The Bell Beaker Phenomenon and the Rise of the Bronze Age
Tides of History
Wondery / Patrick Wyman
4.8 • 6.3K Ratings
🗓️ 10 June 2021
⏱️ 53 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Around 4,500 years ago, bell-shaped ceramic drinking vessels called "beakers" begin showing up with the dead in tombs all over western Europe. Everywhere from Portugal to Sicily to Scotland to Slovakia, these distinctive containers show up, often accompanied by archery equipment and upheaval in the societies established in these places. The Bronze Age and metallurgy would soon follow. But what were the Beakers for? Who used them, and why? Thanks to ancient DNA and cutting-edge archaeological science, we can explore the Beaker Phenomenon in all its manifestations, from marriage networks and trade to prehistoric genocide.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | The boats prowl cut through the waves. |
| 0:12.7 | The craft rocked back and forth as gusts of winds slapped against the planks, stirring |
| 0:17.4 | up white caps on the river and shaking the stands of reeds along the banks. |
| 0:22.1 | Driven onward by a half dozen paddles on each side, it slid through the water with |
| 0:26.0 | surprising speed, making good time even while pulling against the force of the current. |
| 0:31.6 | The twelve rowers were working hard. |
| 0:33.8 | Their shoulder and back muscles burning as they paddled, posterior's aching after long |
| 0:38.4 | hours spent sitting on the narrow benches. |
| 0:41.5 | As they neared the shore, the man sitting at the back of the boat stood up. |
| 0:45.4 | His woolen cloak, white and decorated with a pattern of red chevrons swirled around |
| 0:50.2 | him with each gust. |
| 0:52.0 | When it opened, swept aside by the wind, the triangular copper dagger carried an |
| 0:56.1 | leather sheath on his belt came into view. |
| 0:59.2 | His right hand rested on the rough-hewn planks of the boat, sewn together with thick lengths |
| 1:03.8 | of pliable you would. |
| 1:06.1 | His left arm held a boat nearly as tall as him. |
| 1:09.0 | A riskard made from polished stone protected his left forearm against the slapping of the |
| 1:13.1 | bowstring. |
| 1:14.4 | A dozen razor-sharp arrows sat in a quiver over his shoulder. |
| 1:18.8 | The man barked in order, the rowers on the left side of the boat stopped, while those on |
| 1:23.5 | the right side redoubled their efforts. |
| 1:26.1 | They turned the boat toward a wooden dock, extending out from the mass of reeds and grasses |
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