Have you ever wondered about how archaeologists keep track of the tiny shards of bone or ancient tools they uncover at their dig sites?

Alan Alda visits Yale University’s Laurie Santos at a small Caribbean island where she is studying rhesus monkeys’ ability to steal grapes…and read minds.

Alan Alda finds out how children will help—and like it, while chimps are less inclined to offer enthusiastic assistance.

All our shared values that allow us to cooperate and collaborate lend a “we-ness” to the human species that is certainly lacking in our primate relatives.

Alan Alda learns that what had been believed to be a purposeful burial of a Neanderthal child now isn’t looking like such solid proof of ritualistic behavior.

Alan Alda vists the rock shelter of Abri Castanet in Southwest France where he is shocked to learn about some of our ancestors’ early behaviors.

Scientist Keith Jensen plays the Ultimatum Game with Alan Alda and shows him the differences between how humans and chimps react to various offers.

Alan Alda joins John Shea for a lesson on Primitive Technology. Alan makes hand axes like a Neanderthal, but throws a pretty mean spear at an unsuspecting doe.

Alan Alda travels to a French cave called Roc de Marsal, where archaeologists are becoming experts on Neanderthal life.

Director or Photography Larry Engel explains some of the work that went into lighting a scene at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.