Showcased Artworks
Video
Prehistoric Beliefs
Homo sapiens began to unite around shared beliefs, forming the basis for early religion. These bonds may have given them a spiritual edge over their Neanderthal counterparts.
April 2, 2019
Late Pleistocene, Homo sapiens
Produced by NHK World–Japan and NHK Enterprises for global broadcast
Video
The Prehistoric Missile
Homo sapiens were less robust and muscular than Neanderthals, but they compensated for their physical disadvantage by harnessing technology.
April 2, 2019
Late Pleistocene, Homo sapiens
Produced by NHK World–Japan and NHK Enterprises for global broadcast
Video
Hunting with Neanderthals
Neanderthals were a hominin species closely related to modern humans that appeared around 400,000 years ago and relied on their superior physical strength as they hunted in the forested areas of Eurasia.
April 2, 2019
Late Pleistocene, Neanderthals, Woolly Rhino
Produced by NHK World–Japan and NHK Enterprises for global broadcast
Video
Encountering Neanderthals
Homo sapiens came into existence in Africa 200,000 years ago. Migrating into the Middle East around 55,000 years ago, they came into contact with Neanderthals and genetic evidence suggests that the two closely related species interbred with each other.
April 2, 2019
Late Pleistocene, Homo sapiens, Neanderthals
Produced by NHK World–Japan and NHK Enterprises for global broadcast
Video
The Hunting Man
Homo erectus was the first hunting hominin, tracking their prey over long distances and working together to secure meat. Their physical and mental evolution helped them survive on the African continent 1.8 million years ago.
March 11, 2019
Pleistocene, Homo erectus
Produced by NHK World–Japan and NHK Enterprises for global broadcast
Video
Dawn of the Stone Age
Homo habilis is believed to have been the first hominin to produce stone tools. They survived on the African continent 2.4 million years ago by scavenging the prey hunted by predatory animals.
March 11, 2019
East Africa, Early Pleistocene, Homo habilis
Produced by NHK World–Japan and NHK Enterprises for global broadcast
Video
Banding Together to Survive
Australopithecus afarensis was the first hominin to leave the safety of the trees for life in the grasslands. Slow on foot, they struggled to survive on the African continent 3.7 million years ago.
March 11, 2019
East Africa, Pliocene, Australopithecus afarensis
Produced by NHK World–Japan and NHK Enterprises for global broadcast
Video
Prehistoric Family Life
Ardipithecus ramidus was the earliest hominin to have walked upright, but it spent most of its life in trees. See what a day in the life must have been like for this early human ancestor 4.4 million years ago on the African continent.
March 11, 2019
East Africa, Early Pliocene, Ardipithecus ramidus
Produced by NHK World–Japan and NHK Enterprises for global broadcast