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00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:12,074
Advertise your product or brand here
contact www.OpenSubtitles.org today
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00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,861
Arguing with my
11-year-old is like stepping
3
00:00:28,896 --> 00:00:31,497
Into an alternate
dimension of reality.
4
00:00:31,532 --> 00:00:34,299
You have to deal with these
urban legends and myths that
5
00:00:34,335 --> 00:00:37,536
Get passed around school
or over video game chats.
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00:00:37,571 --> 00:00:38,882
And you have to
take 'em serious,
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00:00:38,906 --> 00:00:42,207
Because he can find a tiktok
video that proves what he's
8
00:00:42,243 --> 00:00:46,578
Saying is right and I'm
wrong again about everything.
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00:00:47,548 --> 00:00:49,459
The internet was
supposed to save us,
10
00:00:49,483 --> 00:00:53,052
With information, all of human
knowledge is in your pocket,
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00:00:53,087 --> 00:00:54,531
But it's turned
into something else,
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00:00:54,555 --> 00:00:56,522
Something we don't
even understand.
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00:00:56,557 --> 00:00:59,124
I'm gonna prove once
and for all the earth is flat.
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00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:03,362
Did anyone predict flat
earthing would make a comeback?
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00:01:03,397 --> 00:01:06,365
On the internet you can find
whatever soothes your soul.
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00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:09,068
You can make the
world whatever you want.
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00:01:09,103 --> 00:01:10,814
If you wanna live
in a world of magic,
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No problem.
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If you wanna live in a world
where aliens walk amongst us,
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You got it.
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And if you wanna
talk about atlantis,
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The fabled island of unlimited
wealth that sank beneath the
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00:01:21,182 --> 00:01:26,151
Sea 12,000 years ago
because of poseidon's curse,
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Well there's a chat
room with your name on it.
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00:01:30,925 --> 00:01:34,927
But atlantis is different than
slenderman and flat earthing,
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What gives atlantis power is
that plato wrote about it in
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His famous dialogs,
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The foundation of
western philosophy.
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So it's not just modern
day conspiracy theorists or
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Amateur sleuths.
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00:01:50,611 --> 00:01:52,778
There's
so much evidence of atlantis.
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It's scientists, priests,
mathematicians and academics.
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Oh look at this.
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00:01:58,853 --> 00:02:00,552
Another clue.
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00:02:00,588 --> 00:02:03,956
They've all found the idea of
a real atlantis fascinating.
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Isn't that amazing?
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Where is it? What's the spot?
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00:02:07,428 --> 00:02:10,129
And the search for this
perfect island has persisted
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00:02:10,164 --> 00:02:14,466
Since plato wrote
about it 2,500 years ago.
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It's considered a red zone
by governments around the world.
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It's gonna be
very tricky to get a
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00:02:22,977 --> 00:02:26,111
Team of archaeologists in there.
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It's arguably
the most famous curse
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In the history of the world.
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It does weird things to people.
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And examining the
intersection point between
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Myth and science is
what this show is all about.
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So hell yeah, bro,
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00:02:42,496 --> 00:02:44,429
Let's go look for atlantis.
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The island
paradise called atlantis
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Washed away into the
ocean 12,000 years ago.
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This mythical place
has been ingrained in
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00:03:07,021 --> 00:03:09,655
Popular culture for generations.
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00:03:09,990 --> 00:03:13,959
But just like aquaman,
there's an origin story.
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Plato described in
great detail atlantis.
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The landscape of the islands
and the mountains and the sea.
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And for a long time people
have thought it was here in
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The azores.
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We're going down the internet
wormhole following plato's clues
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And taking cues from
those who've searched before us.
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Is there any evidence that
atlantis was a real place?
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Many people on the internet
are excited about what they
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00:03:46,193 --> 00:03:49,628
Say is evidence of an ancient
sea-faring culture lying on
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The ocean floor,
right here in the azores.
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They believe this could be
where atlantis washed away
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Into the sea.
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00:04:09,183 --> 00:04:10,260
We're gonna do
some diving on some
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Ancient sea-faring
civilizations.
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This is where they would anchor.
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So we're gonna go
see what we see.
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Geographically, some
believe the azores matches
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With plato's description.
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He said you go through
the pillars of hercules,
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Which is the gateway from
the med into the atlantic,
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Or what we now call
the strait of gibraltar.
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But then out in the
atlantic somewhere lies the
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Island of atlantis.
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So, there were a lot
of old anchors down there.
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Some as maybe old
as 16th, 15th century.
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But nothing was old enough
to be in the atlantian era.
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So we'll keep looking.
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00:06:02,763 --> 00:06:05,430
In plato's texts,
timaeus and critias,
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Written in the 4th century b.C.
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He describes an island of
limitless wealth that was
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Built by the
greek god, poseidon.
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Now one of the clear
signifiers of atlantis was
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That it was built in these
great concentric circles.
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There were three giant rings
of land and three rings of water
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And in the middle of
all that was a temple that had
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00:06:27,221 --> 00:06:30,322
Walls of silver and gold
and a pillar inscribed with
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Commands from poseidon.
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Now on the pillar were mighty
curses to be invoked on those
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Who went against
the will of the gods.
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So when the atlantians
eventually fell from grace,
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Zeus and poseidon were
rightfully pissed and they
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Caused the entire island to
be swallowed up by earthquakes
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And floods and it
sank into the sea.
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00:06:56,250 --> 00:06:58,683
So atlantis existed
as a myth, you know,
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00:06:58,719 --> 00:07:04,055
As an allegory, but plato
insists that atlantis is real,
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00:07:04,091 --> 00:07:07,659
Repeatedly and then
it was 10,000 years ago
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00:07:07,694 --> 00:07:10,228
Or 9,000 years ago.
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That's a long time for
accuracy if you're plato.
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00:07:14,701 --> 00:07:18,770
I've gotta say he's not doin'
a lot of hydrocarbon dating.
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00:07:18,806 --> 00:07:22,040
I'm skeptical of plato's
accuracy on that assessment.
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00:07:22,075 --> 00:07:23,942
But he insists it's real.
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Now that's the question that's
caused a lot of debate in the last,
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I dunno, 2,500 years.
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Most scholars think that plato
invented atlantis as a way to
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00:07:35,756 --> 00:07:38,356
Teach people about morality.
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But others believe that
the island could have been
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Inspired by an actual place
or several different places.
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I'm gonna investigate
whether there's any scientific
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Evidence that
atlantis truly existed,
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Because if there
is it could be found.
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Nuno ribiero is an
archaeologist and he thinks
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00:08:22,970 --> 00:08:26,638
These piles of rocks found on
pico island in the azores are
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Evidence of a lost
sea-faring culture.
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00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:56,334
So there's things
inside of these pyramids?
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Yes.
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00:09:09,016 --> 00:09:11,983
Oh right, like
a uterus or a womb.
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00:09:12,019 --> 00:09:12,884
Yes.
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00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,020
- The womb of a woman, right.
- Yes.
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00:09:28,468 --> 00:09:32,037
So maybe like a special
place for rituals or doing a
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Ceremony of some kind
or religion or whatever.
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This is that old?
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That's, that's crazy.
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00:09:39,613 --> 00:09:42,347
- It's fantastic.
- Very fantastic, yeah.
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00:09:44,618 --> 00:09:46,885
But when it comes to
ground-breaking theories,
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00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,455
By definition you
court controversy.
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00:09:50,657 --> 00:09:53,992
And nuno believes that the
portuguese government maybe
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00:09:54,027 --> 00:09:56,428
Seeking to
discredit his findings.
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00:10:01,234 --> 00:10:02,534
So you have these artefacts and
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00:10:02,569 --> 00:10:04,402
- You're gonna test them?
- Yeah.
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00:10:12,446 --> 00:10:14,646
Why does he think
the government resists?
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00:10:16,416 --> 00:10:18,950
Nationalism.
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00:10:18,986 --> 00:10:21,230
Nuno claims that he initially
had support from the local
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00:10:21,254 --> 00:10:24,222
Authorities to
research these structures,
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00:10:24,257 --> 00:10:28,326
But then the government in lisbon
intervened and shut him down.
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00:10:29,162 --> 00:10:33,264
So, in your opinion, how
old are these pyramids?
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00:10:44,778 --> 00:10:46,978
What sort of things
did they find in there?
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00:10:51,117 --> 00:10:53,157
The arrowheads,
what were they made of?
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00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:54,486
Stone? Iron.
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00:10:54,521 --> 00:10:55,632
Iron? Yes.
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00:10:55,656 --> 00:10:56,733
And would they find iron here?
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00:10:56,757 --> 00:10:57,989
No, no.
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00:10:58,025 --> 00:11:00,392
There's no iron. So
they came from somewhere.
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00:11:00,427 --> 00:11:02,227
Yes.
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00:11:03,664 --> 00:11:06,798
Probably that shows
signs of a sea-faring people,
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00:11:06,833 --> 00:11:08,144
- Came out of the med.
- Yes.
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00:11:08,168 --> 00:11:10,046
Through the pillars of hercules.
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00:11:10,070 --> 00:11:11,936
Yeah.
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00:11:13,907 --> 00:11:15,573
Mm-hm.
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00:11:15,609 --> 00:11:17,676
Starting to sound
like atlantis to me.
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00:11:28,922 --> 00:11:31,489
Plato's utopian
society called atlantis,
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00:11:31,525 --> 00:11:35,060
Is said to have been lost to
the world 12,000 years ago.
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00:11:35,095 --> 00:11:39,164
Now is it possible that this
mythical city may actually be real?
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00:11:39,199 --> 00:11:41,310
Well an internet search for
the answers may point you in
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00:11:41,334 --> 00:11:44,002
The direction of the azores,
an archipelago in the
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00:11:44,037 --> 00:11:46,504
Mid-atlantic,
controlled by portugal.
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00:11:46,540 --> 00:11:50,175
But there, mysterious ruins
have sparked a heated debate.
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00:11:51,378 --> 00:11:55,847
The portuguese government did an
official archaeological investigation
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00:11:55,882 --> 00:11:56,993
And they concluded there was
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00:11:57,017 --> 00:12:01,152
No evidence of settlements
older than 600 years.
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00:12:01,655 --> 00:12:04,389
But one archaeologist,
nuno ribiero thinks someone
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00:12:04,424 --> 00:12:07,459
Else inhabited the
azores long before that.
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00:12:09,663 --> 00:12:11,074
He's brought me
to another island,
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00:12:11,098 --> 00:12:13,631
Just east of the
structures we saw on pico,
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00:12:13,667 --> 00:12:15,467
To try and prove it.
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00:12:27,047 --> 00:12:29,848
Oh wow, wow!
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00:12:29,883 --> 00:12:32,550
You see the, the stones.
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00:12:32,586 --> 00:12:34,753
- The arch?
- On the top, yes.
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00:12:34,788 --> 00:12:40,058
Yeah, this is 100% for
sure pre-roman this structure.
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00:12:43,296 --> 00:12:46,331
They are
bronze age or maybe old.
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00:12:46,366 --> 00:12:48,533
I think it's more old.
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00:12:49,269 --> 00:12:52,737
So this structure proves
that there were people here
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00:12:52,773 --> 00:12:57,041
Before the portuguese came.
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00:12:57,077 --> 00:12:58,910
Yes.
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00:13:06,353 --> 00:13:09,387
Although not everyone
agrees with nuno's theory,
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00:13:09,422 --> 00:13:12,056
If there was in fact a
mysterious people that lived
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00:13:12,092 --> 00:13:16,561
Here millennia ago, is there
any evidence that they could
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00:13:16,596 --> 00:13:19,397
Be connected to the
story of atlantis?
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00:13:24,337 --> 00:13:26,404
There. Oh yes.
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00:13:28,275 --> 00:13:33,077
What is this?
What is it the symbol for?
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00:13:47,627 --> 00:13:50,728
It's a symbol that
some people think is atlantis?
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00:13:50,764 --> 00:13:52,597
Yes.
186
00:14:02,709 --> 00:14:06,211
Yeah, I mean potentially
there could be a whole,
187
00:14:06,246 --> 00:14:09,347
You know, civilization
that was in these islands.
188
00:14:09,382 --> 00:14:11,216
Yes.
189
00:14:22,963 --> 00:14:24,996
Oh really?
190
00:14:25,031 --> 00:14:26,865
Wow.
191
00:14:30,570 --> 00:14:35,173
While the theory of a lost
civilization here is pretty compelling,
192
00:14:35,208 --> 00:14:38,676
There are a lot of
competing theories out there
193
00:14:38,712 --> 00:14:41,479
And we can't just
focus on the azores.
194
00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:49,420
We found a lot of
interesting stuff here,
195
00:14:49,456 --> 00:14:53,291
But really if we're gonna
test this idea of atlantis,
196
00:14:53,326 --> 00:14:56,527
We have to do a more
critical breakdown of
197
00:14:56,563 --> 00:14:58,930
What plato wrote about atlantis.
198
00:15:05,739 --> 00:15:11,409
And luckily for us,
we found a guy in morocco who has done a
199
00:15:11,444 --> 00:15:16,648
Ton of statistical research about
plato's writings about atlantis.
200
00:15:16,683 --> 00:15:21,452
So we're gonna go to morocco
and we'll have the real clues.
201
00:15:24,357 --> 00:15:26,391
Hey guys, pack up,
we're goin' to africa.
202
00:15:29,062 --> 00:15:30,895
Yeah, now.
203
00:15:44,344 --> 00:15:47,178
Over 2,000 years ago,
plato wrote about a mythical
204
00:15:47,213 --> 00:15:50,448
Island that sank beneath the
waves and people have been
205
00:15:50,483 --> 00:15:52,984
Obsessed with
finding it ever since.
206
00:15:53,820 --> 00:15:55,320
Is their search futile or
207
00:15:55,355 --> 00:15:58,256
Could the fabled
city actually be real?
208
00:15:58,291 --> 00:16:01,259
Following clues from a few of
my chat room buddies and also
209
00:16:01,294 --> 00:16:04,095
A real lead from
a german scientist,
210
00:16:04,130 --> 00:16:08,499
Sebastian hubner,
we're goin' to morocco.
211
00:16:28,188 --> 00:16:30,154
It's really refreshing
and pleasant.
212
00:16:48,141 --> 00:16:49,919
When plato wrote about atlantis,
213
00:16:49,943 --> 00:16:52,477
He spent an inordinate
amount of words describing the
214
00:16:52,512 --> 00:16:55,480
Geographical features
of the fabled island.
215
00:16:56,549 --> 00:16:58,383
Some call them clues.
216
00:16:59,486 --> 00:17:01,152
Sebastian.
217
00:17:01,187 --> 00:17:03,521
Sebastian hubner's late brother,
michael,
218
00:17:03,556 --> 00:17:06,624
Developed a sophisticated
computer program
219
00:17:06,659 --> 00:17:09,427
That attempted to find
atlantis by using an algorithm
220
00:17:09,462 --> 00:17:11,562
To analyze plato's text.
221
00:17:11,865 --> 00:17:14,198
Sebastian stepped in to help.
222
00:17:16,703 --> 00:17:18,669
Thinking atlantis
is a real place.
223
00:17:27,047 --> 00:17:28,880
Right.
224
00:17:39,325 --> 00:17:40,258
Yeah.
225
00:17:40,293 --> 00:17:42,427
My brother developed a quite
226
00:17:42,462 --> 00:17:46,164
Sophisticated method to
analyze the text of plato,
227
00:17:46,199 --> 00:17:51,669
In order to generate location
hypothesis of that country
228
00:17:51,704 --> 00:17:53,704
That plato had in mind.
229
00:17:53,740 --> 00:17:57,141
So tell me how the
analysis of the text worked?
230
00:17:57,177 --> 00:18:00,411
You can extract
from the text all kinds of
231
00:18:00,447 --> 00:18:05,149
Features and put them into
an algorithm that maps these
232
00:18:05,185 --> 00:18:09,720
Features onto the surface
of the earth and then you can
233
00:18:09,756 --> 00:18:13,858
Compute a probability of
the location of that country
234
00:18:13,893 --> 00:18:15,560
Plato had in mind.
235
00:18:15,595 --> 00:18:17,673
Do you wanna show me the
program and show me how it worked,
236
00:18:17,697 --> 00:18:20,198
As best you can?
237
00:18:20,233 --> 00:18:25,002
You have now a list of about 50,
51 of these features.
238
00:18:25,038 --> 00:18:26,270
Oh wow.
239
00:18:26,306 --> 00:18:30,775
In plato's text he gives 51 very
specific details about atlantis.
240
00:18:30,810 --> 00:18:35,780
Large mountains to the north,
elephants are nearby.
241
00:18:36,116 --> 00:18:38,950
So what michael hubner did
is try to assign a yes or no to
242
00:18:38,985 --> 00:18:41,919
Each feature in relation to
whether it could have existed
243
00:18:41,955 --> 00:18:44,188
At a modern day location.
244
00:18:44,224 --> 00:18:46,368
This is with the assumption
that plato is basing atlantis
245
00:18:46,392 --> 00:18:49,327
On one place and
not multiple locations.
246
00:18:49,362 --> 00:18:52,897
For example, is it likely that
someone saw elephants on the
247
00:18:52,932 --> 00:18:55,766
North western coast of africa?
248
00:18:55,969 --> 00:18:58,970
Yeah. In the azores?
249
00:18:59,005 --> 00:19:02,306
Mm, not likely.
250
00:19:02,342 --> 00:19:05,176
When you
have a look at these features,
251
00:19:05,211 --> 00:19:07,612
The areas where it's
already highlighted,
252
00:19:07,647 --> 00:19:09,080
It's here in green.
253
00:19:09,115 --> 00:19:11,260
Yeah, okay,
so what if you click all these now?
254
00:19:11,284 --> 00:19:14,819
What happens if you just
hit every single one on there?
255
00:19:19,759 --> 00:19:23,427
Now it highlights this
particular region and the region
256
00:19:23,463 --> 00:19:27,598
Measures 200 by
200 kilometers roughly.
257
00:19:28,501 --> 00:19:32,170
It cannot be elsewhere
because I have here a certain
258
00:19:32,205 --> 00:19:35,139
Probability that it
is here and it's about
259
00:19:35,175 --> 00:19:38,676
One to ten million
that it is by chance.
260
00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:42,091
So you're killin' me here.
261
00:19:42,115 --> 00:19:44,582
Where is it? What's the spot?
262
00:19:44,617 --> 00:19:45,761
This is like a hitchcock film,
263
00:19:45,785 --> 00:19:47,885
You're gonna draw
this out aren't you?
264
00:19:48,821 --> 00:19:54,325
Yeah, the name is
called souss-massa region in morocco.
265
00:19:55,895 --> 00:19:57,039
Well so when you went there,
266
00:19:57,063 --> 00:19:58,696
What did you find?
267
00:19:59,866 --> 00:20:02,200
Plato said plans was constructed
268
00:20:02,235 --> 00:20:05,836
With red, black and white rocks.
269
00:20:07,473 --> 00:20:11,542
It's actually the first thing that
you see when you go there.
270
00:20:16,916 --> 00:20:19,183
So do you think
you've found the city that
271
00:20:19,219 --> 00:20:21,452
Plato was thinking of?
272
00:20:24,857 --> 00:20:28,192
Yes. It's the
only place where it can be.
273
00:20:31,798 --> 00:20:33,598
Woo, alright.
274
00:20:33,633 --> 00:20:35,466
Here we are.
275
00:20:35,501 --> 00:20:37,335
Wow.
276
00:20:37,370 --> 00:20:39,203
Interesting, very interesting.
277
00:20:52,619 --> 00:20:54,597
A german computer
specialist created a
278
00:20:54,621 --> 00:20:57,321
Probability map
using plato's text.
279
00:20:57,357 --> 00:20:58,867
His goal,
with the help of his brother,
280
00:20:58,891 --> 00:21:02,793
Was to find the most likely
location where atlantis would be.
281
00:21:02,829 --> 00:21:04,440
According to hubner's algorithm,
282
00:21:04,464 --> 00:21:10,434
There's a 99.9% chance that
atlantis is located in an area
283
00:21:10,470 --> 00:21:13,504
Of morocco known as
the souss-massa plain.
284
00:21:14,841 --> 00:21:18,643
Now that's if it's real and
admittedly that's a pretty big if.
285
00:21:18,678 --> 00:21:21,646
When I told my buddy I was
heading to morocco to look for atlantis,
286
00:21:21,681 --> 00:21:23,114
You know, he made fun of me.
287
00:21:23,149 --> 00:21:25,294
But then after thinking
about it for about 12 seconds,
288
00:21:25,318 --> 00:21:28,085
He said, "wait,
I wanna come, man."
289
00:21:29,989 --> 00:21:31,722
Woo, alright.
290
00:21:31,758 --> 00:21:33,758
Wow. So this is it?
291
00:21:33,793 --> 00:21:35,593
Yeah, look at this.
292
00:21:35,628 --> 00:21:37,628
Eric drummond flew into meet me.
293
00:21:37,664 --> 00:21:40,765
He's a world class geologist
and he'd always wanted to see
294
00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,900
The souss-massa plain.
295
00:21:43,002 --> 00:21:44,580
And since we're
on nat geo's dime,
296
00:21:44,604 --> 00:21:47,638
I said, "dude,
have an extra slow gin fizz on the flight,
297
00:21:47,674 --> 00:21:50,341
We gotta stay loose,
we gotta stay flexible if we're gonna
298
00:21:50,376 --> 00:21:53,044
Find evidence that matches
plato's accounts of what
299
00:21:53,079 --> 00:21:54,645
Happened to atlantis."
300
00:21:54,681 --> 00:21:57,682
You nice these beds that
are comin' up from the ocean
301
00:21:57,717 --> 00:22:00,151
Are steeply
dipping to the south.
302
00:22:00,186 --> 00:22:01,285
Right.
303
00:22:01,321 --> 00:22:03,587
And they're cutting
into the formation there.
304
00:22:03,623 --> 00:22:04,722
Okay.
305
00:22:04,757 --> 00:22:06,435
That's what's called
an angular unconformity.
306
00:22:06,459 --> 00:22:07,591
Okay.
307
00:22:07,627 --> 00:22:10,194
Okay,
so there was a change in deposition there.
308
00:22:10,229 --> 00:22:11,562
And so somethin' big happened.
309
00:22:11,597 --> 00:22:14,365
There was a big tectonic
event that tilted these beds.
310
00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:18,336
With some giant incredible
apocryphal seismic activity.
311
00:22:18,371 --> 00:22:21,839
In plato's account of
the destruction of atlantis,
312
00:22:21,874 --> 00:22:24,208
After violent
earthquakes and floods,
313
00:22:24,243 --> 00:22:28,079
The entire island sank
into the depths of the sea.
314
00:22:28,448 --> 00:22:30,559
The other interesting
feature is that you have
315
00:22:30,583 --> 00:22:32,817
Resistant beds which
are forming the ridges.
316
00:22:32,852 --> 00:22:33,784
Okay.
317
00:22:33,820 --> 00:22:35,764
And then you've
got some softer beds and
318
00:22:35,788 --> 00:22:38,456
That's forming caves in there.
319
00:22:38,491 --> 00:22:41,959
It looks like they may be
enhanced by human activity.
320
00:22:43,396 --> 00:22:48,833
Plato wrote that atlantis
had a complement of 1,200 ships.
321
00:22:49,102 --> 00:22:51,335
They would have had
to dock somewhere.
322
00:22:51,371 --> 00:22:53,571
You can look at
the surrounding point,
323
00:22:53,606 --> 00:22:55,484
This is about the only
beach around here.
324
00:22:55,508 --> 00:22:57,586
So if you were out fishing
and you were in trouble,
325
00:22:57,610 --> 00:23:00,845
You'd land your boat here,
you'd pull it up as far as you could,
326
00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:02,191
You'd seek shelter
under the caves.
327
00:23:02,215 --> 00:23:05,149
So if atlantis had a sea-faring,
328
00:23:05,184 --> 00:23:07,685
You know,
navy they might have been based here?
329
00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:09,420
Yeah.
330
00:23:11,290 --> 00:23:15,693
One of the signifiers for
atlantis was red, white and black rock.
331
00:23:15,728 --> 00:23:16,794
Mm-hm.
332
00:23:16,829 --> 00:23:18,374
And I see some of that here.
333
00:23:18,398 --> 00:23:20,231
Yes.
334
00:23:21,401 --> 00:23:24,001
The description of
black red and white,
335
00:23:24,036 --> 00:23:27,538
Your black rocks,
out in the sea there,
336
00:23:27,573 --> 00:23:29,807
Okay, your red, right above us,
337
00:23:29,842 --> 00:23:31,409
This little arm, right.
338
00:23:31,444 --> 00:23:34,078
And then you see a little
pinch out of white rock.
339
00:23:34,113 --> 00:23:35,724
Right, way up there,
that's the white.
340
00:23:35,748 --> 00:23:37,548
Yeah.
341
00:23:37,717 --> 00:23:39,261
Well that's one of
the things we're looking for.
342
00:23:39,285 --> 00:23:41,118
Another clue. Cool.
343
00:23:55,601 --> 00:23:59,270
The limestone cliffs that form
the coastline are breathtaking.
344
00:23:59,305 --> 00:24:01,583
It's crazy to think that these
rocks are made entirely of
345
00:24:01,607 --> 00:24:04,275
Things that were once alive,
things that died and sank to
346
00:24:04,310 --> 00:24:07,778
The bottom of the ocean,
only to return as rock.
347
00:24:11,784 --> 00:24:15,052
And then there's the people who
met their end on the open water.
348
00:24:15,087 --> 00:24:18,956
The great explorers who left
their old world in pursuit of treasure,
349
00:24:18,991 --> 00:24:22,893
Pursuit of fame,
pursuit of the unknown.
350
00:24:23,129 --> 00:24:26,430
As I ride on this bus,
further into the souss-massa plain
351
00:24:26,466 --> 00:24:29,733
I find myself thinking about
just the lengths that men go
352
00:24:29,769 --> 00:24:33,671
To venture into the unknown,
just for the sake of it?
353
00:24:36,709 --> 00:24:39,443
Mankind's insatiable curiosity,
354
00:24:39,479 --> 00:24:43,681
It's part of us,
it's part of what led us to unprecedented
355
00:24:43,716 --> 00:24:45,749
Evolutionary success.
356
00:24:45,785 --> 00:24:48,419
But it can also lead
to our own destruction.
357
00:24:48,454 --> 00:24:51,155
And so here I am,
on the other side of the world and
358
00:24:51,190 --> 00:24:54,592
My wife and my son and
dog are goin' on without me,
359
00:24:54,627 --> 00:24:56,004
I'm searching for
something that at first
360
00:24:56,028 --> 00:24:58,095
I didn't even believe existed.
361
00:24:58,130 --> 00:25:02,233
Is that weird or is it
just human nature?
362
00:25:02,568 --> 00:25:04,602
It's weird, right?
363
00:25:05,671 --> 00:25:07,171
Now here's a serious question.
364
00:25:07,206 --> 00:25:08,305
Okay.
365
00:25:08,341 --> 00:25:10,385
Have you ever had
gold fever or like seen it?
366
00:25:10,409 --> 00:25:13,344
Oh yeah,
I've had bad cases of gold fever.
367
00:25:13,379 --> 00:25:14,556
What does it do to you?
368
00:25:14,580 --> 00:25:16,124
It does weird things to people.
369
00:25:16,148 --> 00:25:18,048
For me, it just possesses me.
370
00:25:18,084 --> 00:25:20,384
It does really strange
things to people.
371
00:25:20,419 --> 00:25:23,020
And you put the gold
ahead of human life.
372
00:25:23,055 --> 00:25:23,921
Human life, yeah.
373
00:25:23,956 --> 00:25:25,122
Or your own life?
374
00:25:25,157 --> 00:25:27,202
Or your own life
or others around you.
375
00:25:27,226 --> 00:25:30,828
Yeah,
it's like we're built to like seek things,
376
00:25:30,863 --> 00:25:32,129
Not have things.
377
00:25:32,164 --> 00:25:33,509
You want what
you have to pursue,
378
00:25:33,533 --> 00:25:35,666
You don't want what you have.
379
00:25:35,701 --> 00:25:39,036
Yeah, I feel like there's a
part of the atlantis myth that
380
00:25:39,071 --> 00:25:42,172
Has a treasure
hunter element to it.
381
00:25:42,208 --> 00:25:43,741
Yeah.
382
00:25:43,776 --> 00:25:47,244
There's like an
intersection of greed and myth
383
00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:50,147
And fantasy and,
you know, it's sort of wild.
384
00:25:51,584 --> 00:25:54,852
Now after spending a couple of
months in the atlantis wormhole,
385
00:25:54,887 --> 00:25:57,521
Reading plato,
pondering the ancients,
386
00:25:57,557 --> 00:26:00,524
Now part of me wants
atlantis to be real.
387
00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:02,593
Now maybe it's just
contrariness or maybe I'm
388
00:26:02,628 --> 00:26:05,195
Being seduced by the legend.
389
00:26:12,872 --> 00:26:14,983
But now as we arrive a
few miles inland from the
390
00:26:15,007 --> 00:26:18,576
Rocky cliffs of the
souss-massa coast,
391
00:26:19,178 --> 00:26:21,123
We find drastically
different terrain.
392
00:26:21,147 --> 00:26:24,481
It's disappointing for a
hopeful atlantis seeker.
393
00:26:26,586 --> 00:26:29,753
This guy,
sebastian hubner and his brother, michael
394
00:26:29,789 --> 00:26:33,223
Did this high-end statistical
probability map and,
395
00:26:33,259 --> 00:26:36,293
You know, the numbers say
atlantis was in this area up
396
00:26:36,329 --> 00:26:40,030
In these mountains, they're
somewhere in the fog in front of us.
397
00:26:40,232 --> 00:26:43,434
My question is,
atlantis was surrounded by water,
398
00:26:43,469 --> 00:26:44,735
I don't see any water.
399
00:26:44,770 --> 00:26:47,304
Was there water in
this area at some point?
400
00:26:47,340 --> 00:26:50,474
To verify that,
we can drill down into the soil.
401
00:26:50,509 --> 00:26:52,588
Okay. And
take some soil samples.
402
00:26:52,612 --> 00:26:54,411
Okay.
403
00:26:55,348 --> 00:26:57,548
Look,
look here comes our drill rig.
404
00:27:01,153 --> 00:27:03,153
Yeah,
let's go back out of the way.
405
00:27:04,523 --> 00:27:06,435
Number one,
we're looking for organic material.
406
00:27:06,459 --> 00:27:08,099
Okay. A reddish-brown soil.
407
00:27:08,127 --> 00:27:11,428
Number two,
if we intersect an old stream channel.
408
00:27:11,464 --> 00:27:12,796
Okay.
409
00:27:12,832 --> 00:27:15,277
The third thing we'd be
lookin' for is a thing called caliche,
410
00:27:15,301 --> 00:27:17,267
- It's a natural cement. - Okay.
411
00:27:17,303 --> 00:27:21,005
And it forms as a result of
fluctuating groundwater levels.
412
00:27:24,844 --> 00:27:27,311
Eric estimates that the
surface layer from the days of
413
00:27:27,346 --> 00:27:31,248
Atlantis would now be buried
5 feet to 10 feet underground.
414
00:27:31,283 --> 00:27:33,984
By digging down to that layer
we can get a clear picture of
415
00:27:34,020 --> 00:27:37,621
What this area might have
looked like 12,000 years ago.
416
00:27:38,557 --> 00:27:41,625
For the hubner brothers'
theory to have any credibility,
417
00:27:41,661 --> 00:27:43,505
We're gonna need to
see some signs that this
418
00:27:43,529 --> 00:27:46,330
Desert was abundant
with fresh water,
419
00:27:46,365 --> 00:27:50,267
Because plato wrote of fertile
plains around the entire island.
420
00:27:50,302 --> 00:27:53,570
So what I'm doing here is
just makin' a boring log out of this.
421
00:27:53,606 --> 00:27:55,550
Maybe we should
make an exciting log out of it.
422
00:27:55,574 --> 00:27:58,242
One that's really good.
423
00:27:58,344 --> 00:28:00,344
You're getting
the geology humor.
424
00:28:07,420 --> 00:28:10,187
The drilling rig
has reached 8 feet down.
425
00:28:10,222 --> 00:28:12,401
This is the layer of soil
dating back an estimated
426
00:28:12,425 --> 00:28:16,960
12,000 years to the time
plato said atlantis existed.
427
00:28:17,897 --> 00:28:20,964
But eric knows we need to
find a rock-solid layer of dirt to
428
00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,367
Show that there was
water here at that time.
429
00:28:48,294 --> 00:28:51,261
Now we're getting
to a light material.
430
00:28:52,298 --> 00:28:54,042
So what did we reach here?
431
00:28:54,066 --> 00:28:55,933
What do we think this is?
432
00:28:55,968 --> 00:28:58,013
We found the caliche
layer I was talking about.
433
00:28:58,037 --> 00:28:59,203
Right.
434
00:28:59,238 --> 00:29:02,106
And that's the cemented
calcium carbonate zone and
435
00:29:02,141 --> 00:29:05,042
That's caused by
fluctuating ground water back
436
00:29:05,077 --> 00:29:08,445
Around 5,000 to
12,000 years ago.
437
00:29:09,582 --> 00:29:12,015
So there was enough
ground water that it would
438
00:29:12,051 --> 00:29:13,317
Have meant a green sahara.
439
00:29:13,352 --> 00:29:14,763
Absolutely.
Which would have meant
440
00:29:14,787 --> 00:29:17,821
Trees and grass, lakes, streams.
441
00:29:17,857 --> 00:29:18,857
Exactly.
442
00:29:18,891 --> 00:29:21,859
Anything 5,000
years ago and deeper,
443
00:29:21,894 --> 00:29:24,094
This was a green verdant valley.
444
00:29:24,130 --> 00:29:26,196
Yes.
445
00:29:26,232 --> 00:29:28,098
We found another clue.
446
00:29:37,710 --> 00:29:39,710
Used some of the core
447
00:29:39,745 --> 00:29:42,479
Samples we took in the
souss-massa plain in morocco
448
00:29:42,515 --> 00:29:44,848
To repaint what this region
might have looked like during
449
00:29:44,884 --> 00:29:47,317
The time plato
says atlantis existed,
450
00:29:47,353 --> 00:29:49,853
12,000 years ago.
451
00:29:51,157 --> 00:29:54,458
So picture the sahara desert,
but totally transformed and
452
00:29:54,493 --> 00:29:56,627
Packed with hippos
and elephants,
453
00:29:56,662 --> 00:29:58,206
Giraffes at the watering holes,
454
00:29:58,230 --> 00:30:00,430
Grazing on lush grass.
455
00:30:00,466 --> 00:30:03,000
This is the green sahara theory.
456
00:30:11,677 --> 00:30:13,088
Hey sam,
I wanna show you something here.
457
00:30:13,112 --> 00:30:14,211
Okay.
458
00:30:14,246 --> 00:30:17,014
Eric and I take the map of
the green sahara as it was
459
00:30:17,049 --> 00:30:21,351
12,000 years ago and lay it
over the present-day satellite map.
460
00:30:21,387 --> 00:30:23,987
This entire area would
have had fertile plains as
461
00:30:24,023 --> 00:30:26,323
Atlantis was said to have.
462
00:30:26,358 --> 00:30:29,793
Combining that with the
hubner brothers' probability map,
463
00:30:29,829 --> 00:30:32,262
We can now cruise along
the western desert and look for
464
00:30:32,298 --> 00:30:34,698
Anything that stands out.
465
00:30:34,733 --> 00:30:37,334
Take a look
at this structure here.
466
00:30:39,405 --> 00:30:40,571
Okay right here,
467
00:30:40,639 --> 00:30:42,317
- We seen it come
out. - Oh yeah.
468
00:30:42,341 --> 00:30:45,809
And eric immediately navigates
us to a geological structure
469
00:30:45,845 --> 00:30:48,879
That definitely does just that.
470
00:30:48,914 --> 00:30:50,047
Isn't that amazing.
471
00:30:50,082 --> 00:30:51,882
What is that?
472
00:30:53,619 --> 00:30:56,420
It's called
the richat structure.
473
00:30:56,455 --> 00:30:59,489
That thing is about
25 miles in diameter.
474
00:30:59,525 --> 00:31:01,036
How did you hear about it?
475
00:31:01,060 --> 00:31:02,337
I done a little research on it.
476
00:31:02,361 --> 00:31:03,260
Wow.
477
00:31:03,295 --> 00:31:05,429
The formation
was actually formed by a
478
00:31:05,464 --> 00:31:10,200
Volcanic plug underneath it,
pushing upwards on strata and it
479
00:31:10,236 --> 00:31:12,936
Formed these concentric
circles where the ridges are
480
00:31:12,972 --> 00:31:16,940
The more resistant rock and
the valleys are the less resistant.
481
00:31:17,610 --> 00:31:21,612
Right, so we've got actually,
we've got two rings of earth and possibly
482
00:31:21,647 --> 00:31:24,481
Three rings that could
have been filled with water.
483
00:31:24,516 --> 00:31:26,550
We have evidence of that too.
484
00:31:26,585 --> 00:31:28,886
- See this white
area here? - Mm-hm.
485
00:31:28,921 --> 00:31:30,532
That's what's
called a playa lake.
486
00:31:30,556 --> 00:31:32,167
A playa lake. Mm-hm.
487
00:31:32,191 --> 00:31:34,491
So it's the remains
of an ancient lake bed.
488
00:31:34,526 --> 00:31:35,626
Okay.
489
00:31:35,661 --> 00:31:36,593
And it's known that there were
490
00:31:36,629 --> 00:31:38,662
Freshwater fossils there found.
491
00:31:38,697 --> 00:31:39,774
So there was freshwater?
492
00:31:39,798 --> 00:31:41,176
There was
freshwater within that.
493
00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:42,310
There was a lake there,
494
00:31:42,334 --> 00:31:46,703
A very different africa
than is there today.
495
00:31:46,739 --> 00:31:51,708
Wow, so there was three rings
of water and two rings of earth.
496
00:31:52,544 --> 00:31:54,978
I mean, look at these rings.
497
00:31:55,014 --> 00:31:57,214
This is pretty sweet.
498
00:31:57,249 --> 00:31:59,027
And so it's considerably inland.
499
00:31:59,051 --> 00:32:00,350
Yeah.
500
00:32:00,386 --> 00:32:03,353
It would have been
inundated by any sea level rise
501
00:32:03,389 --> 00:32:06,156
Because it's too far inland
and it's too high in elevation.
502
00:32:06,191 --> 00:32:09,726
- But, maybe we could have
an inland sea there. - Mm-hm.
503
00:32:09,762 --> 00:32:11,862
25 miles is pretty damn big.
504
00:32:11,897 --> 00:32:13,697
Yeah.
505
00:32:15,534 --> 00:32:19,369
This would seem to fit the
bill for an inspiration for atlantis.
506
00:32:19,405 --> 00:32:22,673
It's amazing to think that
that is the exact structure
507
00:32:22,708 --> 00:32:24,107
Plato is describing.
508
00:32:24,143 --> 00:32:25,854
Yeah, it seems to fit the bill.
509
00:32:25,878 --> 00:32:29,579
Or it could be one of
the inspiration points for atlantis.
510
00:32:29,615 --> 00:32:33,417
He may be borrowing
elements from different places but
511
00:32:33,452 --> 00:32:35,030
There's nothing in the world like that,
is there?
512
00:32:35,054 --> 00:32:37,988
No, it's very uh,
it's very unique I think.
513
00:32:38,023 --> 00:32:39,923
That's in mauritania, right?
514
00:32:39,959 --> 00:32:41,425
Yeah.
515
00:32:41,460 --> 00:32:44,394
Although the richat is
located over 700 miles south
516
00:32:44,430 --> 00:32:47,431
Of the souss-massa plain,
which is where hubner's model
517
00:32:47,466 --> 00:32:51,768
Pinpoints atlantis,
this lead is just too intriguing to ignore.
518
00:32:51,804 --> 00:32:55,572
This mysterious structure
sits in the country of mauritania.
519
00:32:55,607 --> 00:32:57,452
If you travel east
and beyond the richat,
520
00:32:57,476 --> 00:33:00,043
It turns into hundreds
of square miles of desert,
521
00:33:00,079 --> 00:33:01,511
No-man's land.
522
00:33:01,547 --> 00:33:04,414
No roads,
there are no towns listed on the map.
523
00:33:04,450 --> 00:33:07,017
It's in the middle of nowhere.
524
00:33:08,587 --> 00:33:10,532
And of course,
when it comes to atlantis,
525
00:33:10,556 --> 00:33:12,701
The richat has long been
scattered out by plenty of
526
00:33:12,725 --> 00:33:15,692
Internet sleuths,
but almost no-one from the western world
527
00:33:15,728 --> 00:33:18,095
Has ever been there because
of the possibility of getting
528
00:33:18,130 --> 00:33:20,230
Kidnapped or beheaded.
529
00:33:21,367 --> 00:33:24,434
Governments around the
world warn against visiting.
530
00:33:24,503 --> 00:33:28,972
This obviously serves as a
deterrent for most atlantis seekers.
531
00:33:32,611 --> 00:33:33,910
Josh. How are you, man?
532
00:33:33,946 --> 00:33:35,012
My pleasure.
533
00:33:35,047 --> 00:33:37,481
Josh sigurdson is
one of the very few atlantis
534
00:33:37,516 --> 00:33:39,916
Enthusiasts who risked
his life to investigate the
535
00:33:39,952 --> 00:33:43,086
Richat structure or
the richat or the richat?
536
00:33:43,122 --> 00:33:44,566
That doesn't sound right.
537
00:33:44,590 --> 00:33:45,989
Honestly I don't know.
538
00:33:46,025 --> 00:33:48,203
Does anyone really know
how to pronounce anything?
539
00:33:48,227 --> 00:33:50,060
Just lay off.
540
00:33:50,095 --> 00:33:52,262
First of all,
tell me how you got into this.
541
00:33:52,297 --> 00:33:53,842
How did this get
started for you?
542
00:33:53,866 --> 00:33:58,135
Well, I heard a lot of
theories about this richat structure
543
00:33:58,170 --> 00:34:01,638
In africa and apart from a
couple of people over the years,
544
00:34:01,673 --> 00:34:03,351
No-one really
documented the place,
545
00:34:03,375 --> 00:34:05,253
No-one actually went
there on the ground.
546
00:34:05,277 --> 00:34:07,155
And I felt if no-one
else is gonna do it,
547
00:34:07,179 --> 00:34:08,512
I might as well do it.
548
00:34:08,547 --> 00:34:11,081
Do you have a background
in archeology or was there
549
00:34:11,116 --> 00:34:13,283
Just a what the
hell kinda thing?
550
00:34:13,318 --> 00:34:14,996
I just have a passion for it.
551
00:34:15,020 --> 00:34:17,988
I always have had a passion
for the idea of this place
552
00:34:18,023 --> 00:34:19,656
They call atlantis.
553
00:34:19,691 --> 00:34:22,993
So you went to the richat structure,
um,
554
00:34:23,028 --> 00:34:24,339
When was this by the way,
when did you go?
555
00:34:24,363 --> 00:34:25,762
This was in may 2019.
556
00:34:25,798 --> 00:34:28,298
May 2019, so recently.
557
00:34:33,005 --> 00:34:37,707
They keep taking my
passport every hour or so.
558
00:34:39,745 --> 00:34:41,344
I've ended up taking a series of
559
00:34:41,380 --> 00:34:47,184
Trains, buses, boats and
hitchhiking across the western sahara
560
00:34:47,219 --> 00:34:49,653
Until I got to mauritania.
561
00:34:50,055 --> 00:34:53,356
It's disputed country,
it's a very volatile region.
562
00:34:53,392 --> 00:34:56,893
It's considered a red zone by
many governments around the world.
563
00:34:56,929 --> 00:34:59,196
Why is mauritania
on the red list?
564
00:35:01,467 --> 00:35:04,167
There have been quite a
few kidnappings over the years,
565
00:35:04,203 --> 00:35:08,138
There have been
beheadings and the weather is
566
00:35:08,173 --> 00:35:09,706
A factor there as well.
567
00:35:09,741 --> 00:35:11,808
120, 130 sometimes.
568
00:35:11,844 --> 00:35:13,510
Right.
569
00:35:15,080 --> 00:35:17,358
The biggest issue for
me would have been crossing the
570
00:35:17,382 --> 00:35:20,250
Border from western sahara
into mauritania as there's
571
00:35:20,285 --> 00:35:22,619
Still an active minefield there.
572
00:35:22,654 --> 00:35:25,288
There's a no-man's land
you must cross where there's
573
00:35:25,324 --> 00:35:28,091
Exploded vehicles
everywhere you look.
574
00:35:28,460 --> 00:35:30,327
The driver who brought us there,
575
00:35:30,362 --> 00:35:32,996
We paid him $150 to
bring us across a minefield,
576
00:35:33,031 --> 00:35:35,599
And he's white
knuckling all the way.
577
00:35:35,868 --> 00:35:38,401
So how far down
in was the richat structure?
578
00:35:38,437 --> 00:35:42,539
Richat is somewhere
around central mauritania and
579
00:35:42,574 --> 00:35:44,574
You basically have
to go over sand dunes,
580
00:35:44,610 --> 00:35:46,610
'cause there's no more road.
581
00:35:47,146 --> 00:35:48,623
It's very evident
once you get there,
582
00:35:48,647 --> 00:35:52,048
Because the first thing you
see is just the circular ridge
583
00:35:52,084 --> 00:35:54,050
Of a massive structure.
584
00:35:54,086 --> 00:35:56,164
What does it look like
when you're out there in it?
585
00:35:56,188 --> 00:35:59,523
It almost looks as
though the whole ground, all soil,
586
00:35:59,591 --> 00:36:01,992
Was ripped away from the ground.
587
00:36:02,027 --> 00:36:04,928
It's very barren,
there's salt everywhere.
588
00:36:04,963 --> 00:36:07,197
What do you think that is from?
589
00:36:07,232 --> 00:36:11,234
Well,
one could theorize that the ocean
590
00:36:11,270 --> 00:36:14,271
Once reached the structure.
591
00:36:14,306 --> 00:36:17,941
I tasted the salt to ensure
that it actually was salt.
592
00:36:17,976 --> 00:36:21,111
That's salt.
593
00:36:23,415 --> 00:36:25,382
That's salt.
594
00:36:26,952 --> 00:36:31,221
I bought this from a nomad at
the edge of the richat structure.
595
00:36:31,256 --> 00:36:34,724
It's very typical of the
region because there is an
596
00:36:34,760 --> 00:36:38,762
Interesting pattern that
you see around the region.
597
00:36:39,464 --> 00:36:40,397
You know what
it looks like to me,
598
00:36:40,432 --> 00:36:41,909
I mean there's the rings, right?
599
00:36:41,933 --> 00:36:44,668
That's the symbol for atlantis.
600
00:36:44,770 --> 00:36:46,648
Two rings of water
and three rings of land.
601
00:36:46,672 --> 00:36:48,471
Absolutely.
602
00:36:48,507 --> 00:36:50,974
And there's
evidence of ancients,
603
00:36:51,009 --> 00:36:54,244
Thousands of years ago in that
region having that exact same
604
00:36:54,279 --> 00:36:58,515
Symbology utilizing this
structure at some point in time.
605
00:37:04,156 --> 00:37:06,923
Talking to josh
about the richat structure,
606
00:37:06,959 --> 00:37:08,558
It's problematic.
607
00:37:08,594 --> 00:37:11,494
You know,
even presuming we can get in there,
608
00:37:11,530 --> 00:37:15,966
The danger factor means we
can't bring an archaeological team,
609
00:37:16,001 --> 00:37:17,734
We can't bring a professor,
610
00:37:17,769 --> 00:37:21,638
There's no way anybody
can set up a real dig.
611
00:37:21,807 --> 00:37:24,674
We need a way in.
612
00:37:24,710 --> 00:37:28,378
The search has shifted,
along with my feelings.
613
00:37:28,413 --> 00:37:29,779
I was a pretty serious skeptic,
614
00:37:29,815 --> 00:37:31,915
But now I wanna find something.
615
00:37:33,185 --> 00:37:37,254
Maybe it's gold fever,
the innate treasure hunter in everyone.
616
00:37:37,456 --> 00:37:40,323
I've fallen into
the atlantis trap.
617
00:37:40,359 --> 00:37:43,760
But who wouldn't
wanna find a lost utopia?
618
00:37:45,063 --> 00:37:48,698
It seems like going
there is not the answer.
619
00:37:48,734 --> 00:37:49,699
Maybe there's a way to,
620
00:37:49,735 --> 00:37:53,370
You know, look from space?
621
00:37:54,673 --> 00:37:57,307
Excellent thinking,
sam, there is.
622
00:37:57,342 --> 00:38:00,110
This technology is
revolutionizing our ability to
623
00:38:00,145 --> 00:38:02,012
Find things everywhere.
624
00:38:10,656 --> 00:38:12,055
Be,
625
00:38:12,090 --> 00:38:14,758
Piecing together a
combination of scientific data and
626
00:38:14,793 --> 00:38:18,128
Internet conspiracy theories,
in an attempt to find any
627
00:38:18,163 --> 00:38:21,398
Clues to what could have
been the inspiration for plato's
628
00:38:21,433 --> 00:38:24,134
Cursed island of atlantis.
629
00:38:25,937 --> 00:38:29,239
My research has pointed me in the
direction of a geological phenomenon,
630
00:38:29,274 --> 00:38:31,908
Known as the richat structure.
631
00:38:31,943 --> 00:38:35,512
But the richat is so remote
and so dangerous to get to,
632
00:38:35,547 --> 00:38:39,916
My investigation almost
went unfulfilled until I enlisted
633
00:38:39,951 --> 00:38:44,587
The help of a person who many
consider the modern day indiana jones,
634
00:38:46,158 --> 00:38:49,726
Sarah parcak,
space archaeologist.
635
00:38:49,761 --> 00:38:53,797
It's kinda
the fun name for using a series of
636
00:38:53,832 --> 00:38:58,535
Space-based or aerial tools
and looking at subtle changes
637
00:38:58,570 --> 00:39:01,671
In differences on
the earth's surface.
638
00:39:02,908 --> 00:39:05,642
So for example,
let's just say you have a buried tomb.
639
00:39:05,677 --> 00:39:08,423
Well we all know, say going
down into our cellar or a wine cellar,
640
00:39:08,447 --> 00:39:12,349
Right,
it's x degrees cooler because it's buried.
641
00:39:12,384 --> 00:39:15,285
And so what we do is we
look for these subtle heat
642
00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:19,189
Differences to find voids
and you can clearly see the
643
00:39:19,224 --> 00:39:23,126
Square outlines, tombs,
that are just like half a degree cooler
644
00:39:23,161 --> 00:39:24,694
Which is pretty awesome.
645
00:39:24,730 --> 00:39:28,098
This technology is quite
literally revolutionizing
646
00:39:28,133 --> 00:39:31,301
Archeology and our ability
to find things everywhere.
647
00:39:31,336 --> 00:39:33,536
So we started looking into,
648
00:39:33,572 --> 00:39:37,607
You know, where atlantis
could actually be and you come
649
00:39:37,642 --> 00:39:42,645
Across this richat structure,
which you can see from space.
650
00:39:42,681 --> 00:39:44,058
Is there anything
interesting about the
651
00:39:44,082 --> 00:39:46,182
Richat structure as
an archaeologist?
652
00:39:46,218 --> 00:39:50,220
Well, it's sort of this
sort of semi-enigmatic structure.
653
00:39:50,255 --> 00:39:52,389
I'm fascinated by it.
654
00:39:52,424 --> 00:39:56,359
We know very little
archaeologically about the region.
655
00:39:56,595 --> 00:40:01,998
That whole part of africa
is real unchartered territory.
656
00:40:02,033 --> 00:40:06,302
There could potentially be
some amazing things out there.
657
00:40:06,338 --> 00:40:08,738
Maybe we can find out?
658
00:40:08,774 --> 00:40:10,251
What I'm hoping is that you can,
659
00:40:10,275 --> 00:40:13,076
You know, bring some of your
expertise and maybe there is
660
00:40:13,111 --> 00:40:16,045
Something to see but it
just has to be from space.
661
00:40:16,081 --> 00:40:19,215
Do you think you could get
the team to task a satellite?
662
00:40:19,251 --> 00:40:21,718
I've always wanted to
task a satellite to something,
663
00:40:21,753 --> 00:40:23,353
So is there a chance?
664
00:40:23,388 --> 00:40:26,990
Sure, but we're
talking 5,000 to 7,000 square kilometers
665
00:40:27,025 --> 00:40:28,691
Of area which is pretty massive.
666
00:40:28,727 --> 00:40:30,660
But hey we're
excited to dive in.
667
00:40:30,695 --> 00:40:33,797
We'll see what happens,
I can't wait.
668
00:40:34,900 --> 00:40:37,267
Sarah will gather thousands
of satellite images of the
669
00:40:37,302 --> 00:40:41,704
Richat structure and then
analyze them looking for anomalies.
670
00:40:41,740 --> 00:40:43,918
It's the same process that
helped her uncover over
671
00:40:43,942 --> 00:40:47,911
3,000 lost settlements in egypt.
672
00:40:47,946 --> 00:40:50,346
My poor little treasure
obsessed brain can't help but
673
00:40:50,382 --> 00:40:52,360
Hope that she finds
something that dates back
674
00:40:52,384 --> 00:40:55,852
12,000 years to
plato's atlantis.
675
00:40:57,289 --> 00:41:02,325
So,
I'm going to very quickly email you.
676
00:41:02,761 --> 00:41:05,462
So initially when
we started looking,
677
00:41:05,497 --> 00:41:07,797
We weren't really
finding anything.
678
00:41:07,833 --> 00:41:09,977
We kept looking and looking
and looking and nothing
679
00:41:10,001 --> 00:41:11,568
Was popping out.
680
00:41:11,603 --> 00:41:15,338
There's no visible architecture
of any kind anywhere.
681
00:41:15,373 --> 00:41:20,677
But then once our eyes got
adjusted to the landscape,
682
00:41:20,712 --> 00:41:23,246
Then hundreds and hundreds
of features started popping out,
683
00:41:23,281 --> 00:41:25,648
If not thousands.
684
00:41:26,485 --> 00:41:29,752
In the heart of the richart
structure are two absolutely
685
00:41:29,788 --> 00:41:35,525
Massive rectangular
structures that look like they have
686
00:41:35,560 --> 00:41:37,494
Rounded towers at the end.
687
00:41:37,529 --> 00:41:41,564
To me that was one of
the most exciting finds.
688
00:41:41,600 --> 00:41:42,932
These are pretty major.
689
00:41:42,968 --> 00:41:45,012
They're pretty wild and
they're definitely ancient,
690
00:41:45,036 --> 00:41:47,070
They're not anything
more modern.
691
00:41:47,105 --> 00:41:48,805
Oh my gosh.
692
00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:51,385
Yep. So
we'll go to the western most one.
693
00:41:51,409 --> 00:41:53,543
We'll zoom in and
zoom in and zoom in.
694
00:41:54,246 --> 00:41:56,779
You can actually see
the little animal pens.
695
00:41:56,815 --> 00:42:02,852
So this could have easily housed
more than 100 camels or donkeys.
696
00:42:02,888 --> 00:42:04,532
This wouldn't have been a
place where you just kinda
697
00:42:04,556 --> 00:42:07,323
Camp out for a night.
698
00:42:07,359 --> 00:42:09,526
They're clearly
going to have food,
699
00:42:09,561 --> 00:42:11,928
There's going to be
trading that goes on.
700
00:42:11,963 --> 00:42:14,297
There probably would
have been wells there.
701
00:42:14,332 --> 00:42:18,535
In fact previous research
reports that were done,
702
00:42:18,570 --> 00:42:20,348
They've said, you know,
we've been there,
703
00:42:20,372 --> 00:42:24,240
We found hand axes from
more than a 100,000 years ago.
704
00:42:24,276 --> 00:42:27,410
We found neolithic blades.
705
00:42:27,445 --> 00:42:31,014
But absolutely no evidence
whatsoever until now,
706
00:42:31,049 --> 00:42:34,784
Of any kind of built
human structures in and
707
00:42:34,819 --> 00:42:36,586
Around the richat structure.
708
00:42:36,621 --> 00:42:39,088
But I think the
story has changed.
709
00:42:40,659 --> 00:42:47,497
These probably date to
8,000 to 5,000 years ago.
710
00:42:48,900 --> 00:42:52,435
I'm super,
super excited about what we found.
711
00:42:52,470 --> 00:42:55,605
That opens up, I think,
a chapter of archeology that
712
00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:58,775
Archaeologists
didn't know was there.
713
00:43:00,712 --> 00:43:02,879
So, is atlantis real?
714
00:43:02,914 --> 00:43:04,314
Did we find it?
715
00:43:04,349 --> 00:43:06,883
That's something you have to
look into your heart and answer.
716
00:43:06,918 --> 00:43:08,529
I know what my
11 year old thinks,
717
00:43:08,553 --> 00:43:10,420
He showed me the website.
718
00:43:10,455 --> 00:43:12,733
And don't get me wrong,
with the help of my new best friend,
719
00:43:12,757 --> 00:43:14,190
The brilliant sarah parcak,
720
00:43:14,225 --> 00:43:18,027
I'm always down to open a
new chapter of archeology.
721
00:43:18,063 --> 00:43:20,241
But the truth about atlantis
is I think we're on the
722
00:43:20,265 --> 00:43:23,866
Receiving end of a thousand
year game of telephone.
723
00:43:24,836 --> 00:43:27,904
2,500 years ago a philosopher
wrote about a cursed island
724
00:43:27,939 --> 00:43:29,839
Disappearing into the sea.
725
00:43:29,874 --> 00:43:32,742
Anyone who could read in europe
from the renaissance onwards,
726
00:43:32,777 --> 00:43:35,578
Read plato and the
myth of atlantis grew.
727
00:43:35,614 --> 00:43:38,881
The gold and silver buildings
inflamed imaginations and the
728
00:43:38,917 --> 00:43:41,050
Legend outgrew the story.
729
00:43:41,086 --> 00:43:43,086
People still seek atlantis.
730
00:43:43,121 --> 00:43:48,224
What it comes down to is
idea that the atlantians lost their
731
00:43:48,259 --> 00:43:52,295
Ability to handle wealth well,
and then they started to
732
00:43:52,330 --> 00:43:55,365
Become corrupt and
that brings the curse.
733
00:43:55,400 --> 00:43:56,733
It's a metaphor.
734
00:43:56,768 --> 00:43:59,569
Plato was talking about
a people grown prideful,
735
00:43:59,604 --> 00:44:02,572
Cursed with hubris and
consumed by ambition.
736
00:44:02,607 --> 00:44:05,208
People who had lost
touch with their success.
737
00:44:05,243 --> 00:44:06,542
Now does that ring a bell?
738
00:44:06,578 --> 00:44:08,077
Any of that sound familiar?
739
00:44:08,113 --> 00:44:11,014
Trying to find atlantis is
exactly the wrong thing,
740
00:44:11,049 --> 00:44:12,126
It's the wrong lesson.
741
00:44:12,150 --> 00:44:15,685
In fact,
it's the opposite of what plato intended.
742
00:44:15,720 --> 00:44:17,787
But,
human nature hasn't changed and
743
00:44:17,822 --> 00:44:19,266
The lesson and the
metaphor hold true.
744
00:44:19,290 --> 00:44:21,457
The curse of
atlantis is all too real.
745
00:44:21,493 --> 00:44:23,533
>>>>oakislandtk<<<<<
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745
00:44:24,305 --> 00:45:24,505
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