New scientific investigations from across the globe help piece together the untold story of prehistoric women in this new documentary. The latest research separates fact from fiction and sheds new light on our ancient foremothers. For more than a century and a half, experts uncovered and analyzed ancient human remains to understand the story of the earliest members of the Homo sapiens species but focused primarily on the male half of the species. Through advanced science, such as microtomography – using X-rays to recreate virtual 3D models – as well as comparing the body of a modern-day female javelin-thrower to an ancient female spear-thrower, Secrets of the Dead’s revelations defy previous understanding of the power dynamics of ancient society.
Film Interviewees
- Henry de Lumley – Prehistorian, Institute for Human Paleontology, Paris
- Antonella Traverso – Archaeologist and Director, Prehistoric Museum of Balzi Ross
- Sophie A. de Beaune – Prehistorian, Jean Moulin Lyon III University
- Marylène Patou-Mathis – Prehistorian, CNRS / National Museum of Natural History, Paris
- José Braga – Paleoanthropologist, Toulouse III Paul Sabatier University
- Jona Aigouy – French Javelin Champion
- Sébastien Villotte – Anthropologist, University of Bordeaux
- Michèle Julien – Prehistorian, CNRS / University of Paris
- Claudine Karlin – Archaeological Research Engineer, CNRS / University of Paris
- Évelyne Heyer – Paleogeneticist, National Museum of Natural History, Paris
- Nicholas J. Conard – Archaeologist, Eberhard Karl University of Tübingen
- Oscar Fuentes – Prehistorian, National Center of Prehistory, Périgueux
- Geneviève Pinçon – Prehistorian, National Center of Prehistory, Périgueux
- Jean-Jacques Hublin – Paleoanthropologist, Max Planck Institute, Leipzig
- Michèle Coquet – Ethnologist, CNRS / Strasbourg University
- Vincent Balter – Anthropologist, CNRS / École Normale Supérieure de Lyon
- Kristen Hawkes – Anthropologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of Utah
- Randall White – Paleoanthropologist, New York University
- James M. Adovasio – Archaeologist, Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh
- Andreas Pastoors – Archaeologist, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Philippe Galant – Prehistorian, DRAC Occitanie
- Clément Paris – Archaeologist, Inrap
- Catherine Schwab – Prehistorian and Curator, National Archaeological Museum, France
Secrets of the Dead: Lady Sapiens is a Little Big Story / Idéacom International co-production, in collaboration with Ubisoft, in association with France Télévisions, NHK, The WNET Group, Ici Explora/Radio-Canada, TVO, Planète+ and RTBF. Directed by Thomas Cirotteau. Written by Thomas Cirotteau, Éric Pincas, and Jacques Malaterre. Narrated by Jay O. Sanders. Produced by Sophie Parrault and Josette D. Normandeau. Valerie Monmartin, Josette D. Normandeau and André Barro are executive producers. For Secrets of the Dead: Benjamin Phelps is supervising producer. Stephanie Carter is executive producer. Stephen Segaller is executive in charge.
Original production funding for Lady Sapiens was provided by Creative Europe MEDIA, Canada Media Fund, Région Île-de-France, Centre National du Cinéma et de l’Image Animée (CNC), and PROCIREP–ANGOA. Produced with the participation of SODEC Québec Film Production Services Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Services Tax Credit.
Funding for Secrets of the Dead is provided by public television viewers.
