In this reflective Season 2 finale, George steps back from individual episodes to take the long view—exploring what deep time can reveal about human variation, ancient nervous systems, migration, farming, adaptation, and the ever-changing ways societies define what is considered “normal.”

From the evolutionary origins of our survival-focused nervous systems to the profound social rewiring brought about by farming, this episode asks whether some of the struggles of modern life might make more sense when viewed against the vast backdrop of human history.

Along the way, George reflects on brilliant conversations this season with Professor Duncan Garrow, Matilda “Tilly” Siebrecht, and Dr Andy Shuttleworth, bringing together themes of uncertainty, material culture, migration, cognition, and the extraordinary diversity of human experience.

For rough transcripts head over to https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/adhdbce/206

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