Life & Death At The Height Of The Ice Age

[@StefanMilo]

Check out "Life & Death 3,000,000 Years Ago" if you haven't already. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2fOlGqoeraLpqs

[@M.M.83-U]

Wonderfull video, so emotional and, at the same time, devoid of exageration. Fun note, Arene Candide translate as White Sands. P.S. as a matter of consistency, I request a spoon's image in all your video.

[@johnmanno2052]

The thing I find so disappointing, and I must confess a little irritating, about the usual reconstructions of pre-literate human societies is the incessant projections of post Victorian, European style familial life upon them, subtly, or actually more than subtly, justifying its existence through an imaginary pedigree stretching deep into the past. Much like a monarch tracing his lineage back to the Biblical Adam, many archeologists and anthropologists simply ignore the fact that, outside of a narrow timeframe and confined to specific areas of the world, "the family" as is usually now conceived by most people in North and South America and Europe simply didn't exist. Even now, in modern times, the "Mommy -Daddy-children -pets" template for familial structures is far from universal or uniform. So for us to imagine people so very very different from us in almost every way, living on to all intents and purposes a completely different planet, to live as we do, and to be "like us" in any but extremely basic human ways (they made stuff, they thought things, they felt things, they killed things, they ate, they imagined things) is absurd. Yes, they were human, but exactly what that entails is open to infinite variety, and we'll never ever know what that meant to them.

[@dancummane3668]

I say that disk with the deer, was a decision tool for a game/s. As against a visual piece/theatrical device. But that was my first thought too. Peace ✌️ out!

[@SamtheIrishexan]

You ever come to Texas I will take you to a clovis, and I suspect pre-clovis site. I don't want to break the law so have watched the erosion expose flint flaking everywhere and a few complete tools (site was well picked prior to 1970s) but has eroded and exposed what looks like a frequent stop only 2 hour drive from gault

[@SamtheIrishexan]

One of my favorite videos yet. Fantastic storytelling with lots of information

[@juanjuri6127]

"We shouldn't assume that his lavish burial equaled a strong social position. He could have simply been loved." that hits hard ngl

[@wetworms.]

I like to imagine his family gave him gifts often until they all passed away too. Similar to how modern humans leave gifts on the graves of their close family members often. So no one royal, just someone's baby boy who died too young.

[@lordsiomai]

True. They really were just as human as us

[@russelledwards001]

@@lordsiomai erm yes! Of course!

[@madmonkee6757]

Those are just two different ways of saying the same thing.

[@darko714]

Perhaps the typical standard of living was much higher than we thought.

[@briangarrow448]

Those handprints remind me of a ritual my father used to have our family participate in every time we poured concrete at my childhood home while I was growing up. He would have all of his kids put handprints into the concrete pour he was working on. Home foundation, fence footings, driveways and sidewalks ALL had our handprints in them, courtesy of my dad. I think he did it as a reward for not messing around with his concrete projects! The old- if you guys are good, I’ll let you put handprints in the job when we get close to the finish. This little trick did work with 3 boys and my sister as a reward for good behavior.

[@Tomartyr]

The hard part was thinking up new concrete projects when he needed a break.

[@prkp7248]

I've stepped out onto fresh concrete with my shoes on as a kid. 15 years later I was there again and my footprint was there, I realised that only when I saw it.

[@CitizenX138]

Our family dips our hands in paint and presses them onto the family sheds in my grandparents’ backyard. We have at least five generations of handprints there. 30,000 years later, and we’re still telling the world we were here and we existed.

[@GraemeMarkNI]

That’s some pretty shrewd child psychology.

[@dstinnettmusic]

I think he also may have known how big a deal it is for a kid to be able to make anything like a permanent mark somewhere. Humans natural have this understanding that their control over anything around them is tenuous at best…and this is even more true as a child. And yet for just a moment, everyone was on the same level.

[@thevoidborn7524]

This is why I chose this field. I started crying at the deer coin and I’m not even halfway through the vid and I’m still going. Thank you for showcasing all this and more, the beauty and awe is just devastatingly human

[@sarahcooper5272]

I cried at the realisation that the parent held up their child to make a handprint. It's such a beautifully intimate moment and you feel like you're peeking through the curtains of a window through thousands of years of time. It hits you like a brick wall: these were people. I just found that so overwhelming.

[@magnolia5616]

What is your job title?

[@jaydendubon1831]

What is this field called

[@moitevonlipwig7885]

@@jaydendubon1831 paleoanthropology

[@darko714]

I never believed the presumption that prehistoric humans were primitives. Our ice age ancestors were not genetically unlike modern humans, They had language, art, music, religion, sophisticated tools and wore fine handmade clothing and shoes. There's evidence some engaged in agriculture, herding, and trade over great distances. They built shelters, villages, great monuments, and perhaps even cities. We are only beginning to learn.

[@IbnBahtuta]

The handprints are so personal and full of intent. A moment in time linking them to us. I really enjoyed watching the story unfold.

[@ronschlorff7089]

Yes, the handprint is art! An artist's "signature" if you will, communicating to us whatever he/she wanted, now some 27,000, and much more, years ago, in some instances.

[@thomasjaggers3576]

Or, perhaps, they are just handprints left by playful people who never imagined that your tweeting eyes would ever see them.

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@thomasjaggers3576 that may be even better!! :D

[@williamarnold9744]

Watching the story of the handprints unfold was nice until when on unfolding the shear number of missing digits was revealed.

[@judithmcdonald9001]

I'd heard the chopped off digits theory before. This time I looked at it as sign language. Or signs of language. When there is no written record, we guess a lot. Maybe a guild of wounded warriors meeting to share experiences. Stone knapping is dangerous. Very dangerous. Imagine how many cuts (in fingers) got infected.

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

Your content has always been of such high quality, but you've come a long way since the lapel-mic-taped-to-plastic-spoon days! You're doing such important work; honouring our ancestors through telling their stories; and connecting us with them. It has helped me realise that those of us alive today can - like them - leave an important mark for future generations and find unity in our diversity. Keep us the great work!

[@StefanMilo]

Thanks fishhead, that's very kind of you to say. I genuinely love what I do. If I had the budget I would produce million dollar spectacles with the highest quality animation. Maybe some day.

[@anyascelticcreations]

@@StefanMilo You're doing excellent with what you have. Keep it up! 👍

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

@@StefanMilo Dude, I just love the meat-and-potatoes and your narrative, but hey, I can be transported by an hour long lecture with crappy PowerPoint slides.

[@loistemel4368]

Ahhh the spoon. Gone but not forgotten… 🥹

[@stephanieyee9784]

I was waiting for the spoon.

[@YamuYamswirl]

I love these videos so much! I grew up in a very Christian family and wasn’t really allowed to look into these types of things further than what school talks about. Not only are these videos very informational and high quality, they’re fun to watch! It’s not just a few pictures with a monotone voice! Please keep making videos like this for teens like me who can’t research thing like this ourselves! 😄

[@mr.booboo1]

#sotrue

[@StefanMilo]

That’s so kind of you to say, I’m really glad you enjoy them. Lots more on the way!

[@Steph-sk3xb]

Your family wasn’t “Christian” then, they were dogmatic. Nothing about this topic goes against scriptures and even if it did, it shouldn’t be censored. It’s just a summation of knowledge of what we know about specific humans based on their remains from a certain time in the past.

[@YamuYamswirl]

@@Steph-sk3xb It goes against Adam and Eve I’ve been told. If we evolved from monkeys than God didn’t make man is what I’ve been told. I’ve never really understood why we can’t have both but I’d rather not get grounded. 🤷‍♀️

[@Vulpes10]

@@Steph-sk3xb Christian fundamentalists would probably disagree with you. It is something to think about that religions who claim theirs is the only one true god seem to be, in their extremes, the most oppressive religions ever.

[@HistoryTime]

There's poetry in this script. Really beautiful stuff

[@PsillyShrooms]

I just came to make this comment. The intro up to minute 01:48 took me on such a journey in such a short time. I work as a wilderness mentor and will have a unit on storytelling coming up soon. Ill be taking notes from this channel for sure.

[@readitandweep69]

I’m 28 - I have no idea how this happened but somehow learning about ancient history has become a hobby of mine and I feel like I’m not the only person! You’ve taught me 90% of what I know and this is an awesome video too! Thanks dude !

[@ronschlorff7089]

Yes, it really shows what this medium is capable of when the intent is intellectual!! Much like this out there if you are inclined to seek it out. Unfortunately, lots of other useless stuff too!

[@0Icelord0]

Me too!

[@seekingsomethingshamanic]

the sound of that shell work mustve been magical in such a quiet world

[@stephanieyee9784]

It might have sounded similar to the Jingle Dresses of Native American women.

[@tifapanties25]

That world was far from quiet

[@AncientArchitects]

Great video, Stefan. Again… As always… The Gravettian period is fascinating.

[@Ateesh6782]

I’ve been watching documentaries of this ‘genre’ for at least 50 years. It is amazing how you have found the balance between being informative and pulling the viewer/listener into the world you are speaking about without overburdening the brain of the average viewer. At the same time and equally importantly, listening to you I NEVER think “how the heck they know that?” because you make it very clear what we know and what we assume, what is a fact and what is an insight - while also avoiding the trap of making it all sound mythical or superhuman. Excellent writing and delivery, my friend. Thank you.

[@martialfitnessnyc]

I'm only 5 mins and I'm loving this one. The quality is very impressive, it feels like a LOT of work went into it.

[@daphne4983]

I read I'm only 5.

[@JohnWilliams-fc3xi]

the thought and attention to detail you have put into this really shows - thank you very much, I think using a specific example of a period is a very effective way to teach, great job

[@jeanninepenniment401]

Oh this is beautiful! I love the exploration of children's lives. It is so often left out of history content.

[@StefanMilo]

It definitely is, and yet to picture our distant ancestors as young children is probably the best way to humanise them.

[@SuperManning11]

Oh my, Stefan, this is an absolute masterpiece-I was lost in the narrative to the point where I began to feel cold in my bones. Stunning presentation, you just keep outdoing yourself. Thank you for these videos!

[@NORTH02]

I just talked about those hands like 2 weeks ago, we must have been researching at the same time. Bravo!

[@StefanMilo]

I knoooow! I can’t lie, when I saw that I felt like a journalist that had been beaten to the story lol 😂

[@pablolongobardi7240]

@@StefanMilo I first saw you as a suggestion because I watched North02, great job both of you!

[@stephanieyee9784]

I saw that video NORTH 02!

[@renaissanceredneck73]

Love the way both of you guys present this type of content. Which is why I am subscribed to both channels lol.

[@moxiebombshell]

well, now I know what I'M gonna watch next!

[@Labroidas]

The paleolithic era is so fascinating. It seems like humanity was culturally so united then, no matter were they were, and also like things were very unchanging over tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of years. You could trust that your ancestors had lived exactly the same way you did, and that your children would live like you did long after you're gone. It feels like maybe nowadays we've lost the very important connection to the humans that came before us, like somehow we can't understand them anymore. Nowadays is a time of great incertitude. We have a tough time imagining the daily lives of people even just 100 years ago, and we have no idea what life will be like 50 years from now. It's difficult to give our children lessons that will benefit them, because we have no idea what to prepare them for.

[@tsopmocful1958]

That's a testament to our rapid intellectual and technical progress over the last 500 years.

[@UkSapyy]

It also shows how content we as humans can be to just survive but also how quickly we can change our environment when the going is good. We are perhaps so focused on thriving these days we are forgetting fundamentals about our nature which made us content for thousands of years when surviving.

[@Daniel-ll2cl]

@@UkSapyy idk if they were content. There was always the threat of starvation and high mortality rates & probably early forms of warfare. Life was short & brutal i think they just lived life the best they could in a shitty world

[@AmalSaidi123]

well said

[@TexRenner]

You get better every time, Stefan. Thanks.

[@CorwinFound]

I'd like to imagine that he died doing something heroic. Maybe saving the lives of one or more other hunters. Or in a fall trying to save a child. And that his community as a final thank you for his sacrifice gave him a lavish funeral and burial goods. No proof this is the case but a possible answer that appeals to me.

[@sagnorm1863]

I think he died during hunting or in some kind of honorable duel to the death. His jaw was destroyed.

[@mouthpiece200]

He died peeping on someone doing the naughty. They killed him.

[@victorvonsteuben1728]

Due to the damage to the jaw, archeologists have posited the idea that the little prince died from a bear attack

[@misskate3815]

This is so lovely, but I can’t help thinking about his poor mother. She must have been so proud of him, and then to lose him in such a way.

[@mouthpiece200]

She was probably long dead at the old age of 25.

[@misskate3815]

@@mouthpiece200 that’s NOT what average lifespan means.

[@mouthpiece200]

Learn to take a joke. :D

[@misskate3815]

@@mouthpiece200 sorry, a lot of people are literally that dumb.

[@mouthpiece200]

Its all good. :D

[@TheArghnono]

Stefan. the quality of your videos keeps going up. This is such a thoughful presentation of what we (don't) know about these people, who lived, loved and died a breathtaking amount of time ago. There are so many tantalizing clues they left us, but not really enough to answer our questions. They appear to have mastered their envioronment really well. Their artistic qualities, for one, are not really second to celebrated artists living today.

[@DrewBisthebestdealwithit]

Love it! The details about the life of children in the Gravettian was really amazing. Great job as always :)

[@steveg5453]

Stefan, your deadpan delivery and humour accentuate your knowledge of, and deep passion for, your subject. Watching one of your videos is certainly always educational, but just as often I’m deeply moved by your ability to make us feel connected with other human beings who lived tens of thousands of years ago. Your description of children being lifted up to have their hands painted on to the cave walls is great example of that. Thanks for making these amazing videos.

[@resurgence7253]

This one was amazing Stefan, so well-written and put together. I love how you humanize the people who came before us.

[@randallmcclure9901]

Awesome storytelling, I could watch this all day.

[@anyascelticcreations]

Same

[@savvaspapadopoulos7214]

Despite being a long time fan, I must say that I am very impressed with this channel's journey. You have put established "documentary" channels to shame with the depth of research, simplicity of style, even the quality of light-hearted commentary sprinkled in your videos. To say well done would be a gross understatement. Keep up the good, nay, excellent work!

[@lisadavis9535]

I am glad you mentioned the hand prints, they are my favorite too!

[@fernaoorphao]

Speaking of hands - this is hands down the best Archaeology channel on youtube. Stefan manages to combine scientific rigor and prudence, bits of perfectly timed humor, and, as seen in this video, even poetry. More power to you, man, very well done.

[@kyoxilbuzz]

I just love how you always tell their stories in a way that is so relatable to us...everytime we talk about kids, can not help to think about my 3 young ones and tear a little.

[@kappakiwi3257]

I've only just come across your videos and I've got to say I am absolutely obsessed, your story-telling ability to build an image of what happened before, during, and after the time of this young man's death really just adds to his story.

[@chukwumaolisehemekaouwarre3236]

History kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZexlauqn9-aa6M..k

[@bethcail976]

I really love this more specific aspect you've taken in to your newer videos. It's all fine and good to be more general when going through this amazing period of history but it's so long ago that it really is hard to truly grasp how complicated and intriguing life was for people back then. Considering how much can happen to us in our lives, i think it's hard for us to put that image on to people from the past, especially when we're talking about people from thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago or even further back. It's really depressing to think how much of history has been lost to the sands of time that having even a peek into the lives of people from so long ago is truly amazing. Your videos seem to only get better as time goes on and hope for more.

[@vernon1483]

What a great production. For me this channel is unmatched when it comes to covering prehistory. The visuals and commentary are evocative and make learning about the history of humanity accessible and enjoyable. I don't have the patience to read through dry scientific papers so I thank you for making learning so satisfying.

[@jamiefenneman6350]

Yet another home run. Keep it up Stefan - your work is incredible.

[@froggykekinson4365]

extremely underrated, the storytelling and artwork are just incredibly too good for this platform, please keep it up, i love it.

[@jonayvvv494]

I simply can’t stop watching your videos, they’re so instructive and meaningful, and you put so much passion in what you do….my congratulations to yourself and the artist that makes the pictures, we need more people like you, dedicated to spread knowledge

[@jollygoodtime824]

i’ve watched this 1000 times and i never get sick of it. thank you thank you!

[@MrThatguyuknow]

You've always done top tier work, but I really got to say Ettore's artwork has been truly transformative for you content. You two make such a professional package and I love it.

[@shillwaffer2105]

Stefan, you're putting out the best youtube content by a mile! Thank you!

[@johnh.mcsaxx3637]

Stefan is very good. The channel reminds me of North 02, though more ancient human-focused as opposed to ancient megafauna.

[@StefanScripca]

the best youtube content by a Milo!

[@oldcremona]

Toppermost of the poppermost!

[@danjohnston3395]

Stefan has the best pre-history videos on the internet. Well balanced, well written and presented in a way that makes it feel relatable. Your the absolute bomb Stef ... love your stuff.

[@isaibanez]

I love how you combine researched facts with a bit of poetry, the result is really beautiful

[@jeffgriffin9747]

Your video quality has improved greatly. I feel very professional with your sense of humour and ability to dumb these concepts down for me, make these a pleasure to watch. Good job lad. Keep it up!

[@BryanCrowson]

This is informative, thought-provoking and quite moving, Stefan. Thank you for creating it. Your discussion of children's toys is especially interesting. I appreciate the gravitas of the new video style you are exploring. Although, I confess, I also enjoyed the whimsical humor you often sprinkled through your earlier videos as well!

[@marcotedesco8954]

This has to be one of the highest points of this already excellent channel thus far. Genuinely moving.

[@katipohl2431]

So wonderful and lively how you show our ancestors lives. Hi and thanks from Germany.

[@robsrockinout]

So glad for more uploaded content Stefan! Thanks to you from us.

[@holidayarmadillo8653]

absolutely FANTASTIC and fascinating video of the utmost quality. I love how you keep challenging yourself and raising your game and producing even more ambitious videos. This one was a home run, such a joy to watch. Stefan you have quickly become my favorite youtuber! Your hard work is greatly appreciated by all of us, thank you very much for what you do!

[@MarcinDahlen]

Thank you for all these inspiring content

[@CChissel]

Wish I could travel back in time to see how these people lived, what they thought of the world, their beliefs, what early dogs looked like and how they behaved and their relationship with humans. I so badly want to know what they thought and knew, how families interacted with eachother, tribes of people and things they built. What their music sounded like, and gathering places they used and what they used them for… I just want to know everything about them, of course I’ll never be able to but I just want to know so badly.

[@sagnorm1863]

I also would like to meet neanderthals. Were they smarter then us? They had bigger brains so maybe. Our ancestors thought they were sexy at least lol. And also homo erectus. The OGs who were around for like a million years.

[@rowangovender1895]

You are not the only one who feels that way. I would of loved to see what the last common ancestor, we shared with Apes look like!

[@Enjemnsnens]

Imagine being a child and experiencing some shamanic ritual in a temple made of mammoth bones. So incredibly cool

[@CChissel]

@@Enjemnsnens for real! That whole time period fascinates me, when we first started to learn about farming, or just before and discovering new lands no human had ever been before. Walking through Eurasia and hunting mammoths, the world must have seemed to mysterious and magical, something completely different to us today that we can’t even imagine. They must have had some really wild rituals and spiritual practices, can’t even imagine what their conversations would have been like

[@lmac6388]

Before farming. That quite recent.7000 years Go??

[@fleetskipper1810]

Your narrative writing is second to none. You equal the presentation of Sir David Attenborough. Seriously. Well done.

[@user-oy3wh9mj5z]

I keep finding myself rewatching this video. You did such a good job exploring the humanity of this individual. It's touching in a way that history videos rarely manage to be.

[@kurtoogle4576]

This was extremely well written and executed. Thank you!

[@conner13.c16]

By far this is the best video you have ever made! I didn’t want it to finish. It is very nice to see how much you have grown since your very first videos, very well done !

[@tarananttal3724]

How on earth is this content free ? ❤

[@cathjj840]

I'm sure Stefan would gladly accept a payment on Tuesday for a viewing today. [ Wimpy ;) ]

[@DoctorDeSotoTheBand]

Outstanding, Stefan.

[@pectenmaximus231]

Watching Poirot reruns can wait... Stefan “spoon whisperer” Milo has uploaded!

[@sophroniel]

I cannot believe I just found your channel; this is such high quality content and I have watched many videos and documentaries on this subject, but the way you shared the lives of people living through this era by the story of one person, and perspective, has been the only one to move me to tears with the sight of so many hand prints from so long ago. The illustrations really help and I just want to thank you as these are a joy to watch. Today is going to be a good day as I still have many to go but idk what I will do when I run out of videos of yours to watch!

[@jakobraahauge7299]

How beautiful, Stefan! Thanks - and lots of love for you and your family from far away Denmark 🤗

[@JKDMan2000]

wow, so good. honestly, your work is better than most documentaries I see on TV, Netflix, curiosity stream, etc... I think any major producer would be smart to let you make documentaries for them. The info in your videos has always been great, but the production quality has really been top-notch lately. Especially with this one ...this is one of your best videos, love the storytelling. also your book is great, me and my son really like it.

[@erynlasgalen1949]

This is an amazing production, definitely theatrical quality. As I watch, I wonder if this young man might even be a direct ancestor. Fifteen isn't too young for those times. It is a sad story for sure.

[@michaelhowell2326]

It's not too young now. I don't mean this in the pervert way it might come off, but in regards to the survival of the species, age is just a number. If an individual was capable of producing the next generation.

[@cathjj840]

@@michaelhowell2326 Placido Domingo is a modern example (not to be followed, except for lyric singing). But please don't think this would have the same non-impact on girls of the same age or the offspring, at least of modern ones (though the stats are pretty devastating among traditional societies including our earlier western ones). Maternal morbidity, mortality and sterility risks are way worse at 17 and younger, sharply inceasing as the age goes down. Infant outcomes are also much more often less than optimal.

[@TehOak]

I’ve just binged on all of Stefan’s videos (including his alt channel) and I need more. I’m angry I didn’t find Stefan prior to yesterday, and I’m disappointed I’ve exhausted all his content. I only have myself to blame. God bless you, Stefan. You’re a legend. Can’t wait for what’s next.

[@noloosmond6688]

There is something exceptionally thought provoking about your videos, Stefan. They give me the feeling of premitive bonds we humans all have had since the dawn of human consciousness..just like these humans tried to reach out and we now feel the connection to them, I feel the same type of human connection to your thoughts and creations..in your videos I see the human attempt to reach out that never wavers, and here is mine :) Hello from the Mediterranean (ironic, I know)

[@JesperNC]

Hi Stefan, I have been watching your videos for some time, and just wanted to let you you that I think this is one of your best videos so far. Not that any of the other ones were bad. I appreciate the amount of current knowledge you are communicating clear (and passionately), and still being transpererant about what is "known" and what is your interpretation. Keep up the good work!

[@giacdeg]

Love this format and as usual very interesting and informative. The perforated batons are a real question. I first suspected rope tensioners for a tent type structure, but I feel like a sewing aid for working leather is more likely. If you are joining pieces of leather with thread made of sinew, you will need an awl to poke a hole in the leather first - thru both pieces actually and it would help a lot to have something with a hole in it to put under the leather - that would be the best way to not stab yourself or to damage the tip of the awl against the ground or whatever.

[@Fossil-j7j]

I hop around your videos so I've probably heard/ seen most of them, multiple times. Your voice/ accent is incredibly soothing and I learn a lot from your videos. Thank you for making these!

[@davidianhowe]

Great video man. Not just because of the dogs.

[@cassiemeyer1164]

Your storytelling, research, and video production are incredibly, impressively engaging!!! I’m sooooo hooked

[@johnh.mcsaxx3637]

An incredible video on an incredible man, from an incredible era. Needless to say this video was a good one. The clothing in the artwork is also interesting, reminiscent of Arctic peoples.

[@hensonlaura]

Not even 2 minutes in I have to stop & exclaim over your professionalism, excellent imagery & keeping the focus on this fascinating topic - not you staring deep into the camera. New subscriber here. 👍 Edit: Many thanks.

[@StephenHutchison]

When I was a teenager, my Dad and my stepmother and stepbrothers and stepsister went to the Lincoln Cavern in Montana, but there was no particular religious symbolism. We just wanted to go see what was there. Paleontologists and anthropologists MAY be over-thinking some of this. On the other hand, my uncle owned a spot of property near White Sulphur Springs, Montana, where the native people DID leave hand-prints. They recall through stories why they did this -- in a year when there was a get-together, or after a bad disease (one year influenza took almost half of them) they would go and make marks to show who was there, and remember what it was about.

[@lccsd2392]

Thanks so much. I had just tried to listen to a presentation about this time period by some self interrupting bumblers and I had to stop the vid. Have been spoilt by such brilliant and beautiful presentations from 2 or 3 seemingly independent history buffs and PhD masters. Glad to add you to the list.

[@lovism6590]

In a couple of videos where you talk about cave art I’ve thought about the comparison with graffiti artist exploring abandoned buildings. Have you ever gone to explore an abandoned building? You never know where it’s safe to step, it’s often dark, it can be scary, you never know who or what will be around the corner or under that blanket - but it’s fascinating. And a lot of people get the urge to leave their print in places like that. I imagine this cave art in deep caves is pretty much the same phenomenon. You never know what exactly you will find, it’s unfamiliar even if you’ve lived near it your whole life, and it’s an exciting secret that you might invite the ones you trust into

[@benbeaumont170]

Love the story telling and scene setting, you really brought the story to life. Lots of history docs can be quite sterile but I'm really enjoying your videos.

[@Campanellaa]

Sometimes, I would wish for a more "strong" like button (like a heart or something). this video was wonderfull! Beautifull text, imagery, subject and quality of exploration. As always, thanks for the video!

[@TheFutureMike]

Well I've been following you since your subscribers were in the hundreds and this great documentary is the evidence of your hard work and my enjoyment over that time. Thank you.

[@chrisball3778]

Excellent video that allows the shared humanity of our distant ancestors to shine through I teared up a little at the thought of an ancient hunter burying his or her favourite dog with a juicy mammoth bone. I've sometimes wondered about the strange patterning on the heads of some of the paleolithic 'Venus' figurines. They could, of course, represent hair (maybe specially styled), but watching this I wondered whether they might represent hats similar to the shell hat buried with 'Il Principe?' The art, as always, is outstanding.

[@kurathchibicrystalkitty5146]

The way you use the archaeological evidence to tell a story is really spectacular. I was genuinely getting emotional. Amazing video.

[@readmycomment3157]

Absolutely fascinating. I felt so close to these people watching this. What an amazing insight. Life back then must have been such a visceral experience. Amazing we have have relations who lived through this period.

[@dat2ra]

Geo-archaeologist here. I so much appreciate your thorough and cautious presentations wherein interpretations and speculations are clearly denoted. You never extend beyond what the data allow. There is so much archeological tripe on You Tube (dare I add "History" Channel?), your approach is refreshing. Thanks again for your illuminating and well prepared vids.

[@StefanMilo]

Got any ideas for lives I should 'reconstruct' from the ancient world or prehistory?

[@Aporio]

The first llama herder? Or the 9000 year old huntress from Peru?

[@StefanMilo]

@@Aporio Oooh Peru one sounds good. Who was that?

[@stefansauer3148]

Life of the first people that discovered Hawaii. Some polynesians lived their entire lives living on very small island/lagoons and they had very little knowledge of mountains on their islands, (with a few exceptions). Finding a land such as Hawaii would have been unlike anything else. Lands like these were only spoken in myth by their ancestors or from faraway traders. Just an idea :) Edit: Ok apparently there are a bunch of mountains in Tahiti that I didn't know about. Otherwise Hawaii is an incredibly remote and large island compared to the rest of polynesia.

[@StefanMilo]

@@stefansauer3148 I do need to make a video on Polynesia for sure. I've got a couple in mind

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

The Ancient North Eurasian culture fascinates me; as do the Tarim mummies.

[@lorider500]

The time, thought and effort you put into your videos is unmatched in my eyes. I love the way you bring our ancestors back life. You really create a connection between past peoples and the folks of today. It’s very thought provoking and a great way to learn. Keep up the amazing work!

[@moemuggy4971]

I went to school with this guy. His name was Keatuk. He was a party animal. I seen Keatuk do a keg stand for 11 minutes once. Guy was a legend!

[@amethyst5538]

😂

[@normanvanrooy3113]

Always learn something new with each episode you make. I know how much time you must put into a project like this especially if you are doing all of it by yourself without a large staff to help you out. Much respect for you Stefan.

[@JohnnieHougaardNielsen]

Very speculatively, those "bâtons de commandement" made me think of big game hunting. With a big animal like a mammoth, thrusting a hand-held spear into the most vulnerable spots might be difficult when the animal is stomping around. A strong rope might be very helpful, if a group of hunters could ensnare the legs, bringing down the mammoth for the kill. Here I see "bâtons de commandement" as tools for holding on to the rope, with as much force as possible. With a group of hunters pulling on parts of the same rope, it would not work as well with hands directly on the rope, as you cannot apply as much force while moving hands to a better part of the rope. With the mammoth thrashing, quick movements keeping up maximum force could be very beneficial, with a tool allowing movements along the rope at the same time as keeping the force up. Purely uninformed speculation, of course :-)

[@danielstephenson9416]

When you mentioned that some baton samples suggest that ropes were run through the holes in the batons, Stefan, I immediately thought they could possibly be ratchets, for tightening ropes and cords. That would explain why the handles were sometimes madw with enhanced grips.

[@cathjj840]

Both your Daniel's remarks seem to give a far more likely hypothesis than the other speculations, based on both real life observations of such a technique and the technical aspects of such tools. Occam's razor.

[@danielstephenson9416]

Yes. It's the everyday things that really matter: does our fishing boat stay afloat? Does our roof stay on during a winter storm? Stefan points out constantly that we must think about how totally different our ancestors' perspectives on daily life were. We take the humble and ubiquitous nail and screw for granted. In a time before fasteners, someone who could sew things together super tight would've been highly prized.

[@JohnnieHougaardNielsen]

Agreed. IMO, people exploring the purpose of paleolithic artifacts are way too often leaning in the direction of seeing symbols of religion, afterlife or power, instead of thinking in terms of useful tools to facilitate a good life, in the conditions of that time. I'd even say that artifacts later gaining some metaphysical symbolism started as life-enhancing tools. Like when a hammer was great to have, long before it was included in a fantasy tale about mighty gods.

[@memorydrain7806]

Your channel is growing and rightfully so. Keep rocking and rolling, Stefan. We appreciate you.

[@drandana3661]

I often wonder if the cold did something to our psychi forever. If you've ever been out in the cold without proper insulation, you'll remember that completely primal feeling for survival. I imagine our cultures went through some huge upheaval around this time.

[@francisfischer7620]

You make these ancient relatives of ours so real and so very precious. I can't thank you enough! My heart thrills at it all. Exceedingly precious. Bless you. Dr. Fischer

[@stefanodadamo6809]

I've visited and seen the "Prince's" reproduction on site with a very good archaelogist-guide. The Arene Candide cave is less than a mile of comfortable trail from my seaside home!

[@stephanieyee9784]

You are so lucky! What a fantastic site to have in your area. Imagine if you are in some way related to that person! That would be awesome. Probably not realistic but still a tiny possibility.

[@stefanodadamo6809]

@@stephanieyee9784 my family is not from there, but given the immense span of time having passed it is likely that both of us may be his very distant collateral "relatives" (he died at a very young age so he probably hadn't children of his own). The place is sure agreeable, packed with housing and busy with people and traffic on the coast but also verdant and pleasant just above.

[@cathjj840]

@@stefanodadamo6809 For most of Europe that would be very unlikely as those early populations, at least on the male side, had been entirely replaced by later waves of inhabitants. But in that area of Italy, some parts of Eastern Spain and Sardinia there are genetic descendants of Western HunterGatherers,. I don't know if they go back as far as this fellow, tho';

[@davidbodeker6752]

You keep on working harder, getting better. Your videos are my very favourite things to watch on any subscription anywhere.

[@kilpatrickkirksimmons5016]

What's crazy is they had an intuition of how individual a hand is. It took millennia, but we now know everyone has a unique finger and palm print. They didn't try to draw themselves, they simply imprinted themselves.

[@princesseville6889]

Thats not crazy at all- when there are no mirrors and noone has the tools to draw your face - the next best thing is taking your hand as a stencil. Kids as young as 2 know your hands change a lot over a lifetime and seeing theyre doing all the "handywork" (sorry lol) it just comes natural. When youre living a life without mirrors and screens the first thing you always see of yourself are your hands.

[@charlesschaller6451]

Very nice work, Stefan. Really, you're Curiosity Stream ready!

[@matt46142]

Made my day already and only just started watching this haha

[@saint-naive]

such a beautiful video, as always. you and Ettore always bring such life to the subjects. as someone who would often procrastinate during history assignments imagining what the people were like-the food, the art, the relationships, etc-it's kind of validating to see talented people doing the same.

[@Andy_Babb]

Imagine an ice age man handing you a nice fresh piece of mammoth meat he helped kill and telling him “No thanks, I’m vegan” Just kidding, the vegan would have let him know as soon as they met 😂😂😂

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

I am vegan because I object to modern factory farming. It is hell on the animals and the environment.I would gratefully accept the offer of wild mammoth meat. The ice age hunter would have respected the animal he was eating.

[@Andy_Babb]

@@canuckprogressive.3435 well sir or madam, I certainly respect that you’d accept it with gratitude lol I understand where you’re coming from with the industry, just not the lifestyle for me. Hope you didn’t take offense, just having some fun lol To each their own my friend.

[@canuckprogressive.3435]

@@Andy_Babb It's all good.

[@SarahAndBoston]

This video is so incredible! I loved every second of it. Not only is the subject really fascinating, your storytelling, the video pacing, the music, the illustrations make it all so excellent. Thank you!!!

[@ronschlorff7089]

Nice one Stefan, every bit as good as one of my favorite movies of all time: "Quest for Fire"!! Seriously good production quality, and I was moved by you being so moved by the art, me being an "alleged artist" myself! We should have stayed in the caves and ate mammoths and made drawings and handprints on the walls, like we did at the prince's time, 27,000 years ago! That stupid agriculture thingy beginning 12,000 or so years ago, according to one of your vids, was the root of all the world's evils, especially as we see now in the news. So, thanks a whole bunch, all you damn plant-eaters (aka Vegans)!! :D LOL

[@tsopmocful1958]

I will have to assume that you are joking. If you aren't, then there's nothing to stop you from living an archaic hunter-gatherer lifestyle if you really wish to, but I think that it would very quickly and forever stop you ever again from taking human progress for granted.

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@tsopmocful1958 No, I was not joking, especially about knocking the vegans!! LOL. And, many people do! And not just "primitive" tribes. I don't currently have the skills to do so myself. As Stefan says, they take a lifetime to develop. And I don't have a problem with so-called "human progress"; but it may lead to a "dead end", as current events unfold this year. So, hang on tight, over there in Europe; and everywhere else on this rock! Like the "prince", we may need some flint tools of our own manufacture soon! ;D

[@tsopmocful1958]

@@ronschlorff7089 What particular 'current events' are you referring to?

[@ronschlorff7089]

@@tsopmocful1958 WAR!!!

[@tsopmocful1958]

@@ronschlorff7089 This is an extraordinarily peaceful period that we are living in. There is less war right now than in any other time of history.

[@nogodsnomasters7669]

The production value is getting good my friend, very informative. I believe that our prince was struck with a micro-phone-spoon

[@iterenzi]

Milo can do no wrong

[@berttorpson2592]

I love your videos so much man they are so interesting and introspective

[@Labroidas]

If you look at native americans like the Cree, their main prey animal, the Bison, is also at the center of their religion, and they have great respect for the animals and see themselves as connected and related to them. It must have been like that for the paleolithic people as well. They didn't just mindlessly kill those animals, they also made sure to preserve their numbers. Because if they didn't, that would have meant that nobody would have survived the next winter! The colonists made sure to exterminate the bison to starve the Cree.

[@ME143-c1d]

They didn't "mindlessly" kill animals. Ever see a Buffalo Jump, clearly not. Your description is elementary, over simplified and clearly based on your own bigotry & ignorance. Obviously your an Indian.