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In the heart of London
is an incredible world.
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The Natural History Museum.
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Home to 8O million sensations
of nature.
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From dinosaurs to whales,
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giant squid
to billion-year-old rocks.
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It's probably the most important
fossil of a dinsoaur
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that there is
anywhere in the world.
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Now, our cameras have been
allowed behind the scenes...
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This rather large crate reminds me
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of something from the movie
"lndiana Jones".
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...to meet the team...
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...keeping it up and running.
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Who's a good boy, eh?
DINOSAUR ROARS
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I think they're gorgeous.
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Welcoming up to
five million visitors a year...
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...and bringing its unrivalled
treasures to life.
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So, this is the oldest thing
that we have in the museum.
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It's actually older
than the solar system.
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In this episode, the most famous
dinosaur of all time...
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Dippymania has taken over.
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...a possible new dino discovery...
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...and a dark secret about
our prehistoric ancestors.
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So, these teeth marks
must be from a human.
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Here we go. To infinity and beyond.
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This is The Natural History Museum
as we've never seen it before.
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From whale skeletons
to robot dinosaurs...
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DINOSAUR ROARS
CHILDREN SCREAM
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...The Natural History Museum's
28 galleries
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are crammed full
of priceless show-stoppers.
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Some of the biggest draws
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take centre stage
in the spectacular main hall.
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But with the grime of central London
just outside the door,
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head of conservation
Lorraine Cornish
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is on constant alert
for pollution damage
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to these precious pieces.
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Very busy day today,
there's a lot going on.
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This is the uniform
for most conservators,
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hi-vis jacket and a hard hat.
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Today, Lorraine and
a crack team of specialists
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are descending on
these prized exhibits.
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We've got a small army in
this morning.
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We're checking the specimens,
we're cleaning them.
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The clock's ticking,
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we've just got a limited amount
of time to get it done, really.
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So at the entrance to the museum,
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one of the first things people see
is these two amazing giraffes,
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over 100 years old.
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So, these giraffes
are right near the doors,
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there's a six-lane road outside,
a lot of traffic,
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public coming through,
the doors are often open
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and so we get dust just coming in
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and one of the things
we're looking at
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is there any split in the skin,
is it drying out or anything?
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We check those seams, check that
everything is as it should be.
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I'm just cleaning the glass eye
with some ethanol.
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It's going to be
the cleanest eyeball ever.
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Some of these things
are absolutely enormous
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and we just need to get on with it.
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The museum holds one of the greatest
dinosaur collections in the world
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and it's looked after
by a team of experts,
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including Susie Maidment.
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Here at the Natural History
Museum's dinosaur collection,
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we have the world's
most complete stegosaurus,
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the first T. Rex ever found
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and the first dinosaur fossils
to be recognised as such.
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And that's just
scratching the surface.
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Down here in the basement,
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we have hundreds of different types
of dinosaur fossils
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from all over the world.
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With its world-class reputation,
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the museum is the first stop
for any member of the public
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who thinks they've made
a new dino discovery.
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Today, Susie and her colleague,
Paul Barrett,
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have had a promising tip-off.
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Someone has sent in photos
of what they think
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could be a series
of dino footprints,
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known as a trackway, in Wales.
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This is someone who thinks
they might have found
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a dinosaur trackway on the coast
just outside Cardiff.
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I have to say,
these are some of the more
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convincing footprint photos
we've been sent.
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They're pretty good, aren't they?
Look at this one.
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Visitors send us photos
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of what they think might be
dinosaur tracks all the time.
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And very often, they're just
random holes in rock,
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they don't look
like trackways at all.
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Do you think those
are toeprints there?
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That is a convincing set
of toeprints
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for a hand rather than a foot.
Yeah.
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And then there's this huge
dustbin lid shaped thing here
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and I wonder if we're looking at
a hand-foot pair?
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It's difficult to think
how that could form
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if it wasn't a footprint,
to be honest.
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New dinosaur finds are rare
in the British Isles
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and Susie and Paul are so hopeful
that these could be dino footprints
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that they've decided to go to Wales
and check them out for themselves.
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Members of the public
send us lots of inquiries
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about things that they've found.
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Sometimes, those are genuine
dinosaur footprints,
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but it's pretty rare,
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most of the time
it's something else.
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But these are some of the best ones
that we've been sent,
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and some of the most convincing.
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Coming UP---
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Susie and Paul arrive in Wales
and the plot thickens.
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Footprints are tricky things
to get a handle on,
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but there are an awful lot
of them around here.
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And we meet the most famous
dinosaur of all time.
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When you're over 100, life can be
pretty tough on the road.
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Since opening its doors
140 years ago,
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the Natural History Museum's
main hall has been a stage
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for the biggest crowd-pleasers
of the day.
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Including today's main attraction,
Hope the blue whale.
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Tonight, head of conservation
Lorraine Cornish
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has been looking back at
the headline exhibits from the past.
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People will possibly think that
Hope's always been here
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where she only came in 2017
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and the museum opened in 1881.
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So I've gone back into the archives
and I've got a great picture here
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showing George, an elephant.
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I think George came to
the museum in 1907
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and he looks magnificent,
absolutely magnificent.
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I'm thinking around here
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would be where the photographer
would have taken the picture
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of a sperm whale that was
on display from 1895.
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But the most popular attraction
in the history of the museum
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is Dippy the dinosaur.
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Dippy's definitely
the most famous dinosaur
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in the country and globally.
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Dippy came to the museum in 1905
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and has been around a bit,
it has to be said,
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and started off in
a reptile gallery
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just to one side of here.
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And we've got people
in lab coats, here.
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We've got people just
casually sitting on the base.
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They're essentially
putting Dippy together.
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Then this would have been
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the public opening
in the reptile gallery.
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Back in 1905, when Dippy
was unveiled to the public,
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the opening was a must-have ticket.
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So you had some
crowned heads of Europe,
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a bit of royalty, some VVIPs,
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coming to the unveiling
of this colossal dinosaur
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that was truly amazing
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and the press even
went mad for Dippy.
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Instant rock-star status
and really cemented the museum,
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you know, as the place to visit.
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Dippy is a diplodocus who dominated
the main hall from 1979 until 2017.
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Since then, he's been
on a tour across the UK.
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As one of the museum's
most prized showpieces,
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Lorraine is responsible for
making sure nothing happens to him.
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And now Dippy's due a check-up.
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Dippy's been very busy
on kind of an extended tour.
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I mean, literally,
there is a t-shirt.
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When you're over 100
and you're made of plaster,
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life can be pretty tough
on the road,
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so I have to go and check
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to make sure that everything's
as it should be
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and he's not showing his age,
essentially.
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For many visitors,
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the giant specimens
are the museum's biggest draw.
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But for fly expert Erica McAlister,
small is beautiful.
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We have many hidden treasures
and this is my hidden treasure.
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Because it is really in the corner
of a corner of this entire building
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and yet there is so much going on
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in just one little specimen
on display.
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This is a grasshopper
eating a mouse.
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It's very personal to me
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because it's one of the things
that first sat on my desk
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when I joined the museum,
ahem, quite a few years ago.
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And I loved it,
because it was so weird,
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and we did a little bit
of research into it
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and it was found by
Reverend So-And-So
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who passed it on to
Reverend So-And-So
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who passed it on to someone
who passed it on to us,
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because obviously, we want
a grasshopper eating a mouse.
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But you can see
the ear of the mouse
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is being properly nibbled.
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Another of Erica's favourites
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is part of a bizarre story
about the museum building.
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This is a really terrible looking
specimen of a cat.
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It's desiccated, it's mummified,
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which some people
might find quite "ugh",
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but I think it's fascinating.
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And it was found
buried in the front steps
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of the entrance to
the Natural History Museum.
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We believe it's one of
these superstitious cats
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buried in the 1870s.
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A warder of bad spirits
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and also to get rid
of all vermin in the building.
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And I love the fact that is
a building dedicated to science
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and still its roots
are very much superstitious.
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The Natural History Museum's
dinosaur experts
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Susie Maidment and Paul Barrett
have had
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a promising tip-off
about dino footprints.
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Now they've arrived in Wales
to see them for themselves.
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There's some rock ledges
over there, maybe?
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Yeah, quite a lot
of exposed rock up there.
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If they turn out to be genuine,
they could be an exciting find.
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They're pretty big, aren't they?
They are.
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But first they need
to get a proper look.
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The first thing we've got to do
while we're here
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is actually work out
if these are tracks for sure
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or whether they're some
other geological feature.
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But one of the things that makes me
suspicious that it could be tracks
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is they have this
raised rim of rock
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around these
crater-like structures,
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which could be potentially
be these footprints.
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What we really need to do
is get some of them nice and clean
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so we can have a look
at the edges properly,
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see if there's evidence
of things like toes
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that might help us
really nail that down.
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It'll be really good if we can
remove some of this sand,
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which is going to involve
quite a lot of sweeping, I think.
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It's kind of like
making sandcastles, actually.
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Dinosaur footprints can often just
look like holes in the rock
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and even for experts
like Susie and Paul,
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it's still hard to work out
whether these are dino prints.
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They need to find clear proof
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that a dinosaur may have
once walked here.
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I can't say anything in this one
that looks particularly like
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a definite finger
or a toe impression,
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but they're very deep.
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They get quite filled up
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with all of the sand
that's covering the beach.
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But there are an awful lot
of them around here.
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Footprints are tricky things
to get a handle on.
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What you really want
is something that's perfect,
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with lots of fingers
and lots of toes showing.
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At the moment, I'm thinking
I don't know what these things are.
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It is hard work, yeah,
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and there's not really
a shortcut to it, either.
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There's no technology we can use
that makes this easier,
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so we just have to stick with this.
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Susie and Paul will need
to excavate more ground
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if they're going to find
the crucial evidence they need
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to get to the bottom
of this dino mystery.
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As a housekeeping supervisor
at the museum,
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Debbie Marler gets privileged access
to the world-famous exhibits.
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It's just not your normal everyday
nine-to-five job, is it?
241
00:14:00,334 --> 00:14:04,938
I get to see all the things
that the public don't get to see
242
00:14:04,963 --> 00:14:07,539
and actually,
really close up, as well.
243
00:14:07,564 --> 00:14:10,188
I'm touching really old objects.
244
00:14:10,213 --> 00:14:11,938
They've got to be
priceless, really.
245
00:14:13,213 --> 00:14:16,539
It's not like you can just
go down the shops and buy one.
246
00:14:20,884 --> 00:14:23,339
This is the dinosaur nest.
247
00:14:23,364 --> 00:14:26,289
All the kids must love this one,
cos I do.
248
00:14:26,314 --> 00:14:28,649
Look at them, they're just
cute little dinosaurs
249
00:14:28,674 --> 00:14:30,469
coming out of their eggs.
250
00:14:30,494 --> 00:14:36,089
I'd say these were my most
favourite in the whole museum
251
00:14:36,114 --> 00:14:38,339
because they just look so innocent.
252
00:14:38,364 --> 00:14:41,499
This is Harry, he's in his bed,
253
00:14:41,524 --> 00:14:43,339
he's got his little
blanket around him.
254
00:14:43,364 --> 00:14:44,859
This is Billy,
255
00:14:44,884 --> 00:14:49,669
and Susie's just,
"No way. You're not coming out".
256
00:14:49,694 --> 00:14:51,188
I've got six children
257
00:14:51,213 --> 00:14:55,008
and I would say these are
so much easier to look after.
258
00:15:03,674 --> 00:15:05,928
The Natural History Museum
is on a site
259
00:15:05,953 --> 00:15:10,258
the size of eight football pitches
in up-market South Kensington.
260
00:15:12,604 --> 00:15:15,138
But what lots of visitors
don't realise is that,
261
00:15:15,163 --> 00:15:18,579
tucked between the central building
and the busy main road,
262
00:15:18,604 --> 00:15:22,178
the museum has
its very own two-acre garden
263
00:15:22,203 --> 00:15:24,419
crammed full of British wildlife.
264
00:15:24,444 --> 00:15:25,829
BIRDS COO
265
00:15:25,854 --> 00:15:27,178
MAN: Morning!
266
00:15:27,203 --> 00:15:30,008
Today, Tom McCarter
and Sylvia Myers,
267
00:15:30,033 --> 00:15:32,779
who are part of the team
who run the wildlife garden...
268
00:15:32,804 --> 00:15:33,979
Morning, sheep.
269
00:15:34,004 --> 00:15:37,579
...are welcoming some new additions
to entertain the tourists.
270
00:15:37,604 --> 00:15:39,979
How are you doing?
271
00:15:40,004 --> 00:15:43,579
Bracken is five years old
and Ivy is three
272
00:15:43,604 --> 00:15:46,339
and they're both
grey-faced Dartmoor sheep.
273
00:15:46,364 --> 00:15:49,649
They come here for six
to eight weeks.
274
00:15:49,674 --> 00:15:52,979
Do you want some sheep nuts?
Mmm, yummy!
275
00:15:53,004 --> 00:15:54,619
They really love the sheep nuts,
276
00:15:54,644 --> 00:15:58,058
so if we want them to come with us,
it's quite a useful tool.
277
00:15:58,083 --> 00:16:02,339
They love them so much, I believe
they know the word "sheep nut".
278
00:16:04,244 --> 00:16:06,469
THEY BLEAT
279
00:16:06,494 --> 00:16:07,859
Come on!
280
00:16:11,134 --> 00:16:13,729
It's a lovely thing to have
in your job description,
281
00:16:13,754 --> 00:16:17,008
you get to be a farmer for
six to eight weeks every year.
282
00:16:17,033 --> 00:16:19,339
Bracken!
283
00:16:19,364 --> 00:16:20,979
HE LAUGHS
Come on!
284
00:16:21,004 --> 00:16:24,289
Herding sheep is harder
than it looks.
285
00:16:24,314 --> 00:16:25,649
Come on!
286
00:16:25,674 --> 00:16:27,469
If you try and direct the sheep,
287
00:16:27,494 --> 00:16:30,289
they will quite often bolt
and go the other direction.
288
00:16:32,953 --> 00:16:35,178
Do you want to try
and get behind them?
289
00:16:37,884 --> 00:16:39,369
Come on!
290
00:16:39,394 --> 00:16:40,699
SYLVIA LAUGHS
291
00:16:40,724 --> 00:16:43,539
They have their own minds
and they like to
292
00:16:43,564 --> 00:16:45,899
wander round the gardens
as they see fit.
293
00:16:45,924 --> 00:16:48,469
Come on. Hey, girls.
Come on, girls.
294
00:16:48,494 --> 00:16:50,289
They do really like this bit.
295
00:16:50,314 --> 00:16:52,699
If they don't come here in the
morning,
296
00:16:52,724 --> 00:16:54,499
they sometimes get
a little bit grumpy.
297
00:16:54,524 --> 00:16:57,539
That was trickier than I thought.
BOTH LAUGH
298
00:16:57,564 --> 00:17:00,619
With Ivy and Bracken safely
in their new pasture,
299
00:17:00,644 --> 00:17:02,178
they're ready for the public.
300
00:17:04,953 --> 00:17:06,369
THEY BLEAT
301
00:17:07,594 --> 00:17:08,899
Coming UP---
302
00:17:08,924 --> 00:17:11,499
The secrets of
ancient Brits revealed.
303
00:17:11,524 --> 00:17:15,819
To have a skeleton from someone
who died 10,000 years ago
304
00:17:15,844 --> 00:17:17,859
is just so incredibly rare.
305
00:17:17,884 --> 00:17:21,569
And we meet the most famous dinosaur
of all time.
306
00:17:21,594 --> 00:17:23,499
Dippymania has taken over.
307
00:17:31,464 --> 00:17:34,199
The world's most famous dinosaur,
Dippy,
308
00:17:34,224 --> 00:17:36,949
is on a blockbuster tour
around the UK.
309
00:17:39,184 --> 00:17:42,919
As one of the Natural History
Museum's most prized possessions,
310
00:17:42,944 --> 00:17:45,029
it's vital nothing happens to him.
311
00:17:48,623 --> 00:17:51,559
So today, head of conservation
Lorraine Cornish
312
00:17:51,584 --> 00:17:53,749
has come to check up on him.
313
00:17:53,774 --> 00:17:57,489
I'm really excited to be going in
and seeing Dippy.
314
00:17:57,514 --> 00:18:00,199
It'll be like seeing
our long-lost friend.
315
00:18:01,663 --> 00:18:04,159
After nearly three years
on the move,
316
00:18:04,184 --> 00:18:06,638
Lorraine needs to make sure
he's not damaged
317
00:18:06,663 --> 00:18:10,439
after being taken apart and
put back together so many times.
318
00:18:10,464 --> 00:18:12,239
Hi, Janet. How are you doing?
319
00:18:14,464 --> 00:18:18,199
15 feet high and longer
than two double decker busses,
320
00:18:18,224 --> 00:18:23,518
Dippy can only just about squeeze
into Rochdale's huge public library.
321
00:18:23,543 --> 00:18:25,559
The whole town has been
322
00:18:25,584 --> 00:18:27,559
experiencing the Dippy effect,
basically.
323
00:18:27,584 --> 00:18:30,598
Dippymania has taken over.
Dippymania, totally.
324
00:18:30,623 --> 00:18:34,199
We've even had dino breakfasts
at one of the local hostelries.
325
00:18:34,224 --> 00:18:37,588
Really? I've even got
my Dippy badge on.
326
00:18:37,613 --> 00:18:39,199
There he is.
327
00:18:39,224 --> 00:18:41,999
He seems to get bigger every time
I see him, though.
328
00:18:42,024 --> 00:18:45,079
It's so funny, when you haven't
seen him for a long time
329
00:18:45,104 --> 00:18:48,749
and then you come back and go,
"Oh, he is huge".
330
00:18:48,774 --> 00:18:51,109
Life on the move could easily damage
331
00:18:51,134 --> 00:18:53,838
a dinosaur of this size
and structure.
332
00:18:55,104 --> 00:18:58,919
We have a very large join here
where the legs come together
333
00:18:58,944 --> 00:19:00,518
and they're bolted
334
00:19:00,543 --> 00:19:02,559
so we always like
having a look here
335
00:19:02,584 --> 00:19:05,838
just to see if everything's
as it should be.
336
00:19:05,863 --> 00:19:08,919
Dippy is now over 100 years old
337
00:19:08,944 --> 00:19:12,279
and time has taken its toll.
338
00:19:12,304 --> 00:19:13,559
He's quite delicate.
339
00:19:13,584 --> 00:19:16,838
He looks quite robust, doesn't he?
He looks like he's pretty solid.
340
00:19:16,863 --> 00:19:19,439
But that plaster is from 1905.
341
00:19:19,464 --> 00:19:22,279
It's quite fragile, it could snap.
342
00:19:22,304 --> 00:19:25,799
There are some tiny cracks,
just because it's so old,
343
00:19:25,824 --> 00:19:29,799
and so we have to be
very respectful of this skeleton
344
00:19:29,824 --> 00:19:31,279
when we put it together
345
00:19:31,304 --> 00:19:34,388
and don't assume anything.
346
00:19:34,413 --> 00:19:36,079
And clearing away the dust
347
00:19:36,104 --> 00:19:39,309
isn't just to make Dippy
look good for his fans.
348
00:19:39,334 --> 00:19:42,588
Two bits of any trusty
conservator will have
349
00:19:42,613 --> 00:19:45,359
and that is a handi-brush,
350
00:19:45,384 --> 00:19:47,199
which helps to sometimes dislodge
351
00:19:47,224 --> 00:19:51,879
those tricky bits of dust that
actually will fall on the specimen,
352
00:19:51,904 --> 00:19:56,439
and then, this is a bit of a trick
up our sleeves, cosmetic sponge.
353
00:19:56,464 --> 00:19:59,439
You don't just use it
for your face, you know.
354
00:19:59,464 --> 00:20:02,749
Dust isn't great
on objects over time.
355
00:20:02,774 --> 00:20:05,359
It's hygroscopic,
so it kind of absorbs water,
356
00:20:05,384 --> 00:20:08,129
it can sometimes become acidic.
357
00:20:08,154 --> 00:20:12,359
It's just not a great thing if
you're looking after a skeleton.
358
00:20:12,384 --> 00:20:14,919
After a day of close inspection,
359
00:20:14,944 --> 00:20:17,229
Lorraine's happy
that he is structurally sound
360
00:20:17,254 --> 00:20:19,109
and ready for his public.
361
00:20:20,413 --> 00:20:23,838
Lots of people think
that this is a real skeleton
362
00:20:23,863 --> 00:20:27,279
but the original
is actually in America
363
00:20:27,304 --> 00:20:30,919
and this is the first copy
that was ever made
364
00:20:30,944 --> 00:20:35,949
and then was gifted to London
at the request of King Edward VII.
365
00:20:35,974 --> 00:20:40,439
And at the time,
it was the biggest,
366
00:20:40,464 --> 00:20:45,479
most complete dinosaur to go
on display anywhere in the world,
367
00:20:45,504 --> 00:20:48,999
so it caused an absolute
media sensation.
368
00:20:49,024 --> 00:20:52,199
Everyone was absolutely amazed
369
00:20:52,224 --> 00:20:55,029
at this "colossal stranger",
as it was called.
370
00:20:55,054 --> 00:20:56,559
SHE CHUCKLES
371
00:20:56,584 --> 00:21:00,159
Everything's as it should be,
which is what we want.
372
00:21:00,184 --> 00:21:03,718
Dippy's been fascinating the crowds
for over a century
373
00:21:03,743 --> 00:21:05,949
and today's no exception.
374
00:21:09,863 --> 00:21:12,029
That's a really good question.
375
00:21:12,054 --> 00:21:14,588
It's a bit like
how you poo and wee.
376
00:21:14,613 --> 00:21:16,879
There's a part of
the dinosaur's body back here
377
00:21:16,904 --> 00:21:19,359
where the poo and the wee
would come out.
378
00:21:19,384 --> 00:21:21,439
No one ever tires of seeing Dippy
379
00:21:21,464 --> 00:21:24,359
and I think it doesn't matter
how many times.
380
00:21:24,384 --> 00:21:25,999
And that's magical, isn't it?
381
00:21:34,104 --> 00:21:37,079
Alongside dinosaurs,
plants and stuffed animals,
382
00:21:37,104 --> 00:21:41,638
the Natural History Museum is home
to hundreds of human remains
383
00:21:41,663 --> 00:21:43,999
from the last 10,000 years.
384
00:21:46,413 --> 00:21:48,749
The most famous exhibit
is the oldest
385
00:21:48,774 --> 00:21:53,559
and most complete human skeleton
ever found in Britain, Cheddar Man.
386
00:21:54,774 --> 00:21:58,309
Ancient DNA expert Selina Brace
and her team
387
00:21:58,334 --> 00:22:01,518
have spent the past three years
unlocking the secrets
388
00:22:01,543 --> 00:22:04,159
of his remarkable prehistoric bones.
389
00:22:04,184 --> 00:22:06,638
Cheddar Man is called Cheddar Man
390
00:22:06,663 --> 00:22:10,029
because he was found
in Cheddar Gorge in Somerset.
391
00:22:10,054 --> 00:22:12,638
To have an almost complete skeleton
392
00:22:12,663 --> 00:22:15,799
from someone who died
10,000 years ago
393
00:22:15,824 --> 00:22:18,799
is just so incredibly rare,
it's amazing.
394
00:22:18,824 --> 00:22:21,518
And we can tell
so much looking at him,
395
00:22:21,543 --> 00:22:26,559
from his skeleton,
about the way he lived, who he was.
396
00:22:27,863 --> 00:22:29,229
Cheddar Man was alive
397
00:22:29,254 --> 00:22:33,718
over 4,000 years before the ancient
Egyptians built the pyramids.
398
00:22:35,144 --> 00:22:37,159
But using cutting edge techniques,
399
00:22:37,184 --> 00:22:40,279
Selina has been able
to discover how he lived.
400
00:22:41,464 --> 00:22:44,799
Cheddar Man's lifestyle would have
been that of a hunter-gatherer.
401
00:22:44,824 --> 00:22:47,159
He would have eaten off the land,
402
00:22:47,184 --> 00:22:49,718
he would have eaten
roots and berries
403
00:22:49,743 --> 00:22:51,999
but he would have
hunted wild animals.
404
00:22:53,464 --> 00:22:58,768
Examining his 10,000-year-old DNA
was a delicate process.
405
00:22:58,793 --> 00:23:02,479
When we sampled
Cheddar Man for DNA,
406
00:23:02,504 --> 00:23:04,869
it was a very scary day.
407
00:23:04,894 --> 00:23:08,869
We took the skull
and we turned this upside-down
408
00:23:08,894 --> 00:23:13,559
and we took a very small amount
of bone powder from his inner ear.
409
00:23:13,584 --> 00:23:18,439
Ancient DNA testing
often yields no results at all.
410
00:23:18,464 --> 00:23:21,588
But with Cheddar Man,
the team struck gold.
411
00:23:21,613 --> 00:23:25,229
And what they discovered
was extraordinary.
412
00:23:25,254 --> 00:23:27,999
From his DNA and skeleton,
413
00:23:28,024 --> 00:23:30,518
they were able to create
an accurate image
414
00:23:30,543 --> 00:23:33,029
of what prehistoric Britons
looked like.
415
00:23:33,054 --> 00:23:36,479
And it wasn't
what most people expected.
416
00:23:41,384 --> 00:23:45,279
This is a reconstruction
of Cheddar Man's face.
417
00:23:45,304 --> 00:23:47,949
From the DNA, we were able to say
418
00:23:47,974 --> 00:23:53,439
that he had dark hair, blue eyes
and dark skin pigmentation,
419
00:23:53,464 --> 00:23:57,159
which today looks really unusual,
420
00:23:57,184 --> 00:24:01,559
but what we think and what we know
from other human remains
421
00:24:01,584 --> 00:24:04,359
is that, in fact,
most people in Britain
422
00:24:04,384 --> 00:24:07,229
during this time point,
10,000 years ago,
423
00:24:07,254 --> 00:24:08,479
would have had this
424
00:24:08,504 --> 00:24:10,838
really interesting
combination of features.
425
00:24:14,254 --> 00:24:16,758
Tucked away in the same cave
as Cheddar Man
426
00:24:16,783 --> 00:24:19,229
was another collection
of human skeletons
427
00:24:19,254 --> 00:24:21,758
that still need investigation.
428
00:24:23,613 --> 00:24:26,279
Cheddar Man was found
on his own in the cave
429
00:24:26,304 --> 00:24:28,279
but in a different part
of the cave,
430
00:24:28,304 --> 00:24:30,359
there were a lot more bones,
431
00:24:30,384 --> 00:24:34,079
and these are from individuals
much, much older
432
00:24:34,104 --> 00:24:36,758
and these were are only just
starting to look at.
433
00:24:38,224 --> 00:24:41,559
Selina is now hoping further
examination will reveal
434
00:24:41,584 --> 00:24:44,159
what secrets these bones
could be hiding.
435
00:24:51,024 --> 00:24:53,159
Head of conservation
Lorraine Cornish
436
00:24:53,184 --> 00:24:54,669
is back at the museum
437
00:24:54,694 --> 00:24:57,758
and there's one more stuffed animal
to check over.
438
00:24:59,024 --> 00:25:00,799
It's her personal favourite.
439
00:25:00,824 --> 00:25:02,279
Hi, Guy.
440
00:25:02,304 --> 00:25:03,869
Guy the gorilla.
441
00:25:03,894 --> 00:25:06,359
I certainly have objects
in the museum
442
00:25:06,384 --> 00:25:08,588
where I've looked after them
for a long time
443
00:25:08,613 --> 00:25:11,229
and I am attached to them,
for sure.
444
00:25:11,254 --> 00:25:14,388
Guy is so treasured and so popular
445
00:25:14,413 --> 00:25:16,949
that he has his own
protected glass case
446
00:25:16,974 --> 00:25:20,588
and a dedicated corner
of the museum's main hall.
447
00:25:20,613 --> 00:25:24,119
You have to be a little bit agile
getting in,
448
00:25:24,144 --> 00:25:27,119
which is not a great look.
449
00:25:27,144 --> 00:25:31,149
I think the phrase "Does my bum
look big in this?" comes to mind.
450
00:25:31,174 --> 00:25:33,718
As I don't damage anything.
SHE GROANS
451
00:25:35,334 --> 00:25:37,439
He's handsome, isn't he?
Don't you think?
452
00:25:39,024 --> 00:25:42,559
When you're in the case, you can
get to most of him, actually.
453
00:25:42,584 --> 00:25:46,279
What we're doing is
we're looking at any splits.
454
00:25:46,304 --> 00:25:48,588
You can also look at the fur
455
00:25:48,613 --> 00:25:52,279
to see if there's no
insect movement or anything.
456
00:25:52,304 --> 00:25:54,079
See how he's doing.
457
00:25:59,224 --> 00:26:04,279
Lorraine's bond with Guy goes back
to when she was a girl.
458
00:26:04,304 --> 00:26:08,079
It's even more special to me
sitting here with him now
459
00:26:08,104 --> 00:26:12,119
because I remember seeing him
when he was alive at London Zoo
460
00:26:12,144 --> 00:26:15,758
as a young child and
I thought he was amazing then.
461
00:26:18,304 --> 00:26:20,799
He came to London Zoo as a baby
462
00:26:20,824 --> 00:26:25,479
and he arrived on Guy Fawkes' Night
in 1947
463
00:26:25,504 --> 00:26:27,869
and I think he was afraid
464
00:26:27,894 --> 00:26:30,838
of all of the noise of
the fireworks and everything.
465
00:26:30,863 --> 00:26:33,439
The story goes that
he wouldn't settle
466
00:26:33,464 --> 00:26:37,199
until one of the keepers would
actually stay over with him,
467
00:26:37,224 --> 00:26:40,638
and so he got the nickname Guy.
468
00:26:40,663 --> 00:26:44,309
All the public adored him and
they would then give him treats,
469
00:26:44,334 --> 00:26:46,758
but sadly that was sweets
and cakes and things,
470
00:26:46,783 --> 00:26:50,508
very bad for your teeth,
so his teeth were rotting,
471
00:26:50,533 --> 00:26:52,309
so he had to have an operation
472
00:26:52,334 --> 00:26:56,149
and sadly, while he was under,
he had a heart attack and died.
473
00:26:57,663 --> 00:27:00,479
And then he was at London Zoo
474
00:27:00,504 --> 00:27:05,229
from 1947 until he died in 1978
475
00:27:05,254 --> 00:27:06,559
and then eventually,
476
00:27:06,584 --> 00:27:10,229
his body was donated to
the Natural History Museum.
477
00:27:10,254 --> 00:27:13,229
Even now, people will
come into the museum,
478
00:27:13,254 --> 00:27:17,199
they'll ask about the dinosaurs,
they'll ask about Guy.
479
00:27:18,894 --> 00:27:20,199
Looking good.
480
00:27:21,504 --> 00:27:22,869
Dead leg. Ooh!
481
00:27:24,024 --> 00:27:26,869
So we probably won't check him
for another year now
482
00:27:26,894 --> 00:27:29,079
and so we can close the door up.
483
00:27:38,504 --> 00:27:41,399
Dinosaur experts Susie Maidment
and Paul Barrett
484
00:27:41,424 --> 00:27:44,588
are investigating traces
of possible dino footprints
485
00:27:44,613 --> 00:27:46,758
on a beach in South Wales.
486
00:27:49,533 --> 00:27:51,359
Dino prints are rare
487
00:27:51,384 --> 00:27:55,309
and identifying them requires
evidence of finger and toe imprints.
488
00:27:58,064 --> 00:28:00,229
But after hours
of careful searching,
489
00:28:00,254 --> 00:28:02,758
Susie and Paul are no closer
to uncovering
490
00:28:02,783 --> 00:28:04,399
the vital proof they need.
491
00:28:06,024 --> 00:28:09,588
I'm still sad that
we can't see any toe claws
492
00:28:09,613 --> 00:28:13,689
or really distinct shapes of feet.
493
00:28:13,714 --> 00:28:17,399
Maybe it could have been
a claw mark or a toe...
494
00:28:19,863 --> 00:28:23,638
But I wouldn't want to
bet my life on it.
495
00:28:23,663 --> 00:28:25,949
To help them get to
the bottom of things,
496
00:28:25,974 --> 00:28:28,479
they've called in back up.
497
00:28:28,504 --> 00:28:32,999
Peter Falkingham is a specialist
in analysing prehistoric footprints.
498
00:28:33,024 --> 00:28:36,279
So this is it,
this is what we've come to see
499
00:28:36,304 --> 00:28:38,279
and we're really intrigued
as to hear
500
00:28:38,304 --> 00:28:40,479
what you're going to make of it.
501
00:29:00,584 --> 00:29:03,679
After several more hours
of clearing sand,
502
00:29:03,704 --> 00:29:06,039
fresh evidence seems to be emerging.
503
00:29:08,384 --> 00:29:12,199
We do seem to have these
depressions in the sides coming up
504
00:29:12,224 --> 00:29:14,758
that could be left behind by toes.
505
00:29:14,783 --> 00:29:17,559
So, that's a long-necked,
long-tailed dinosaur foot
506
00:29:17,584 --> 00:29:19,789
and then hands there.
507
00:29:19,814 --> 00:29:22,559
And we just see them
quite close to each other.
508
00:29:22,584 --> 00:29:24,999
Ooh! Quite a stretch.
509
00:29:26,944 --> 00:29:29,949
Susie is becoming convinced
the potential footprints
510
00:29:29,974 --> 00:29:33,199
match the strides
of a large dinosaur.
511
00:29:34,613 --> 00:29:37,429
They're so regular,
they're so evenly spaced.
512
00:29:37,454 --> 00:29:39,789
I just can't believe
that's a natural feature.
513
00:29:41,104 --> 00:29:43,638
You can predict where
the next one's going to be.
514
00:29:43,663 --> 00:29:46,758
I reckon there's going to be
one here, right? And there is.
515
00:29:46,783 --> 00:29:48,949
But now Peter is not so sure.
516
00:30:07,524 --> 00:30:09,219
For the team to be certain,
517
00:30:09,244 --> 00:30:12,809
Peter is going to create
a 3D model of the footprints,
518
00:30:12,834 --> 00:30:16,738
which Paul and Susie will then
analyse back at the museum.
519
00:30:18,683 --> 00:30:20,608
Pete takes lots and lots
of pictures
520
00:30:20,633 --> 00:30:22,939
of the same footprint
from different angles.
521
00:30:22,964 --> 00:30:24,778
Then we can take
all those photographs
522
00:30:24,803 --> 00:30:27,379
and using some
really cool software,
523
00:30:27,404 --> 00:30:30,059
we can build 3D models
of each of those prints.
524
00:30:32,194 --> 00:30:34,738
The 3D models should confirm
once and for all
525
00:30:34,763 --> 00:30:38,939
whether these are
dinosaur footprints or not.
526
00:30:46,683 --> 00:30:50,139
Erica McAlister is one of
the curators who looks after
527
00:30:50,164 --> 00:30:53,419
the museum's enormous
fly and flea collection.
528
00:30:55,244 --> 00:30:57,939
She's part of the museum's
ambitious mission
529
00:30:57,964 --> 00:31:01,449
to photograph every one
of their 8O million specimens
530
00:31:01,474 --> 00:31:04,969
so that anyone in the world
can see them.
531
00:31:04,994 --> 00:31:09,969
Today, she's set her sights
on some of the most bizarre.
532
00:31:09,994 --> 00:31:14,169
So, these are exceptionally fragile
and exceptionally delicate.
533
00:31:14,194 --> 00:31:16,219
We really never take this lid off,
534
00:31:16,244 --> 00:31:19,019
but I'm going to take it off
to do this imaging.
535
00:31:19,044 --> 00:31:20,449
The dressed fleas.
536
00:31:20,474 --> 00:31:25,658
These were by the nuns in Mexico,
which is great.
537
00:31:25,683 --> 00:31:28,608
So what they would do,
they would put the fleas in there,
538
00:31:28,633 --> 00:31:31,528
make little outfits and then
the fleas would be the head.
539
00:31:31,553 --> 00:31:34,778
The strange art of dressing
real fleas in costumes
540
00:31:34,803 --> 00:31:37,139
began in 19th century Mexico.
541
00:31:38,683 --> 00:31:41,809
This is a wedding being serenaded
by a Mariachi band.
542
00:31:41,834 --> 00:31:44,809
So these bands are very popular
in Mexico
543
00:31:44,834 --> 00:31:48,697
and these have been made by,
we believe, nuns
544
00:31:48,722 --> 00:31:52,048
and they've been bought
as tourist trinkets.
545
00:31:52,073 --> 00:31:54,737
You know, who doesn't want
a dressed flea?
546
00:31:54,762 --> 00:31:57,408
And then where's the lady?
547
00:31:57,433 --> 00:32:00,378
She's not looking her best,
really, is she?
548
00:32:00,403 --> 00:32:03,178
She's got a bouquet.
ERICA CHUCKLES
549
00:32:03,203 --> 00:32:05,378
So we've definitely got
a bride and groom
550
00:32:05,403 --> 00:32:09,617
and then we've even got
a bridesmaid and best man
551
00:32:09,642 --> 00:32:11,817
and then either side
of the wedding party,
552
00:32:11,842 --> 00:32:14,128
you've got this little
Mariachi band
553
00:32:14,153 --> 00:32:18,178
and you've got a guitarist
and one with the castanets.
554
00:32:18,203 --> 00:32:21,298
They've all got the most
fabulously large hats.
555
00:32:21,323 --> 00:32:24,567
How on Earth she made these hats,
I don't know.
556
00:32:24,592 --> 00:32:27,018
But that's the level of detail
I like.
557
00:32:27,043 --> 00:32:28,937
OK, that's really cute,
558
00:32:28,962 --> 00:32:31,768
I might have to take some photos
of actually that.
559
00:32:31,793 --> 00:32:33,817
As a child, it's not
something you imagine,
560
00:32:33,842 --> 00:32:38,338
being paid to photograph a flea
that's been dressed as a bride.
561
00:32:38,363 --> 00:32:41,298
Can you imagine
your career guidance counsellor,
562
00:32:41,323 --> 00:32:42,848
"What do you want to do?"
563
00:32:42,873 --> 00:32:44,338
"l want to image fleas.
564
00:32:44,363 --> 00:32:47,048
"L want to image fleas
like nobody's imaged fleas before."
565
00:32:48,323 --> 00:32:50,567
These photographs will now form part
566
00:32:50,592 --> 00:32:53,128
of an enormous
digital archive project,
567
00:32:53,153 --> 00:32:56,208
recording every single item
the museum owns.
568
00:33:07,073 --> 00:33:09,487
One of the museum's
biggest crowd-pullers
569
00:33:09,512 --> 00:33:12,338
is Sophie the stegosaurus.
570
00:33:12,363 --> 00:33:15,018
With almost all
of her skeleton intact,
571
00:33:15,043 --> 00:33:19,298
Sophie is the world's most complete
example of the famous dinosaur.
572
00:33:20,512 --> 00:33:23,567
But she's so unique that
the most precious part of her
573
00:33:23,592 --> 00:33:25,487
is kept under lock and key.
574
00:33:25,512 --> 00:33:26,848
Her skull.
575
00:33:28,203 --> 00:33:30,978
While she waits for news
about the dino footprints,
576
00:33:31,003 --> 00:33:33,817
Susie Maidment is taking a rare look
577
00:33:33,842 --> 00:33:38,817
at Sophie's
150 million year old skull.
578
00:33:38,842 --> 00:33:41,258
Although they're very iconic
as dinosaurs,
579
00:33:41,283 --> 00:33:44,178
there are really few skulls
of stegosaurus that are intact
580
00:33:44,203 --> 00:33:47,487
from anywhere in the world,
there's no more than five,
581
00:33:47,512 --> 00:33:50,458
and Sophie's is absolutely unique
582
00:33:50,483 --> 00:33:54,018
in that all the bones
are separate from each other,
583
00:33:54,043 --> 00:33:56,328
they're not all fused together,
584
00:33:56,353 --> 00:33:58,848
and that, for us,
is kind of the holy grail.
585
00:33:58,873 --> 00:34:01,128
The separate skull bones means Susie
586
00:34:01,153 --> 00:34:03,378
has been able to discover more about
587
00:34:03,403 --> 00:34:06,018
this incredible dinosaur
than ever before.
588
00:34:07,203 --> 00:34:10,378
We were able to do loads of study
on this specimen
589
00:34:10,403 --> 00:34:14,328
and we discovered that Susie
weighed about 1.5 to 2 tonnes,
590
00:34:14,353 --> 00:34:16,737
which is something like
a white rhino.
591
00:34:18,683 --> 00:34:21,258
The question I get asked the most
about the stegosaurus
592
00:34:21,283 --> 00:34:23,208
is what was the function
of their armour
593
00:34:23,233 --> 00:34:24,817
that they had down the back,
594
00:34:24,842 --> 00:34:27,658
the plates and the spikes
at the end of the tail?
595
00:34:27,683 --> 00:34:30,048
Now, the spikes were probably
used as a weapon.
596
00:34:30,073 --> 00:34:32,258
The plates,
it's a bit harder to say.
597
00:34:32,283 --> 00:34:34,567
They're very thin, and while
some people have suggested
598
00:34:34,592 --> 00:34:36,328
they could have been
armour plating,
599
00:34:36,353 --> 00:34:38,328
I think if you were
something like allosaurus,
600
00:34:38,353 --> 00:34:39,937
with a big, bone-crunching bite,
601
00:34:39,962 --> 00:34:41,487
chomping through stegosaurus plates
602
00:34:41,512 --> 00:34:43,768
would probably be like
eating a pack of Pringles.
603
00:34:46,712 --> 00:34:49,848
What we've got here
is the brain case.
604
00:34:49,873 --> 00:34:52,487
This is actually the back
of Sophie's skull.
605
00:34:52,512 --> 00:34:54,487
Now, stegosaurus's brain
606
00:34:54,512 --> 00:34:57,848
is sometimes compared to
a size of the plum.
607
00:34:57,873 --> 00:35:01,018
I think Sophie's might have been
a little bit smaller than that.
608
00:35:01,043 --> 00:35:03,617
Now, while there's not
a direct relationship
609
00:35:03,642 --> 00:35:06,737
between brain size
and intelligence,
610
00:35:06,762 --> 00:35:10,538
Sophie did have a very small
brain for her body weight
611
00:35:10,563 --> 00:35:14,018
and so I suspect that this dinosaur
was not very clever.
612
00:35:20,762 --> 00:35:22,098
Coming UP---
613
00:35:22,123 --> 00:35:24,378
A gruesome secret is uncovered.
614
00:35:24,403 --> 00:35:27,817
So this is definitely
cannibalistic behaviour.
615
00:35:27,842 --> 00:35:30,408
And after the great dinosaur hunt,
616
00:35:30,433 --> 00:35:31,768
the results are in.
617
00:35:31,793 --> 00:35:33,258
Slightly blows your mind,
doesn't it?
618
00:35:40,393 --> 00:35:42,058
At the Natural History Museum,
619
00:35:42,083 --> 00:35:46,337
Selina Brace has been examining
a set of ancient human bones.
620
00:35:47,523 --> 00:35:50,368
These 15,000-year-old human remains
621
00:35:50,393 --> 00:35:54,087
are among the oldest of their kind
ever found in Britain
622
00:35:54,112 --> 00:35:59,537
and they were discovered in the same
cave as the skeleton of Cheddar Man.
623
00:35:59,562 --> 00:36:02,778
PhD student William Marsh
has been studying them
624
00:36:02,803 --> 00:36:05,258
and has some gruesome news.
625
00:36:05,283 --> 00:36:07,568
You've got four ribs here.
626
00:36:07,593 --> 00:36:12,648
All of them showing signs
of human cannibalism.
627
00:36:14,033 --> 00:36:18,178
And this one is kind of unmissable.
Oh, that's amazing.
628
00:36:20,283 --> 00:36:22,488
There are bite marks
on these rib bones
629
00:36:22,513 --> 00:36:26,178
that can only have been made
by human teeth.
630
00:36:26,203 --> 00:36:27,898
Three tooth marks.
631
00:36:27,923 --> 00:36:30,618
One, two, three.
632
00:36:30,643 --> 00:36:34,537
So these teeth marks
must be from a human.
633
00:36:34,562 --> 00:36:36,728
Yeah, I think so.
634
00:36:36,753 --> 00:36:39,008
And cos you can see
there's evidence also
635
00:36:39,033 --> 00:36:41,928
of cut marks slightly down here,
which is evidence that...
636
00:36:41,953 --> 00:36:44,417
Where they de-fleshed?
Where they de-fleshed it.
637
00:36:44,442 --> 00:36:46,568
Yeah, absolutely.
Taken the flesh off.
638
00:36:46,593 --> 00:36:49,457
And then the human teeth marks.
639
00:36:49,482 --> 00:36:53,698
The other body parts
tell an even more horrifying story.
640
00:36:53,723 --> 00:36:56,778
A skull has been turned into
a drinking vessel.
641
00:36:56,803 --> 00:37:01,778
We've got a skull cup
which shows signs of cut marks.
642
00:37:01,803 --> 00:37:04,928
So rather than being,
like, brutally smashed
643
00:37:04,953 --> 00:37:09,178
or very quickly broken apart
to remove the brain,
644
00:37:09,203 --> 00:37:12,818
what they've actually done
is very carefully cut away,
645
00:37:12,843 --> 00:37:15,008
de-fleshed around the outside
646
00:37:15,033 --> 00:37:18,457
to create this beautiful cup
that you see here.
647
00:37:18,482 --> 00:37:23,207
So that together,
if we had that up round there,
648
00:37:23,232 --> 00:37:25,928
would be the whole of
the drinking vessel,
649
00:37:25,953 --> 00:37:28,848
this would be the drinking cup.
650
00:37:28,873 --> 00:37:32,488
For Selina and William,
the next step is to work out why
651
00:37:32,513 --> 00:37:35,537
humans were carving skulls
and eating each other
652
00:37:35,562 --> 00:37:37,898
15,000 years ago in Britain.
653
00:37:39,112 --> 00:37:42,258
So this is definitely
cannibalistic behaviour.
654
00:37:42,283 --> 00:37:45,978
So there are many reasons
that you can have cannibals
655
00:37:46,003 --> 00:37:48,337
and that people
would eat human flesh.
656
00:37:48,362 --> 00:37:51,058
One is that they were very hungry.
657
00:37:51,083 --> 00:37:54,118
Maybe this was a time
when there wasn't much food.
658
00:37:54,143 --> 00:37:56,998
It could be that they were
eating their enemies
659
00:37:57,023 --> 00:37:59,307
to prove they were stronger
than they were.
660
00:37:59,332 --> 00:38:02,998
Or it could be much more
about honouring the dead,
661
00:38:03,023 --> 00:38:06,918
so ritually eating
members of your family
662
00:38:06,943 --> 00:38:10,748
as a way to show that you cared,
663
00:38:10,773 --> 00:38:13,148
as bizarre as this may sound.
664
00:38:15,053 --> 00:38:18,148
With many questions
about these prehistoric cannibals
665
00:38:18,173 --> 00:38:21,588
left to answer,
Selina's research will continue.
666
00:38:26,252 --> 00:38:28,437
In a hidden corner of the museum,
667
00:38:28,462 --> 00:38:31,437
marine expert Miranda Lowe
is responsible
668
00:38:31,462 --> 00:38:35,798
for some of the most delicate items
in the entire building.
669
00:38:35,823 --> 00:38:38,868
150-year-old replicas
of sea creatures
670
00:38:38,893 --> 00:38:40,998
made from paper-thin glass.
671
00:38:42,973 --> 00:38:46,918
Every time I handle these,
I take a sharp intake of breath.
672
00:38:49,462 --> 00:38:52,028
You can see how fragile it is.
673
00:38:52,053 --> 00:38:58,028
A glass jellyfish that was actually
made in the 1870s.
674
00:38:58,053 --> 00:39:00,668
The museum has a new exhibition
coming up
675
00:39:00,693 --> 00:39:03,198
and Miranda has been asked to select
676
00:39:03,223 --> 00:39:06,668
just one of these models
for public display.
677
00:39:06,693 --> 00:39:11,357
It's really hard to just choose
one item for exhibition
678
00:39:11,382 --> 00:39:15,437
because we have 180 of them.
679
00:39:15,462 --> 00:39:17,668
This is a form of moon jellyfish.
680
00:39:17,693 --> 00:39:20,838
The glass here is one-tenth
of a millimetre.
681
00:39:20,863 --> 00:39:23,557
So thin, so fragile.
682
00:39:26,693 --> 00:39:29,588
This is one of my most
favourite objects.
683
00:39:29,613 --> 00:39:31,557
A beautiful glass octopus.
684
00:39:31,582 --> 00:39:33,948
You can see so much detail.
685
00:39:35,582 --> 00:39:38,227
These painstakingly accurate models
686
00:39:38,252 --> 00:39:42,388
once offered a glimpse into
a mysterious underwater world.
687
00:39:43,743 --> 00:39:45,788
So when these things were made,
688
00:39:45,813 --> 00:39:50,477
these glass marine sea creatures
were there to inspire people
689
00:39:50,502 --> 00:39:52,357
about the world's oceans.
690
00:39:52,382 --> 00:39:55,477
This kind of object
brought to the public
691
00:39:55,502 --> 00:39:57,638
what you might actually see.
692
00:40:02,462 --> 00:40:06,278
This is a bit like unwrapping
your best birthday present.
693
00:40:07,693 --> 00:40:09,748
But as much as she loves them all,
694
00:40:09,773 --> 00:40:13,148
Miranda can only choose one
for the exhibition.
695
00:40:13,173 --> 00:40:14,557
Amazing.
696
00:40:14,582 --> 00:40:16,508
Or can she?
697
00:40:16,533 --> 00:40:20,557
I can't just choose one, so
I'm going to see if I can have to.
698
00:40:20,582 --> 00:40:22,437
I'd love this one to go in,
699
00:40:22,462 --> 00:40:25,668
and then I'd love
this other one over here.
700
00:40:25,693 --> 00:40:30,278
I think I've got my final selection
and people are going to love them.
701
00:40:40,863 --> 00:40:43,638
Dinosaur experts Susie Maidment
and Paul Barrett
702
00:40:43,663 --> 00:40:46,307
have just received a digital model
703
00:40:46,332 --> 00:40:50,148
of the possible dino trackways
they saw on a beach in Wales.
704
00:40:51,863 --> 00:40:54,028
These images have revealed details
705
00:40:54,053 --> 00:40:56,868
that were invisible
to the naked eye.
706
00:40:56,893 --> 00:40:58,508
It just looks so clear.
707
00:40:58,533 --> 00:41:00,838
It does. It really gives
a much clearer view
708
00:41:00,863 --> 00:41:02,427
than when you're on the beach.
709
00:41:02,452 --> 00:41:03,668
That's true, actually.
710
00:41:03,693 --> 00:41:06,028
There's no water
in the tracks here, are there?
711
00:41:06,053 --> 00:41:07,838
Which really helps to see it,
712
00:41:07,863 --> 00:41:10,357
cos on the beach it was
quite difficult to see.
713
00:41:10,382 --> 00:41:11,588
After a thorough examination,
714
00:41:11,613 --> 00:41:14,918
Susie and Paul finally see
the evidence they were looking for.
715
00:41:14,943 --> 00:41:18,227
Proof of finger and toe marks.
716
00:41:18,252 --> 00:41:21,508
That one looks like it's got toes.
Yeah, that looks like a toe.
717
00:41:21,533 --> 00:41:25,274
And it has this big raised rim
of mud at the back of the print
718
00:41:25,299 --> 00:41:27,714
which has been caused
by the heel of the hand
719
00:41:27,739 --> 00:41:29,303
really pushing into that soft mud.
720
00:41:29,328 --> 00:41:31,584
And as you say,
these could be claw marks
721
00:41:31,609 --> 00:41:33,194
and these animals would have had
722
00:41:33,219 --> 00:41:35,384
really big, chunky claws
on their fingers.
723
00:41:35,409 --> 00:41:37,864
With these images,
and what they saw on the beach,
724
00:41:37,889 --> 00:41:40,223
Susie and Paul now feel confident
725
00:41:40,248 --> 00:41:43,504
that they've made
an exciting new discovery.
726
00:41:43,529 --> 00:41:44,994
They're so much like footprints.
727
00:41:45,019 --> 00:41:46,303
They're so regular,
728
00:41:46,328 --> 00:41:49,384
they've got these raised rims
that just look like what you get
729
00:41:49,409 --> 00:41:51,144
when a foot impacts into mud.
730
00:41:52,578 --> 00:41:56,784
Not only can Susie and Paul now see
these dinosaur prints clearly,
731
00:41:56,809 --> 00:42:00,754
they also think they know
what type of dino they belong to.
732
00:42:00,779 --> 00:42:05,223
An early sauropod, the largest
land animal that's ever lived.
733
00:42:06,889 --> 00:42:11,114
One of its relatives sits in
the Natural History Museum today.
734
00:42:11,139 --> 00:42:14,634
I think it was probably made
by an early relative
735
00:42:14,659 --> 00:42:16,634
of this sort of dinosaur here.
736
00:42:16,659 --> 00:42:19,223
But an earlier member
of this group.
737
00:42:19,248 --> 00:42:21,423
And some of these shapes
that we see
738
00:42:21,448 --> 00:42:24,303
in these footprints here
are really so similar.
739
00:42:24,328 --> 00:42:28,194
I actually think it's kind of
amazing that something like that
740
00:42:28,219 --> 00:42:29,714
would have been wandering around
741
00:42:29,739 --> 00:42:33,914
what is now a beach in South Wales
210 million years ago.
742
00:42:33,939 --> 00:42:35,423
Yeah, it is quite stunning.
743
00:42:35,448 --> 00:42:37,553
It slightly blows your mind,
doesn't it?
744
00:42:41,299 --> 00:42:42,944
Next time...
745
00:42:42,969 --> 00:42:45,754
The first T. Rex ever discovered.
746
00:42:45,779 --> 00:42:47,754
The ribs can be
really, really fragile
747
00:42:47,779 --> 00:42:50,274
because they've been around
for 66 million years.
748
00:42:50,299 --> 00:42:53,024
In the eeriest corner
of the museum...
749
00:42:53,049 --> 00:42:54,394
Some of these animals,
750
00:42:54,419 --> 00:42:57,754
you might not even realise
are actually real animals.
751
00:42:57,779 --> 00:43:01,303
And the most daring mission
the museum's ever undertaken.
752
00:43:04,089 --> 00:43:06,064
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