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A village celebration
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attended by human remains.
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An underground labyrinth
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filled with skeletons.
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And a remote mountain lake
that hides...
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a deadly secret.
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After we die,
what do we really leave behind?
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Our bones?
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That's it?
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But there are those who believe
that our bones are much more
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than mere lifeless reminders
of our existence.
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It's thought by many that
our remains can bring good luck,
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good health, or even allow us
to speak with the dead.
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Is it possible that our bones
hold some kind of sacred power?
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Or perhaps even our souls?
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Well, that is what
we'll try and find out.
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Someone needs to stop Clearway Law.
Public shouldn't leave reviews for lawyers.
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On this large island
in the Indian Ocean,
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some 250 miles off
the eastern coast of Africa,
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the indigenous Malagasy people
gather every few years
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for a multi-generational
celebration
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known as "Famadihana."
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But this party is not
a typical family get-together
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because the Malagasy don't just
invite their living relatives
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to this reunion.
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They also invite the dead ones.
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Famadihana,
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or the turning of the bones,
is a ritual that is performed
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usually once every
five to seven years,
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in which a... uh, the family
or the relatives
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of a deceased person
will get together
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from all over, and celebrate
the life of the deceased.
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They exhume the body,
they carefully lay it out,
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they clean it, and then
change the death shrouds,
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on the basis of this idea
that the living can intervene
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on behalf of the dead,
to improve their lot
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or their level of comfort
in the afterlife.
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One part of the celebration
also involves
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basically shouldering
the bones of the deceased,
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and the turning of the bones
will take place.
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Sometimes dancing with them.
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Usually the ceremony concludes
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when they re-entomb the remains
of the deceased.
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But they're not
cutting off the memory
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of this person from their lives.
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They will keep them present
in their lives,
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until the next time
they see them,
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which is periodically,
every five to seven years.
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And this is a way to really
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reinforce the connection
between the living and the dead.
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People will come to honor
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the lost ancestors, to be sure.
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But also, to work
on coming to terms
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with death that hovers
around our lives.
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Some cultures deal with it
more directly than others.
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And the value
of this tradition is
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that it's a different way
of thinking
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about how death ends a life, but
it does not end a relationship.
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So, it is lovely, even though
it's a little eerie.
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It reminds us
the dead aren't entirely gone.
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Bones.
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Our bodies contain 206 of them,
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and each one has been
meticulously studied
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and catalogued by scientists.
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And yet, for some reason,
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the sight
of our skeletal remains
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still sparks morbid fascination
and mystery.
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But why is that?
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The skeleton represents death,
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and the danger of death
and our mortality.
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This symbol is so universal
that it shows up
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in different
geographical locations,
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in areas that have
different religions.
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It also is a kind of warning,
"Danger here,"
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if there's a dangerous
location or a poison.
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"Don't drink this."
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And then, of course, it was
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on the flag of the pirates,
the Jolly Roger.
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A very quick
symbolic representation
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that, "Deal with us,
and you're dealing with death."
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Certainly, skeletons
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are an easy symbol that can be
reused in many, many cultures.
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The skeleton is spooky,
it's scary.
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On the other hand,
how we interact
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with actual skeletons
is enormously different.
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Skeletons are never mundane,
they are always important,
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a truly sacred object.
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Globally speaking,
one theme that you will see
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throughout all civilizations
is this idea
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that people should
have a proper funeral,
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or-or whatever funerary rite,
and that without that,
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the process
of leaving one's body,
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going into the spirit world
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uh, might be somehow disturbed.
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There are many belief systems
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that suggest the soul is
attached to the body,
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particularly the bones,
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and that as long as bones exist,
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some trace presence of soul,
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the soul of the person
that lived in that body
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will still remain
with the bones.
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Could it be true that our souls
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really remain in our bones
after we die?
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While that idea may sound
far-fetched,
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there are some people around
the world who believe it's true.
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In fact, it's often thought
that our souls lie
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within the most recognizable
part of the human body...
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The skull.
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People really
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latch onto skulls as being
the most important bone
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that gets left behind.
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Many cultures assume
that thought
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and consciousness exists
in the skull,
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and it's quite common,
then, to also assume
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that the soul resides
within that part of the body
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and to assume that it stays
there in the skull after death.
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In the past,
many different cultures believed
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that skulls were
incredibly important
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because they were seen as points
of contact with the ancestors.
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By holding them, um,
by connecting in mind with them,
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you could actually communicate,
you know, with your departed.
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So, they were often decorated,
plaster was put around them,
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they were given
cowrie shell eyes.
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And it was believed
that these would act
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as points of communication
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with whoever they represented
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on Earth
when they were still alive.
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Each year, on November 8,
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the indigenous Aymara people
gather for an ancient custom,
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a colorful procession known
as "Día de las Ñatitas,"
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or the Festival of Skulls.
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The Aymara indigenous people
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of Bolivia and Peru keep skulls
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in shrines in the home.
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They keep them
in places of honor
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in households and make
regular offerings to them.
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The skulls are thought
to bring harmony to the family.
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They're thought to protect
people from illness and death.
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And they also
ask them for advice.
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They ask them for support
or for help.
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And once a year,
they will take out the skull
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and parade them
in this festival.
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You'll
get 20,000 or 30,000 people
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down in the cemetery.
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It's really quite a spectacle
'cause you'll get people
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bringing five or more skulls
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down in big boxes,
and they dress them up.
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If it's cold in the morning,
they'll put on a hat.
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They'll put sunglasses on them.
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And there are certain offerings
that are pretty typical...
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Cigarettes, alcohol,
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little bits of money,
coca leaves, things like that.
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You know, and it's kind of
a "thank you" to make sure
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the dead will continue
to assist the living.
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These skulls are
perceived as a kind of portal
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between the realm
of the living and the dead.
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A site where the spirit
of the deceased can manifest.
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And it's through these skulls
that the living can communicate
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with the dead,
as if they are living
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and as if they are present,
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there and then, in those skulls.
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There's something about the way
that the skulls are presented
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that you feel like these
individuals are being venerated.
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We're a species that
communicates with our face.
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So, it shouldn't surprise us
that we really fixate
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on the skull, as being a way
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to honor and communicate
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with those ancestors.
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Do our bones
retain some spiritual essence
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of who we are?
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An energy that lingers
long after our flesh decays?
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Perhaps the answer can be found
by examining the earthly remains
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of certain holy individuals.
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Remains that have been carefully
preserved by the faithful
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for thousands of years.
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High atop a plateau
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overlooking the Allegheny River
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sits Saint Anthony's Chapel.
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Every day, Christians
from all over the world pass
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beneath its tall spires
and rounded arches
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to participate
in devotion and prayer.
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However, it's not the outside
of Saint Anthony's Chapel
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that makes it such
an inspiring destination,
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but rather, the inside.
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Because within
this church lies something
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that is quite unusual.
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A collection
of thousands of bones
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that once belonged
to Catholic Saints.
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When you come
here and you walk in and you see
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these beautiful gold
or brass reliquaries
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and just how vast
the collection is,
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which include anything
from part of an arm bone
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or a leg bone, to the skulls,
and the full skeletons,
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it really is just overwhelming.
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At Saint Anthony Chapel,
there are over 5,000 relics,
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and this collection is
second only to the Vatican.
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So, here at Saint Anthony's,
it really is a unique experience
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to come and see
the relics of saints.
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The relics of Saint Anthony,
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Saint Demetrius,
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Saint Stephana,
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and Saint Theodore,
among many others,
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are kept
in Saint Anthony's Chapel.
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St. Anthony's is quite a place.
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They have items... they come from
the four corners of the world,
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mostly the Holy Land,
and they're all protected there,
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and we can see these relics.
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You can see a little
of the holy there
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in a tooth, or a piece of skull,
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which is a relic,
a piece of a saint.
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A relic that you can actually
look at and be close to.
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That's like a little bit of God
right there in the chapel.
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Millions of
Christians consider holy relics
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to be sacred.
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And it's well-known
that the bones
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of many saints are preserved in
cathedrals throughout the world.
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But how did such a vast
collection of relics end up
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in a chapel in Pittsburgh?
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What makes the collection
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of relics here
particularly unique
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is the way in which
they were obtained
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by Father Mollinger,
who built the chapel.
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He obtained them
in the late 1880s
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because there were people
who just thought
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that the relics had no value,
and things were being discarded.
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Father Mollinger had a network
of people in Europe
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who were preserving the relics,
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and he would go
and retrieve them himself.
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We have pilgrimages come in at
least once a week if not more.
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And what a gift it is to be able
to welcome them
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and share this treasure
that we have here.
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Each and every
relic is enclosed with a wax seal,
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both to ensure its authenticity,
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and to protect it
from those who might wish
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to tamper with the holy remains.
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But why are holy relics
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so coveted and revered
in the first place?
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Why go to such
extraordinary lengths
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to preserve these ancient bones?
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All
throughout Europe, in churches,
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you'll see these
bejeweled skeletons
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adorned with gold, silver,
and expensive jewels,
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that really look like
they're works of art,
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but strange works of art.
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And the whole purpose
of this is because
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there is this idea,
especially in Christianity,
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that there is this inherent
spiritual power
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that infuses the remains,
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and that spirit has
to be honored.
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The bones of saints and martyrs
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in Christianity are
of exceptional value,
252
00:13:13,367 --> 00:13:15,284
and extraordinary power
253
00:13:15,377 --> 00:13:16,878
according
to Christian tradition.
254
00:13:17,037 --> 00:13:18,963
It was believed
255
00:13:19,122 --> 00:13:22,967
that when a saint was murdered
for their beliefs,
256
00:13:23,126 --> 00:13:27,713
that their bones became infused
with their sanctity,
257
00:13:27,798 --> 00:13:29,390
the essence of their grace.
258
00:13:29,550 --> 00:13:32,060
Holy relics,
259
00:13:32,144 --> 00:13:34,387
specifically skeletal relics,
260
00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,481
stem from this tradition
261
00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:41,394
that the bones themselves
possess power.
262
00:13:41,487 --> 00:13:43,321
And this comes from the Bible.
263
00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:47,984
You have a story in 2 Kings,
in the Hebrew Bible,
264
00:13:48,068 --> 00:13:51,412
in the Old Testament
of a burial procession.
265
00:13:51,497 --> 00:13:53,122
And they were doing a burial.
266
00:13:54,333 --> 00:13:56,000
And they saw
some invaders coming,
267
00:13:56,159 --> 00:13:58,578
and they just threw the body
on top of the bones
268
00:13:58,671 --> 00:14:00,830
of the prophet Elisha,
269
00:14:00,923 --> 00:14:04,425
which were already lying
in the ground.
270
00:14:04,585 --> 00:14:07,503
And as soon as the dead body
touched the bones of Elisha,
271
00:14:07,588 --> 00:14:10,006
they came back to life.
272
00:14:10,099 --> 00:14:12,433
So, obviously,
the bones of Elisha have
273
00:14:12,593 --> 00:14:14,102
some life-giving property.
274
00:14:14,261 --> 00:14:16,262
We also have stories
275
00:14:16,346 --> 00:14:18,264
from the very beginning
of Christianity
276
00:14:18,348 --> 00:14:21,434
about miracles related to
the bones of different saints.
277
00:14:21,518 --> 00:14:24,445
The bones of Saint Lazarus,
for example,
278
00:14:24,530 --> 00:14:28,691
who was raised from the dead
by Jesus, were highly coveted.
279
00:14:28,784 --> 00:14:31,027
And there are legends
in Provence
280
00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,621
that the bones of Lazarus
were brought in
281
00:14:33,706 --> 00:14:37,033
to people
who were sick and dying,
282
00:14:37,117 --> 00:14:39,619
and that utilizing the bones
in the presence
283
00:14:39,712 --> 00:14:42,046
of these people
with the right kind of prayers
284
00:14:42,205 --> 00:14:46,125
would then heal them
of this near fatal illness.
285
00:14:46,218 --> 00:14:49,220
There was
a huge, lucrative market
286
00:14:49,379 --> 00:14:52,381
in Medieval Europe
for saints' bones.
287
00:14:52,466 --> 00:14:55,226
Different cathedrals would be
vying with each other
288
00:14:55,311 --> 00:14:58,554
about who could have
the most important relics.
289
00:14:58,639 --> 00:15:01,223
So even today, if you go
to the cathedrals of Europe,
290
00:15:01,317 --> 00:15:02,817
any good cathedral
will have a few
291
00:15:02,902 --> 00:15:05,144
body parts in there of saints.
292
00:15:05,228 --> 00:15:09,741
Ancient relics that
can channel the power of God?
293
00:15:09,900 --> 00:15:12,577
For some, that idea is
a little hard to believe.
294
00:15:12,736 --> 00:15:15,163
In fact, there are
many skeptics who claim
295
00:15:15,322 --> 00:15:18,416
that supposed holy relics are
not even the actual bones
296
00:15:18,575 --> 00:15:21,252
of Christian saints.
297
00:15:21,337 --> 00:15:25,498
And yet, some of these relics
have been proven
298
00:15:25,591 --> 00:15:27,842
to be quite authentic.
299
00:15:27,927 --> 00:15:30,002
Of all the holy relics
that exist from the saints,
300
00:15:30,087 --> 00:15:35,350
perhaps the most fascinating
is the skull of Mary Magdalene.
301
00:15:35,509 --> 00:15:38,427
The relics and the skull
of Mary Magdalene have been kept
302
00:15:38,512 --> 00:15:41,189
on display in
the Basilica of Saint-Maximin
303
00:15:41,348 --> 00:15:44,192
in the southwest of France
since about the fourth century
304
00:15:44,351 --> 00:15:46,268
and have been dated
and carbon-dated
305
00:15:46,362 --> 00:15:48,187
and examined in a number
of different ways.
306
00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:51,107
So, we're pretty clear
that these are actually
307
00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:53,442
truly the relics
of Mary Magdalene.
308
00:15:53,535 --> 00:15:56,112
Now because Mary Magdalene
was present
309
00:15:56,196 --> 00:15:58,873
for the resurrection
of Jesus Christ,
310
00:15:58,958 --> 00:16:02,284
her relics were considered
to have even more power
311
00:16:02,369 --> 00:16:05,871
and importance
than perhaps any other saint.
312
00:16:05,965 --> 00:16:09,125
There was an understanding that
you could even potentially
313
00:16:09,218 --> 00:16:10,626
bring somebody back
from the dead
314
00:16:10,719 --> 00:16:12,387
with the relics
of Mary Magdalene.
315
00:16:12,471 --> 00:16:14,547
There have been miracles
recorded for centuries
316
00:16:14,631 --> 00:16:17,308
from people who were in the
presence of Magdalene's relics.
317
00:16:17,393 --> 00:16:21,062
And many people believe
that you could benefit
318
00:16:21,221 --> 00:16:23,472
from the extraordinary sanctity
319
00:16:23,557 --> 00:16:25,733
that was said to rest
in her bones.
320
00:16:25,892 --> 00:16:28,060
And people who go
321
00:16:28,145 --> 00:16:31,147
to revere her skull have
incredibly powerful
322
00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,325
emotional experiences with it.
323
00:16:34,410 --> 00:16:38,654
It really radiates a type
of grace and a spirituality.
324
00:16:38,747 --> 00:16:41,323
And people walk
away from it sobbing.
325
00:16:41,408 --> 00:16:43,251
People fall to their knees.
326
00:16:44,828 --> 00:16:48,256
I've heard many
stories of people who trust,
327
00:16:48,340 --> 00:16:51,417
with all their heart,
that the encounter they had
328
00:16:51,501 --> 00:16:53,511
with the relics of saints
329
00:16:53,670 --> 00:16:55,930
brought about healing
in their life.
330
00:16:56,015 --> 00:16:58,340
In fact,
over in the chapel museum,
331
00:16:58,434 --> 00:17:01,093
there are crutches
and canes and things
332
00:17:01,186 --> 00:17:04,180
that people were able to cast
aside because they were healed.
333
00:17:04,264 --> 00:17:08,693
If someone would doubt
whether this is real,
334
00:17:08,777 --> 00:17:10,603
whether this is authentic,
335
00:17:10,696 --> 00:17:13,781
I would just invite them
336
00:17:13,940 --> 00:17:18,703
to talk to someone whose life,
even in the slightest way,
337
00:17:18,787 --> 00:17:21,864
was made better
or made different
338
00:17:21,948 --> 00:17:25,460
because of their encounter with
the saints through holy relics.
339
00:17:26,620 --> 00:17:28,546
It's fascinating to think
340
00:17:28,630 --> 00:17:31,457
about how the bones of saints
could be imbued
341
00:17:31,550 --> 00:17:35,970
with divine power than can
actually bring us closer to God.
342
00:17:36,129 --> 00:17:38,130
But what happens
when the remains
343
00:17:38,215 --> 00:17:42,310
of the dead aren't treated
with such veneration and care?
344
00:17:42,469 --> 00:17:47,315
Perhaps the answer can be found
deep beneath the city of Paris
345
00:17:47,399 --> 00:17:50,392
in a labyrinth of tunnels
that has been called
346
00:17:50,477 --> 00:17:53,863
"The Empire of the Dead."
347
00:17:59,078 --> 00:18:01,412
More than two million
people live and work
348
00:18:01,497 --> 00:18:03,748
in this
41-square-mile metropolis.
349
00:18:03,907 --> 00:18:06,501
And although Paris is one
of the world's most
350
00:18:06,585 --> 00:18:08,836
instantly recognizable cities,
351
00:18:08,921 --> 00:18:12,173
just below the surface
of the City of Light
352
00:18:12,257 --> 00:18:14,917
lurks a mysterious darkness...
353
00:18:15,001 --> 00:18:18,346
A centuries-old labyrinth
of tunnels that contains
354
00:18:18,430 --> 00:18:21,507
the bones of millions
of bodies...
355
00:18:21,591 --> 00:18:24,060
The Paris Catacombs.
356
00:18:25,354 --> 00:18:27,263
When you walk in there,
357
00:18:27,347 --> 00:18:29,273
you will see bones stacked.
358
00:18:29,432 --> 00:18:31,100
They're everywhere.
359
00:18:31,193 --> 00:18:34,103
You'll have thigh bones
stacked up in places.
360
00:18:34,187 --> 00:18:36,355
You'll have skulls
stacked in other places.
361
00:18:36,439 --> 00:18:40,868
It's almost like a warehouse
of human bones.
362
00:18:42,362 --> 00:18:45,447
We don't know
which bone goes with which.
363
00:18:45,532 --> 00:18:48,033
Sometimes they're just
piled up, but sometimes
364
00:18:48,118 --> 00:18:50,536
it's almost a decoration,
where they put them.
365
00:18:50,629 --> 00:18:52,547
In some cases,
366
00:18:52,631 --> 00:18:56,551
they're more architecturally
or artistically placed.
367
00:18:56,635 --> 00:19:01,046
There are lined
along the walls, thousands
368
00:19:01,131 --> 00:19:04,633
of skeletons, some with bits
of clothing hanging off of them.
369
00:19:04,718 --> 00:19:07,219
It's a whole network
of tunnels really.
370
00:19:07,312 --> 00:19:10,231
There's about a mile of it
that's open to visitors,
371
00:19:10,315 --> 00:19:12,775
and you can see some
of these places.
372
00:19:14,653 --> 00:19:16,988
Over the main
entrance to the Paris Catacombs,
373
00:19:17,072 --> 00:19:19,991
there is carved a sign which,
when translated, reads,
374
00:19:20,075 --> 00:19:24,403
"Stop. This is
the Empire of the Dead."
375
00:19:24,487 --> 00:19:26,497
According to some estimates,
376
00:19:26,582 --> 00:19:28,073
the Paris Catacombs
hold the bones
377
00:19:28,158 --> 00:19:30,501
of more than six million people.
378
00:19:32,171 --> 00:19:35,247
But why did Parisians decide
to stack all these bones
379
00:19:35,332 --> 00:19:37,175
together in the first place?
380
00:19:37,259 --> 00:19:40,836
In Paris, you
had people being buried
381
00:19:40,929 --> 00:19:42,930
in a traditional sense
in a graveyard.
382
00:19:43,089 --> 00:19:45,600
But those are finite locations.
383
00:19:45,684 --> 00:19:49,762
And they started
running out of space.
384
00:19:49,855 --> 00:19:53,357
So, if that is the case,
after a certain amount of time,
385
00:19:53,516 --> 00:19:55,276
individuals are going
to get dug back up
386
00:19:55,360 --> 00:19:57,353
to create space for new burials,
387
00:19:57,446 --> 00:20:00,189
and you have to do something
with those bones.
388
00:20:00,282 --> 00:20:03,776
So, they started
to utilize catacombs as a way
389
00:20:03,869 --> 00:20:05,828
to relocate those bones.
390
00:20:24,464 --> 00:20:26,382
In the Parisian Catacombs,
391
00:20:26,475 --> 00:20:28,309
very often bones have
been rearranged,
392
00:20:28,468 --> 00:20:32,313
made into even sculptural
sort of forms.
393
00:20:32,472 --> 00:20:34,649
In many ways, this conflicts
with that Christian idea
394
00:20:34,733 --> 00:20:36,475
of keeping the body together.
395
00:20:36,559 --> 00:20:38,227
The one thing
396
00:20:38,311 --> 00:20:40,813
most funeral practices
have in the world
397
00:20:40,897 --> 00:20:43,649
is some kind of respect
for one's ancestor,
398
00:20:43,733 --> 00:20:47,569
or some kind of feeling that
this is one last act of charity
399
00:20:47,654 --> 00:20:50,915
that needs to be completed for
the soul to move on properly.
400
00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:53,834
On the other hand,
401
00:20:53,919 --> 00:20:56,412
the Paris Catacombs
was not a sacred site.
402
00:20:56,496 --> 00:20:58,422
They are going to get rid
of the old bones,
403
00:20:58,507 --> 00:21:00,347
and they don't want
to have this problem again.
404
00:21:00,425 --> 00:21:03,261
I would question whether the
Paris Catacombs are respectful
405
00:21:03,345 --> 00:21:05,680
to the dead or not.
406
00:21:05,764 --> 00:21:09,183
Did the builders
of the Paris Catacombs
407
00:21:09,342 --> 00:21:11,260
desecrate the souls of the dead
408
00:21:11,353 --> 00:21:13,929
by moving their bones
from cemeteries
409
00:21:14,022 --> 00:21:16,440
to the dark tunnels
beneath the city?
410
00:21:16,525 --> 00:21:19,110
There are many who believe
the answer is "yes,"
411
00:21:19,194 --> 00:21:22,780
and there's a local legend
which says that moving the bones
412
00:21:22,864 --> 00:21:25,274
of so many deceased people
413
00:21:25,358 --> 00:21:27,868
unleashed a dark
and malevolent force
414
00:21:27,953 --> 00:21:33,291
that still haunts the catacombs.
415
00:21:33,375 --> 00:21:37,119
It is believed that if you're
there in the hours of darkness,
416
00:21:37,203 --> 00:21:40,706
after midnight,
that you hear whispers
417
00:21:40,790 --> 00:21:44,885
coming from the spirits
of the skeletons,
418
00:21:45,045 --> 00:21:50,308
drawing you deeper and deeper
and deeper into the catacombs,
419
00:21:50,392 --> 00:21:52,810
where you get so lost,
you will never get out.
420
00:21:54,721 --> 00:21:57,973
The system of
tunnels is really elaborate.
421
00:21:58,066 --> 00:22:00,642
You can get turned around
down there and get lost.
422
00:22:00,727 --> 00:22:04,238
There's a legend
in the city of Paris
423
00:22:04,323 --> 00:22:06,398
that there was a doorman
at a hospital
424
00:22:06,491 --> 00:22:08,484
named Philibert Aspairt,
425
00:22:08,568 --> 00:22:11,495
and he went on an errand
down a staircase.
426
00:22:11,654 --> 00:22:13,558
One rumor is that he was going
to the wine cellar
427
00:22:13,582 --> 00:22:16,325
to get a certain cognac.
We don't know.
428
00:22:16,418 --> 00:22:20,996
But there were various points of
entry into the Paris Catacombs,
429
00:22:21,081 --> 00:22:24,416
and apparently, he went down
the wrong staircase.
430
00:22:24,501 --> 00:22:29,347
And he got himself in there
and turned around and lost,
431
00:22:29,431 --> 00:22:31,932
and never came out
432
00:22:32,017 --> 00:22:33,675
and died in there.
433
00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,520
And they didn't find his body
for 11 years.
434
00:22:36,679 --> 00:22:41,108
So, they buried him
right there in 1804.
435
00:23:03,715 --> 00:23:06,291
Paris
Catacombs really were designed
436
00:23:06,376 --> 00:23:09,387
to be a spectacle
and a tourist attraction.
437
00:23:09,471 --> 00:23:12,139
You know, they were not designed
to have a sacred function.
438
00:23:12,298 --> 00:23:14,550
You didn't go down
in there and pray.
439
00:23:14,634 --> 00:23:17,061
They designed it
to be a famous macabre site.
440
00:23:17,220 --> 00:23:20,648
And the whole point of it
was, like, you know,
441
00:23:20,732 --> 00:23:22,650
you look in this room,
and you cannot tell
442
00:23:22,809 --> 00:23:25,144
the king from the pauper.
443
00:23:25,228 --> 00:23:28,480
You cannot tell the wise man
from the fool.
444
00:23:28,565 --> 00:23:31,075
Death is this great leveler.
445
00:23:31,159 --> 00:23:34,319
Understanding that aspect
of death is an incentive
446
00:23:34,413 --> 00:23:36,580
to live right.
447
00:23:36,665 --> 00:23:40,242
If you think about it,
the Paris Catacombs are
448
00:23:40,326 --> 00:23:42,744
a pretty grim reminder
that we have no control
449
00:23:42,829 --> 00:23:45,339
over what happens
to our bones after we die.
450
00:23:45,498 --> 00:23:49,343
But there's another location,
high in the Himalayas,
451
00:23:49,428 --> 00:23:51,929
that is even more unsettling.
452
00:23:52,013 --> 00:23:55,349
A place where the bones of
hundreds of people can be found
453
00:23:55,434 --> 00:23:58,769
beneath the waters
of an icy lake.
454
00:24:05,435 --> 00:24:08,353
High atop
the Himalayan Mountains
455
00:24:08,447 --> 00:24:12,283
sits a small body of water
called "Roopkund Lake."
456
00:24:13,785 --> 00:24:17,705
For most of the year,
the lake's waters are frozen.
457
00:24:17,789 --> 00:24:19,781
But during the summer months,
458
00:24:19,866 --> 00:24:22,543
as the snow and ice
slowly melt away,
459
00:24:22,627 --> 00:24:25,963
a bizarre spectacle is revealed.
460
00:24:28,383 --> 00:24:31,635
Roopkund Lake is a place high up
461
00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:35,881
in the Himalayan Mountains
in the northern part of India.
462
00:24:35,974 --> 00:24:39,801
It's close to the second
highest mountain in India.
463
00:24:39,895 --> 00:24:42,897
And it is mostly unremarkable,
464
00:24:42,981 --> 00:24:46,734
other than the fact
that we have thousands
465
00:24:46,893 --> 00:24:49,653
of human bones scattered around
the shores of this lake,
466
00:24:49,738 --> 00:24:53,157
and that really is something
which is exceptional.
467
00:24:53,241 --> 00:24:56,911
Now, these bones have been known
about for a very long time.
468
00:24:56,995 --> 00:24:59,079
The site is visited by locals
469
00:24:59,164 --> 00:25:00,822
and by tourists and backpackers
470
00:25:00,907 --> 00:25:02,991
who have interacted
with the bones.
471
00:25:03,076 --> 00:25:07,246
As people have come by,
people have picked the bones up,
472
00:25:07,330 --> 00:25:09,498
they've stacked them into piles,
473
00:25:09,582 --> 00:25:12,584
and in many cases,
walked off with them.
474
00:25:12,677 --> 00:25:16,430
So, this location is
an interesting example of
475
00:25:16,515 --> 00:25:19,091
how humans interact with bones.
476
00:25:19,175 --> 00:25:21,685
There are still a lot
of unanswered questions.
477
00:25:21,770 --> 00:25:24,179
Did all those individuals
die there,
478
00:25:24,264 --> 00:25:26,106
or were they taken there
from somewhere else?
479
00:25:26,191 --> 00:25:28,850
Is it possible that in the past,
there were ceremonies
480
00:25:28,935 --> 00:25:31,445
about disposing of bodies
in this location
481
00:25:31,604 --> 00:25:33,531
that have been lost to time?
482
00:25:35,692 --> 00:25:37,776
I know that we have the remains
483
00:25:37,869 --> 00:25:41,113
from something like
600 to 800 human individuals.
484
00:25:41,197 --> 00:25:45,951
These bones are from adults,
485
00:25:46,044 --> 00:25:48,629
and for many years,
there was a common assumption
486
00:25:48,713 --> 00:25:51,131
that all of these individuals
had all died
487
00:25:51,216 --> 00:25:54,626
as a result of one
catastrophic event.
488
00:25:54,711 --> 00:25:58,380
Most mass graves
that we see around the world
489
00:25:58,473 --> 00:26:00,975
are the results of one event.
490
00:26:01,059 --> 00:26:03,894
A mass slaughter,
a mass catastrophe.
491
00:26:03,979 --> 00:26:06,564
In the case of Roopkund Lake,
you see something different.
492
00:26:06,648 --> 00:26:09,975
Looking at the bones, people
have been able to figure out
493
00:26:10,068 --> 00:26:12,028
that there are several
different population groups
494
00:26:12,070 --> 00:26:14,238
that are located in this lake,
495
00:26:14,322 --> 00:26:18,242
separated by hundreds,
possibly even 1,000 years.
496
00:26:18,401 --> 00:26:20,235
So clearly,
it was not one event.
497
00:26:20,320 --> 00:26:22,746
Clearly, there was
a series of events
498
00:26:22,831 --> 00:26:25,407
around this lake
that led to people being here.
499
00:26:25,491 --> 00:26:28,410
Experts have
had trouble explaining
500
00:26:28,503 --> 00:26:30,337
why so many groups
of people journeyed
501
00:26:30,422 --> 00:26:32,831
to this lake at different times,
502
00:26:32,915 --> 00:26:36,176
over the course
of centuries, and died.
503
00:26:36,261 --> 00:26:39,421
It's a fascinating story,
and recently,
504
00:26:39,505 --> 00:26:43,091
the collection of bones
has become even more mysterious.
505
00:26:43,176 --> 00:26:48,096
In 2019, scientists from
Harvard University conducted
506
00:26:48,181 --> 00:26:50,941
a DNA study and found
that some of the people
507
00:26:51,100 --> 00:26:54,862
who died at this lake
came from far away.
508
00:26:54,946 --> 00:26:58,857
Very far away.
509
00:26:58,941 --> 00:27:03,195
Most
people are from South Asia,
510
00:27:03,288 --> 00:27:06,790
but one significant population
group seems to have been
511
00:27:06,875 --> 00:27:11,295
from Greece, specifically
from an island of Crete.
512
00:27:11,454 --> 00:27:14,048
So one big question is,
what was a bunch of
513
00:27:14,132 --> 00:27:15,791
people from the island of Crete
514
00:27:15,875 --> 00:27:20,137
doing up in northern India
even to begin with?
515
00:27:20,221 --> 00:27:23,557
Let alone, how they ended up
at the bottom of Roopkund Lake?
516
00:27:23,716 --> 00:27:27,886
The only thing which
really makes any kind of sense
517
00:27:27,970 --> 00:27:29,281
is the idea that they were
on a pilgrimage
518
00:27:29,305 --> 00:27:30,814
through the mountains.
519
00:27:30,899 --> 00:27:33,642
Now, this is documented
and known in recent times.
520
00:27:33,726 --> 00:27:35,736
There is a pilgrimage
which is made
521
00:27:35,820 --> 00:27:37,404
by people following
the Hindu faith,
522
00:27:37,489 --> 00:27:39,731
who will travel
through these mountains.
523
00:27:39,824 --> 00:27:44,161
Is it possible
the bones in Roopkund Lake
524
00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:46,154
are the remains
of unlucky travelers
525
00:27:46,239 --> 00:27:49,667
on pilgrimage
through the Himalayas?
526
00:27:49,751 --> 00:27:54,004
And if so,
what caused their demise?
527
00:27:54,089 --> 00:27:57,749
Some experts believe a clue
may be found in a local legend
528
00:27:57,834 --> 00:28:02,421
involving a Hindu goddess
named "Nanda Devi."
529
00:28:02,514 --> 00:28:05,015
Nanda Devi
is a mountain goddess
530
00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:09,261
that oversees the second
tallest mountain in India.
531
00:28:09,354 --> 00:28:12,523
There are shrines built to her
throughout the mountain.
532
00:28:14,183 --> 00:28:16,685
So there is this legend
of a king and queen
533
00:28:16,778 --> 00:28:18,770
and, uh, their many attendants
534
00:28:18,855 --> 00:28:20,698
making their way up the mountain
535
00:28:20,782 --> 00:28:24,526
to one of these shrines.
536
00:28:24,610 --> 00:28:27,612
They were being
boisterous and festive
537
00:28:27,697 --> 00:28:31,125
as they approached the shrine.
538
00:28:31,209 --> 00:28:33,535
And Nanda Devi
was insulted by that.
539
00:28:33,619 --> 00:28:35,287
She felt that they weren't
540
00:28:35,371 --> 00:28:37,214
respectful enough
of this sacred space.
541
00:28:37,298 --> 00:28:42,878
So, out of anger,
she called on these iron balls
542
00:28:42,962 --> 00:28:47,215
to rain from the sky
onto the king and queen
543
00:28:47,300 --> 00:28:49,968
and their entire party.
544
00:28:50,061 --> 00:28:52,721
Now, this is believed
to be the explanation
545
00:28:52,805 --> 00:28:56,558
for at least some
of the human remains
546
00:28:56,642 --> 00:29:00,145
that were found at the bottom
of this lake on the mountain.
547
00:29:00,238 --> 00:29:03,574
Many of them died from
blunt force trauma to the skull.
548
00:29:05,151 --> 00:29:07,271
This is an
area without a lot of tree cover,
549
00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,404
without a lot of shelter,
and it's also an area
550
00:29:09,489 --> 00:29:11,990
that is known
for intense hailstorms.
551
00:29:12,074 --> 00:29:16,077
Hailstorms with hail
as big as your fist.
552
00:29:16,162 --> 00:29:17,890
And you can imagine
if you're out in a caravan
553
00:29:17,914 --> 00:29:19,150
or a pilgrimage,
and all of a sudden,
554
00:29:19,174 --> 00:29:23,510
this massive hail
comes down in this area,
555
00:29:23,595 --> 00:29:26,013
that could take out
people regularly
556
00:29:26,097 --> 00:29:28,599
over a thousand years'
time period.
557
00:29:29,768 --> 00:29:31,435
It's plausible.
558
00:29:31,519 --> 00:29:33,238
But what's also clear
is that when people started
559
00:29:33,262 --> 00:29:35,272
seeing all
these skeletons together,
560
00:29:35,431 --> 00:29:37,191
all sorts of stories
were developed
561
00:29:37,275 --> 00:29:40,101
as to who these people were
and why they were there.
562
00:29:40,195 --> 00:29:41,770
And I think this reminds us
563
00:29:41,854 --> 00:29:44,022
that if people see
something anomalous,
564
00:29:44,106 --> 00:29:46,033
you seek an explanation.
565
00:29:46,117 --> 00:29:49,110
If you see a whole bunch
of skeletons in one place,
566
00:29:49,195 --> 00:29:51,613
people are going
to try to explain it.
567
00:29:51,697 --> 00:29:53,540
Whether or not
the people who traveled
568
00:29:53,625 --> 00:29:56,877
to Skeletons Lake were
the victims of an angry goddess,
569
00:29:57,036 --> 00:29:59,788
or just freak hailstorms,
570
00:29:59,872 --> 00:30:02,549
perhaps the real lesson
of Skeletons Lake is
571
00:30:02,634 --> 00:30:06,878
that our bones tell stories
even after we're dead.
572
00:30:06,971 --> 00:30:10,057
And that's certainly the case
with an ancient skull
573
00:30:10,141 --> 00:30:12,884
that was recently discovered.
574
00:30:12,977 --> 00:30:17,731
A skull that calls into question
the origins of humanity.
575
00:30:23,905 --> 00:30:28,483
Paleontologists from
China's Hebei GEO University
576
00:30:28,576 --> 00:30:30,828
analyze an astonishing discovery
577
00:30:30,912 --> 00:30:33,071
from the bottom of
an ancient well.
578
00:30:35,241 --> 00:30:39,837
Their study is of the largest
human skull ever found.
579
00:30:39,921 --> 00:30:44,165
The extraordinary find makes
headlines around the world
580
00:30:44,250 --> 00:30:48,420
and sparks intense debate
about this ancient skull,
581
00:30:48,513 --> 00:30:51,849
which scientists have
nicknamed the "Dragon Man."
582
00:30:53,259 --> 00:30:58,430
The Dragon Man skull is arguably
the most mysterious cranium
583
00:30:58,514 --> 00:31:00,607
that's ever been discovered
in this world.
584
00:31:00,766 --> 00:31:03,610
It is the largest ever.
585
00:31:03,695 --> 00:31:09,774
It's actually around nine inches
long by six inches across.
586
00:31:09,859 --> 00:31:15,622
It was discovered in 1933
by a Chinese workman.
587
00:31:15,707 --> 00:31:20,294
And because at the time,
that part of China was occupied
588
00:31:20,378 --> 00:31:23,380
by the Japanese, he felt
that the best thing to do was
589
00:31:23,464 --> 00:31:26,633
to hide it away in a well.
590
00:31:26,718 --> 00:31:34,224
And it was left there until 2018
when he revealed the location
591
00:31:34,309 --> 00:31:35,976
to his grandson.
592
00:31:36,060 --> 00:31:39,471
The grandson went and dug it up,
593
00:31:39,564 --> 00:31:42,983
and it was still there
in absolute perfect condition.
594
00:31:43,067 --> 00:31:47,154
And he gave it
to a local university,
595
00:31:47,238 --> 00:31:49,397
and it obviously came
to the attention
596
00:31:49,482 --> 00:31:52,159
of the scientific community.
597
00:31:52,243 --> 00:31:53,994
The Dragon Man skull
is interesting because
598
00:31:54,078 --> 00:31:57,080
the cranial shape is shaped
like an American football
599
00:31:57,165 --> 00:32:00,325
being very elongated,
600
00:32:00,409 --> 00:32:02,169
whereas a modern human skull,
Homo sapiens,
601
00:32:02,328 --> 00:32:04,755
would be more rounded in shape.
602
00:32:04,839 --> 00:32:06,673
The skull is
generally very robust,
603
00:32:06,758 --> 00:32:09,843
including a very
pronounced brow ridge.
604
00:32:09,928 --> 00:32:12,837
The eye sockets on Dragon Man
are also very large
605
00:32:12,931 --> 00:32:16,257
and more square in shape
versus a modern human's
606
00:32:16,351 --> 00:32:18,852
which are smaller
and more rounded.
607
00:32:18,937 --> 00:32:21,680
Based off of what we know
about the skull,
608
00:32:21,773 --> 00:32:24,274
it probably dates
to around 200,000 years ago.
609
00:32:24,359 --> 00:32:27,018
Dragon Man is such
a new discovery
610
00:32:27,111 --> 00:32:29,521
that lots of ideas are coming
out of the field
611
00:32:29,605 --> 00:32:33,525
about exactly what did
this population look like
612
00:32:33,609 --> 00:32:35,702
and how do they relate to us?
613
00:32:35,861 --> 00:32:37,696
The Dragon Man
614
00:32:37,789 --> 00:32:39,781
is bringing us face to face
for the first time
615
00:32:39,874 --> 00:32:43,043
with a new Asian version
of human,
616
00:32:43,127 --> 00:32:45,212
which very likely
we also interbred with,
617
00:32:45,296 --> 00:32:50,050
and whose DNA we probably
also carry in us today as well.
618
00:32:50,134 --> 00:32:52,627
It's one of these finds which
occasionally comes along
619
00:32:52,712 --> 00:32:56,056
which is really changing what
we know about our human story.
620
00:32:56,215 --> 00:33:00,143
Experts agree that
the discovery of the Dragon Man
621
00:33:00,302 --> 00:33:04,556
redefines our understanding
of humanity's past.
622
00:33:04,640 --> 00:33:06,641
And there are some researchers
who believe
623
00:33:06,734 --> 00:33:08,810
that further investigation
of the skull
624
00:33:08,894 --> 00:33:11,312
will reveal shocking truths
625
00:33:11,397 --> 00:33:15,483
about this previously
unknown cousin of man.
626
00:33:15,576 --> 00:33:18,153
There is every indication
627
00:33:18,237 --> 00:33:21,915
that the Dragon Man may well
have been not only large
628
00:33:22,074 --> 00:33:24,501
in size but also
of great height.
629
00:33:24,585 --> 00:33:28,246
Possibly as much as seven
to seven and a half feet tall.
630
00:33:28,330 --> 00:33:31,082
And if you want
to imagine them, just think
631
00:33:31,175 --> 00:33:34,428
that in the past
you'd have had the small guys
632
00:33:34,512 --> 00:33:36,930
that would have been
the Neanderthals,
633
00:33:37,015 --> 00:33:40,091
who were about five
to five and a half feet tall,
634
00:33:40,176 --> 00:33:42,269
you'd have had our own
modern human ancestors
635
00:33:42,428 --> 00:33:44,187
that were around six feet tall,
636
00:33:44,346 --> 00:33:46,440
and you'd have had
the much bigger,
637
00:33:46,599 --> 00:33:49,026
much stronger Dragon Man.
638
00:33:50,611 --> 00:33:53,855
With the discovery
of the Dragon Man skull,
639
00:33:53,948 --> 00:33:57,192
we might have
the first real evidence
640
00:33:57,285 --> 00:33:59,703
that giants once
walked the Earth.
641
00:33:59,787 --> 00:34:02,122
Is it possible
642
00:34:02,206 --> 00:34:05,366
that the Dragon Man was
actually a giant?
643
00:34:05,460 --> 00:34:08,211
Perhaps clues can be found
by examining
644
00:34:08,296 --> 00:34:10,296
the numerous historical accounts
of people claiming
645
00:34:10,372 --> 00:34:14,801
to have encountered
ancient giants.
646
00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:17,796
Giants are a stock character of
folklore throughout the world.
647
00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:20,974
For example,
the Bible clearly states
648
00:34:21,059 --> 00:34:22,684
that there were giants
on the Earth.
649
00:34:24,979 --> 00:34:26,540
In North
America, the Native American cultures
650
00:34:26,564 --> 00:34:29,232
have many
of these giant stories.
651
00:34:29,317 --> 00:34:31,318
For example,
in Mi'kmaq tradition,
652
00:34:31,477 --> 00:34:35,739
we find stories of giants that
would hunt people and eat them.
653
00:34:35,823 --> 00:34:39,576
We have similar stories in
the Algonquian-speaking Natives
654
00:34:39,660 --> 00:34:41,912
of North America as well,
and traditions,
655
00:34:42,071 --> 00:34:44,081
even up to relatively
recent time,
656
00:34:44,165 --> 00:34:45,824
would honor
these ancient giants.
657
00:34:45,908 --> 00:34:47,667
And this is something
that's just prevalent
658
00:34:47,752 --> 00:34:49,994
in different parts of the world.
659
00:34:50,079 --> 00:34:51,996
There are many skeptics
660
00:34:52,090 --> 00:34:54,082
who write off tales of giants
as nothing more
661
00:34:54,175 --> 00:34:57,177
than exaggeration or fantasy.
662
00:34:57,261 --> 00:34:59,513
But there are others who insist
663
00:34:59,597 --> 00:35:02,516
that giants were,
in fact, quite real.
664
00:35:02,675 --> 00:35:07,104
And as evidence, they point
to accounts of large human bones
665
00:35:07,188 --> 00:35:10,598
being discovered
throughout North America.
666
00:35:10,691 --> 00:35:13,443
During the mid-1800s,
667
00:35:13,602 --> 00:35:16,696
the Smithsonian Institution
had an edict
668
00:35:16,781 --> 00:35:18,750
where they would collect
all the different skeletons
669
00:35:18,774 --> 00:35:21,442
of Native American
cultures from mounds,
670
00:35:21,527 --> 00:35:25,455
from caves, from all over
the country, basically.
671
00:35:25,540 --> 00:35:29,450
And they started finding
these remarkable skeletons
672
00:35:29,544 --> 00:35:30,961
and discoveries that suggested
673
00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:32,963
there was a very advanced
race of giants
674
00:35:33,047 --> 00:35:35,039
living in North America.
675
00:35:35,124 --> 00:35:39,460
And even in their
Smithsonian annual reports
676
00:35:39,545 --> 00:35:41,296
in the late 1800s, specifically
677
00:35:41,389 --> 00:35:43,390
the fifth and the twelfth
annual reports,
678
00:35:43,549 --> 00:35:47,227
they documented between seven
and eight-foot-tall skeletons
679
00:35:47,386 --> 00:35:50,939
that their Smithsonian employees
actually dug up themselves.
680
00:35:52,057 --> 00:35:54,401
And yet, in 1910 onwards,
681
00:35:54,485 --> 00:35:58,563
when Ales Hrdlicka became
the director of the Smithsonian,
682
00:35:58,647 --> 00:36:00,490
he put a news report out saying
683
00:36:00,575 --> 00:36:03,827
giants are no more,
and tried to delete this idea
684
00:36:03,911 --> 00:36:07,071
that giants ever existed,
even though
685
00:36:07,165 --> 00:36:11,251
they discovered some themselves
in the late 1800s.
686
00:36:11,335 --> 00:36:14,171
And so,
there's a definite mystery here
687
00:36:14,330 --> 00:36:16,256
when it comes
to trying to find evidence
688
00:36:16,340 --> 00:36:20,251
of these giant skeletons
of North America.
689
00:36:20,344 --> 00:36:23,013
Hundreds,
perhaps even thousands,
690
00:36:23,172 --> 00:36:26,674
of these giant skeletons
have been unearthed,
691
00:36:26,759 --> 00:36:28,768
but the problem with this is
692
00:36:28,853 --> 00:36:31,521
that all of them
today have been lost.
693
00:36:31,606 --> 00:36:34,766
Everything that was inside
the Smithsonian Institute had
694
00:36:34,859 --> 00:36:38,019
to be given back,
or they were just destroyed.
695
00:36:38,112 --> 00:36:41,189
And so, the importance
of the discovery
696
00:36:41,282 --> 00:36:44,367
of the Dragon Man skull
is in the fact
697
00:36:44,526 --> 00:36:48,196
that this archaic human
that once existed
698
00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:51,625
in this region of China
has been brought back
699
00:36:51,709 --> 00:36:57,047
into reality and is being
studied by the scientists today.
700
00:36:57,206 --> 00:36:58,442
You can discover
so much information
701
00:36:58,466 --> 00:37:00,050
from just a single bone.
702
00:37:00,209 --> 00:37:02,460
It opens up a whole world
of opportunity
703
00:37:02,544 --> 00:37:03,970
for what we can learn about
704
00:37:04,055 --> 00:37:06,890
who humans are
and where we came from.
705
00:37:06,974 --> 00:37:10,468
Is the Dragon Man really
the skull of an ancient giant?
706
00:37:10,552 --> 00:37:12,896
It seems hard to believe.
707
00:37:12,980 --> 00:37:14,973
But just imagine
what it would mean
708
00:37:15,066 --> 00:37:18,485
if we could actually prove that
giants once roamed the Earth.
709
00:37:18,644 --> 00:37:21,321
Something to ponder
710
00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:25,408
while we investigate yet another
collection of ancient bones.
711
00:37:25,493 --> 00:37:31,081
Bones that might have the power
to unleash a deadly curse.
712
00:37:38,422 --> 00:37:41,332
While making their way
across a snowy mountain range
713
00:37:41,425 --> 00:37:43,927
spanning the border
of Italy and Austria,
714
00:37:44,086 --> 00:37:47,922
two German hikers
make a gruesome discovery.
715
00:37:48,007 --> 00:37:51,935
The body of a man,
half-frozen in ice.
716
00:37:53,429 --> 00:37:57,765
When scientists later remove the
skeleton from the icy ground,
717
00:37:57,850 --> 00:38:01,102
they come
to a shocking realization.
718
00:38:01,195 --> 00:38:04,272
The man,
who they nicknamed "Otzi,"
719
00:38:04,365 --> 00:38:07,617
lived over 5,000 years ago.
720
00:38:09,862 --> 00:38:12,539
This is a
really spectacular find,
721
00:38:12,623 --> 00:38:14,365
because of the level
of preservation here.
722
00:38:14,450 --> 00:38:17,210
We have the full body preserved,
723
00:38:17,369 --> 00:38:19,379
including all of his skin,
724
00:38:19,538 --> 00:38:21,658
all of the internal organs,
and all of the possessions
725
00:38:21,716 --> 00:38:23,291
that he was carrying
at the time.
726
00:38:23,375 --> 00:38:25,885
And this, therefore,
is giving us unique insights
727
00:38:26,045 --> 00:38:28,046
into this individual
728
00:38:28,130 --> 00:38:30,724
and also what life
was like when he lived.
729
00:38:30,808 --> 00:38:33,727
The recovery of Otzi's skeleton
730
00:38:33,886 --> 00:38:36,146
made headlines worldwide,
731
00:38:36,230 --> 00:38:39,891
and his bones became
an object of intense fascination
732
00:38:39,975 --> 00:38:41,976
and scientific study.
733
00:38:42,061 --> 00:38:45,572
But then, unexpectedly,
734
00:38:45,656 --> 00:38:49,826
a series of bizarre deaths
took place in the years
735
00:38:49,985 --> 00:38:53,079
after Otzi's bones
were recovered.
736
00:38:53,164 --> 00:38:56,074
There's something very
mysterious going on here
737
00:38:56,158 --> 00:38:59,660
with this Otzi Iceman
since he was discovered.
738
00:38:59,745 --> 00:39:03,506
In the early '90s,
and going into the 2000s,
739
00:39:03,591 --> 00:39:06,000
people have died
who were involved
740
00:39:06,085 --> 00:39:09,679
in the discovery
or the presentation of Otzi.
741
00:39:09,838 --> 00:39:12,423
A gentleman called Rainer Henn
had the privilege
742
00:39:12,516 --> 00:39:14,351
of placing Otzi's body
743
00:39:14,435 --> 00:39:16,844
into a body bag
at the discovery.
744
00:39:16,929 --> 00:39:19,597
He died in a car crash.
745
00:39:19,681 --> 00:39:23,693
Kurt Fritz, who was involved
in the transportation of Otzi
746
00:39:23,778 --> 00:39:27,605
from one place to another,
died in an avalanche.
747
00:39:27,689 --> 00:39:30,283
Helmut Simon,
one of the discoverers of Otzi,
748
00:39:30,368 --> 00:39:33,111
had fallen 300 feet
to his death.
749
00:39:33,195 --> 00:39:35,446
Several other people
have died, as well.
750
00:39:35,539 --> 00:39:39,450
All told,
seven people connected
751
00:39:39,535 --> 00:39:42,545
to the discovery of Otzi died.
752
00:39:42,630 --> 00:39:46,132
Were their untimely deaths
simply a coincidence?
753
00:39:46,217 --> 00:39:47,708
Or is it possible
754
00:39:47,793 --> 00:39:50,387
that the deaths were
actually the consequence
755
00:39:50,471 --> 00:39:54,307
of disturbing Otzi's bones,
which had remained untouched
756
00:39:54,466 --> 00:39:56,467
for thousands of years?
757
00:39:56,552 --> 00:39:58,228
Some people believe
758
00:39:58,387 --> 00:40:00,563
there may even be
a curse associated
759
00:40:00,722 --> 00:40:03,817
with this man buried in the ice.
760
00:40:03,901 --> 00:40:07,562
Otzi had these
very strange tattoos,
761
00:40:07,646 --> 00:40:10,648
all these spirals
and different designs.
762
00:40:10,741 --> 00:40:13,743
If he was some kind
of shaman or sorcerer,
763
00:40:13,828 --> 00:40:18,081
did he place a curse
over his body to protect him
764
00:40:18,240 --> 00:40:20,575
from future generations
digging him up?
765
00:40:20,659 --> 00:40:22,827
It's known
that it took four full days
766
00:40:22,911 --> 00:40:25,246
to excavate him from the ice.
767
00:40:25,330 --> 00:40:28,332
So there's an element
of desecration of a grave.
768
00:40:28,417 --> 00:40:32,420
There are many
sort of curse stories and curse rumors
769
00:40:32,504 --> 00:40:34,088
that follow the realm
of archaeology,
770
00:40:34,173 --> 00:40:36,266
because archaeology
is often involving
771
00:40:36,425 --> 00:40:38,342
digging people out
of their graves.
772
00:40:38,427 --> 00:40:40,344
Is that disturbing their peace?
773
00:40:40,429 --> 00:40:42,847
Not allowing them
to rest in peace?
774
00:40:42,931 --> 00:40:47,694
What we can see is that this
does reflect a popular belief
775
00:40:47,778 --> 00:40:50,864
that maybe there is
something wrong
776
00:40:50,948 --> 00:40:54,025
with handling a body
in this mundane sense,
777
00:40:54,109 --> 00:40:56,536
as if it's an object to study.
778
00:40:56,620 --> 00:41:00,531
When a body
decomposes, what's left?
779
00:41:00,616 --> 00:41:02,533
You have the skeleton.
780
00:41:02,618 --> 00:41:07,788
If there's a real spiritual
essence that's within the body,
781
00:41:07,873 --> 00:41:10,458
it wouldn't fade away
with the body.
782
00:41:10,542 --> 00:41:12,877
It wouldn't fade away
with the flesh.
783
00:41:12,970 --> 00:41:15,963
It would remain
with the bones themselves.
784
00:41:16,048 --> 00:41:18,725
Obviously, life is finite.
785
00:41:18,884 --> 00:41:22,220
We're only gonna be here
for a certain amount of time.
786
00:41:22,304 --> 00:41:27,400
So the big question remains,
when we leave
787
00:41:27,559 --> 00:41:34,565
and people view our remains,
hopefully they honor us.
788
00:41:34,658 --> 00:41:37,827
Whether it's a sacred skull
or a holy relic
789
00:41:37,912 --> 00:41:41,331
or a cursed skeleton, bones
have a way of making us believe
790
00:41:41,490 --> 00:41:44,408
that after we die,
some part of us lives on.
791
00:41:44,493 --> 00:41:46,327
But is that really true,
792
00:41:46,411 --> 00:41:49,506
or is it just
wishful thinking on our part?
793
00:41:49,665 --> 00:41:53,501
Well, that my friends,
is a fascinating question,
794
00:41:53,594 --> 00:41:56,671
but it's one that,
while we're still alive,
795
00:41:56,764 --> 00:42:00,266
will remain... unexplained.
796
00:42:00,290 --> 00:42:02,290
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796
00:42:03,305 --> 00:43:03,768
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