Artefacts depict 'history of the world'
Artefacts from the British Museum have been chosen to depict a 'history of the world'
A host of historic artefacts ranging from rosary beads found on the Mary Rose to Billy Connolly's Banana Boots have been chosen to chronicle the history of the world in a new series launched by BBC Radio 4.
Some 450 pieces have been selected by museums across the country to provide a global history, with each item the focus of a 15-minute Radio 4 programme.
The series, written and presented by the British Museum's director, Neil MacGregor, will travel through two million years of human history to paint a picture of the most significant cultural and historic pieces of each era, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Buried treasure, relics from ancient Egypt and Banksy's Paint Pot Angel have all been chosen to illustrate a particular period in the history of the world for the series, which began by examining the story behind the mummy of Hornedjitef.
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Among the contributors to the series will be voices as diverse as Bob Geldof, Grayson Perry, Madhur Jaffrey and Seamus Heaney.
The BBC's local websites will also contribute to the series, producing a list of 10 objects from local museums that depict the history of their own area.
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