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Omg, I was literally watching this thinking.....why does no one talk about the Wood Age? And then you address it, top man. As a carpenter I know how amazing woodworking is. Rubbing a piece of wood on a rock to sand it rather than using a rock/stone in the hand. As a child I would make spears and rub it on the pavement to get a point. I like to think our distant hominids were excellent wood workers and had great knowledge of woods, bindings and structural strengths. Thanks again.

Honestly, even now raising a new born is HARD work. I am doing this for the third time and often wonder how my very distant foremothers would cope. Having your child without knowing if you can labor safely, recovering from said labor while pn the move with your tribe. Keeping your baby comfortable, fed, safe from being suffocated while asleep. I could not imagine being post partum living such hard lives. Making it through those very fragile first weeks, surviving on your mothers body (perhaps some aunties too) and making it to adulthood, that is a miracle in itself. Imagine if you could look all your foremothers in the eye. When would we recognize them as human and when would they change to "other"? Being human, living in this time, is truly a story of gritt, perseverance and a great bit of luck.

I want you to know three things: 1. As a former teacher, I am very impressed with the quality of your work. Your citations, raising doubts and skepticism to finds, conclusions and conjecture, is well done. 2. Every time you have a new production completed and posted, I watch it...immediately.. You are a master of your craft. I have enjoyed all of the episodes. Well done! 3. Your work maybe pivotal in leading Americans out of the anti-science/anti-knowledge darkness. Keep doing what you are doing! Thank you!

Hi Stefan. Not sure if you’ll see this comment, but I was raised in a very fundamentalist, young earth creationist evangelical cult. At 38, I have only been learning true science for about 5 years, and your channel has been really helpful. Thank you for the work you’re doing and the education you’re giving me. 🤍

Ty for letting me be in the thumbnail!!!

Gf that totally exists, wake up, Stephen Milo uploaded again!

Does anyone else really love the illustrations of Homo erectus in these videos? They're so expressive, it really adds to Stefan's humanizing narration.

stefan i applied to uni to go digging in a dank cave because of you xx

I can imagine doing sewing without eyed needles. A thin blade, and a twig or thin piece of wood shoving ties through skins.

I love just sitting and imaging what life would've been like for us so long ago. It always feels so paradoxically blissful and horrifying.

Thinking about our ancient, ancient ancestors always makes me so emotional. We've changed a lot, obviously, but I still feel such a kinship with them.

This was great per usual. Hard to find a more engaging and compassionate thinker regarding very ancient history. These videos can't come often enough, keep up the splendid work!

Your kind, clever, and enlightened choice of words is just delightful! This was such a great treat - thank you so much! Lots of love from Denmark 🤗 😊😊

The sheer number of questions we still have about prehistory is what fascinates me. There is still so much to discover, its amazing.

The last bit reminded me of the controversy an anthropologist sparked back in the 1980s with an article that asserted most historical accounts of cannibalism were pure fiction. As I recall, his contention was that stories of cannibal cultures were either invented whole cloth from the fevered imaginations of European explorers or were invented by indigenous peoples who didn't want their European patrons to share their gifts with rival tribes, whom they portrayed as savage man-eaters in the hope that Europeans would be hesitant to contact them.

Stefan, I just want you to know whenever I see a new video pop up I feel a little jolt of joyous anticipation. These ancient history videos are my favorite. Thank you for what you do.

Hi Stefan, your videos are fantastic. Your sponsorship segment made me think - if there's one gizmo gadget I could recommend for your kids (or any young kids in general), it would be an interactive smart globe with a little stylus. My parents got me one for Christmas 2009, when I was 5, and in hindsight, I think it was one of the best investments they ever made for me. By the time I was 7, I was a geography nerd (and I still am 😁), and that directly led me into my interests of languages, history, archeology, and anthropology in general. I am straight up immune to "haha American bad at geography" memes because of that little globe. I seriously can't recommend it enough. My parents got me a Leapfrog globe but I'd imagine that there are better brands these days. Ebay probably has cheap ones too

8:47 Stefan, never get so serious that you don't keep the footage of your hand axe falling over XD

I don't think you would need any sewing to make the first clothes, if you knew how to keep pelts from rotting. Just cut a hole in the center to make a warm poncho. If you have a strip of leather for a belt even better.

22:10 I love it that my questions in my internal dialogue while watching your videos always get answered in such a fluid and natural way that it almost seems you organically let your narration flow and you share your own internal dialogue with is while riffing off on your topic. It always is a very pleasant surprise! I was thinking about the chances fire was used in an accidental way by carrying burning wood from bush fires and next thing I know is you share the same thought! HAHA! Just at the end now, and I couldn't help laughing out loud in the office cantina.... So unexpectedly funny addition, contrasting your so profoundly true observations about our ancestors! I love that the most about your videos I think... the balance between heavier and lighter notes, the personal and accessible way in which you draw us in! Thanks mate. Such a treat as always.

"That's kind of a bummer to end on." The end.

concerning sewing at mark: 19:20 Denisovans were likely the first to be sewing. you cannot forget the wonderful green bracelet that was found, it had holes that were drilled in it to accommodate a leather strap, and is perhaps 70,000 ish years old. we had clothes then and had to start mending them with needles soon after. needles are obviously harder to find, they're small, they break, etc. bird bone needles found around the same area go back over 50,000 years and i believe we will eventually find that 60K or 70K needle.

Evidence of how much I love your videos: 1. Even when I watch late at night, I never fall asleep. 2. As I’m watching a video, I compulsively check the amount of time left, and groan when it nears the end. 3. Questioning life choices that did not lead me into paleoanthropology while inspiring me research it more. Thank you!

I am from South Australia and we camped at a spot called Mt. Remarkable. After a few days wandering and wondering I realised that as the rocks fall down from the gorge into the creek the rocks are broken and tumbled into perfect shapes to work with. This spot is one of the first mines if you look hard you can see what an amazing cultural spot this is. My imagination went wild but a ways back from the creek (permanent fresh water) there were rocks and piles looking like spots where they worked the natural shaped rocks. There was also the most amazing formations of circle stones with another at the epicentre. Like a teacher and students would sit. Australian gum trees drop their branches on the regular so the people would sleep in Sheoak groves where there were dead bushy sticks and cones for quick bit of kindling and soft warm bed of like pine needles to sleep on. There's a sheoak grove there where people slept after cultural activities. I think this was a culture site a sacred site that was not permanently inhabited except by lace monitors LoL the camp site is the entrance to numerous quite easy walks linking to Alligator Gorge etc. There were places where the elderly women and children would go to hid out from enemies. What a place. It's like going back to the stone age.

Thanks for this. The assumption that we could build a stone ax a million years ago but there is no way we could cut down a tree and carve a boat with one irritates me. I think humans reached Australia and the Americas earlier then we give them credit for.

This has surely become my favourite channel right now! So informative yet accessible and engaging. Much love from Switzerland

new milo better get tha bong cleaned lol

Here's a question, Stefan: If I go back three generations, I recognise my ancestors as people like me. If I go back ten, the same. How far back to I have to go to look at my ancestors and say "these are not me".

Thank you Stefan! This is my favorite video up to date. It has been created with such passion. I love it!

Hi Stefan, I've been watching your videos for a few months now and immediately drop whatever I'm already listening to when I see you post again! I wanted to say, I greatly appreciate the highly respectful and almost reverent way you speak of people long lost to the past, I've never seen a channel quite like it. It makes the topic a lot more fascinating too, especially since I can tell you're so passionate on the topic. Keep up the amazing work! (at your own pace, of course!)

Top quality. Thank you Stefan for these amazing journeys you take us on with each upload

Perfect timing, I just made a coffee. Thanks Stefan you brilliant man.

Outstanding as always!!! I can't get enough of your videos :)

Hey Stefan, I find your videos very informative and quite comforting, they put into perspective our insignificance in the scheme of things. We are are tiny blimp. I often put your playlist on to help me sleep (no shade there), you have a soothing voice.

Got a sick kid home with me today. Probably learned more in your video than a whole day at school. Thank you!

Thanks for another great video! The ambient music was really sublime, well matched to the thoughtful presentation. Spellbinding as usual. I hope there's a lot more to come. You obviously put a lot of time, research and technical skill into your work.

That progression of Acheulean handaxes is absolutely mindblowing. You don't very often seethe steps of progression of tech so old which is amazing in itself. The astounding part though, is actually comprehending the time spans involved: the first step of clear but very easily overlooked innovation is "0.15 mya" okay, then your brain actually processes that information and that sliver of human progress was ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND YEARS IN THE MAKING. Insanity. Our brains have developed the ability to decipher our world and produce facts they can not comprehend.

I watched this as I prepared dinner for my family. It caused me to think about our ancestors preparing their own meals and finally coming together around the bonfire to eat together. No wonder families have been so important to us throughout our history. 🥲

Another great video. Better than many nature videos from big time platforms. And yes to the concept of a "stone age" being a consequence of what doesn't rot. Beyond wood there are the other fibroid products. The string belt that kept those skin clothes from sliding off or the rope that held a raft together.

Lol,watched this today thinking it was an old video I missed. Thanks for the new content SM. I love your channel so much. I didn't get to study any of this while in school, so I learn so much from you.

Another banger again Stefan?! You’re on a roll these past 4-5 years man!

I like to think that the oldest tool/weapon is the spear, as kids especially boys, it’s amazing how attached you can get to a particularly ‘good’ stick when you find one that is better in the hand than others, it might have a satisfying weight, be thrown and fly straight as opposed to a ‘bad’ stick that is too light, doesn’t fly, or reaks easily…..It is innate, stick choice. And a good stick would be used intitially for defence when walking in the bush digging up hard ground for tubers and roots. Weaponisation would have come later (imo) in our evolution. Nice video mate.

I have only recently discovered your channel. Having a lifelong interest in archaeology and anthropology your channel fascinates me. Also it is delivered in such a great no nonsense understandable way. Thankyou. You are a a pleasure to listen too. I realised a dream i have had since about the age of 12 and visited Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge. I stood in awe as i looked out over where Louis and Mary Leakey made such important discoveries.

Humanity One Million Years Ago: "I bet in a million years everyone will have fire whenever they want, and it will be so easy you won't even have to try. It will just work.." Cave Man 2: "What is a Million?" Cave Man 3: "Wait, are you saying that there is something other than now?"

I think it's absolutely insane that 1 million years ago, which is hard to comprehend how long ago that really was, we used to be basically bipedal hairy apes. We still are, but in those days we were still somehow different than we are now.

Another excellent video Stefan 👍

there’s not many creators where i get genuinely excited to watch their new vids, keep doing u stefan :-)

Fantastic video, many thanks Stefan.

I could watch this all day. Keep em coming! 👌 💯 💰

Great video Stefan, love the knowledge and humor you bring to learning about the past! Wish my undergrad archeology course was taught by you 😂

Fantastic video yet again. Am always impressed with both the information presented and the production quality.

Stefan, I am always thrilled when I see you uploaded a new video. Your presentations are always clear, concise, very interesting and leave me wanting more! Thank you for all the research, effort and time you put into your content. I'm sure that I speak for all your viewers when I say thank you!

Great video love your stuff :)

beautiful video!

You know, I really couldn’t help but giggle at 3:16… Stefan produces some of the most informative and high quality videos I’ve ever had the pleasure of viewing. In many ways, I would describe his videos as perfect in both cinematics and information. I don’t find this little blip funny as to point out a mistake, but it’s actually quite humanizing, which is just SO congruent with (what I presume to be) the goal of Stefan’s channel: to bring us closer to the humanity of our ancestors. Bravo, Stefan. Here’s to many more great videos, pard!

This was excellent. Thank you.

a very small mistake at marK: 11:52 oldest wooden artifacts actually 476,000 years old a pair of notched logs found near the Kalambo River in Zambia.

It is always a joy to travel prehistory with you. There are specimens of early hominids still alive today. My sister married one!

Yet again, and as always, top quality work. Thank you.

Stefan, I love your manner and delivery of these casts. You seem like such a nice guy. I also love the content.

I just want to say that I think you are one of the best archeology youtubers out there. Your videos have an amazing production value and you have a talent for communicating scientific data to the public while still humanizing the findings

Finally another video, cant wait to finish this 😁

Your video editing skills are on point! the narration is also so good! Thank you for sharing!

Stefan, you really hit it out of the park with this video, thank you for sharing.

I heard the ending and thought "that's the end" and then you added it was a hard thing to end on. I smiled - good job!

Really enjoy your videos. Thanks. I think that the invention of rope would have been super important to humanity.

Fantastic work as always

Your best episode yet. So fascinating, putting together things I'd heard of before in fragmentary ways. And the visuals were stunning! Thanks Stefan.

Best KZfaq channel of all time!

Thanks!

There's something so fascinating about learning about our ancestors... this deep connection I feel when I watch these videos is unmatched despite the eons that separate us

I’ve learned quite a bit following your productions. Thank you. Keep up the great work

Thank you for these fascinating and well delivered videos.

YAY another Stefan vid !! love your work legend

Im always so excited to see a new post on your channel. 🥰 Your videos are so engaging and give me the drive to deep dive, and bolster my knowledge! With so many resources to expand my understanding of human evolution! Thanks for your hard work 🙏🏼

I'm a History teacher from Brazil, who writes now and then. I am about to work the theme of humanity origins with my highschoolers and decided to write a short story about the Homo Erectus. Your video was very helpful as an adittional to my readings. Thank you!

I have a young son who does love these Kiwico crates and has enjoy them for years

Another fantastic video! Thank you for all the information and how well you present it!

The ending 😂 Awesome video as usual! The narration, the research, the emotion, the humor, the stunning artworks... I hope you never stop doing that format

Another great video of yours. I particularly like the profound (and careful) conclusions on hunting, intelligence, social behaviour, use of tools etc. It deepens our understanding of our ancestors and of the science supporting the conclusions. THX a lot, I keep enjoying your videos!

People thinking the world is going to crap today didn't live a few hundred thousand years ago where it was survival of the fittest and babies were food.

such a nice way to start my morning at work!! love it 💗

The illustrations are back!!!! amazing stuff muchas gracias

Watching this video was like taking a journey back in time to witness the dawn of humanity. The meticulous examination of archaeological sites, like Oldupai Gorge and Juma's Korongo 2, reveals the complexities of early human life around one million years ago. The discussions on tool evolution, hunting strategies, and even the potential use of fire provide a profound understanding of our ancestors' ingenuity and resourcefulness. KiwiCo's emphasis on nurturing curiosity in children echoes the inherent curiosity that has driven human progress throughout history. This video is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of our species.

It just dawned on me: the first person to figure out how to start a fire wasn't trying to start a fire: they were trying to drill a hole in a piece of wood.

I so enjoy your presentations.

Stefan has such a wonderful way of narrating these incredibly informative and fascinating videos. A natural storyteller who evokes a genuine sense of awe and wonder while provoking deeper thoughts on our pre written history. I’m also extra impressed how at 8:40 he managed to get the hand axe to fall over at the right time to display its symmetry. Kudos.

Another great video, Stefan! Hope you and your family are well

Really like that Milo deals in possibilities and not absolutes which help to highlight that while we (modern hominids) may be similar, we are very, very different in many ways, Not just physically but mentally with the progressive development of simple, (for us) basic technologies.

A video about the evolution of autism? I promise that paleontology is stuffed full with us autistic. It would be so interesting just to see speculations about this. It's a much hidden, much forbidden question - what if humanity as a whole has benefited from neurodiversity? It's certainly a subject no other YT paleo creator has worked with.

Super awesome video. Always love the human evolution topic. Thanks!!

Brilliant video, excellently researched! Thank you for sharing!

A million years too late to be first.

Love your videos and always excited to watch the next one, saw this arrive last night but waited to watch it over breakfast, however maybe it is because I am spoilt having watched so many of your previous ones that this didn't seem to tell much,(if anything), new.

Thank you, Stefan. I always find your videos clear, educational, and engaging.

Heck yeah this is perfect to watch right now. Thanks for uploading Stefan! Really interested in how the Denisovans got around to south Eastern Asia, or if they evolved there for a significant amount of time. Great video!

Wow, that was a sudden end 😂. Very good job. And your drawings are improving. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Fascinated by your videos! Thank you so much.

Great work keep it up