our crayons and journeying back tens of thousands, thousands of years into the deep past to learn all about the Paleolithic and cave art.
And to help us paint an audio picture, we have two very special guests in Archaeology Corner.
She's a postdoctoral researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark, where she's researching the evolution of early symbolic behavior.
Usefully for us, she has a PhD from Durham University in Upper Paleolithic cave art.
It's Dr.