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David Attenborough talks about Charnia, fossils of early life on Earth, and a connection with his childhood. From 2011.

David Attenborough has always been fascinated by fossils; even as a boy he'd spend many hours exploring the local quarry near his home in Leicestershire.

Near the family home was a forest he visited frequently, but he didn't hunt for fossils there. He thought the rocks were too old to have any postcards of early life embedded in their layers.

But he was wrong - those rocks harboured a wonderful secret - a secret that would rattle the cages of the big thinkers of the time and would change the story of life on earth forever....

Written and presented by Sir David Attenborough.

Producer: Julian Hector

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2011.

10 minutes

Last on

Mon 27 Oct 202501:45
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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