Secrets - Episode Guide

The Shroud of Turin. Is it the burial cloth of Jesus Christ? A work of art? Or the greatest prank ever pulled? The Vatican itself refuses to take an official position on its authenticity, and with limited access to the cloth for testing, there's seemingly no way for scientists to end the debate. Or is there? Join four experts as they explore four radically different theories, using groundbreaking research and archeological expertise. Their one goal: to decode a treasure that has been revered, rejected, and argued about for more than 600 years.

It stands as tall as a six-story building and is the length of a jumbo jet. Egypt's Great Sphinx is the biggest single stone statue in existence, and the mysteries surrounding it are equally sizable. When was the monument built, and why? Was it an act of devotion or part of a much larger plan? Join a team of international investigators as they attempt to shed new light on these age-old questions, using the latest research and techniques to solve the complex riddle of the Sphinx once and for all.

A ten-inch golden statue discovered in a cave near Bogota may be the key to the greatest treasure never found: El Dorado. For centuries, rumors of a "Lost City of Gold" attracted explorers and fortune hunters to the Colombian Andes in search of riches. Now, after 500 years of futility and bloodshed, investigators try to finish the job, using the found statue, a beautiful model of a golden raft, as their guide. See legend and fact collide as we apply forensic techniques and decipher ancient documents to uncover the truth behind the myth.

Most kings of England get a grand tomb when they die, but not Richard III. His body vanished after being killed in battle, leaving just his terrible reputation behind. But 500 years later, he may have finally been found. Follow this remarkable story, from the historic excavation of a city parking lot to the battery of tests that followed. From skeletal analysis to CT scans to DNA profiling, watch scientists unlock this skeleton's secrets, confirm its true identity, and perhaps even clear the name of one of history's most reviled kings.

The Vinland Map was allegedly created 50 years before Christopher Columbus set sail, but amazingly, it features the coast of North America. If it's authentic, it threatens to rewrite history as we know it. Join the investigation as our experts look for clues in the fabric of the map. They'll test the theory that the document is based on Viking maps created centuries before Columbus was born, and they'll name a 1930s scholar who may have faked the whole thing.

"Jesus said to them, my wife." These six words caused international debate when they were recently discovered on an ancient piece of papyrus thought to be a lost passage from the Bible. If proven to be authentic, the artifact, which insinuates that Jesus was married, serves to rewrite one of the most famous parables of religious history. So what's the inside story of this startling discovery? Join Dr. Karen King, Harvard professor, as she explores its origins and controversial implications.

The giants of Easter Island are some of the most recognizable statues on Earth, and some of the least understood. Why were hundreds of these enormous figures built and then toppled to the ground? Our experts reveal a story of extraordinary struggle.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence and one of history's greatest mysteries. Follow experts Mark Lehner and Peter James as they attempt to solve the puzzle of the monument's construction.

Queen Nefertiti was the most powerful woman in ancient Egypt. But few would know anything about her if it weren't for her statue. Follow our team of experts as they sort through the clues to solve this ancient secret.

Follow the hunt for the truth about the most famous lost treasure of them all: the Ark of the Covenant.

Follow the high-tech examination of an ancient spear believed by many to have magical properties.

Blackbeard's ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, sank off the North Carolina coast, bringing an end to her six-month reign of terror in 1718. Now, nautical archaeologists, historians, and scientists are studying the remains of the wreckage.

The Great Wall of China is more than just a part of history, it's part of the world's geography, a sprawling, massive edifice of mud, reeds, and billions of bricks. But why did the Chinese go to such lengths to build it? And what secrets have enabled it to survive for over 2,000 years? We unravel its mysteries and rewrite its complex history through groundbreaking science and pioneering drone technology. This is how the wall was built, what its real purpose was, how it has survived multiple earthquakes and attacks, and how long it really runs.

Since its discovery nearly a century ago, archaeologists have been trying to unlock the secrets of King Tut's tomb, but many questions remain. Travel to the Valley of the Kings as we use the latest technology to solve these puzzling mysteries.

In a cave by the Dead Sea, a copper scroll treasure map from the time of Jesus was found, promising riches estimated to be worth billions by today's standards. Over half a century later, mystery still surrounds this ancient manuscript. Join the investigation as we reveal the secrets behind this very unique and valuable Dead Sea Scroll.

The quest for the Holy Grail has consumed knights and crusaders, and has inspired legendary tales and Hollywood blockbusters. Could it be that the epic search is finally over? Our team uses forensic analysis to solve this 2,000-year mystery.

Join us on the hunt for the lost city of Ramesses the Great, a story of dramatic ruins that misled archaeologists for decades and the brilliant detective work that finally uncovered the fate of this magnificent city.

Five hundred years before Columbus arrived, a metropolis flourished in North America. Using modern technology, we explore this lost empire and reveal its shocking past that marked the dramatic rise and fall of America's first great city.

Around 360 B.C., the Greek philosopher Plato recorded the legend of Atlantis, the great civilization swallowed by the sea. For centuries, adventurers and archaeologists have searched in vain for the lost city. But now, an international team of experts has uncovered evidence of an epic catastrophe that wiped out a technically advanced and wealthy Mediterranean civilization 3,500 years ago. Join us as we detail a devastating natural disaster and the cataclysmic events that changed history and inspired a myth.

Inside the legendary city of Babylon in modern-day Iraq lie the remains of a vast structure, which ancient records suggest was the Tower of Babel. Is it possible that this biblical stairway to heaven actually existed? Experts think it did, and thanks to satellite technology and new discoveries, they have pinpointed exactly where the legendary tower once stood, and what it looked like. Join us as we revisit the inspiration for one of the strangest stories in the Bible, and then recreate the spectacular skyscraper in all its glory.

Over 2,000 years ago, Petra was a flourishing capital city in the Arabian Desert, but at some point, its inhabitants fled the majestic metropolis. Why they abandoned it has remained one of the great mysteries of the ancient world. But now, archaeologists have uncovered incredible new evidence that is unlocking the secrets and rewriting the history of this desert city. Join us as we examine the remarkable history of Petra, how the Nabataeans transformed it into a thriving oasis, and why and when the tribe's luck eventually ran out.

Stonehenge is a marvel of prehistoric architecture. For centuries, archaeologists have been piecing together its history and its meaning, but the reason for its location in a remote corner of England remains one of its biggest mysteries. Now, after years of investigation, a team of experts has discovered an ancient mass grave at the Stonehenge site, a revelation that is overturning and reshaping the 5,000-year history of this massive edifice. Join us as we reveal new secrets about the world's most famous surviving monument from the Stone Age.

It remains one of the grisliest finds in ancient archaeology: the skeletons of over 80 battle-scarred men, many of them ritualistically decapitated and then buried nearly 2,000 years ago in York, England. Who were these people? Now, after more than a decade, a team of archaeologists and scientists believe they've finally solved the mystery. Could this site actually be the largest gladiatorial cemetery ever found? Join us as we apply modern day technology to reveal the secrets hidden in these ancient bones and remains of the Roman Empire.

It's one of the greatest and strangest stories ever told, the biblical tale of God unleashing 10 plagues on Egypt until its pharaoh released his Hebrew slaves. Scholars have categorized this as a parable, but now, new evidence found in the ruins of an ancient Egyptian temple suggests that an apocalyptic natural disaster rocked the world 3,500 years ago and may be the true cause of the ten plagues. If the experts are right, our understanding of the Bible and 3,500 years of Egyptian history will change forever.

Scientists and anthropologists study the ancient craft of head shrinking and the troubled culture of the Shuar, the indigenous tribe in Peru and Ecuador that made them. In the 1840s, Western explorers entered the Amazon rainforest and stumbled upon the ancient ritual of head shrinking. This isolated ceremonial practice soon became an obsession to trophy collectors, setting off a bizarre international trade, and a deadly new chapter in the history of the Shuar tribe. Follow a team of anthropologists, historians, and scientists as they use DNA, forensic science, and computer modeling to examine the ancient craft of head shrinking and the story of a society of victims, who were also perpetrators.

In Northern Europe, many ancient bog bodies have been discovered, spread across hundreds of square miles of cold wetlands. These corpses tell a story of brutal death and mysterious rituals during Northern Europe's Iron Age. For decades, there were few explanations as to why these people were so violently killed. Now, using new techniques utilized by police to solve modern murders, archaeologists are cracking these 2,300-year-old cold cases, while discovering new insights into this enigmatic period of world history.

On a hilltop in southeastern Turkey, archaeologists have unearthed a complex of standing stones that pre-dates Stonehenge by more than 6,000 years. This monument has rewritten prehistoric archaeology and fascinated some theologians, who have linked the site to the Garden of Eden. Take an up-close look at Gobekli Tepe and its intricate carvings, which feature a landscape with wildlife, birds, and serpents. Then see how this 11,000-year-old wonder has forced archaeologists to rethink their understanding of the beginnings of human civilization.

In war-torn Iraq, ISIS fighters in Iraq detonate explosives under the shrine of "Nebi Yunus" – the Tomb of Jonah – destroying a site sacred to three religions. But when ISIS flees, archaeologists discover that beneath the rubble lies a 2,700-year-old temple complex, an ancient Assyrian palace previously unknown to history. Dr. Katharyn Hanson is an archaeologist with the Smithsonian Institution's Museum Conservation Institute. She was relieved to discover that ISIS' destruction wasn't complete: "The archaeological artifacts are still there," she explains in the film. "That's the part that gives me hope." Massive sculptures, cryptic inscriptions and mysterious figures reveal the story of a cruel despot, a dark fertility cult and a character who may have inspired one of the Bible's best-known tales.

The remarkable 2012 discovery of a Viking tomb in suburban Denmark caught the archaeological world by surprise. Inside the vast underground chamber were a Viking lord's weapons, his gold-encrusted jewelry and even the body of his horse ... but no Viking. The empty grave unlocks the mysteries of the final days of the Age of the Vikings. From the 8th to 11th century, the Vikings ruled what is now Scandinavia and terrorized Northern Europe. Cutting-edge archaeology reveals how this war-like culture successfully competed with the finest armies of Europe. But a thousand years ago, these fearsome fighters disappeared from history. Now, a remarkable discovery in Denmark may finally explain what defeated this seemingly invincible nation. New revelations uncover the shocking force that caused the Viking Age to collapse and what made Viking corpses disappear from their tombs. Follow a team of archaeologists as they excavate a fascinating burial site, use state-of-the-art X-ray technology to analyze their findings, and examine the life of an elite warrior.

In March 2017, construction work in Cairo's urban outskirts is called to a halt, as the colossal stone head of an ancient pharaoh is uncovered by a forklift. The "Pharaoh in a Slum" makes international headlines, but the real news is that the massive statue represents a ruler lost to history. Researchers combine hieroglyphic research and ancient documents to put together the real story of this "Lost Pharaoh" who brought Egypt back from the brink of collapse and ushered in an artistic renaissance – before his name and memory were wiped out.

In 2011, archaeologists in the Valley of the Kings discover a sealed entrance to a previously undiscovered tomb – the first sealed tomb found in 100 years. Inside are the remains of a dismembered mummy, a pile of rubble and a coffin that is apparently 500 years younger than the tomb it resides in. Scientists identify the dismembered body as a female from the royal court who lived during the golden age of Egypt. Further investigation reveals a tale of ancient Egyptian grave robbing and desecration, as well the rise of the new elite that would eventually overthrow the Pharaohs.

In the cemetery of Egypt's earliest rulers, archaeologists were shocked to find the carefully buried corpses of baboons, jackals, leopards and even a hippopotamus. Forensic evidence shows these animals were not native to Egypt, and were captured at faraway locations. Why did these ancient Egyptians treat these animals like honored guests, even burying them with the royal family? New revelations show that this "world's first zoo" may have been the foundation for the ancient Egyptian religion – and the source of Egypt's mysterious animal-headed gods.

For centuries, scholars, adventurers, saints and thieves have searched for the wealthiest treasure mentioned in the Bible: King Solomon's mines. Though scripture calls Solomon "richer than any other king," ancient Israel seems to have no silver or gold mines that could explain the gold-covered Temple and palaces of Jerusalem. But startling new discoveries in the remote Israeli desert finally reveal the truth behind the legend: a long forgotten mine, an ancient metal-working encampment, and traces of a metal far more precious than gold.

Tutankhamun's tomb remains the most significant archaeological find of all time. For almost a century, its dazzling treasures have told the story of the Boy King's short life. As all 5,000 artifacts from his tomb are being brought together at the Grand Egyptian Museum, a far stranger tale is emerging of the young pharaoh's supernatural experiences after death. Join Egyptologists as they gather evidence and attempt to decode the secrets of Tut's underworld adventure.

It's a gruesome mass murder no one knew about until a 2011 excavation revealed the sinister secret. Discover the story of a pre-Viking warrior tribe that was massacred in Swedish ringfort Sandby Borg and left to rot where they fell. Follow investigators as they piece together what happened 1,500 years ago, using cutting-edge modern forensic analysis. It's a tale of betrayal and power struggles that has haunted the Baltic island of Oland for centuries.

The ancient Roman city of Pompeii is best known for the volcanic eruption that both buried and preserved it. Now, experts are reexamining a 2,000-year-old crime scene that suggests this was a city where the fear of death loomed long before Mount Vesuvius covered it in ash. Delve into a world of lawlessness, political intrigue, and underworld godfathers.

Ancient records marked a modest Tunisian coastal town as the location of a one-time thriving Roman metropolis called Neapolis, but for centuries there was little archaeological evidence to support such a claim. That all changed when a massive storm in 2013 exposed the ruins of ancient streets and buildings beneath the Mediterranean Sea. This discovery reveals the city was probably the largest center for the manufacture of garum, a fish-based fermented condiment which was a delicacy in the ancient Roman world. Join a team of scientists as they investigate the submerged city in hopes of revealing new secrets about the rise and fall of the world's greatest empire.

Not only was Cleopatra's Roman lover and protector Julius Caesar murdered in 44 B.C., but the world itself seemed to have turned against her. Ominous celestial visions filled the skies, and Egypt became gripped by drought, famine, and disease. New evidence found in Greenland's ice sheets suggests the fall of ancient Egypt shouldn't entirely be linked to Cleopatra; it may have been hastened by a colossal volcanic eruption. Climate scientists and Egyptologists join forces to find out if a supervolcano ended the ancient Egyptian Empire in 44 B.C.

In 2006, a construction team in Italy stumbled upon an isolated skeleton from a Roman-era burial. Experts believed it was the remains of a crucified man. If so, the skeleton would only be the second example found of crucifixion in Roman times. Could this be the key that unlocks one of the Bible's secrets regarding the death of Jesus? Join us as we use modern technology to examine this rare archaeological find, learn more about this barbaric form of execution, and gain new insights into the most famous crucifixion of them all.

Canopus was a sacred city, beloved by Cleopatra and shaped not only by ancient Egyptians but by Greeks, Romans, and Christians for millennia. And then it was gone...submerged beneath the waves by a series of earthquakes, floods, and rising seawater. Now, thanks to a unique, cutting edge excavation, the lost city of Canopus has been found, startling the archaeological world and revealing new secrets about this bustling, brilliant city and the saints, sinners, pharaohs, and emperors who occupied it.

In 2015, an archaeological investigation of a 1,900-year-old Scottish battlefield at Burnswark Hill uncovered a vast array of ballistic weaponry. X-ray scans revealed it came from a secret weapon called a manuballista, the Roman Empire's equivalent of an assault rifle. Military experts believe it was more accurate and more deadly than any other in the ancient world, but does reality match the legend? Join us as we reconstruct this terrifying killing machine to test its true power and to demonstrate how it stamped out resistance and paved the way for Rome's domination.

A routine dive for shipwrecks off the Mediterranean coast at Atlit, Israel turns into the discovery of a lifetime for maritime archaeologist Ehud Galili when he stumbles upon the perfectly preserved remains of a 9,000-year-old settlement, Atlit Yam. Among the findings: a megalithic stone circle, twice as old as Stonehenge. Who were the people who built this remarkable monument? Why did they do it? And what rituals were held here? A remarkable breakthrough in DNA technology may answer these and other questions surrounding this mysterious find.

No single civilization has had more impact on history than the ancient Greeks. But how it all started has always been shrouded in mystery. But now, a remarkable new discovery at Pylos is revealing the mysterious origins of one of history's greatest cultures. See how the discovery of a 3,500-year-old tomb of a warrior-king plus a hoard of treasures from the age of myths and legends is helping a team of archaeologists piece together the story of how ancient Mycenaean Greece sprang into life and destroyed the even older Minoan civilization in the process.

After over a thousand years of rule, the mighty Roman Empire was finally brought to its knees in the 5th century by the barbaric Huns, led by the infamous Attila. At least, that's what we've been led to believe by ancient Roman writers. But a shocking discovery at a 1,600-year-old cemetery in Mozs, Hungary is changing history as we know it. See how the unearthing of 51 strangely shaped, elongated skulls triggered a groundbreaking archaeological investigation that is revealing a new version of the fall of Rome...by those who experienced it firsthand.

In 2014, a shocking and gruesome discovery was made in the ancient Egyptian city of Abydos: a tomb, untouched for thousands of years, containing the mutilated remains of a pharaoh. Most remarkably of all, official records say this king never existed. Who was this unknown ruler and why is there no apparent record of his reign? Follow investigators across the globe as they attempt to piece together the life and death of Woseribre Seneb-kay and the breakaway dynasty he governed during one of the most violent and volatile periods in the country's history.