All language subtitles for The UnXplained S04E07 Mysterious Tombs 1080p HULU WEB-DL AAC2 0 H 264-playWEB_track3_[eng]

WILLIAM SHATNER:
A hidden cave
that could hold the remains

WILLIAM SHATNER:
A hidden cave
that could hold the remains
of an ancient civilization.

of an ancient civilization.

An entire city
entombed in volcanic ash.

And a royal grave

And a royal grave
guarded by thousands

guarded by thousands

guarded by thousands
of silent warriors.

of silent warriors.

Throughout history,
kings, emperors and pharaohs

have been laid
to rest in sacred tombs.

These burial grounds were meant
to protect the body,

and to allow
the soul to transition

and to allow
the soul to transition
into the afterlife.

into the afterlife.

But is it possible that tombs
serve another purpose?

Could they contain
not just human remains,

but also surprising secrets
about our past?

Well, that is what
we'll try and find out.

♪ ♪

Here in this rugged,
mountainous region

bordering the Gobi Desert,

two brothers begin digging
a well on their family farm.

But instead of water,
their shovels reveal

But instead of water,
their shovels reveal
a life-sized statue
of a soldier.

a life-sized statue
of a soldier.

When archeologists
later excavate the site,

they unearth thousands
of these sculptures,

known as
the Terra Cotta Warriors,

known as
the Terra Cotta Warriors,
each with remarkably

each with remarkably

realistic facial expressions.

Every now and then, there's
a game-changing moment

in archaeological history.

This is a discovery
of that magnitude,

because as time went on,

it became clear that
this wasn't just a few pots.

It was actually
a vast underground army

of 6,000 soldiers

standing to attention.

SHATNER:
These incredibly
lifelike statues

are actually part of a massive
underground tomb complex

called the Mausoleum
of the First Qin Emperor.

The mausoleum covers an area

of nearly four miles
and contains

numerous underground palaces
and chambers

that surround a tomb mound
at the center of the complex.

The tomb mound itself
is quite unassuming.

It's sort of a pyramid shape,
but it's made of earth.

And these days
it's covered with trees.

So it's all very green,
but when it was

originally built,
it would've supported

some large structures,
some large temple structures.

So the tomb complex is far away

from the place
where they discovered

the Terra Cotta Warriors.

And everyone doesn't
really understand,

initially, how they can be
part of the same thing.

The sheer size of
the complex is unprecedented.

It's an amazing sight.

The scope of this
is hard to describe.

The scope of this
is hard to describe.
There's chariots,
there's horses.

There's chariots,
there's horses.

There's an entire
labyrinthine complex that exits.

And all of it intentionally kept

underground in what is
literally an underworld.

SHATNER:
This vast tomb complex was
built in the 3rd century BC

to the final resting place
for Qin Shi Huang,

the first emperor
of a unified China.

Mausoleums and tombs in China

are statements of who you were.

So what you get with
this tomb is a huge statement

of how important this man was.

The amazing thing about
his reign

The amazing thing about
his reign
is it only lasted 11 years,

is it only lasted 11 years,

but, in that time,
he completely transformed China

but, in that time,
he completely transformed China
by making it one unified whole.

by making it one unified whole.

Even the name China
seems to derive

from the name of his state, Qin.

So this is a guy
who was unprecedented.

He thought of himself
as the ruler of the known world.

DOMINIC STEAVU:
As soon as he came to power
he started building

this tomb complex as a way of

transporting what he
had acquired and what he had

accomplished in the living
world into the afterlife,

into the world of immortals,
and that included

material things like treasures
and-and vast untold riches.

SHATNER:
The pyramid-shaped
artificial mound at the center

of the complex is 250 feet tall.

Archaeologists believe
that underneath this mound

is a chamber containing
Emperor Qin's tomb.

is a chamber containing
Emperor Qin's tomb.
According
to ancient Chinese writings,

According
to ancient Chinese writings,

every detail of this chamber
was designed

to perfectly mirror
the emperor's kingdom.

There's a very elaborate passage
that vividly describes

There's a very elaborate passage
that vividly describes
how the tomb was designed

how the tomb was designed

from the records
of the grand historian,

Szuma Chien.

The main feature was
a small-scale representation

The main feature was
a small-scale representation
of the Chinese empire
at the time.

of the Chinese empire
at the time.

And so it had all the waterways
and the rivers and the oceans

and geographical features
that were duplicated

on a small scale.

There is this sense
in Chinese society,

going right back to pre-history,

that when people die,
they kind of switch

to another plane of existence

and life goes on for them there.

So the coffin
of the first emperor sits

in the center of a map
of the known world.

And so the towns are little
jewels and the roads are gold.

And then above him,
you have a ceiling that has

the constellations, uh,
in the sky because

the constellations are
supposedly reflected

by the world on the ground,
so you have

heaven and earth
and the emperor in the middle.

Um, and it's all picked out
in precious metals.

SHATNER:
To date,
the central burial mound

has only been
partially excavated

has only been
partially excavated
because archeologists
believe that,

because archeologists
believe that,

according to historical records,

it may be too hazardous
to uncover.

STEAVU:
According
to the grand historian,

the tomb itself is highly
contaminated with mercury.

The rivers and oceans

were represented
by flowing mercury.

And this mercury was

fed through
a very complex drainage system

fed through
a very complex drainage system
and was mechanically activated,

and was mechanically activated,

so that
it permanently circulated.

so that
it permanently circulated.
CLEMENTS:
In ancient China,

CLEMENTS:
In ancient China,

mercury was also believed to be,

mercury was also believed to be,
uh, one of the substances

uh, one of the substances

that could help somebody
achieve immortality.

And it just so happens that,
since 1981, we've known

that there are very high
concentrations of mercury

in the soil, um,
around the grave mound.

STEAVU:
Because the soil around the tomb
has high levels of mercury,

archaeologists are reticent
about opening up the tomb.

There's a concern
they could expose

the local populations
to mercury poisoning.

And that it would lead to
a large amount of the artifacts

being damaged
or lost irretrievably.

SHATNER:
Will archaeologists
ever be able to safely open

the tomb
of Emperor Qin Shi Huang?

No one is certain.

But there are those
who believe the emperor's body

was never located
in the tomb's burial chamber

was never located
in the tomb's burial chamber
in the first place.

in the first place.

CLEMENTS:
In Chinese history books,
it says that the emperor was

buried at Mount Li,
but it's not clear if that

meant in the mountain or in
a grave mound near the mountain.

And this is important,
because in the Middle Ages,

there was an historian
who suggested that, actually,

the emperor was buried
in a jade mine

in a mountain nearby.

So, it's very possible
that the tomb mound itself

is a decoy,
that he's not there at all.

is a decoy,
that he's not there at all.
And if they start
digging there,

And if they start
digging there,

they'll be digging
in the wrong place.

One big, hanging question
that we're still

left with is, of course,
what else is there?

We've only uncovered
parts of this tomb.

So much of it still
has not been revealed.

And who knows
if it will ever be discovered.

Is it possible

that the tomb of China's
first emperor is a decoy,

and his remains are
actually held somewhere else?

Well, if that's true,

then it could be
quite an elaborate ruse.

In fact,
there's another massive tomb,

located in Ireland, that has
an equally mysterious purpose.

located in Ireland, that has
an equally mysterious purpose.
Because it was designed
to offer passage

Because it was designed
to offer passage

to the land of the dead.

Rising above
this region's lush fields,

not far from the banks
of the River Boyne,

is one of the most mysterious
ancient tombs

in the world.

Newgrange.

This massive stone structure

This massive stone structure
has a diameter of 87 yards,

has a diameter of 87 yards,

or nearly
the size of a football field.

Newgrange is the envy of
monuments all around the planet.

The thing that people say
when they come here

is they're surprised
how big it is.

It is huge.

It takes up
over an acre of ground.

And there is an estimated

200,000 tons of stone
in the monument.

SHATNER:
According
to archaeological findings,

Newgrange was built
around the year 3200 BC,

making it centuries older

than both Stonehenge
and the Great Pyramid in Egypt.

Because Newgrange is so ancient,

there's still much
that we don't know about

the people who built
this extraordinary tomb.

MURPHY:
Probably
one of the most fascinating

things about Newgrange
is the fact

that it was built
in pre-metal days,

just as the Stone Age was kind
of sort of coming to a close.

just as the Stone Age was kind
of sort of coming to a close.
And it's difficult to imagine

And it's difficult to imagine

how ancient people were able
to assemble this

massive monument,
but they managed to do so.

TUFFY:
A lot of work went into
the building of this monument,

and it was all done
with extreme precision.

Inside, there are carved stones.

And then you come into
a chamber, which is quite roomy.

So you have this cathedral-like
feeling when you walk inside.

MURPHY:
Newgrange is what archaeologists
refer to as a passage tomb.

It has a passage leading

into the interior.

And in that interior,
human bones

have generally been found,
in different quantities.

THOMPSON:
There are human remains in these
places, but the most common

um, burial practice
around this time was cremation.

So we find multiple people being
cremated and then interred.

Then the traditional
Irish folklore

that dates way, way back,
the other world of the dead,

that dates way, way back,
the other world of the dead,
it sort of overlaps
with our own.

it sort of overlaps
with our own.

So the idea is that
these sites would sort of allow

for this passage
between the realm of the dead

for this passage
between the realm of the dead
and the realm of the living.

and the realm of the living.

TUFFY:
On the back recess
of the inner chamber

there is a tri-spiral.

there is a tri-spiral.
The most common interpretation

The most common interpretation

that people come up with
is that it represents

this constant cycle
of renewal and regeneration.

On a spiritual level,
it may promise rebirth

for the spirits of the dead.

The tri-spiral is
unique to Newgrange.

And it's also found
on the entrance stone

and throughout the tomb.

SHATNER:
Archaeologists who have
studied Newgrange

have theorized
that this ancient tomb

was intended to serve
a profound and mystical purpose.

And as evidence,
they point to a curious element

And as evidence,
they point to a curious element
of its design
that is only visible

of its design
that is only visible

of its design
that is only visible
one day a year.

one day a year.

Newgrange is unusual
in that it has

Newgrange is unusual
in that it has
a very special aperture...

a very special aperture...

...or opening
above the entrance.

On the day of winter solstice,

this glimmering golden beam
of sunlight enters there,

and pierces the darkness.

TUFFY:
When the sun rises
at winter solstice,

TUFFY:
When the sun rises
at winter solstice,
light hits the chamber

light hits the chamber

for precisely 17 minutes.

And some even speculate
that the spirits

And some even speculate
that the spirits
would have used the light

would have used the light

to leave the burial chamber
and go and join the deities.

SHATNER:
Did the builders of Newgrange

specifically design it to be
a gateway into the afterlife?

Some archaeologists believe
that the answer is yes.

And they also claim
that Newgrange was built

to allow those who stood
within its inner chamber

to allow those who stood
within its inner chamber
to communicate directly

to communicate directly

with the dead.

In the case of Newgrange,
the notion of the sunbeam

drawing out the souls
of the deceased,

and-and leading them
to that other world,

is not just a one-way ticket.

It was a portal between worlds.

Were the people inside there--

the priests, for instance,
the Druids--

were they in contact with
the ancestors who'd gone before?

TUFFY:
The builders of the monument
have created a space

which is separate,
which is a world of the dead.

There was always
a feeling that this is

a house for the spirits.

Where consulting
with the ancestors,

asking advice
from the ancestors,

would have happened
5,000 years ago.

Which is extraordinary.

SHATNER:
Was Newgrange constructed
to be not only a tomb,

SHATNER:
Was Newgrange constructed
to be not only a tomb,
but also a place
where the living

but also a place
where the living

but also a place
where the living
communicated with the dead?

communicated with the dead?

It's an intriguing theory.

Which is why
archaeologists continue

to study Newgrange
in the hope of one day

unraveling all of its mysteries.

THOMPSON:
How people choose
to handle their remains

always tells you a lot about

always tells you a lot about
what people think
about the afterlife.

what people think
about the afterlife.

what people think
about the afterlife.
Where are they going?

Where are they going?

What is the relationship
between the soul and the body?

And in Newgrange,
this had a lot to do

with this notion
that the dead are still around.

And perhaps can see you
even if you can't see them.

So, in a sense, with Newgrange,

So, in a sense, with Newgrange,
we might even say that the dead

we might even say that the dead

did achieve immortality.

The idea that Newgrange
was built to allow

the soul to live forever
is fascinating.

But on the other hand,
there are some tombs

But on the other hand,
there are some tombs
that seem frozen in time.

that seem frozen in time.

For instance,
there's an entire city

For instance,
there's an entire city
located near Mount Vesuvius

located near Mount Vesuvius

that suddenly became
a mass grave

when it was covered
in a blanket of volcanic ash.

SHATNER:
At approximately 1:00 p.m.
on a peaceful late summer day,

this ancient Roman city
in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius

is shaken
by a massive volcanic eruption.

Within minutes,
superheated gas and lava

engulf the city
and its surroundings.

In an instant,
thousands of people are

buried alive, as a city
that was once their home

suddenly becomes their tomb.

Nearly 2,000 years
after the eruption,

Pompeii is a city that remains

frozen in time.

This eruption was what we call
a pyroclastic eruption.

Where clouds
of-of ash and debris,

hundreds of degrees hot,
came flowing down the mountain,

flash-frying
everything in its path.

And miraculously,
the heat of this cloud

was enough
to carbonize and preserve,

rather than destroy,
all kinds of information.

We have
well-preserved architecture,

wood and organic materials,

foodstuffs,

human remains,

human remains,
animal remains
that have been preserved

animal remains
that have been preserved

animal remains
that have been preserved
for 2,000 years

for 2,000 years

beneath, uh,
this volcanic debris.

SHATNER:
Today the excavated ruins
of Pompei

offer archaeologists
and tourists

a breathtaking look
at the doomed ancient city.

Perhaps the most intriguing
discovery found beneath the ash

from Mt. Vesuvius' eruption

from Mt. Vesuvius' eruption
was an ancient Roman structure

was an ancient Roman structure

located not far from Pompeii

known as the Villa dei Papiri.

The Villa dei Papiri was
a Roman luxury villa

that was full of sculpture

and marble and bronze.

The villa was discovered
by chance in 1750

by well diggers,
who, tunneling about 75 feet

through volcanic debris,

first hit a colored marble floor

with an amazing pattern

made up of bright red
and yellow marbles.

We think this was
once the vacation home

of a Roman senator
of the highest rank

of an old noble family

named Lucius Calpurnius Piso.

SHATNER:
The volcanic ash
that buried Villa dei Papiri,

did not only preserve
the physical structure.

did not only preserve
the physical structure.
It also entombed
a library that contained

It also entombed
a library that contained

more than 1,800 papyrus scrolls.

These scrolls are
an extraordinary record

of the thoughts
and writings of people

of the thoughts
and writings of people
who lived
nearly 2,000 years ago.

who lived
nearly 2,000 years ago.

Those texts were discovered
when the city was excavated

and some of the artifacts
were first found.

The people who discovered them
didn't know what they were.

They thought that maybe
they were pieces of branches

or logs because they were
rolled up and carbonized.

Until someone finally realized
these are texts on papyrus.

LAPATIN:
The Villa dei Papiri library
is significant because

LAPATIN:
The Villa dei Papiri library
is significant because
it's the only surviving library

it's the only surviving library

it's the only surviving library
from antiquity
with its contents.

from antiquity
with its contents.

There were scrolls found
that date to the 3rd,

There were scrolls found
that date to the 3rd,
2nd and 1st century BC

2nd and 1st century BC

and the 1st century AD.

About 300 of them or so
have been un-scrolled.

And they contain mostly
philosophic texts,

some poetry,
some literary criticism,

a little bit of history.

But many of the scrolls are
so tightly bound together

and carbonized
that there's been a moratorium

and carbonized
that there's been a moratorium
on attempts to open them.

on attempts to open them.

SHATNER:
Fear of damaging the scrolls
has left many of them

virtually untouched
for over 100 years.

But new technology has presented
an extraordinary opportunity

to actually read
these mysterious ancient texts.

Scientists in
the computer science department

at the University of Kentucky
have developed

a new method
known as "virtual unwrapping,"

which uses
a sophisticated X-ray machine

to scan the scrolls
without damaging them.

SEALES:
The virtual unwrapping
that we innovated basically

allows a 360-degree set
of views to be collected

from an object that rotates
in front of an X-ray beam.

This is a real scroll
that's 2,000 years old.

This is a real scroll
that's 2,000 years old.
And in cross section, we can see

And in cross section, we can see

there-there's damage, there
are parts that are missing,

there-there's damage, there
are parts that are missing,
sections that are broken.

sections that are broken.

Now we're using our software
for the second step,

which is to trace these wraps
all the way through,

so that we can build
a 3D model that lets us

flatten that out and
then read the text that's on it.

And once we're done,
we've achieved

this image that's on the left,
which is the final,

this image that's on the left,
which is the final,
completely unwrapped version.

completely unwrapped version.

This is a quote from Democritus

who was an early
Greek philosopher

and is very well known for
having postulated with others

that materials
are made of atoms.

I think it's remarkable
that 2,000 years ago,

Greek philosophers
were postulating

what we now know
is true from science.

SHATNER:
Thus far, the team has been
able to digitally scan

two complete scrolls
and a number of fragments.

They hope that, in the future,
technology will advance

They hope that, in the future,
technology will advance
and allow them
to reveal even more.

and allow them
to reveal even more.

But what secrets
might be contained

in those 2,000-year-old scrolls?

One exciting possibility
that has been suggested

One exciting possibility
that has been suggested
is that the original letters

is that the original letters

written by Jesus's apostle Paul

could've been kept within
the library at Villa dei Papiri.

RIC RADER:
The Villa of the Papyri
was entombed about

40 to 50 years
after the death of Jesus.

At this time, the original
apostles are now out doing

their mission work in various
parts of the Mediterranean.

So it's entirely likely
that the Villa of the Papyri,

could have a collection

could have a collection
of copies of Paul's letters.

of copies of Paul's letters.

SEALES:
If the letters from
the Apostle Paul circulated

and found
its way into the collection,

such a discovery would
represent the earliest Christian

material that we have,
almost dating back

to the time
of Christ and the disciples.

Being able to use
these techniques

to understand history
in a way that's almost forensic

to understand history
in a way that's almost forensic
is gonna bring
surprising things forward

is gonna bring
surprising things forward

and we're gonna be revealing
more secrets

and we're gonna be revealing
more secrets
than we'd ever imagined before.

than we'd ever imagined before.

It's incredible to think
that the original writings

of Paul the Apostle
might have been buried

and preserved
when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

And, also, it makes you wonder

are there other tombs
that could be hiding

forgotten knowledge?

Well...

there's one located
in Ecuador that might contain

there's one located
in Ecuador that might contain
the ancient library

the ancient library

of a lost civilization.

SHATNER:
The Andes Mountains.

In the eastern part of Ecuador,

In the eastern part of Ecuador,
not far from the border of Peru,

not far from the border of Peru,

not far from the border of Peru,
is the entrance to a cave

is the entrance to a cave

is the entrance to a cave
known as Cueva de los Tayos,

known as Cueva de los Tayos,

or the Caves of Tayos.

Located at an elevation
of 2,600 feet,

this winding cave system
contains a network

this winding cave system
contains a network
of tunnels approximately
three miles long

of tunnels approximately
three miles long

of tunnels approximately
three miles long
and is considered sacred

and is considered sacred

by the native Shuar people
of the region.

But what's most remarkable
about these caves...

is that somewhere
within its depths

is believed to be a tomb
that was constructed

by a mysterious
lost civilization.

The Tayos Caves are arguably
one of the most

enigmatic cave systems
in the world.

They first came
to note in the 1960s,

when an explorer by the name
of Juan Moricz

came suddenly out of the jungle,

claiming that he'd descended
hundreds of feet

claiming that he'd descended
hundreds of feet
into the Tayos Caves,

into the Tayos Caves,

into the Tayos Caves,
and had seen incredible things.

and had seen incredible things.

This included this tomb chamber

This included this tomb chamber
that is supposed to contain

that is supposed to contain

evidence of a lost civilization,

most particularly what
he described as a metal library

of these metal tablets,

seemingly in gold, with these

weird glyphs written
all over them,

that were carved
by some kind of ancient race

that has been entirely
lost to us.

that has been entirely
lost to us.
And Juan Moricz claimed

And Juan Moricz claimed

that this is
what he'd seen and wanted to...

that this is
what he'd seen and wanted to...
tell the world about this.

tell the world about this.

SHATNER:
A metal library
containing gold tablets?

Juan Moricz's extraordinary
account

sparked worldwide curiosity.

And many began to wonder
whether there really were

ancient gold tablets
hidden somewhere

ancient gold tablets
hidden somewhere
in the Tayos Caves.

in the Tayos Caves.

in the Tayos Caves.
COLLINS:
Anybody reading that story

COLLINS:
Anybody reading that story

would've been fascinated by
the mystery of the Tayos Caves.

And this is indeed
what happened,

And this is indeed
what happened,
because it attracted
the attention

because it attracted
the attention

of a Scottish civil engineer

of a Scottish civil engineer
by the name of Stan Hall,

by the name of Stan Hall,

who decided that he would create

an expedition
to explore the caves.

SHATNER:
In 1976, Stan Hall

recruited a number of people
to join his expedition

to the remote jungle of Ecuador
in search of the gold tablets,

including American astronaut
Neil Armstrong,

whose participation helped
to draw worldwide

whose participation helped
to draw worldwide
interest to Hall's efforts.

interest to Hall's efforts.

HALL MUNOZ:
My father became very obsessed
with this treasure story.

The expedition that he mounted
is still today

one of the largest of all time.

and it's because it involved
over 100 personnel

from both the British
and Ecuadorian government's

special forces
and some universities

sent their scientists.

The main challenge was
entering the cave.

Because the only way to get in

is this very deep hole
in the ground.

SHATNER:
According to Stan Hall's
account of the expedition,

the entrance
to the Tayos Caves was a hole

that required the group
to descend one by one

more than 200 feet.

Soon after
they entered the cave,

they made
an extraordinary discovery.

DAVID KUSHNER:
They saw these walls

leading from one chamber
to the next

that looked smooth
and they looked like they're...

that looked smooth
and they looked like they're...
cut at right angles, so...

cut at right angles, so...

it looks like the ruins
of some lost civilization.

it looks like the ruins
of some lost civilization.
SHATNER:
The massive walls did not
appear to be formed naturally,

SHATNER:
The massive walls did not
appear to be formed naturally,

but instead they looked like
they were carved and placed,

but instead they looked like
they were carved and placed,
as if they were man-made.

as if they were man-made.

Stan Hall and his team believed
this was evidence

Stan Hall and his team believed
this was evidence
that a lost civilization
had inhabited

that a lost civilization
had inhabited

the Tayos Caves.

As they moved
deeper into the caves

in search of the gold tablets,

they made another remarkable
discovery inside a chamber

they referred
to as the Altar of Light.

HALL MUNOZ:
Inside the Altar of Light,

there was a ray of sunlight
that shone straight

into the entrance
of that chamber

and it
made it really significant.

And within it,
there's a smaller chamber

in which my father's expedition
found the remains of a person.

COLLINS:
They found this human skeleton

and surrounding it
was pottery, um,

various shell objects
and adornments.

But, unfortunately,
when they reached out

to touch this skeleton,

to touch this skeleton,
it fell apart,
it just fragmented.

it fell apart,
it just fragmented.

it fell apart,
it just fragmented.
Showing how old it was.

Showing how old it was.

Showing how old it was.
But subsequent research

But subsequent research

would show that this
was around 3,500 years old,

dating back to 1500 BC.

And according
to the local Shuar,

And according
to the local Shuar,
this was one of their ancestors,

this was one of their ancestors,

the race that had inhabited
the caves before them.

SHATNER:
The discovery of this ancient
tomb was an astonishing

and unexpected find, one that
heightened the mystery

and unexpected find, one that
heightened the mystery
of who inhabited the Tayos Caves

of who inhabited the Tayos Caves

and led many to wonder
what else might be hidden

within this vast network
of underground passages.

within this vast network
of underground passages.
A few interesting things
happened

A few interesting things
happened

during Stan Hall's expedition.

They did not find
the metal library,

but they did find other things.

Number one, it had these

Number one, it had these
walls that were cut
at right angles.

walls that were cut
at right angles.

And number two, they found
a corpse that was dated

to go back to 1500 BC.

So even though they didn't
find the metal library,

Stan was still convinced
that it was there somewhere.

Is there a collection
of metal tablets

hidden somewhere
in the Tayos Caves?

The search
for answers continues.

Just like on the other side
of the world,

in the mountains of Mongolia,

where archaeologists are
looking for the lost tomb

where archaeologists are
looking for the lost tomb
of the most notorious warlord

of the most notorious warlord

in history.

SHATNER:
Towering above
the sparse landscape

is a massive,
130-foot-tall statue

is a massive,
130-foot-tall statue
made of stainless steel.

made of stainless steel.

This magnificent monument
is a depiction

of Mongolia's most famous ruler,

Genghis Khan.

THOMPSON:
Genghis Khan is one
of the most prominent figures

in all of history,
and he came up

as a very small, minor player in
what was a small, minor country

that most of the world
hadn't heard of.

that most of the world
hadn't heard of.
But by the time he had died,

But by the time he had died,

he had conquered
most of the known world.

STEAVU:
Genghis Khan is unquestionably

Mongolia's greatest,
uh, cultural

and historical
and national hero.

He was at the head of one

of the largest empires
in the world,

of the largest empires
in the world,
second only
to the British Empire.

second only
to the British Empire.

And many people

maybe outside of Mongolia
might remember Genghis Khan

for, uh,
the bloodshed and conquests.

But he was also at the origins

But he was also at the origins
of many technological,
scientific,

of many technological,
scientific,

astronomical developments
and advancements.

SHATNER:
After 20 years
of empire-building,

Genghis Khan died
in the year 1227 AD,

while battling
the western Shi dynasty.

Khan's exact cause
of death is a mystery.

But before he passed,
he commanded

that his final resting place
should be unmarked,

so that his tomb
would be undisturbed forever.

STEAVU:
The circumstances of his burial
are quite mysterious.

According to legend,
Genghis Khan's body

was brought back to Mongolia

by a group of, uh,
2,000 servants

who were guarded
by a group of soldiers.

And once they finished
their work of burying the body,

the servants were
all killed by the soldiers.

Now the soldiers themselves
were then killed

Now the soldiers themselves
were then killed
by a second group of soldiers,

by a second group of soldiers,

who then themselves
committed suicide,

so that the burial site
would remain

forever undisturbed
and unknown.

THOMPSON:
Many great rulers
in many parts of the world

have wanted not to display one's
body, but rather to hide it.

And that would have been
practiced by Genghis Khan.

Because he knew that his tomb,
if it was ever uncovered,

would be
an enormously political tool

for whoever uncovered it.

And he wanted to control
that legacy.

SHATNER:
In the eight centuries
since Genghis Khan's death,

many have tried
to find his tomb.

But thus far,
no one has been able to defeat

Khan's drastic measures
to keep its location a secret.

Which naturally
begs the question...

where could it be?

The Khentii Mountain Range,
2016.

A French archaeological
expedition

ventures deep into this rugged
region of northern Mongolia

to find
Genghis Khan's lost tomb.

The team believes
that the tomb may be hidden

near a particular mountain peak
that is known as...

Burkhan Khaldun.

SHATNER:
Burkhan Khaldun is
almost 8,000 feet high

and covers more than
93 square miles.

Exploring this vast,
rugged terrain

is made even more difficult
because, in 2015,

the mountain was designated
a UNESCO World Heritage Site,

rendering if off-limits
to any excavations

in search
of Genghis Khan's tomb.

Mongolians in general
still desire

Mongolians in general
still desire
to honor Genghis Kahn's wishes.

to honor Genghis Kahn's wishes.

They discourage
archaeological digs,

uh, to try to find the tomb.

He is still very,
very much a hero in Mongolia.

He is still very,
very much a hero in Mongolia.
And his wishes are
still respected.

And his wishes are
still respected.

SHATNER:
Because of the restrictions

against searching
Burkhan Khaldun,

members of the French expedition
decided that the key

to finding Genghis Khan's tomb

was to explore the mountain
from the sky.

And in 2016, they used drones

equipped with both photographic
and infrared cameras

to do an unprecedented survey
of the area.

SHATNER:
After surveying the mountain
from above,

the French team made
an extraordinary discovery.

They identified a mound
that was 130 feet high

and 820 feet wide

that they believe
might be man-made.

The French team that accessed,
uh, the mountain

identified that
the pyramid-shaped elevation

identified that
the pyramid-shaped elevation
also had a little shrine

also had a little shrine

and it sits
atop of this sacred mountain.

So they speculate
that this would

probably be
where Genghis Khan is buried.

SHATNER:
Is it possible
that the structure discovered

by the French expedition
on Burkhan Khaldun

is the tomb of Genghis Khan?

For now,
that question is unanswered,

because the Mongolian people
remain committed

to honoring
the revered emperor's dying wish

that his tomb
should never be found.

Will Genghis Khan's final
resting place ever be found?

It might seem impossible
after all this time,

but new technology is
helping archaeologists

discover tombs
that were lost for centuries,

including a number
of Egyptian burial sites

including a number
of Egyptian burial sites
that weren't found
by digging,

that weren't found
by digging,

but rather by satellites

but rather by satellites
orbiting the Earth.

orbiting the Earth.

SHATNER: Archaeologists
from the University of Alabama

announce that they have
discovered thousands

of ancient Egyptian sites
by analyzing satellite imagery.

Photographs taken
from 435 miles above the Earth

showed that
the ancient city of Tanis,

which is located
in northeastern Egypt,

was much larger
than previously thought.

was much larger
than previously thought.
The images of Tanis
also revealed

The images of Tanis
also revealed

The images of Tanis
also revealed
over 1,000 lost tombs

over 1,000 lost tombs

that had been hidden
beneath the sands

that had been hidden
beneath the sands
for thousands of years.

for thousands of years.

We've known for 300 years
roughly where Tanis is.

But digging up a couple
of sphinxes or a temple is not

the same as being able
to look down from above

at the entire area.

And to see not only
that it's four times

larger than we thought it was,

but also, when you look down
on the satellite imagery,

there's a little cluster of huts
which gets a bit bigger,

and then there's a kind of
mansion phase where people get

these bigger buildings.

There's a temple district,
and suddenly it allows you

to see tombs below the earth
that people have never suspected

were there before.

COLLINS:
What's happened is
that satellite imagery

has actually given us
the entire layout

of that city for the first time.

As we go into the future,

the techniques of archaeology
are becoming better and better.

CLEMENTS:
Space archaeology
allows you to look

from above.

Beyond the human spectrum.

Beyond the human spectrum.
It can look into the infrareds,

It can look into the infrareds,

so it can see tombs
and cities below the earth

that people have never
suspected were there before.

SHATNER:
Thanks to these
technological tools,

finding hidden tombs
is becoming much easier,

including in areas that are
extremely difficult to excavate,

such as under the shifting
sands of the Arabian desert.

such as under the shifting
sands of the Arabian desert.
Which was where, in 2021,

Which was where, in 2021,

an incredible tomb structure
was discovered

near the city of Al-'Ula

in northwest Saudi Arabia.

MARK ALTAWHEEL:
In the deserts of Arabia,
many round structure tombs

have been discovered
using satellite technologies.

These features are often located
in very remote places.

These features are often located
in very remote places.
But with such technologies,
we can

But with such technologies,
we can

locate them much more easily.

CLEMENTS:
What they worked out
was that, at some point,

six and a half thousand
years ago,

there had been
a monumental tomb structure

in what is now
the Arabian desert.

And so, suddenly,
that changes our perspective

on the history
of the Arabian Peninsula.

And we've worked that all out
because a satellite

notices something
from way, way up.

SHATNER:
No matter what tools
we use to find them,

the search for lost tombs
will continue.

the search for lost tombs
will continue.
Because these
sacred burial places

Because these
sacred burial places

contain secrets about our past.

Some tombs are elaborate,

some are mystical
and some are hidden

some are mystical
and some are hidden
right beneath our feet.

right beneath our feet.

CLEMENTS:
Human beings have
been burying their dead

for millennia,
and we're often unaware

that we're walking around
on cemeteries

that we're walking around
on cemeteries
from the distant past.

from the distant past.

But sometimes a tomb is
the only way

But sometimes a tomb is
the only way
we can access the past.

we can access the past.

The further you go back
in history,

the greater the likelihood

that a tomb is the only way
you're gonna find out

that a tomb is the only way
you're gonna find out
about life back then.

about life back then.

The amazing thing
about archaeology

The amazing thing
about archaeology
is it repeatedly confronts us

is it repeatedly confronts us

with what we never
even dreamed of.

Could there be
thousands of lost tombs

scattered around the world,
waiting to be found?

It's a tantalizing prospect.

But maybe we should remember
that our ancestors

sometimes went to great lengths

to build and hide
their sacred burial places.

to build and hide
their sacred burial places.
So while we're
exploring ancient tombs,

So while we're
exploring ancient tombs,

we should also take care to let
the dead rest in peace

and allow their journey
into the afterlife

and allow their journey
into the afterlife
to remain undisturbed and...

to remain undisturbed and...

...unexplained.

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