In this illustrated talk Dr Roberts, an anatomist and osteoarchaeologist, examines how discoveries in genetics, archaeology and climatology, as well as the fossil remains of our ancestors themselves, have thrown light on the ancient journeys that led to the colonisation of the globe during the Stone Age.

Genetic evidence suggests that we all share a many-times great-grandmother, who has been called ‘Mitochondrial Eve’, and who lived in Africa some 200 thousand years ago. Combined with fossil and archaeological evidence, we now have a very clear picture of what our distant ancestors looked like, and how they lived. Much later, between 50 and 80 thousand years ago, a small group of her descendants left the continent – and went on to populate the rest of the world. But how did they do it?

Dr Roberts is a visiting fellow in Archaeology and Anthropology at the University, and has a PhD in palaeopathology – the study of ancient disease. She taught anatomy to medical undergraduates at Bristol University for over ten years, and still teaches advanced anatomy to qualified surgeon and anaesthetists. As well as being a television presenter on other series such as Coast and Don’t Die Young, she has also written a couple of popular science books, including the book of her own quest in search of the evidence for the incredible human journey.

The free public talk, hosted by the University’s Centre for Public Engagement, takes place from 6 pm on Monday 23 November in the Great Hall, Wills Memorial Building, University of Bristol.  There will be a book sale and book signing following the talk. Advance booking is required by contacting Margery Lever, in the University’s Centre for Public Engagement, tel. 0117 331 8313, email. margery.lever@bristol.ac.uk