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Piltdown Man

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.

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Tue 21 Nov 202320:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Tue 18 Dec 201209:50GMT
  • Tue 18 Dec 201212:50GMT
  • Tue 18 Dec 201220:50GMT
  • Tue 18 Dec 201223:50GMT
  • Wed 19 Dec 201203:50GMT
  • Tue 21 Nov 202320:50GMT

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