1 00:00:01,241 --> 00:00:02,599 (dramatic music) 2 00:00:02,674 --> 00:00:04,192 Mastrelli: He was the most powerful pharaoh 3 00:00:04,201 --> 00:00:05,719 Ever to rule egypt. 4 00:00:05,794 --> 00:00:07,792 A battle-hardened general 5 00:00:07,801 --> 00:00:12,119 Who oversaw the biggest building program since the pyramids. 6 00:00:13,394 --> 00:00:16,119 He was ramesses the great, 7 00:00:16,194 --> 00:00:18,752 And his crowning glory was the construction 8 00:00:18,761 --> 00:00:22,519 Of a magnificent new capital city, pi-ramesses. 9 00:00:24,521 --> 00:00:27,159 A city that vanished from history. 10 00:00:28,841 --> 00:00:32,679 This is the hunt for the lost city of ramesses the great. 11 00:00:38,761 --> 00:00:41,159 For centuries, the mysteries 12 00:00:41,234 --> 00:00:44,719 Of the past have kept their secrets. 13 00:00:45,794 --> 00:00:49,479 But there are clues cast in gold, 14 00:00:49,554 --> 00:00:53,559 Etched in stone, written in blood. 15 00:00:57,314 --> 00:00:59,039 We can unlock them. 16 00:01:16,514 --> 00:01:17,879 (mysterious music) 17 00:01:17,954 --> 00:01:22,112 Egypt, a land once home to a great civilization, 18 00:01:22,121 --> 00:01:27,039 Whose secrets are still being uncovered 3,000 years later. 19 00:01:28,594 --> 00:01:30,512 And one way we're able to uncover them is 20 00:01:30,521 --> 00:01:32,839 By finding clues like cartouches. 21 00:01:33,721 --> 00:01:36,359 A cartouche is a royal stamp bearing the name of a pharaoh, 22 00:01:36,434 --> 00:01:39,079 Like here, tutankhamen, 23 00:01:43,641 --> 00:01:47,152 The ruler of lower and upper egypt. 24 00:01:47,161 --> 00:01:49,399 Cartouches etched into monuments reveal the identity 25 00:01:49,474 --> 00:01:50,592 Of their builder. 26 00:01:50,601 --> 00:01:52,352 And there was no greater builder 27 00:01:52,361 --> 00:01:55,639 In egypt's new kingdom than ramesses the great. 28 00:01:55,714 --> 00:01:57,472 So how did his prized capital 29 00:01:57,481 --> 00:02:00,192 In the nile delta simply vanish? 30 00:02:00,201 --> 00:02:02,919 What happened to the temples, the obelisks? 31 00:02:02,994 --> 00:02:04,672 It can get pretty hot in egypt, 32 00:02:04,681 --> 00:02:07,072 But not hot enough to melt stone. 33 00:02:07,081 --> 00:02:09,559 The lost city of pi -ramesses is a mystery 34 00:02:09,634 --> 00:02:12,879 That's confounded egyptologists for centuries. 35 00:02:16,201 --> 00:02:20,839 Ramesses ii, better known as ramesses the great. 36 00:02:20,914 --> 00:02:24,839 He ascended to the throne in 1279 bce 37 00:02:24,914 --> 00:02:27,392 And his 67 year reign would be the longest 38 00:02:27,401 --> 00:02:29,159 In the history of ancient egypt. 39 00:02:30,601 --> 00:02:32,999 He would become egypt's greatest pharaoh. 40 00:02:34,274 --> 00:02:37,632 And throughout the land, on every temple and statue, 41 00:02:37,641 --> 00:02:39,759 Masons carved his cartouche, 42 00:02:41,561 --> 00:02:44,559 The set of hieroglyphs that form his royal name. 43 00:02:46,521 --> 00:02:49,919 Ramesses, beloved of the god amun. 44 00:02:52,274 --> 00:02:54,279 Ramesses believed the countless statues 45 00:02:54,354 --> 00:02:57,439 And inscriptions in his honor would bring him immortality. 46 00:02:58,594 --> 00:03:00,592 Many of his finest monuments were said 47 00:03:00,601 --> 00:03:04,079 To be at his new capital city, pi-ramesses, 48 00:03:04,921 --> 00:03:06,919 The house of ramesses. 49 00:03:09,961 --> 00:03:12,512 Like egypt's modern capital, cairo, 50 00:03:12,521 --> 00:03:13,959 Ancient texts reveal 51 00:03:14,034 --> 00:03:16,832 That pi-ramesses was a bustling metropolis, 52 00:03:16,841 --> 00:03:19,712 Vibrant and full of life. 53 00:03:19,721 --> 00:03:21,232 Bietak: According to the texts, 54 00:03:21,241 --> 00:03:24,359 Pi-ramesses must have been a splendid city 55 00:03:24,434 --> 00:03:28,199 Full of dazzling houses. 56 00:03:28,274 --> 00:03:29,712 There were palaces. 57 00:03:29,721 --> 00:03:31,719 There were gardens. 58 00:03:31,794 --> 00:03:33,639 Pusch: The splendor of the city is described 59 00:03:33,714 --> 00:03:35,312 In the most marvelous way, 60 00:03:35,321 --> 00:03:38,599 Everybody was dressed in the most beautiful gowns, 61 00:03:38,674 --> 00:03:41,399 Everybody wanted to live inside the city. 62 00:03:43,154 --> 00:03:44,599 Mastrelli: But pi -ramesses was a city 63 00:03:44,674 --> 00:03:46,639 That would become shrouded in mystery. 64 00:03:47,721 --> 00:03:51,792 Because somehow, 200 years after ramesses' reign 65 00:03:51,801 --> 00:03:56,759 Around 1,000 bce, this magnificent city disappeared. 66 00:04:00,594 --> 00:04:02,272 The only surviving evidence 67 00:04:02,281 --> 00:04:05,952 About the lost city comes from ancient texts. 68 00:04:05,961 --> 00:04:09,392 Egyptologist chris naunton examines a transcript 69 00:04:09,401 --> 00:04:12,679 Of the key source that was written at the time, 70 00:04:12,754 --> 00:04:17,479 A papyrus manuscript known as the "hymn to pi-ramesses." 71 00:04:17,554 --> 00:04:19,392 Naunton: It says something like: 72 00:04:19,401 --> 00:04:22,192 Its western part was as the house of amun 73 00:04:22,201 --> 00:04:25,872 And its southern part was as the house of seth. 74 00:04:25,881 --> 00:04:28,512 Suggesting that these two temples dedicated 75 00:04:28,521 --> 00:04:31,159 To these two crucially important gods, amun and seth, 76 00:04:31,234 --> 00:04:33,879 Were at the very heart of the city. 77 00:04:33,954 --> 00:04:35,319 And there's a passage here, 78 00:04:35,394 --> 00:04:38,359 It seems to be suggesting that the city is 79 00:04:38,434 --> 00:04:40,912 The marshaling place of the chariotry, 80 00:04:40,921 --> 00:04:42,679 To use one translation. 81 00:04:42,754 --> 00:04:45,239 The mustering place of the army. 82 00:04:45,314 --> 00:04:47,599 This is a city that is ready to go to war. 83 00:04:49,401 --> 00:04:51,479 Mastrelli: A city decorated with great temples, 84 00:04:51,554 --> 00:04:53,999 Housing a powerful military garrison. 85 00:04:56,114 --> 00:04:59,072 For ramesses, a proud warrior king, 86 00:04:59,081 --> 00:05:01,199 It was the crowning glory of his reign. 87 00:05:03,154 --> 00:05:04,119 But where was it? 88 00:05:05,554 --> 00:05:08,119 Frustratingly, on the crucial subject 89 00:05:08,194 --> 00:05:12,079 Of the city's location, the "hymn to pi-ramesses" is silent. 90 00:05:13,154 --> 00:05:14,752 But fragments of evidence 91 00:05:14,761 --> 00:05:17,799 From other sources do suggest a possible location. 92 00:05:19,394 --> 00:05:22,439 Naunton: There are obscure references in various texts, 93 00:05:22,514 --> 00:05:26,592 And taken all together, our best estimate would be 94 00:05:26,601 --> 00:05:30,112 That the city was located on the easternmost branch 95 00:05:30,121 --> 00:05:33,319 Of the river nile, in the nile delta. 96 00:05:33,394 --> 00:05:36,672 Mastrelli: The nile delta is the area of northern egypt 97 00:05:36,681 --> 00:05:39,312 Where the river nile splits into separate branches 98 00:05:39,321 --> 00:05:41,399 Before reaching the sea. 99 00:05:41,474 --> 00:05:44,112 Zeroing in on the easternmost branch 100 00:05:44,121 --> 00:05:47,399 Should have been an easy task for the archeologists. 101 00:05:47,474 --> 00:05:48,799 Except for one thing. 102 00:05:49,794 --> 00:05:51,392 Over the millennia, 103 00:05:51,401 --> 00:05:55,152 Many branches of the nile delta have silted up, 104 00:05:55,161 --> 00:05:57,632 Where there used to be seven branches, 105 00:05:57,641 --> 00:05:59,399 Now there are only two. 106 00:06:00,354 --> 00:06:02,439 So today, the easternmost branch 107 00:06:02,514 --> 00:06:05,759 Of the nile isn't where it was 3,000 years ago. 108 00:06:07,961 --> 00:06:09,952 Undaunted by this riddle, 109 00:06:09,961 --> 00:06:13,872 Austrian egyptologist professor manfred bietak believed 110 00:06:13,881 --> 00:06:15,559 He could find the lost city 111 00:06:15,634 --> 00:06:17,719 By reading into the river's past. 112 00:06:19,154 --> 00:06:20,752 Bietak: Our task was to reconstruct 113 00:06:20,761 --> 00:06:22,912 The historical landscape 114 00:06:22,921 --> 00:06:25,879 Of the second millennium bc. 115 00:06:25,954 --> 00:06:29,392 We had to search for the minute traces 116 00:06:29,401 --> 00:06:30,759 Of the ancient landscape, 117 00:06:30,834 --> 00:06:34,672 Particularly, the rivers of the nile delta 118 00:06:34,681 --> 00:06:36,679 And the drainage systems. 119 00:06:36,754 --> 00:06:39,079 Mastrelli: Bietak knew that even though 120 00:06:39,154 --> 00:06:41,159 The ancient rivers had vanished, 121 00:06:41,234 --> 00:06:44,279 They had left behind tell-tale features in the landscape. 122 00:06:46,034 --> 00:06:49,232 Over the centuries, river sediment had formed ridges, 123 00:06:49,241 --> 00:06:51,519 Which could be seen on contour maps of the area. 124 00:06:53,241 --> 00:06:56,039 And from these ridges, bietak could work out 125 00:06:56,114 --> 00:06:59,159 Where the lost channels of the nile delta had once flowed. 126 00:07:00,594 --> 00:07:02,679 Bietak: We were able to extract 127 00:07:02,754 --> 00:07:06,439 From these contour maps the main features 128 00:07:06,514 --> 00:07:07,999 Of the ancient landscape. 129 00:07:09,634 --> 00:07:12,192 Mastrelli: Bietak was able to map the ancient branches 130 00:07:12,201 --> 00:07:13,559 Of the nile delta. 131 00:07:14,441 --> 00:07:17,559 He then matched them against archeological sites known 132 00:07:17,634 --> 00:07:20,119 To be from the reign of ramesses the great. 133 00:07:20,994 --> 00:07:23,792 One site stood out. 134 00:07:23,801 --> 00:07:26,352 Bietak: After the study of these contour maps 135 00:07:26,361 --> 00:07:31,119 We were able to pinpoint pi-ramesses, here. 136 00:07:32,681 --> 00:07:35,472 Mastrelli: Bietak concluded that pi-ramesses lay 137 00:07:35,481 --> 00:07:37,879 Near the modern egyptian town of qantir. 138 00:07:38,841 --> 00:07:41,479 This was a difficult hunch to sell colleagues on 139 00:07:42,674 --> 00:07:44,519 Because at qantir, there appeared 140 00:07:44,594 --> 00:07:47,712 To be nothing but empty fields. 141 00:07:47,721 --> 00:07:50,279 (upbeat music) 142 00:07:51,474 --> 00:07:54,439 Today, archeologist dr. Henning franzmeier is 143 00:07:54,514 --> 00:07:55,599 In charge of the site. 144 00:08:01,001 --> 00:08:02,912 There are so many pottery shards 145 00:08:02,921 --> 00:08:05,159 From the time of ramesses the great, 146 00:08:05,234 --> 00:08:08,359 That they litter the fields and paths. 147 00:08:08,434 --> 00:08:10,512 Franzmeier: So here we have a piece of pottery 148 00:08:10,521 --> 00:08:12,839 That is clearly from the ramesside period. 149 00:08:12,914 --> 00:08:15,072 I can tell by the way it is made 150 00:08:15,081 --> 00:08:17,239 And by the clay that was used for that. 151 00:08:18,121 --> 00:08:20,832 Finds like this you come across in an area 152 00:08:20,841 --> 00:08:22,992 Of up to 20 square kilometers, 153 00:08:23,001 --> 00:08:25,712 All around the modern village of qantir, 154 00:08:25,721 --> 00:08:27,232 All around this area. 155 00:08:27,241 --> 00:08:30,832 In every field, you find sherds like this. 156 00:08:30,841 --> 00:08:33,312 Mastrelli: The 3,000-year-old sherds are scattered 157 00:08:33,321 --> 00:08:36,439 Across a vast area of eight square miles, 158 00:08:36,514 --> 00:08:39,232 Revealing that the ancient settlement was much larger 159 00:08:39,241 --> 00:08:41,319 Than the modern town of qantir. 160 00:08:42,361 --> 00:08:44,759 And as farmers clear their fields, 161 00:08:44,834 --> 00:08:47,952 New evidence is turning up, all the time. 162 00:08:47,961 --> 00:08:50,512 Franzmeier: Here we have quite something. 163 00:08:50,521 --> 00:08:53,152 It's a piece of limestone 164 00:08:53,161 --> 00:08:55,952 But what we can see here is traces of hieroglyphs. 165 00:08:55,961 --> 00:08:57,479 It's pretty much weathered 166 00:08:57,554 --> 00:09:01,399 But we can really see here two hieroglyphs, 167 00:09:01,474 --> 00:09:03,999 And this is the hieroglyph for the sun, 168 00:09:05,401 --> 00:09:08,399 A hieroglyph that could be part of the name of ramesses ii. 169 00:09:12,921 --> 00:09:14,272 Mastrelli: But if this was the site 170 00:09:14,281 --> 00:09:16,432 Of the ancient capital of pi-ramesses, 171 00:09:16,441 --> 00:09:20,439 As professor bietak believed, something didn't quite fit. 172 00:09:22,601 --> 00:09:24,919 According to the "hymn to pi-ramesses," 173 00:09:24,994 --> 00:09:28,559 The capital city was full of awe-inspiring monuments. 174 00:09:29,401 --> 00:09:32,992 And other major cities from the time of ramesses are covered 175 00:09:33,001 --> 00:09:35,839 In the ruins of giant statues and temples. 176 00:09:37,481 --> 00:09:41,159 But at qantir, there's just one tantalizing remnant, 177 00:09:42,114 --> 00:09:44,359 In the corner of a farmer's field. 178 00:09:45,234 --> 00:09:46,992 Franzmeier: So all around these fields, 179 00:09:47,001 --> 00:09:49,952 Even though we have all these little finds in the ground, 180 00:09:49,961 --> 00:09:54,439 We never found anything on the surface except for this. 181 00:09:58,594 --> 00:10:00,432 This is a part of a statue. 182 00:10:00,441 --> 00:10:04,512 The feet of a statue that stood about 33 feet tall 183 00:10:04,521 --> 00:10:07,152 When it was complete, of a seated king, 184 00:10:07,161 --> 00:10:10,199 Which we know because the feet are right next to each other 185 00:10:10,274 --> 00:10:13,079 In this way and not in a striding position. 186 00:10:13,154 --> 00:10:14,752 Here we even have the hieroglyphs 187 00:10:14,761 --> 00:10:17,799 To tell us the name of the owner of this statue, 188 00:10:17,874 --> 00:10:20,839 It is ramesses ii, we have here, the god amun 189 00:10:20,914 --> 00:10:22,352 And here, the god ra, 190 00:10:22,361 --> 00:10:24,832 And so this is (speaking in foreign language) 191 00:10:24,841 --> 00:10:26,559 That is the name of ramesses ii. 192 00:10:28,114 --> 00:10:30,279 Mastrelli: But where is the rest of the statue? 193 00:10:30,354 --> 00:10:33,079 And, why is it the only one they've found here? 194 00:10:33,154 --> 00:10:35,399 Was the site of qantir a dead end 195 00:10:35,474 --> 00:10:38,079 Or could the answers lie below ground? 196 00:10:41,634 --> 00:10:43,559 Mastrelli: The modern day city of qantir appears 197 00:10:43,634 --> 00:10:44,912 To be an intriguing candidate 198 00:10:44,921 --> 00:10:46,759 For the lost city of pi-ramesses. 199 00:10:46,834 --> 00:10:48,599 It's in the right spot, 200 00:10:48,674 --> 00:10:51,792 And pottery from that period litters the surrounding fields. 201 00:10:51,801 --> 00:10:54,199 But, unlike other sites in egypt, 202 00:10:54,274 --> 00:10:57,159 There's virtually nothing left above ground. 203 00:10:57,234 --> 00:10:59,632 It was time to start digging. 204 00:10:59,641 --> 00:11:01,799 (dramatic music) 205 00:11:01,874 --> 00:11:05,959 The first major excavations at qantir began in 1980. 206 00:11:06,034 --> 00:11:08,352 Just a few inches below the fields, 207 00:11:08,361 --> 00:11:12,679 Archeologists detected the foundations of a giant building. 208 00:11:12,754 --> 00:11:13,719 But what was it? 209 00:11:15,234 --> 00:11:18,592 At the roemer and pelizaeus museum in germany, 210 00:11:18,601 --> 00:11:21,392 Dr. Edgar pusch, who led the dig, 211 00:11:21,401 --> 00:11:24,599 Is investigating precise replicas of the finds. 212 00:11:25,794 --> 00:11:28,599 Pusch: One of the first objects we found 213 00:11:28,674 --> 00:11:33,312 In this area was a fully functioning horse-bit, 214 00:11:33,321 --> 00:11:34,912 Like this. 215 00:11:34,921 --> 00:11:39,072 We found the equipment for war chariots 216 00:11:39,081 --> 00:11:41,959 Or hunting chariots, two-wheeled. 217 00:11:42,034 --> 00:11:45,319 We were absolutely sure we do have a chariotry 218 00:11:46,761 --> 00:11:49,712 In connection with horse stables, 219 00:11:49,721 --> 00:11:52,519 Housing about 460, as a minimum. 220 00:11:54,354 --> 00:11:56,439 Mastrelli: Enough to pull 230 221 00:11:56,514 --> 00:11:59,839 Of the 2,000 chariots ramesses was thought to command. 222 00:12:01,954 --> 00:12:04,432 These stables were the largest chariot stables 223 00:12:04,441 --> 00:12:06,879 Ever discovered in the eastern mediterranean. 224 00:12:07,794 --> 00:12:10,519 And they exactly matched ancient descriptions 225 00:12:10,594 --> 00:12:13,479 Of chariot stables at ramesses' lost city. 226 00:12:15,641 --> 00:12:18,359 Ancient texts reveal that pi-ramesses, 227 00:12:18,434 --> 00:12:21,079 Had been an important military base, 228 00:12:21,154 --> 00:12:24,039 Built to counter a specific strategic threat. 229 00:12:25,881 --> 00:12:28,512 Ramesses' empire stretched from modern sudan 230 00:12:28,521 --> 00:12:31,319 In the south to syria in the north, 231 00:12:31,394 --> 00:12:33,799 Where it met the might hittite empire, 232 00:12:33,874 --> 00:12:36,279 Egypt's greatest rival. 233 00:12:36,354 --> 00:12:39,479 At the beginning of his reign, ramesses met this threat 234 00:12:39,554 --> 00:12:44,439 By moving his capital from memphis to pi-ramesses, 235 00:12:44,994 --> 00:12:46,679 In the eastern nile delta. 236 00:12:47,881 --> 00:12:51,312 The new city was to be a defensive bastion, 237 00:12:51,321 --> 00:12:54,079 And a launch-pad for his own campaigns. 238 00:12:56,594 --> 00:13:01,079 At qantir, further excavations turned up masses of weapons, 239 00:13:01,154 --> 00:13:05,472 More evidence that this was an important military site 240 00:13:05,481 --> 00:13:09,879 Pusch: We found arrow heads of all different kinds and shapes. 241 00:13:11,641 --> 00:13:16,439 We found also within the chariotry, daggers. 242 00:13:19,154 --> 00:13:22,352 Mastrelli: What they discovered next was unprecedented 243 00:13:22,361 --> 00:13:24,559 In the history of egyptology. 244 00:13:26,514 --> 00:13:28,039 Pusch: I detected something 245 00:13:28,114 --> 00:13:30,992 Which was never excavated before at that time, 246 00:13:31,001 --> 00:13:33,759 And I, myself didn't know what to make from it. 247 00:13:34,841 --> 00:13:36,759 Mastrelli: Alongside more arrowheads, 248 00:13:36,834 --> 00:13:40,319 They uncovered broken crucibles, charcoal and ash. 249 00:13:42,514 --> 00:13:47,159 They had discovered a metal-working site, a foundry. 250 00:13:47,234 --> 00:13:50,039 Pusch: It is a huge foundry 251 00:13:50,114 --> 00:13:54,112 For producing bronze and casting bronze objects. 252 00:13:54,121 --> 00:13:56,272 (dramatic music) 253 00:13:56,281 --> 00:13:59,472 Mastrelli: Bronze was harder than any metal at the time 254 00:13:59,481 --> 00:14:01,559 And ideal for making weapons. 255 00:14:04,121 --> 00:14:06,599 What was so extraordinary about the bronze foundry 256 00:14:06,674 --> 00:14:08,752 At qantir was that it was part 257 00:14:08,761 --> 00:14:11,319 Of the biggest metal working site ever found 258 00:14:11,394 --> 00:14:12,719 In the ancient world. 259 00:14:13,961 --> 00:14:15,319 And would have been capable 260 00:14:15,394 --> 00:14:17,639 Of turning out thousands of weapons, 261 00:14:17,714 --> 00:14:22,639 For an egyptian army that may have numbered up to 100,000. 262 00:14:23,074 --> 00:14:24,672 Franzmeier: We have nowhere, evidence of 263 00:14:24,681 --> 00:14:26,279 Such a large installation 264 00:14:26,354 --> 00:14:28,832 Of this kind anywhere in the whole middle east, 265 00:14:28,841 --> 00:14:31,152 From this period to the late bronze age. 266 00:14:31,161 --> 00:14:33,079 It does not exist anywhere else. 267 00:14:33,154 --> 00:14:35,959 Mastrelli: Chariots, swords, arrowheads, 268 00:14:36,034 --> 00:14:39,232 A giant foundry to forge bronze weapons, 269 00:14:39,241 --> 00:14:40,832 All of it fits 270 00:14:40,841 --> 00:14:43,879 What the ancient texts tell us about pi-ramesses. 271 00:14:43,954 --> 00:14:46,832 Could the farmland of qantir be covering the remains 272 00:14:46,841 --> 00:14:48,159 Of this once great city? 273 00:14:49,714 --> 00:14:52,199 A ground-breaking new technology would be the key 274 00:14:52,274 --> 00:14:55,359 To revealing what lay beneath these empty fields. 275 00:14:56,921 --> 00:15:00,672 In 1996, dr. Pusch and his team began a magnetic scan 276 00:15:00,681 --> 00:15:04,479 Of the area, to see below the soil. 277 00:15:05,874 --> 00:15:09,079 Pusch: We scanned with the magnetic devices 278 00:15:09,154 --> 00:15:11,439 About two square kilometers. 279 00:15:13,874 --> 00:15:16,992 A magnetic scan has two major advantages. 280 00:15:17,001 --> 00:15:19,079 Number one, it is non-destructive 281 00:15:19,154 --> 00:15:21,072 In comparison to archeology 282 00:15:21,081 --> 00:15:26,039 And number two, what you measure within one day as area, 283 00:15:26,114 --> 00:15:30,279 You need a minimum from eight to 12 years for excavation. 284 00:15:32,441 --> 00:15:36,199 Mastrelli: The results would astonish them all. 285 00:15:39,881 --> 00:15:41,712 (people chattering) (dramatic music) 286 00:15:41,721 --> 00:15:44,192 Mastrelli: At qantir in egypt, 287 00:15:44,201 --> 00:15:47,632 Excavations have uncovered an important military base 288 00:15:47,641 --> 00:15:50,359 From the reign of ramesses the great. 289 00:15:50,434 --> 00:15:54,192 But could it be his fabled capital city, pi-ramesses, 290 00:15:54,201 --> 00:15:56,839 Which disappeared 3,000 years ago? 291 00:15:59,081 --> 00:16:00,679 Dr pusch and his team brought 292 00:16:00,754 --> 00:16:02,759 In magnetic scanning equipment, 293 00:16:02,834 --> 00:16:07,399 To look for signs of a lost city hidden beneath the soil. 294 00:16:10,434 --> 00:16:12,559 The results blew them away. 295 00:16:14,434 --> 00:16:17,232 The scan revealed street after street, 296 00:16:17,241 --> 00:16:19,152 Building after building. 297 00:16:19,161 --> 00:16:22,752 A great city lay hidden beneath the fields. 298 00:16:22,761 --> 00:16:26,912 Pusch: I was jumping, I really and truly was jumping 299 00:16:26,921 --> 00:16:29,959 Because we had the lay out of the buildings, 300 00:16:30,034 --> 00:16:34,679 We had pits for pillars, we had walls of different sizes, 301 00:16:34,754 --> 00:16:36,672 Of different lengths, 302 00:16:36,681 --> 00:16:41,079 And it was just an unbelievable and incredible thing. 303 00:16:46,201 --> 00:16:48,759 Mastrelli: It became the largest magnetic scan 304 00:16:48,834 --> 00:16:50,639 In the history of egyptology. 305 00:16:53,241 --> 00:16:57,159 And what it detected were the foundations of a major city. 306 00:16:59,801 --> 00:17:01,079 Franzmeier: This city is one of the 307 00:17:01,154 --> 00:17:04,112 Largest settlement sites anywhere 308 00:17:04,121 --> 00:17:06,352 In the whole middle east. 309 00:17:06,361 --> 00:17:09,879 We have to imagine where it is now, just flat land, 310 00:17:09,954 --> 00:17:13,392 Temples and palaces, and houses for, most probably, 311 00:17:13,401 --> 00:17:14,719 Tens of thousands of people. 312 00:17:15,801 --> 00:17:17,799 Mastrelli: The evidence was overwhelming, 313 00:17:17,874 --> 00:17:20,679 And there was only one conclusion. 314 00:17:20,754 --> 00:17:24,992 This was the site of the lost city of ramesses the great. 315 00:17:25,001 --> 00:17:28,039 Pusch: The hugeness of it, the finds we make, 316 00:17:28,114 --> 00:17:30,992 All together make it absolutely sure 317 00:17:31,001 --> 00:17:34,039 That this area is pi-ramesses. 318 00:17:35,394 --> 00:17:38,639 Mastrelli: A 3000-year-old mystery had finally been solved. 319 00:17:40,281 --> 00:17:43,159 But now the archeologists faced a new challenge, 320 00:17:44,034 --> 00:17:45,919 To explain what had happened here, 321 00:17:47,634 --> 00:17:50,599 And why there was nothing to see above ground level 322 00:17:50,674 --> 00:17:53,199 Except for a giant pair of stone feet. 323 00:17:54,601 --> 00:17:56,839 The answer lay not in qantir, 324 00:17:56,914 --> 00:18:01,079 But 12 miles to the north in the ancient site of tanis. 325 00:18:01,154 --> 00:18:04,439 200 years after the death of ramesses ii, 326 00:18:04,514 --> 00:18:07,072 Tanis became the new capital of egypt, 327 00:18:07,081 --> 00:18:09,872 And in need of stone, they recycled it 328 00:18:09,881 --> 00:18:12,999 From neighboring and now abandoned pi-ramesses. 329 00:18:14,434 --> 00:18:18,192 Oddly, two centuries after his death, 330 00:18:18,201 --> 00:18:20,752 Countless monuments in this city bear the name 331 00:18:20,761 --> 00:18:22,359 Of ramesses the great. 332 00:18:25,394 --> 00:18:27,472 Although the magnificent super-structure 333 00:18:27,481 --> 00:18:30,119 Of this city was likely shipped away, 334 00:18:30,194 --> 00:18:33,152 The magnetic scan reveals that much still remains 335 00:18:33,161 --> 00:18:36,039 Beneath the fields of qantir. 336 00:18:36,114 --> 00:18:38,112 Pusch: Of course, this is not the complete city, 337 00:18:38,121 --> 00:18:42,599 But we do have palaces, temples, villas, 338 00:18:42,674 --> 00:18:47,319 Houses, streets, alleys, everything. 339 00:18:48,761 --> 00:18:50,759 Mastrelli: At the city's very center is 340 00:18:50,834 --> 00:18:53,599 The unmistakable outline of a giant temple. 341 00:18:56,601 --> 00:19:01,152 This is the next area of interest for archeologists, 342 00:19:01,161 --> 00:19:04,352 And where they plan future excavations. 343 00:19:04,361 --> 00:19:07,799 Gps and the magnetic scan have already revealed 344 00:19:07,874 --> 00:19:10,112 Its enormous size. 345 00:19:10,121 --> 00:19:11,319 Franzmeier: So we are now in south 346 00:19:11,394 --> 00:19:13,552 Of the modern village of qantir. 347 00:19:13,561 --> 00:19:15,559 Here we see massive walls 348 00:19:15,634 --> 00:19:18,679 Which mark the limits of a big precinct, 349 00:19:18,754 --> 00:19:20,439 Of a temple or a palace. 350 00:19:20,514 --> 00:19:24,039 Here in the center we have the central building 351 00:19:24,114 --> 00:19:26,359 Of this temple or palace, 352 00:19:26,434 --> 00:19:30,352 Which is 30 meters wide and around 100 meters long. 353 00:19:30,361 --> 00:19:34,359 (suspenseful music) 354 00:19:34,434 --> 00:19:36,752 Mastrelli: Dr. Franzmeier marks out the foundations 355 00:19:36,761 --> 00:19:39,199 With flag poles to illustrate its scale. 356 00:19:46,274 --> 00:19:47,399 Franzmeier: So we have now reached 357 00:19:47,474 --> 00:19:49,639 The central part of the temple. 358 00:19:49,714 --> 00:19:53,072 And, if you have a look here along this line, 359 00:19:53,081 --> 00:19:55,879 Approximately where now, there is the modern houses, 360 00:19:55,954 --> 00:19:59,559 That is the end, the limit of this central temple building 361 00:19:59,634 --> 00:20:01,959 Which seems so tiny on the plan. 362 00:20:02,034 --> 00:20:05,719 If we take into consideration, the whole precinct, 363 00:20:05,794 --> 00:20:07,952 Then we end up far under the modern 364 00:20:07,961 --> 00:20:12,672 And the recent buildings in the distance, all around here, 365 00:20:12,681 --> 00:20:16,752 And it extends definitely for another 100 meters, 366 00:20:16,761 --> 00:20:18,199 Underneath the buildings. 367 00:20:21,154 --> 00:20:22,839 Mastrelli: From the magnetic scan and evidence 368 00:20:22,914 --> 00:20:24,992 From other sites, it's possible 369 00:20:25,001 --> 00:20:27,679 To reconstruct the great temple of pi-ramesses. 370 00:20:31,721 --> 00:20:33,719 The great temple was the spectacular 371 00:20:33,794 --> 00:20:36,679 Heart of pi-ramesses. 372 00:20:36,754 --> 00:20:39,072 Rising around it were other temples 373 00:20:39,081 --> 00:20:43,159 And a vast palace complex, where ramesses himself lived. 374 00:20:44,194 --> 00:20:48,039 In its heyday, this was one of the most magnificent cities 375 00:20:48,114 --> 00:20:49,199 Of ancient egypt. 376 00:20:50,681 --> 00:20:53,679 And much more remains to be discovered. 377 00:20:55,241 --> 00:20:56,679 And for dr. Pusch, 378 00:20:56,754 --> 00:20:59,552 Helping to solve the 3,000 year-old mystery 379 00:20:59,561 --> 00:21:04,199 Of ramesses' lost city still holds special significance. 380 00:21:04,274 --> 00:21:07,399 Pusch: This is the highlight of my career. 381 00:21:07,474 --> 00:21:12,112 We have really proved, yes, this is not just poetry, 382 00:21:12,121 --> 00:21:15,239 Not just fiction, this is reality. 383 00:21:17,241 --> 00:21:18,839 Mastrelli: A 50 -year investigation 384 00:21:18,914 --> 00:21:20,352 Has finally revealed 385 00:21:20,361 --> 00:21:23,792 How pi-ramesses, despite all its fame and glory, 386 00:21:23,801 --> 00:21:26,839 Vanished from the face of the earth. 387 00:21:26,914 --> 00:21:30,112 (dramatic music) 388 00:21:30,121 --> 00:21:32,839 And all the credit has to go to the incredible team 389 00:21:32,914 --> 00:21:36,832 That made locating this lost city their life's work. 390 00:21:36,841 --> 00:21:39,879 Despite all of the breathtaking sites in egypt, 391 00:21:39,954 --> 00:21:42,919 It takes a special kind of determined archeologist, 392 00:21:42,994 --> 00:21:45,559 With lots of patience and perseverance, 393 00:21:45,634 --> 00:21:48,679 To find what appeared to be lost to history. 394 00:21:48,754 --> 00:21:50,352 It's the archeological equivalent 395 00:21:50,361 --> 00:21:53,392 Of finding a needle in a stack of needles 396 00:21:53,401 --> 00:21:55,072 And proving yet again, 397 00:21:55,081 --> 00:21:57,392 That ancient egypt still has many secrets waiting 398 00:21:57,401 --> 00:21:58,799 To be discovered.