How do we reconstruct the appearance and sounds of long-extinct prehistoric creatures?
In short: Palaeontologist Simon Conway Morris uses the woolly mammoth and ancient art to illustrate how scientists piece together the physical form of ancient animals. This lecture explores the challenges of extracting DNA from prehistoric specimens and demonstrates how technology can help us recreate the sounds of species from the past.
In this 1996 Christmas Lecture, Simon Conway Morris examines the utility of fossils and bones in understanding prehistoric life. By analysing markings on fossils, researchers can infer how ancient animals moved and fed, effectively tracing evolutionary history back over 3 billion years. The lecture highlights the practical application of bones and historical art in reconstructing the appearance of creatures like the woolly mammoth.
Beyond physical reconstruction, the lecture addresses the technical difficulties involved in retrieving DNA from organisms preserved in ice or amber. Conway Morris also employs unconventional demonstrations—including the use of a trombone—to explore the acoustic properties of extinct species, providing a unique perspective on how these animals may have sounded.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Fossils Come Alive - Simon Conway Morris's 1996 Christmas Lectures 2/5
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