Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor: The Link

Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor: The Link

2009
59m
7.1

7.1/10

5 votes • View on IMDb
Overview

Explores the story behind the discovery of an early primate fossil, Darwinius masillae, nicknamed Ida, in a shale quarry in Germany. The fossil is believed to be around 47 million years old, and is extraordinarily well-preserved. Originally unearthed in 1983, Ida lay in the hands of a private collector for 20 years before it was shown to a Norwegian paleontologist, Dr Jørn Hurum. Realising that Ida could turn out to be a significant missing link between modern primates, lemurs and lower mammals, he persuaded the Natural History Museum in Oslo to purchase the fossil and assembled an international team of experts to study it. Their findings were announced in a press conference and the online publication of a scientific paper on 19 May 2009.

Status: Released

Language: EN

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Production Information

Production Companies
Atlantic Productions BBC
Production Countries
United Kingdom
Spoken Languages
English

Quick Facts

Release Date April 26, 2009
Status Released
Language EN
IMDb ID tt2735364

Cast

David Attenborough
David Attenborough

Self - Presenter / Narrator

Key Crew

Tim Walker
Director