Silurians' Earth

Lore & Background

The Silurians are an intelligent bipedal race of reptilians who ruled Earth before humans. Their civilization was hidden in a cave system under an English moorland, where they utilized hibernation technology to survive. A nuclear-powered cyclotron facility built above their base caused mysterious power drains and mental breakdowns among staff when the Silurians began reviving from hibernation. The story establishes that this race possessed advanced technology capable of creating deadly bacterial strains and manipulating energy. Their society was not monolithic; while one leader attempted to reason with humans for co-existence, a younger Silurian refused, killed the pacifist leader, and usurped control. This internal division, combined with human xenophobia, prevented peace. The story is so significant that it inspired the real-world 'Silurian hypothesis' in science.

In Their Own Story

The Third Doctor and Liz Shaw met Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart at a nuclear-powered cyclotron facility to investigate power drains and staff mental breakdowns. Major Baker suspected sabotage until the Doctor and Liz discovered the Silurian base, witnessing a machine revive a Silurian from hibernation. When Permanent Under-Secretary Masters arrived, the Doctor urged peaceful contact, but this was ignored after Quinn's assistant revealed he had been killed by a captive Silurian. The Doctor attempted to warn the Silurians but was caged; there, he reasoned with their leader who sought co-existence. A younger Silurian refused this path, killing the leader and taking command. Later, Major Baker was infected with a deadly bacterial strain released by the Silurians, causing an epidemic across Britain until the Doctor found and mass-produced a cure. The Doctor, Liz, and the Brigadier were then abducted to the power plant. There, the Doctor overloaded the reactor, telling the younger Silurian the area would be irradiated for at least 25 years. The faulty mechanism forced the young leader to stay awake and sacrifice himself to operate it while his race re-entered hibernation. Although the Doctor repaired the reactor and insisted the caves remain untouched for peaceful future talks, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart ordered their destruction. This act killed the Silurians inside, horrifying the Doctor who opposed the mass murder.

Reader's Guide

To understand this specific event, one must note the setting: an English moorland, the cave system below it, and London. The narrative takes place in February and March of 1970 during its broadcast run. Key turning points include the discovery of the Silurian base beneath a cyclotron facility, the release of a deadly bacteria by the Silurians which infected Major Baker, and the subsequent epidemic across Britain. The climax occurs when the Doctor overloads the reactor at the power plant, creating an irradiation zone for 25 years. This forced the younger Silurian to sacrifice his life to maintain the hibernation mechanism while the rest of his race slept. Despite the Doctor's insistence on preserving the site, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart ordered the caves destroyed. The story features specific technology such as the machine that revived Silurians from hibernation and the cyclotron reactor. It also marks the first appearance of the Silurians in the series.

Did You Know?

• This serial was the first to be recorded using colour studio cameras, although the previous story was shot entirely on film in colour.
• The title 'Doctor Who and the Silurians' is the only time the name 'Doctor Who' appeared in a serial's on-screen title during this era.
• Episode One marks the first appearance of the Doctor's yellow Siva tourer, Bessie.
• The story features a xenophobic young Silurian who usurps his pacifist leader's title by killing him.
• The real-world 'Silurian hypothesis' in science is named after this specific reptilian race.