5. The Swan and The Crane

Joanna Pinnock concludes the series on the significance of different creatures to the ancient cultures of Britain.

To our ancestors, swans and cranes bridged the gap between two worlds - water and air.

This ability gave them a special meaning as divine companions but also as deceptive creatures.

To the Anglo-Saxons, the crane was a watchful sentinel and flights of cranes were said to have inspired the letters of the Greek alphabet.

But its harsh call reminded some of the scolding women.

Swans have always inspired myth because of their grace and while plumage, but this purity led to a reputation of deceit in the medieval bestiaries.

In the last of the Ancient Ark series, Joanna Pinnock explores the role of these two water birds in the lives of our ancestors.

Producer Brett Westwood

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 1999.