What does it take to become the world’s longest surviving culture? Rob Collins leads a team of First Nations investigators uncovering over 65,000 years of invention. How entire landscapes were transformed, how prehistoric events were recorded as far back as the last ice age, how people navigated over extraordinary distances, and how whole societies were organised.
Ultimately, this story of ancient knowledge also reveals insights which could help determine the future of all Australians.
EPISODE 1: DESIGN TO SURVIVE
Could you survive in Australia 65,000 years ago? From engineering volcanic
landscapes into fish farms to mastering deadly fire, the unique survival inventions
that let First Nations people thrive.
EPISODE 2: THE SCIENCE OF STORY
Can oral stories accurately store vital knowledge? A bold expedition sets out to prove that the First Nations science of storytelling recorded ice age events ten thousand years ago.
EPISODE 3: A CONNECTED SOCIETY
Vast communication networks, trade superhighways, and sophisticated kinship
systems. How First Nations people built an extraordinarily connected society on this enormous and often inhospitable continent.
EPISODE 4: NAVIGATING THE FUTURE
Indigenous knowledge teams up with cutting-edge science to develop lifesaving
medicines and combat climate change. But to tackle humanity's future challenges,
first we need to heal the past.
"Cinematic and stirring...PICK OF THE WEEK".
THE TIMES
"An extraordinary documentary".
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
"A visually spectacular documentary series".
THE NEW DAILY
It's mind-blowing to watch".
THE ADVERTISER
"Powerful and eye-opening".
HERALD SUN
"This engrossing journey reveals how this ancient culture gave science to the world".
THE RECORDER
"Outstanding TV series."
INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIA
"Ground-breaking series... EDITOR'S PICK."
WOMAN'S DAY
"Extraordinary documentary."
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
"Compelling... a spectacular and historic journey of discovery."
THE NEW DAILY
“A collaboration between science and culture”.
TV TONIGHT
“Ground-breaking”.
TV BLACKBOX
“The First Inventors is an ambitious four-part series that was 65,000 years in the making, shining a light on the achievements of the world’s longest surviving culture .”
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
“The collision of ancient cultures and modern science, it makes for really great TV.”
MEDIAWEEK
“In its low-key, accessible way, [The First Inventors] offers a reconciliation between traditional knowledge and Western science”.
SCREENHUB
“The series look toward the future, exploring how Indigenous knowledges are as relevant today as they have been in the past – and how they might help us navigate the future.”
THE CONVERSATION
“The series presents some incredibly significant discoveries, bringing today’s science to knowledge that is millennia old”.
MEDIAWEEK
“The insights shared in this series will contribute to important conversations.”
SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
“The series is absolutely cinematic”.
MEDIAWEEK
“The First Inventors is a generous, hopeful show that can help Australia invent a brighter future”.
SCREENHUB
“A show that lets us listen and learn”.
SCREENHUB
“The collision of ancient cultures and modern science, it makes for really great TV.”
MEDIAWEEK