The Backpacker's Guide To Prehistory

Up for an adventure holiday? Then join host David Mountain as he travels back to the Permian, perhaps the most infamous interval in all Earth history. From giant insects to sabretooth reptiles to a truly massive mass extinction, the Permian promises to be a trip like no other.

Providing some much-needed travel tips are Dr Neil Brocklehurst, a palaeobiologist at the University of Oxford (https://neilbrocklehurst.weebly.com/; https://twitter.com/palaeo_neil) and Dr Suresh Singh, a palaeontologist at the University of Bristol (https://twitter.com/palaeosingh). If you like what they're talking about then make sure to check out their research!

 Follow us on Twitter @prehistoryguide. Find out more at prehistoryguide.co.uk.

Sound effects from Zapsplat.com.

For this episode of The Backpacker's Guide To Prehistory, host David Mountain travels all the way back to the Devonian period, 419-359 million years ago. In this weird world of giant fungi and armour-plated fish, what creatures should you look out for? Where should you pitch your tent? And should you really take a dip in Devonian waters?

Providing the answers are two Devonian experts: Dr Sandy Hetherington, a palaeobotanist at the University of Edinburgh (https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/dr-sandy-hetherington; https://twitter.com/Sandy_Heth), and Dr Alice Clement, a palaeontologist at Flinders University (https://www.flinders.edu.au/people/alice.clement; https://draliceclement.com/; https://twitter.com/DrAliceClement). Massive thanks to Sandy and Alice for sharing their advice. If you're interested in the evolution of forests and tetrapods - and I know you are - then make sure to check out their research!

Follow us on Twitter @prehistoryguide. Find out more at prehistoryguide.co.uk.
 
Sound effects from Zapsplat.com.

Welcome to The Backpacker's Guide To Prehistory! For this first episode, host David Mountain explores the dos and don'ts of travelling back to the Cretaceous period, 145-66 million years ago. What clothes should you pack? What dinosaurs should you look out for? And what are the chances you'll be eaten alive on your holiday?

Providing the answers are two Cretaceous experts: Dr Monica Carvalho, a palaeobiologist with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (https://moccada.wixsite.com/paleobiology; https://twitter.com/moccada), and Dr Max Stockdale, a palaeontologist at the University of Bristol (https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/persons/max-t-stockdale; https://twitter.com/Max_Stockdale). Massive thanks to Monica and Max for appearing on the show. If you're interested in prehistoric crocodiles or the evolution of the rainforest - and I know you are - then make sure to check out their research!

 Follow us on Twitter @prehistoryguide. Find out more at prehistoryguide.co.uk.

Sound effects from Zapsplat.com.

Coming soon: a podcast providing top travel tips for time travellers, whether you're scuba diving with sea scorpions or camping next to Columbian mammoths. Each episode host David Mountain will be asking experts in palaeobiology about the most important, interesting and exciting aspects of our planet's prehistory. Stay tuned for more!

This trailer features snippets from interviews with Prof Mike Benton, Dr Alice Clement, Dr Max Stockdale and Dr Monica Carvalho.

Follow us on Twitter @prehistoryguide. Find out more at prehistoryguide.co.uk.