10,000 BC (TV series)

10,000 BC is a British reality television series that aired on Channel 5 in 2015. The series documented the experiences of twenty modern-day individuals as they attempted to live as Stone Age hunter-gatherers for two months in a remote area of Bulgaria, specifically in the Rhodope Mountains.

The participants were stripped of all modern conveniences and provided with rudimentary tools and instructions on how to survive using only the resources available to early humans during the Mesolithic period, roughly 10,000 BC. The challenges included building shelter, finding food (hunting and gathering), making fire, and protecting themselves from the elements and wild animals.

The series aimed to explore the skills, resilience, and social dynamics of early humans, and to examine how modern individuals would cope with the extreme challenges of prehistoric life. The participants faced constant hunger, physical hardship, and social conflicts as they struggled to adapt to their environment and work together as a community. The series focused on the psychological and physical toll of this lifestyle and the lessons learned by the participants about their own capabilities and the nature of human existence.

The show faced some criticism for its authenticity and the extent to which the participants truly replicated the lives of Mesolithic people. Despite this, it offered a compelling glimpse into the harsh realities of prehistoric survival and sparked discussions about human evolution and the relationship between modern society and the natural world.