In 1903, an ancient skeleton was discovered in a cave near Cheddar in Somerset. Decades later, it was revealed as a result of radiocarbon dating that the skeleton was the oldest yet discovered in Britain - dating to around 9000 years ago. Later still, DNA was extracted from one of the molars of the skull, and a project was begun to find out if any descendants of Cheddar Man still lived in the area.

A reconstruction was also commissioned to be used as a comparison if a genetic descendant could be found. Numerous people, all long-standing inhabitants of the area, were tested. Then in 1996, a local history teacher, Adrian Targett, was approached to see if he and his students would be interested in participating in the project. Adrian and thirteen of his students had DNA extracted from the inside of their cheeks for testing. Then in March 1997, it was announced that a genetic descendant of Cheddar Man had been discovered - the local history teacher Adrian Targett. When compared with the reconstruction, there are some remarkable similarities between Adrian and Cheddar Man, although Adrian is clean-shaven and his hair is better kempt than his great (times three hundred) grandfather.