Dawn of Humanity
Documentary on the 2013 discovery of Homo naledi fossils.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Released online on September 10, 2015, and broadcast across the United States on September 16, 2015, *Dawn of Humanity* is a two-hour American documentary. Produced by PBS NOVA and National Geographic, the film was directed and produced by Graham Townsley. It covers the 2013 discovery and subsequent excavation of *Homo naledi* fossils, an extinct hominin species belonging to the genus *Homo*, found in the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star Cave system in South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind. The National Geographic Society also hosts multiple videos on its site documenting various stages of the fossil discovery and excavation over two years. By September 2015, at least fifteen individuals had been unearthed from the cave, yielding 1,550 specimens.
Narrated by Jay O. Sanders, the documentary features participants listed alphabetically by last name.
Critical reception was positive. Neil Genzlinger of *The New York Times* called it thrilling, noting that while prehistoric documentaries are often interesting, this one brings a breaking-news feel to a sometimes musty field. Brooke Cain of *The Charlotte Observer* highlighted exclusive footage of a dangerous descent into a nearly inaccessible cave to retrieve over 1,500 hominid fossils. Archaeologist K. Kris Hirst praised the film for providing rich context, setting historical and evolutionary background so viewers grasp the discovery’s significance. Hirst also noted that Lee Berger’s engaging personality and the many paleontologists featured make this accessible. Additionally, Hirst observed that the violent ape behavior in Stanley Kubrick’s *2001: A Space Odyssey*—influenced by Raymond Dart and Robert Ardrey—has been disproven, as such apes are now known to be vegetarian.
- type
- Documentary film
- release_date_online
- September 10, 2015
- air_date_US
- September 16, 2015
- director_producer
- Graham Townsley
- narrator
- Jay O. Sanders
- network
- PBS NOVA National Geographic
- subject
- Discovery and excavation of Homo naledi fossils
Lore & Background
The film describes the 2013 discovery, and later excavation, of the fossil remains of Homo naledi, an extinct species of hominin assigned to the genus Homo, found within the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star Cave system, located in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. As of September 2015, fossils of at least fifteen individuals, amounting to 1550 specimens, have been excavated from the cave. The National Geographic Society has multiple videos on its website covering different phases of the discovery and excavation of the fossils during a two-year period.
Reader's Guide
Dawn of Humanity provides a rich context for the discovery of the fossils of Homo naledi, setting the historical and evolutionary background so that viewers can understand the significance of the discovery. According to archaeologist K. Kris Hirst, Lee Berger's charming personality and the hordes of other paleontologists in this video make this contextual effort easily and visually accessible to the public. Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times noted that the documentary brings an aura of breaking news to a field that can often seem musty. Brooke Cain of The Charlotte Observer reports that the documentary features exclusive footage of the hair-raising descent deep into a nearly inaccessible cave to retrieve more than 1,500 hominid fossils. The film also notes that the behavior of apes in the 'Dawn of Man' sequence of Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, largely influenced by the notions of Raymond Dart and Robert Ardrey, has been proven false since such violent apes have now been shown to be vegetarians instead.
Did You Know?
- The documentary was released online on September 10, 2015, and aired nationwide in the United States on September 16, 2015.
- The film describes the 2013 discovery and later excavation of Homo naledi fossils from the Dinaledi Chamber of the Rising Star Cave system in South Africa.
- As of September 2015, fossils of at least fifteen individuals, amounting to 1550 specimens, had been excavated from the cave.
- The documentary is narrated by Jay O. Sanders and was directed and produced by Graham Townsley.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Dawn of Humanity?
It is a two-hour documentary produced by PBS NOVA and National Geographic that follows the 2013 discovery and excavation of Homo naledi fossils in South Africa's Rising Star Cave system.
Who directed and produced Dawn of Humanity?
Graham Townsley handled both the directing and producing duties for the film.
When was Dawn of Humanity released?
The documentary premiered online on September 10, 2015, and then aired across U.S. television on September 16 of that same year.
Who narrates Dawn of Humanity?
Jay O. Sanders provides the voiceover narration throughout the documentary.
What is the main subject of Dawn of Humanity?
The film documents the team's 2013 find of an extinct hominin species called Homo naledi in the Dinaledi Chamber, located within the Rising Star Cave system in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind region.
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