Neil MacGregor

Neil MacGregor, former British Museum director and creator of A History of the World in 100 Objects, talks about crafting a landmark series and the choices behind selecting a hundred objects. He discusses curatorial debates, telling object biographies, chronology’s power, and the story of the Rosetta Stone that unlocked ancient Egypt. Short, reflective, and full of museum-making insights.

A richly decorated Egyptian coffin opens a window onto the life and beliefs of Hornedjitef, a priest who prepared for his journey to the afterlife with charms, spells and a painted celestial map. Along the way, the coffin reveals connections between ancient Egypt, religion and the wider world.

The Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, retells the history of human development from the first stone axe to the credit card using 100 selected objects from the Museum. Today Neil has chosen an object found in France, dating back 13,000 years. It is a carving of two swimming reindeer and it's not just the likeness that is striking. The creator of this carving was one of the first humans to express their world through art. But why did they do it? Neil MacGregor tells the story of the Swimming Reindeer, and its place in the history of art and religion with contributions from the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and archaelogist Professor Steven Mithen.Producer: Anthony Denselow

Neil MacGregor, former British Museum director and creator of the original 100 Objects series, shares how object-led stories were chosen and shaped. He recalls assembling cross-collection conversations, telling histories without written records, and why radio makes objects come alive. He reflects on contested meanings, curating American objects, and picking the final symbolic item.

Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, discusses the impact of the first cities on human society. King Den's Sandal Label, made of hippo ivory, reveals trade links, handwriting, and new forms of leadership and beliefs. Hieroglyphs on the label describe the king and his conquests, raising questions about the connection between civilization and war.