1
00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:06,367
This cross is to Pelayo
what Excalibur is
to King Arthur.
2
00:00:06,367 --> 00:00:09,467
-[Robert] 187,000.
-[Josh] Versus how many men
that Pelayo has?
3
00:00:09,467 --> 00:00:12,100
-[Robert] 300.
-I've seen that movie.
It's called 300.
4
00:00:12,100 --> 00:00:13,800
Yeah, they're not great odds.
5
00:00:13,900 --> 00:00:16,166
[Josh] Pelayo is kind of
everywhere here, I'm learning.
6
00:00:16,233 --> 00:00:19,533
[Olalla] Yes,
he's a hugely
important symbol.
7
00:00:23,867 --> 00:00:25,266
Yeah!
8
00:00:25,333 --> 00:00:26,967
-Skeletons?
From the time of Pelayo?
-Yeah, yeah.
9
00:00:26,967 --> 00:00:28,467
Why don't you go there
and meet them?
10
00:00:28,467 --> 00:00:29,900
-[Josh] Are they
easy to get to?
-[Pablo] No.
11
00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,233
[sighs wearily] Okay,
this is a good start.
12
00:00:32,700 --> 00:00:34,166
[groans]
13
00:00:34,166 --> 00:00:37,100
[Josh] Oh, my word,
look at this place.
14
00:00:37,634 --> 00:00:39,533
This is an endless cave.
15
00:00:40,367 --> 00:00:42,266
Oh. [bleep]
16
00:00:42,266 --> 00:00:44,266
-We have a full skeleton here.
-[Pablo] Mmm-hmm.
17
00:00:44,266 --> 00:00:46,166
Where's the skull?
18
00:00:46,233 --> 00:00:50,533
Nobody has even tread
in some of these chambers
in centuries.
19
00:00:50,634 --> 00:00:52,734
-Do I hear water?
-Yes, it's a river.
20
00:00:52,734 --> 00:00:54,533
[Josh] This is exploration
right here.
21
00:00:54,634 --> 00:00:56,900
There's something
going on here
that feels superstitious.
22
00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:58,333
We got an opening right there.
23
00:00:58,867 --> 00:01:00,000
Oh, my word,
it is full of bones.
24
00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,333
Oh, my word,
it is full of bones.
25
00:01:12,467 --> 00:01:14,000
[Josh] We've all heard
of King Arthur,
26
00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:17,066
the mythic warrior
who vanquished
an invading army
27
00:01:17,066 --> 00:01:18,800
to become king of the Britons.
28
00:01:18,900 --> 00:01:23,467
But there's another hero
from Europe's Dark Ages
you may never have heard of.
29
00:01:23,467 --> 00:01:26,467
A man who not only
shaped the history
of a nation,
30
00:01:26,467 --> 00:01:28,634
but the entire world
as we know it.
31
00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:30,000
His name is Pelayo,
32
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:30,634
His name is Pelayo,
33
00:01:32,367 --> 00:01:36,533
a humble sword-bearer
in Muslim-controlled
eighth-century Spain
34
00:01:36,533 --> 00:01:38,533
who rises up
to unite his people
35
00:01:38,634 --> 00:01:41,433
and repels
an army of thousands...
36
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,467
...in a battle straight out of
Game of Thrones.
37
00:01:50,100 --> 00:01:53,734
His victory leads
to the birth of
the Christian-Spanish Empire,
38
00:01:53,734 --> 00:01:55,700
which conquered
much of the Americas
39
00:01:55,700 --> 00:01:58,734
and altered the course
of Western history.
40
00:01:58,734 --> 00:02:00,000
That is, if the story
of Pelayo is remotely true.
41
00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,233
That is, if the story
of Pelayo is remotely true.
42
00:02:02,734 --> 00:02:04,166
Like King Arthur,
43
00:02:04,233 --> 00:02:07,634
it's hard to know
where history ends
and legend begins.
44
00:02:07,734 --> 00:02:11,634
But now,
archaeologists and historians
are making discoveries
45
00:02:11,634 --> 00:02:13,533
that could unlock the truth.
46
00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:17,533
Beneath the crumbling ruins
of an ancient castle,
47
00:02:17,533 --> 00:02:22,367
newly found artifacts
could reveal Pelayo's
true identity.
48
00:02:22,367 --> 00:02:24,734
And inside
a perilous mountain cave,
49
00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,467
explorers have made
a grisly discovery
in the darkness.
50
00:02:29,533 --> 00:02:30,000
Human remains
from the time of Pelayo
with a shocking tale to tell.
51
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,066
Human remains
from the time of Pelayo
with a shocking tale to tell.
52
00:02:36,166 --> 00:02:40,166
So join me
as I search for the real king
behind the myth,
53
00:02:40,166 --> 00:02:42,800
the true tale
of the Christian hero
54
00:02:42,900 --> 00:02:49,266
who set Spain on the path
to become a global superpower
and changed our world forever.
55
00:02:54,500 --> 00:02:56,066
[Josh] My name is Josh Gates.
56
00:02:56,066 --> 00:02:57,166
Hello!
57
00:02:57,233 --> 00:02:58,166
[Josh] Explorer...
58
00:02:58,166 --> 00:03:00,000
-Here goes nothing.
-[Josh] ...adventurer...
59
00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:00,100
-Here goes nothing.
-[Josh] ...adventurer...
60
00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:01,166
[laughs excitedly]
61
00:03:01,166 --> 00:03:02,467
Oh, that's a long way down.
62
00:03:02,467 --> 00:03:03,867
[Josh]
...and a guy who ends up
63
00:03:03,867 --> 00:03:06,367
-in some
very strange situations.
-[gasps]
64
00:03:06,433 --> 00:03:08,100
I'm alive! For now.
65
00:03:08,100 --> 00:03:09,533
[Josh] With a degree
in archaeology
66
00:03:09,634 --> 00:03:11,867
and a passion
for the unexplained,
67
00:03:11,867 --> 00:03:13,734
I travel to the ends
of the Earth
68
00:03:13,734 --> 00:03:16,634
investigating
the greatest legends
in history.
69
00:03:16,634 --> 00:03:18,266
Ready to rock and roll.
70
00:03:18,333 --> 00:03:20,634
[Josh] This is
Expedition Unknown.
71
00:03:27,367 --> 00:03:30,000
[Josh] Spain,
home to beautiful beaches,
all-night raves,
72
00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,266
[Josh] Spain,
home to beautiful beaches,
all-night raves,
73
00:03:32,266 --> 00:03:35,634
and as much sangria and ham
as you can eat.
74
00:03:35,734 --> 00:03:37,800
At least,
that's what I was expecting.
75
00:03:41,634 --> 00:03:45,066
Plot twist.
Spain is freezing right now.
76
00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:46,900
I'm in the northern part
of the country
77
00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:48,967
in the Picos de Europa
mountains,
78
00:03:48,967 --> 00:03:53,066
and it's definitely
more alpine than Ibiza.
79
00:03:53,066 --> 00:03:55,900
Turns out I waxed
my back for nothing.
What a waste.
80
00:03:59,967 --> 00:04:00,000
Since the story of Pelayo
is so shrouded in myth,
81
00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,166
Since the story of Pelayo
is so shrouded in myth,
82
00:04:04,233 --> 00:04:07,266
we have to begin with
the real locations
83
00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:09,500
that are associated
with his story.
84
00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:11,367
And there's
no better place to start
85
00:04:11,433 --> 00:04:15,100
than a high mountain sanctuary
known as Covadonga.
86
00:04:15,100 --> 00:04:18,333
After all, Pelayo himself
is supposedly buried there.
87
00:04:23,734 --> 00:04:26,634
Near the summit
of the mountain
is a grand basilica
88
00:04:26,634 --> 00:04:29,066
and statue
dedicated to Pelayo.
89
00:04:29,700 --> 00:04:30,000
But I'm not here
for sightseeing.
90
00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:31,500
But I'm not here
for sightseeing.
91
00:04:31,500 --> 00:04:33,166
Now that I've climbed
all this way,
92
00:04:33,166 --> 00:04:36,467
I'm actually going down
into the mountain itself.
93
00:04:41,367 --> 00:04:44,100
This is the holy cave
of Covadonga,
94
00:04:44,100 --> 00:04:46,066
and it's been considered
a sacred site
95
00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:48,367
for as long as anybody
can remember.
96
00:04:48,367 --> 00:04:52,000
But there's a reason
that Catholics still make
pilgrimages here today.
97
00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,100
It's because this is where
the legendary warrior Pelayo
and his men
98
00:04:56,100 --> 00:04:58,634
were victorious
against an invading army.
99
00:04:59,700 --> 00:05:00,000
Here inside the sanctuary,
I meet Medieval historian
Robert Portass.
100
00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,000
Here inside the sanctuary,
I meet Medieval historian
Robert Portass.
101
00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:05,266
-Hi, Josh.
-Nice to meet you.
102
00:05:05,333 --> 00:05:05,967
Likewise.
103
00:05:05,967 --> 00:05:06,967
I have to say, this may be
104
00:05:06,967 --> 00:05:08,467
the most dramatic location
105
00:05:08,533 --> 00:05:09,634
for a chapel I've ever seen.
106
00:05:09,634 --> 00:05:11,367
Like, literally perched
on a cliff.
107
00:05:11,367 --> 00:05:12,800
And, of course, here we are,
108
00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:15,734
standing by
the supposed resting place
of Pelayo himself.
109
00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:17,500
So, I have a lot of questions
about Pelayo.
110
00:05:17,500 --> 00:05:18,800
-Okay.
-When does this story
take place,
111
00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:20,600
and what's going on
here in Spain?
112
00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,967
In the fifth century,
the Roman Empire falls apart.
113
00:05:23,967 --> 00:05:27,467
And by the time we get
to the early sixth century,
114
00:05:27,533 --> 00:05:30,000
a new political force
has emerged in Spain,
115
00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:30,066
a new political force
has emerged in Spain,
116
00:05:30,100 --> 00:05:31,634
and that is
the Visigothic Kingdom.
117
00:05:32,266 --> 00:05:33,467
[Josh] Meet the Visigoths,
118
00:05:33,533 --> 00:05:35,266
the barbarian Germanic tribe
119
00:05:35,266 --> 00:05:36,700
that becomes
a Christian kingdom,
120
00:05:36,700 --> 00:05:38,634
invades Italy,
takes down Rome,
121
00:05:38,734 --> 00:05:43,066
and ends up occupying
most of the Iberian Peninsula
AKA future Spain,
122
00:05:43,066 --> 00:05:45,367
with their capital
in the city of Toledo.
123
00:05:45,367 --> 00:05:46,467
[doorbell chimes]
124
00:05:46,467 --> 00:05:48,000
[Josh] But wait,
who's that at the door?
125
00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,634
It's probably just
the pizza we ord--
126
00:05:49,734 --> 00:05:52,600
Oh, no, it's the Islamic
Umayyad Caliphate.
127
00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,166
In the year 711,
this army of Arab
and North African fighters
128
00:05:56,166 --> 00:05:59,533
destroy the Visigoth capital
and conquer most of
the country,
129
00:05:59,533 --> 00:06:00,000
giving them a foothold
to launch attacks on the rest
of Western Europe.
130
00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,467
giving them a foothold
to launch attacks on the rest
of Western Europe.
131
00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,600
And these guys
are no joke, right?
132
00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,634
I mean, they really do
sweep the board
here in Spain.
133
00:06:09,734 --> 00:06:11,734
Yes, with really
astonishing speed.
134
00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,367
So within a handful of years,
perhaps three years,
135
00:06:14,433 --> 00:06:16,367
almost all of the peninsula
is conquered.
136
00:06:16,367 --> 00:06:19,634
And it's in this landscape
that our guy emerges.
137
00:06:19,634 --> 00:06:22,266
-This is where Pelayo
comes on to the battlefield.
-That's right.
138
00:06:22,266 --> 00:06:26,266
So, Pelayo exists
both in history
and in legend.
139
00:06:26,266 --> 00:06:27,900
[Josh]
And what a legend it is.
140
00:06:29,634 --> 00:06:30,000
Pelayo is a young
Christian Visigoth noble,
being groomed for power
141
00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,266
Pelayo is a young
Christian Visigoth noble,
being groomed for power
142
00:06:34,266 --> 00:06:37,166
under the mentorship
of King Roderick in Toledo.
143
00:06:45,867 --> 00:06:48,367
In the first wave
of the Muslim invasion,
though,
144
00:06:48,433 --> 00:06:50,433
the Visigoth army
is wiped out...
145
00:06:52,266 --> 00:06:54,266
...and King Roderick
is killed.
146
00:06:55,734 --> 00:07:00,000
Pelayo flees to the untamed
northern borderlands
of Asturias.
147
00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:00,266
Pelayo flees to the untamed
northern borderlands
of Asturias.
148
00:07:00,333 --> 00:07:04,367
Here, he rallies
a ragged frontier population
to his cause,
149
00:07:04,367 --> 00:07:07,634
and prepares to face off
against the Islamic forces
150
00:07:07,634 --> 00:07:11,166
in a battle to decide
the fate of the Western world.
151
00:07:13,166 --> 00:07:17,734
Pelayo and his followers
are pursued up to this
vantage point here
152
00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:19,100
where we are right now.
153
00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:21,367
-Literally
right here in this cave.
-Right here. That's right.
154
00:07:21,367 --> 00:07:24,500
And then, ultimately,
there's this, supposedly,
this big battle.
155
00:07:24,500 --> 00:07:27,266
-This is Pelayo
and his rallied forces...
-Mmm-hmm.
156
00:07:27,333 --> 00:07:28,600
...versus the Arab army.
157
00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:30,000
And this is meant
to be a fairly
lopsided battle, right?
158
00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,700
And this is meant
to be a fairly
lopsided battle, right?
159
00:07:31,700 --> 00:07:33,467
What are the numbers
that we're talking about here?
160
00:07:33,467 --> 00:07:38,533
We're told that
the Arab-Berber force
is 187,000 strong.
161
00:07:38,634 --> 00:07:39,734
-Okay.
-Yes.
162
00:07:39,734 --> 00:07:41,867
-Huge, huge army.
-Absolutely.
163
00:07:41,867 --> 00:07:43,867
Versus how many men
that Pelayo has?
164
00:07:43,867 --> 00:07:46,533
-300.
-I've seen that movie.
It's called 300.
165
00:07:46,634 --> 00:07:48,166
Yeah, they're not great odds.
166
00:07:49,634 --> 00:07:51,066
[Josh] Facing a slaughter,
167
00:07:51,066 --> 00:07:53,867
Pelayo prays
to the Virgin Mary for help.
168
00:07:53,867 --> 00:07:56,233
And his prayers
are seemingly answered.
169
00:08:01,634 --> 00:08:05,166
Charging onto the battlefield,
wielding the cross
of their faith,
170
00:08:05,166 --> 00:08:10,734
Pelayo and his 300 men
find themselves aided
by a series of miracles.
171
00:08:12,100 --> 00:08:15,100
Crushing boulders rain down
from the heavens,
172
00:08:15,100 --> 00:08:17,734
surging rivers
swallow the Muslim army,
173
00:08:17,734 --> 00:08:20,467
and volleys of arrows
turn in mid-air
174
00:08:20,533 --> 00:08:23,467
back at the terrified archers
who fired them.
175
00:08:23,467 --> 00:08:25,700
Admittedly,
this blessing from above
176
00:08:25,700 --> 00:08:30,000
reads like a Marvel-sized
special effects extravaganza.
177
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:30,634
reads like a Marvel-sized
special effects extravaganza.
178
00:08:30,734 --> 00:08:34,467
But, according to the legend,
over 100,000 Muslims
are killed,
179
00:08:34,467 --> 00:08:38,166
and Pelayo is crowned
the first king of Asturias.
180
00:08:38,700 --> 00:08:40,734
His line would
become a dynasty
181
00:08:40,734 --> 00:08:44,266
that forms
the beginnings of
the Christian-Spanish Empire,
182
00:08:44,266 --> 00:08:48,634
which expands beyond Europe
to explore and then conquer
the New World,
183
00:08:48,634 --> 00:08:52,634
including land
that would become
the good old U.S. of A.
184
00:08:52,734 --> 00:08:55,066
And all of it
starts in this cave.
185
00:08:56,266 --> 00:08:57,467
So this is a great story.
186
00:08:57,467 --> 00:08:58,533
-It's an amazing story.
-Right?
187
00:08:58,634 --> 00:09:00,000
-It's an underdog story.
It's heroic.
-It is.
188
00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,734
-It's an underdog story.
It's heroic.
-It is.
189
00:09:02,734 --> 00:09:05,166
-Is any of it true?
-[chuckles]
190
00:09:05,166 --> 00:09:08,066
-Now, this is the difficult
question to answer.
-Right.
191
00:09:09,100 --> 00:09:11,634
[Josh] The main sources
for the heroic Pelayo legend
192
00:09:11,734 --> 00:09:14,467
are all, unsurprisingly,
Christian.
193
00:09:14,467 --> 00:09:17,166
But Islamic writers
mention him too,
194
00:09:17,233 --> 00:09:19,467
painting Pelayo
as a pathetic rebel
195
00:09:19,533 --> 00:09:21,800
who they don't even
bother to attack.
196
00:09:21,900 --> 00:09:23,867
They do bother
to mention him though,
197
00:09:23,867 --> 00:09:26,367
which probably
tells us something.
198
00:09:26,433 --> 00:09:28,634
I think that Pelayo's
too prominent a figure
199
00:09:28,734 --> 00:09:30,000
-to have been
totally invented.
-[Josh] Right.
200
00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:30,800
-to have been
totally invented.
-[Josh] Right.
201
00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:32,467
And what can we
say historically?
202
00:09:32,533 --> 00:09:34,367
-Let's take the tomb,
for instance.
-Sure.
203
00:09:34,367 --> 00:09:37,500
Is there any historicity
to him being buried
right here?
204
00:09:37,500 --> 00:09:41,066
We don't have
a concrete indication
that he's buried here.
205
00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:43,500
[Josh] The tomb dates back
to about the year 1200
206
00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:46,867
and is mostly regarded
as a symbolic burial.
207
00:09:46,867 --> 00:09:49,367
Furthermore, the crypt here
will never be opened,
208
00:09:49,433 --> 00:09:52,066
lest it threaten
the legend of Pelayo,
209
00:09:52,100 --> 00:09:54,100
which looms large
here in Spain.
210
00:09:54,700 --> 00:09:56,734
So we have
a lot of symbolism here,
211
00:09:57,266 --> 00:09:58,500
but where do we look
212
00:09:58,500 --> 00:10:00,000
to figure out
if the story's true?
213
00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:00,800
to figure out
if the story's true?
214
00:10:00,900 --> 00:10:04,266
Well, some artifacts remain
from the period in question.
215
00:10:04,266 --> 00:10:07,000
One particular object
survives.
216
00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:09,634
An artifact that may be
from Pelayo's life?
217
00:10:09,634 --> 00:10:12,467
That's right. Perhaps even
an artifact that he may
have handled himself,
218
00:10:12,533 --> 00:10:14,734
which can be found locally,
in fact, in Oviedo.
219
00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:17,166
-All right,
a good place to start.
-Absolutely.
220
00:10:21,867 --> 00:10:24,266
I drive 50 miles
from Covadonga
221
00:10:24,333 --> 00:10:27,467
to the capital of Asturias,
the city of Oviedo.
222
00:10:36,100 --> 00:10:37,166
Over the centuries,
223
00:10:37,166 --> 00:10:39,266
Oviedo and
the surrounding area
224
00:10:39,266 --> 00:10:42,867
has been occupied by Celts,
Romans, and Visigoths.
225
00:10:42,867 --> 00:10:46,533
And the influences
of all of them
are still felt here today.
226
00:10:47,467 --> 00:10:49,266
I want to see
the only known artifact
227
00:10:49,333 --> 00:10:52,467
associated with
the legendary King Pelayo.
228
00:10:52,533 --> 00:10:57,066
So I duck out of the parade
and head to the Cathedral
of San Salvador
229
00:10:57,100 --> 00:11:00,000
to meet
journalist and historian
Olalla Pena.
230
00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:00,867
to meet
journalist and historian
Olalla Pena.
231
00:11:00,867 --> 00:11:04,367
I have to say,
I'm kind of overwhelmed.
This is magnificent.
232
00:11:04,367 --> 00:11:06,467
It was ordered to be built
233
00:11:06,533 --> 00:11:08,734
by one of the descendent
of Pelayo,
234
00:11:08,734 --> 00:11:10,533
the King Alfonso II.
235
00:11:10,533 --> 00:11:13,367
Pelayo is kind of
everywhere here, I'm learning.
236
00:11:18,367 --> 00:11:19,467
Okay.
237
00:11:19,467 --> 00:11:20,900
I would love to see it.
238
00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,166
Let's go. There's a crypt
underneath the cathedral.
239
00:11:23,233 --> 00:11:24,533
[Josh]
Oh, I love a good crypt.
240
00:11:28,166 --> 00:11:30,000
[Josh] Olalla
escorts me underground,
241
00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:30,166
[Josh] Olalla
escorts me underground,
242
00:11:30,166 --> 00:11:34,266
having arranged
for rare access
to the Camara Santa,
243
00:11:34,333 --> 00:11:37,634
the holy chamber
where the church holds
sacred treasures.
244
00:11:42,367 --> 00:11:44,266
-[chuckles]
-Wow, look at this.
245
00:11:44,333 --> 00:11:45,533
Oh.
246
00:11:51,367 --> 00:11:52,734
[Josh] What?
247
00:11:57,100 --> 00:12:00,367
This is the cross
that Pelayo carried
at Covadonga?
248
00:12:00,367 --> 00:12:03,166
-Yes.
-In the defeat
of the Muslim army?
249
00:12:03,166 --> 00:12:08,533
Yeah. According to the legend,
he defeats the enemy
with the help of this cross.
250
00:12:09,166 --> 00:12:11,433
[Josh] Spain's celebrated
King Pelayo
251
00:12:11,500 --> 00:12:14,367
was said to have been
a Christian Visigoth noble
252
00:12:14,367 --> 00:12:17,734
who allied himself
with savage northern tribesmen
253
00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,867
to evict the country's
Muslim occupiers.
254
00:12:20,900 --> 00:12:23,512
I'm in a church crypt
searching for the truth
behind the legend
255
00:12:23,512 --> 00:12:24,533
I'm in a church crypt
searching for the truth
behind the legend
256
00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:28,967
and getting exclusive access
to one of Spain's
holiest relics.
257
00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,166
-And it's the actual cross?
-According to legend, it is.
258
00:12:33,233 --> 00:12:34,634
So there's that
word again, "legend,"
259
00:12:34,734 --> 00:12:36,634
that always comes up
with Pelayo, right?
260
00:12:36,734 --> 00:12:38,433
I mean, this cross
is to Pelayo
261
00:12:38,500 --> 00:12:40,734
what Excalibur is
to King Arthur, right?
262
00:12:44,166 --> 00:12:46,166
This cross is so ornate.
263
00:12:46,166 --> 00:12:51,166
It's not what I would imagine
a warrior would be carrying
into battle in the mountains.
264
00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,734
-Right, a simple cross.
-A simple cross.
265
00:13:00,734 --> 00:13:01,634
[Josh] In the legend,
266
00:13:01,734 --> 00:13:03,000
Pelayo's faith
267
00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:05,266
and the wooden cross
he carried into battle
268
00:13:05,266 --> 00:13:09,533
lead to divine intervention
to defeat the invading army.
269
00:13:09,533 --> 00:13:13,734
Years later, one of
Pelayo's descendants,
King Alfonso III,
270
00:13:13,734 --> 00:13:19,467
supposedly gilded the cross
and decorated it
with 152 jewels.
271
00:13:19,467 --> 00:13:21,533
How do we know
that his cross is in here?
272
00:13:36,367 --> 00:13:37,433
And is that true?
273
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:42,867
Okay.
274
00:13:47,900 --> 00:13:50,066
Okay, so, to the castle.
275
00:13:52,367 --> 00:13:53,512
To see where
Pelayo's cross came from,
276
00:13:53,512 --> 00:13:54,734
To see where
Pelayo's cross came from,
277
00:13:54,734 --> 00:13:57,333
and learn if this part
of the legend holds up,
278
00:13:57,367 --> 00:14:01,266
I drive 30 miles
north of Oviedo
to Gauzon Castle.
279
00:14:04,166 --> 00:14:07,000
Working here to reconstruct
the story of the castle
280
00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,166
and its connection
to King Pelayo
281
00:14:09,233 --> 00:14:11,734
is archaeologist
Alejandro Garcia.
282
00:14:13,266 --> 00:14:16,634
-Alejandro, hey.
-Ah. Hello, Josh.
283
00:14:16,734 --> 00:14:18,734
-How are you?
Nice to meet you.
-I'm out of breath.
284
00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:20,266
-[chuckles]
-But I'm good, I'm good.
285
00:14:20,333 --> 00:14:22,900
Okay, so, I've seen this cross
at the cathedral,
286
00:14:22,900 --> 00:14:23,512
this beautiful
gold gilded cross.
287
00:14:23,512 --> 00:14:26,166
this beautiful
gold gilded cross.
288
00:14:26,233 --> 00:14:28,634
And it says,
literally stamped,
289
00:14:28,634 --> 00:14:31,333
-that it was gilded here
at Gauzon Castle.
-Yeah, yeah.
290
00:14:31,367 --> 00:14:33,533
-Is that true?
-Yes, that's true.
291
00:14:33,533 --> 00:14:35,333
-Oh, 100 percent?
-Yeah.
292
00:14:35,367 --> 00:14:37,900
Oh, I thought
you were gonna hedge,
and be an archaeologist,
293
00:14:37,900 --> 00:14:39,634
and say,
"We don't know. Maybe."
294
00:14:39,634 --> 00:14:42,533
-You feel confident?
-In this case,
we are confident.
295
00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:44,066
Okay, why are you
so confident?
296
00:14:48,100 --> 00:14:49,634
-Linked to the cross?
-Yeah.
297
00:14:49,734 --> 00:14:51,533
[Josh]
To make the Pelayo connection,
298
00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,512
Alejandro brings me over
to the other side of Gauzon.
299
00:14:53,512 --> 00:14:55,166
Alejandro brings me over
to the other side of Gauzon.
300
00:14:55,233 --> 00:14:56,367
[Josh]
So what did you find here?
301
00:14:56,367 --> 00:14:59,433
The most important
is that we found,
302
00:14:59,500 --> 00:15:03,634
here we have
in this little box,
303
00:15:04,100 --> 00:15:07,533
we have these pieces.
304
00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:09,867
-Are these gems?
-Yeah. [chuckles]
305
00:15:09,867 --> 00:15:13,000
[Josh]
Wait, you found gems
in the ground here?
306
00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,100
Yes, in this side, yes.
307
00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:16,533
-[Josh] May I?
-Yeah, you can.
308
00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,266
-[Josh] These jewels
look exactly like the gems...
-Yeah.
309
00:15:19,266 --> 00:15:21,166
-...that we see on the cross.
-Yeah.
310
00:15:21,166 --> 00:15:23,512
[Josh] The jewels here
are exactly the same type
and shape
311
00:15:23,512 --> 00:15:24,533
[Josh] The jewels here
are exactly the same type
and shape
312
00:15:24,533 --> 00:15:26,734
as those on the holy cross.
313
00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,166
And archaeologists
found remains
of smelting fires
314
00:15:30,166 --> 00:15:32,367
in what was likely a workshop.
315
00:15:32,367 --> 00:15:35,867
Carbon dating of the charcoal
puts it in the tenth century,
316
00:15:35,867 --> 00:15:39,266
at the exact time
the cross was supposed
to have been gilded.
317
00:15:40,100 --> 00:15:41,867
-So, we have
a metal workshop...
-Yeah.
318
00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:44,734
-...where metalworking,
gilding was happening?
-Yeah.
319
00:15:44,734 --> 00:15:47,433
-In the exact
right time period?
-Uh-huh, yeah.
320
00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:50,000
In the place where the cross
was supposed to be made?
321
00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:53,512
Yes, you are right.
The cross was made here
in 908.
322
00:15:53,512 --> 00:15:53,867
Yes, you are right.
The cross was made here
in 908.
323
00:15:53,900 --> 00:15:54,867
Unbelievable.
324
00:15:55,467 --> 00:15:56,266
[Josh] Amazing.
325
00:15:56,266 --> 00:15:58,000
This could be the very room
326
00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,734
where Pelayo's victory cross
was gilded.
327
00:16:00,734 --> 00:16:04,433
And it helps establish
a firm connection
to the artifact.
328
00:16:06,734 --> 00:16:09,734
But this isn't the only
shocking discovery.
329
00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,734
Alejandro's team
is currently digging
330
00:16:11,734 --> 00:16:14,867
just outside the remains
of the castle walls,
331
00:16:14,900 --> 00:16:17,634
and they've found items
that shouldn't be there.
332
00:16:19,634 --> 00:16:21,000
Look at this.
333
00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,367
-Here is a piece of pottery.
-What...
334
00:16:23,367 --> 00:16:23,512
Oh, with a weird pattern.
335
00:16:23,512 --> 00:16:24,467
Oh, with a weird pattern.
336
00:16:24,467 --> 00:16:27,000
It's a special pottery.
337
00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:28,533
Okay, special how?
338
00:16:34,166 --> 00:16:36,166
-Sixth or seventh century?
-Yes.
339
00:16:36,166 --> 00:16:40,166
But the castle
was built by Alfonso III
in the tenth century,
340
00:16:40,233 --> 00:16:41,266
-so what is this
doing here?
-Yeah.
341
00:16:41,266 --> 00:16:43,000
It's here, this pottery,
342
00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:48,467
because we are discovering
that there was a castle here
before Alfonso III.
343
00:16:48,467 --> 00:16:50,634
[Josh] The fact that
there was a castle here
344
00:16:50,734 --> 00:16:53,266
centuries earlier
than previously thought
345
00:16:53,266 --> 00:16:53,512
may fundamentally
alter key elements
of the Pelayo legend.
346
00:16:53,512 --> 00:16:57,433
may fundamentally
alter key elements
of the Pelayo legend.
347
00:16:58,467 --> 00:17:01,166
[Josh] What the team
is discovering here
reveals that,
348
00:17:01,233 --> 00:17:03,467
far from being
savage frontiersmen,
349
00:17:03,467 --> 00:17:06,100
the Asturians
that Pelayo lead into battle
350
00:17:06,100 --> 00:17:09,734
appear to have been
a sophisticated
and organized society.
351
00:17:10,533 --> 00:17:13,100
Arrowheads and blades
found at the site
352
00:17:13,100 --> 00:17:16,900
confirm that
they knew how to fight
before Pelayo arrived here.
353
00:17:18,634 --> 00:17:22,533
In fact, there's even
a version of Pelayo's story
from the ninth century
354
00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:23,512
that suggests
he might not have come here
355
00:17:23,512 --> 00:17:24,734
that suggests
he might not have come here
356
00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:27,533
as an outsider
from the big city of Toledo.
357
00:17:27,533 --> 00:17:29,867
Instead, he might have
actually been from
358
00:17:29,900 --> 00:17:32,634
this northern area
to begin with.
359
00:17:32,634 --> 00:17:36,734
So maybe
Pelayo is less King Arthur
and more William Wallace.
360
00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,467
He's less of this nobleman
who rises up,
361
00:17:39,467 --> 00:17:42,533
-and he's more of
a local warrior.
-Yeah.
362
00:17:43,900 --> 00:17:47,734
[Josh] But the artifacts here
don't just challenge
Pelayo's origin story.
363
00:17:47,734 --> 00:17:50,967
They're telling us more
about the bedrock
of the Pelayo legend.
364
00:17:51,367 --> 00:17:52,734
His Christian faith.
365
00:18:06,100 --> 00:18:08,533
[Josh] This, too,
defies our image of Pelayo
366
00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:13,166
as the Christian noble
assisted in battle
by the Virgin Mary.
367
00:18:13,233 --> 00:18:17,634
Christianity was still in
a time of great transition
in this part of the world.
368
00:18:30,100 --> 00:18:30,900
Right.
369
00:18:35,634 --> 00:18:36,533
Right.
370
00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:42,900
Uh-huh.
371
00:18:44,367 --> 00:18:46,433
[Josh]
This is very significant.
372
00:18:46,500 --> 00:18:48,634
Incredibly rare evidence
of burials
373
00:18:48,634 --> 00:18:51,166
has been found
in a nearby cave system
374
00:18:51,233 --> 00:18:53,512
close to the site
of the battle of Covadonga.
375
00:18:53,512 --> 00:18:54,100
close to the site
of the battle of Covadonga.
376
00:18:54,100 --> 00:18:59,233
These remains could rewrite
the true story of Pelayo
and his warriors.
377
00:19:00,467 --> 00:19:03,266
[Josh] Our next stop
is about 50 miles
from here
378
00:19:03,333 --> 00:19:04,967
where, at this very moment,
379
00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:07,066
archaeologists
are making discoveries
380
00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:09,734
in a remote cave
known as La Garma.
381
00:19:09,800 --> 00:19:14,367
And there, deep underground,
they're finding that the truth
about the world of Pelayo
382
00:19:14,367 --> 00:19:16,867
is much darker
than the gilded legend,
383
00:19:16,900 --> 00:19:18,900
and much more dangerous.
384
00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:23,512
At the entrance
to the La Garma cave complex,
385
00:19:23,512 --> 00:19:24,533
At the entrance
to the La Garma cave complex,
386
00:19:24,533 --> 00:19:26,166
I meet a pair of explorers
387
00:19:26,166 --> 00:19:29,367
who have been crawling
inside of these mountains
for decades,
388
00:19:29,367 --> 00:19:32,000
Pablo Arias and Jose Angel.
389
00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,166
Okay, so, you guys look
ready for adventure.
390
00:19:34,166 --> 00:19:34,967
-Ready.
-Yes.
391
00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:36,100
Yes, okay.
392
00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:37,900
So, tell me about this cave
that you're exploring.
393
00:19:37,900 --> 00:19:39,900
-What makes this place
so special?
-Well,
394
00:19:39,900 --> 00:19:41,634
Well, everything makes
La Garma special.
395
00:19:41,634 --> 00:19:43,367
It's a unique place.
396
00:19:43,367 --> 00:19:45,166
It's called La Garma,
and, why, why is it unique?
397
00:19:45,233 --> 00:19:47,000
Because people have
been living here
398
00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,734
for half a million years.
399
00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,166
Boy, it sounded like you said
a half a million years.
400
00:19:51,166 --> 00:19:52,367
Yeah, exactly. [chuckles]
401
00:19:52,367 --> 00:19:53,512
[Josh] There's human
habitation in this cave
402
00:19:53,512 --> 00:19:54,000
[Josh] There's human
habitation in this cave
403
00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:55,900
-that goes back that far?
-Yeah, yeah.
404
00:19:55,900 --> 00:19:57,734
Wow, okay. And has this cave
405
00:19:57,734 --> 00:19:59,467
-been fully mapped?
-Not yet.
406
00:19:59,467 --> 00:20:01,433
There are many
galleries unknown.
407
00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:03,100
And you think
there's more to find?
408
00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:04,967
-[Jose] Yes.
-Okay. And so, what...
409
00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,533
what sorts of
things are you discovering?
410
00:20:06,533 --> 00:20:09,266
Right now, we are finding
human skeletons.
411
00:20:09,266 --> 00:20:12,433
-From when?
-From the time of Pelayo.
412
00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:13,867
This is extraordinary,
413
00:20:13,867 --> 00:20:16,266
'cause there's so little
archaeological evidence
414
00:20:16,333 --> 00:20:17,433
from this time period.
415
00:20:25,634 --> 00:20:27,634
Meet skeletons
from the time of Pelayo?
416
00:20:27,634 --> 00:20:28,734
Yeah, yeah.
417
00:20:28,734 --> 00:20:30,166
[Josh] Deep inside
the mountains
418
00:20:30,166 --> 00:20:31,367
of northern Spain,
419
00:20:31,367 --> 00:20:33,467
archaeologists have made
a discovery
420
00:20:33,467 --> 00:20:35,734
that could help tell
the real story
421
00:20:35,734 --> 00:20:38,734
of the legendary
warrior king Pelayo.
422
00:20:39,867 --> 00:20:41,266
So, tell me about
these skeletons.
423
00:20:41,266 --> 00:20:44,066
Well, eh, you can
see them yourself.
424
00:20:44,100 --> 00:20:46,000
-In the cave?
-Yeah, yeah.
They're inside the cave.
425
00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,166
Are they easy to get to?
426
00:20:47,233 --> 00:20:49,166
-No. [laughs]
-No, of course not.
427
00:20:49,166 --> 00:20:50,734
It's quite a difficult trip.
428
00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:52,166
It's three hours underground.
429
00:20:52,233 --> 00:20:52,521
Three hours in darkness?
430
00:20:52,521 --> 00:20:53,634
Three hours in darkness?
431
00:20:53,700 --> 00:20:55,533
-Yeah. [chuckles]
-Okay, well,
432
00:20:55,533 --> 00:20:57,000
I would like to meet them.
433
00:20:57,000 --> 00:20:58,266
-Okay, let's go. Let's go.
-Shall we do it?
434
00:20:58,266 --> 00:21:00,433
-Come on, let's do it.
-[Pablo chuckles]
435
00:21:01,900 --> 00:21:04,433
[Josh] La Garma is
firmly closed to the public,
436
00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:07,634
so this access
is very, very special.
437
00:21:10,867 --> 00:21:12,734
As we approach
the cave entrance,
438
00:21:12,734 --> 00:21:15,100
we're joined by
Pablo and Jose's team,
439
00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:17,634
who'll be going
into La Garma with us.
440
00:21:17,634 --> 00:21:19,800
Into the darkness. Here we go.
441
00:21:23,166 --> 00:21:25,967
I've been told
this is a massive cave.
442
00:21:25,967 --> 00:21:28,734
Right now, though,
it doesn't feel like it.
443
00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:29,634
That's the entrance?
444
00:21:29,634 --> 00:21:30,967
-Yes.
-Oh.
445
00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,100
I should have
skipped breakfast. Okay.
446
00:21:33,100 --> 00:21:35,066
-[chuckles] Let's go.
-Go ahead.
447
00:21:38,467 --> 00:21:39,634
[softly] No way.
448
00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:42,433
I mean...
449
00:21:47,734 --> 00:21:49,266
Might have
to do this headfirst.
450
00:21:51,533 --> 00:21:52,521
Okay,
451
00:21:52,521 --> 00:21:52,867
Okay,
452
00:21:52,867 --> 00:21:54,166
it's not gonna be graceful,
453
00:21:54,233 --> 00:21:55,867
-but here I come.
-[Pablo laughs]
454
00:21:55,867 --> 00:21:57,634
[sighing]
455
00:21:58,367 --> 00:21:59,867
[grunts]
456
00:22:02,533 --> 00:22:05,066
[grunts loudly]
457
00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:06,967
This is...
This is a good start.
458
00:22:06,967 --> 00:22:08,867
[grunts]
459
00:22:08,867 --> 00:22:09,967
[Pablo speaking]
460
00:22:09,967 --> 00:22:11,867
Okay. Nobody wants
to hear that.
461
00:22:15,166 --> 00:22:16,533
Are you kidding me with this?
462
00:22:18,166 --> 00:22:21,166
This cave has been preserved
from outsiders for centuries,
463
00:22:21,166 --> 00:22:22,521
and microbes from the surface
464
00:22:22,521 --> 00:22:22,734
and microbes from the surface
465
00:22:22,734 --> 00:22:26,634
could potentially change
the ecology inside La Garma.
466
00:22:26,634 --> 00:22:31,066
To prevent that,
we change into footwear
that's been sterilized.
467
00:22:31,100 --> 00:22:34,967
Properly shod, we are ready
to descend the vertical shaft
468
00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:37,367
which has been outfitted
with a ladder.
469
00:22:37,367 --> 00:22:39,367
Oh, boy. Big drop-off.
470
00:22:44,266 --> 00:22:46,266
All right, on belay,
coming down.
471
00:22:47,266 --> 00:22:50,433
Everything in this cave
is damp and slick,
472
00:22:50,500 --> 00:22:52,521
so we make sure to use
harnesses and clip in.
473
00:22:52,521 --> 00:22:53,100
so we make sure to use
harnesses and clip in.
474
00:22:53,100 --> 00:22:56,100
One misstep
and the drops are lethal.
475
00:22:56,100 --> 00:22:57,533
Oh, boy.
476
00:22:58,100 --> 00:22:59,734
That's a long way down.
477
00:23:02,266 --> 00:23:03,967
[breathing deeply]
478
00:23:07,467 --> 00:23:10,433
-Okay, I'm down.
-[Pablo] Okay.
479
00:23:11,166 --> 00:23:12,634
[Josh] Now that
I'm safely down,
480
00:23:12,700 --> 00:23:14,333
Pablo and Jose join me.
481
00:23:15,166 --> 00:23:16,467
Okay, we made it
down the ladder.
482
00:23:16,467 --> 00:23:17,467
The first ladder.
483
00:23:17,467 --> 00:23:18,734
-The first ladder?
-Yeah.
484
00:23:18,734 --> 00:23:20,900
-Oh. Okay, great.
-Let's go.
485
00:23:22,467 --> 00:23:22,521
[Josh softly]
The first ladder.
486
00:23:22,521 --> 00:23:23,734
[Josh softly]
The first ladder.
487
00:23:24,467 --> 00:23:25,867
How deep is this cave?
488
00:23:25,867 --> 00:23:28,166
The answer? Very deep.
489
00:23:28,233 --> 00:23:32,066
There's almost a mile
of known passages in La Garma.
490
00:23:32,100 --> 00:23:35,100
Pablo's team has mapped
three distinct levels,
491
00:23:35,100 --> 00:23:36,867
each with a sheer drop,
492
00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:38,066
with some chambers that are
493
00:23:38,100 --> 00:23:39,734
more than
400 feet underground.
494
00:23:41,166 --> 00:23:43,734
To keep all of us
from getting hopelessly lost,
495
00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:45,467
they've marked the floor
with reflectors
496
00:23:45,467 --> 00:23:46,967
to create a narrow path
497
00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,900
through the dark
and winding forest of stone.
498
00:23:53,734 --> 00:23:56,000
I mean, look at this place.
499
00:23:56,967 --> 00:23:58,367
Hoo!
500
00:24:00,867 --> 00:24:02,634
[Josh] We hike on
into the darkness
501
00:24:02,634 --> 00:24:05,266
through one immense cavern
after another.
502
00:24:05,266 --> 00:24:09,066
Eventually we find ourselves
at the top of another drop
503
00:24:09,100 --> 00:24:12,066
where the archaeologists
have rigged another ladder.
504
00:24:13,967 --> 00:24:15,433
Ladder number two.
505
00:24:15,500 --> 00:24:17,867
Oh, my word.
506
00:24:18,967 --> 00:24:22,521
Oh, boy.
This is an endless cave.
507
00:24:22,521 --> 00:24:22,734
Oh, boy.
This is an endless cave.
508
00:24:23,467 --> 00:24:24,734
[exhales sharply]
509
00:24:24,734 --> 00:24:27,266
Pablo graciously agrees
to go first,
510
00:24:27,266 --> 00:24:29,634
then it's my turn to descend.
511
00:24:29,634 --> 00:24:32,266
Okay. Down we go.
512
00:24:32,333 --> 00:24:33,734
[breathing deeply]
513
00:24:39,166 --> 00:24:41,066
How is it so far down?
514
00:24:42,467 --> 00:24:45,066
It's like
a black hole. [exhales]
515
00:24:47,634 --> 00:24:49,533
Oh! [exhales sharply]
516
00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:51,467
-[bleep]
-[Pablo] You all right?
517
00:24:51,467 --> 00:24:52,521
I'm all right!
518
00:24:52,521 --> 00:24:52,900
I'm all right!
519
00:24:58,533 --> 00:25:01,367
This is the third level
of La Garma.
520
00:25:01,367 --> 00:25:03,367
Pablo and Jose lead us further
521
00:25:03,367 --> 00:25:06,734
until we enter a chamber
dripping with stalactites.
522
00:25:08,100 --> 00:25:11,100
Well, Josh, this is the room
I wanted you to see.
523
00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:14,433
[Josh] Oh, my word.
Look at this place!
524
00:25:15,266 --> 00:25:17,266
Unbelievable.
525
00:25:17,266 --> 00:25:20,100
As we enter,
the chamber is eerily quiet,
526
00:25:20,100 --> 00:25:21,467
like a sanctuary.
527
00:25:21,467 --> 00:25:22,521
And then I learn
that we're not alone.
528
00:25:22,521 --> 00:25:23,900
And then I learn
that we're not alone.
529
00:25:27,967 --> 00:25:29,634
[Josh] Oh, my God.
530
00:25:29,700 --> 00:25:31,166
This is a full skeleton.
531
00:25:35,367 --> 00:25:36,734
Oh, my God.
532
00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,166
This is a full skeleton.
Look at this.
533
00:25:40,166 --> 00:25:42,967
I'm deep inside
the La Garma cave,
534
00:25:42,967 --> 00:25:45,066
an undisturbed time capsule
535
00:25:45,066 --> 00:25:48,367
from the era of
Spain's heroic king Pelayo.
536
00:25:48,367 --> 00:25:49,967
We're searching for evidence
537
00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:51,967
of the truth
behind his legend.
538
00:25:52,900 --> 00:25:54,467
This might qualify.
539
00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:58,000
-We have a full skeleton here.
-[Pablo] Mmm-hmm.
540
00:26:00,734 --> 00:26:02,130
Oh, there's another skeleton
right there!
541
00:26:02,130 --> 00:26:02,533
Oh, there's another skeleton
right there!
542
00:26:02,533 --> 00:26:05,066
-Yes.
-How many of these
skeletons are here?
543
00:26:05,066 --> 00:26:06,967
[Pablo] There are five
in this gallery.
544
00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:09,533
Five. And these are from
the time of Pelayo?
545
00:26:09,533 --> 00:26:11,266
Yeah, yes, they are.
546
00:26:11,266 --> 00:26:13,066
[Josh] The archaeologists
have discovered
547
00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:16,100
that this chamber is, in fact,
an eerie necropolis.
548
00:26:16,100 --> 00:26:19,634
The skeletons have been
carefully laid out
on the floor,
549
00:26:19,634 --> 00:26:22,533
surrounded by
broken pieces of stalactites
550
00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,467
in some sort of burial ritual.
551
00:26:25,467 --> 00:26:27,634
Wow. Unbelievable.
552
00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:28,967
I'm trying to understand this.
553
00:26:28,967 --> 00:26:31,066
People brought
these five bodies
554
00:26:31,100 --> 00:26:32,130
all the way down here?
555
00:26:32,130 --> 00:26:32,266
all the way down here?
556
00:26:32,333 --> 00:26:33,533
This whole trip
that we've made,
557
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:34,734
they came the same way?
558
00:26:35,900 --> 00:26:37,066
[Josh] Ropes and torches.
559
00:26:37,066 --> 00:26:39,734
Think about that.
With torches, how scary
560
00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:41,634
-this environment would be.
-Yeah, yeah.
561
00:26:41,634 --> 00:26:44,066
They must have felt like
they were venturing
into the underworld.
562
00:26:44,066 --> 00:26:45,533
Yeah, yeah. No doubt.
563
00:26:45,533 --> 00:26:48,000
Why? This must have been
a kind of...
564
00:26:48,634 --> 00:26:50,634
ceremonial burial, in a way.
565
00:26:53,066 --> 00:26:55,634
Was any clothing found?
Was any textiles found?
566
00:26:55,900 --> 00:26:57,266
[Pablo speaking]
567
00:27:02,967 --> 00:27:05,634
A metal belt buckle.
And what does it look like?
568
00:27:05,634 --> 00:27:09,800
[Jose speaking]
569
00:27:12,967 --> 00:27:14,367
-[Josh] It has a cross?
-[Jose] Yes.
570
00:27:14,367 --> 00:27:16,367
So these...
these are Christians.
571
00:27:16,367 --> 00:27:17,734
Eh, we think so.
572
00:27:17,734 --> 00:27:22,533
I mean, there's something very
heathen or pagan about this.
573
00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,367
There are so few burials
from the time of Pelayo
574
00:27:25,367 --> 00:27:28,233
that what we are seeing here
is revelatory.
575
00:27:28,734 --> 00:27:30,367
It's clear that, at this time,
576
00:27:30,367 --> 00:27:32,130
Christianity existed alongside
lingering pagan traditions,
577
00:27:32,130 --> 00:27:34,467
Christianity existed alongside
lingering pagan traditions,
578
00:27:34,467 --> 00:27:37,266
including some
very dark rituals.
579
00:27:38,900 --> 00:27:41,166
For being here
over a thousand years,
580
00:27:41,166 --> 00:27:42,867
it's incredibly
well-preserved.
581
00:27:42,900 --> 00:27:44,634
-Mmm-hmm.
-Except for one thing.
582
00:27:44,634 --> 00:27:46,533
-The skull.
-[Pablo] Mmm-hmm.
583
00:27:46,533 --> 00:27:47,634
[Josh] Where's the skull?
584
00:27:47,634 --> 00:27:49,367
[Pablo speaking]
585
00:27:49,367 --> 00:27:52,266
[Josh] Literally smashed down
to a powder almost.
586
00:27:52,333 --> 00:27:55,166
Yeah, yeah. All of them
have the skulls crushed.
587
00:27:55,233 --> 00:27:57,066
Why? Why crush the skull?
588
00:28:03,634 --> 00:28:04,734
To return?
589
00:28:04,734 --> 00:28:06,867
-[Jose speaking]
-[Josh] Revenants?
590
00:28:06,867 --> 00:28:09,100
You're talking about vampires?
591
00:28:09,634 --> 00:28:11,066
In the Middle Ages,
592
00:28:11,100 --> 00:28:13,166
the belief that people
could return from the dead
593
00:28:13,166 --> 00:28:15,867
as evil spirits
was not only common,
594
00:28:15,867 --> 00:28:18,533
urgent measures were taken
to prevent it.
595
00:28:18,533 --> 00:28:20,367
So-called revenant burials
596
00:28:20,367 --> 00:28:22,367
have been found
all over the world,
597
00:28:22,433 --> 00:28:24,367
with the dead
buried upside-down,
598
00:28:24,367 --> 00:28:26,100
with stones in their mouths,
599
00:28:26,100 --> 00:28:29,000
and even with the occasional
stake through the heart.
600
00:28:30,166 --> 00:28:31,967
-But they're from
the time of Pelayo.
-Yeah, yeah.
601
00:28:31,967 --> 00:28:32,130
But who these five people are,
we don't know.
602
00:28:32,130 --> 00:28:34,467
But who these five people are,
we don't know.
603
00:28:34,533 --> 00:28:35,500
No, we don't know.
604
00:28:36,533 --> 00:28:39,367
[Josh] These bodies are
an incredible discovery.
605
00:28:39,367 --> 00:28:40,967
We don't know who they were
606
00:28:40,967 --> 00:28:43,734
or why they were given
such a strange burial,
607
00:28:43,734 --> 00:28:46,166
but the fact that things
like this were happening
608
00:28:46,166 --> 00:28:49,166
shows us that
all of the romantic imagery
609
00:28:49,233 --> 00:28:50,634
of Pelayo and his men
610
00:28:50,634 --> 00:28:52,634
as squeaky-clean
Christian heroes
611
00:28:52,634 --> 00:28:55,900
isn't painting
a full-enough picture
of the time.
612
00:28:58,533 --> 00:28:59,967
We're pressing onward,
613
00:28:59,967 --> 00:29:02,130
further and deeper
into the bowels of the Earth,
614
00:29:02,130 --> 00:29:02,867
further and deeper
into the bowels of the Earth,
615
00:29:02,867 --> 00:29:06,467
toward a section of La Garma
that has never been explored.
616
00:29:07,367 --> 00:29:09,166
-Okay, that's impressive.
-[Pablo] Yes.
617
00:29:09,166 --> 00:29:11,533
This is the largest room
that we have in the cave.
618
00:29:11,533 --> 00:29:12,967
-[Josh] This is crazy.
-[Pablo] Yeah.
619
00:29:12,967 --> 00:29:14,367
[Josh] And it goes up
even higher.
620
00:29:14,433 --> 00:29:16,066
Must be 150 feet up.
621
00:29:16,100 --> 00:29:18,066
-[Jose] Exactly.
-[Josh] In a single room.
622
00:29:18,100 --> 00:29:19,533
How far underground
are we here?
623
00:29:19,533 --> 00:29:20,634
Around 400 feet.
624
00:29:20,634 --> 00:29:22,634
-Four hundred
feet underground.
-Yeah.
625
00:29:24,533 --> 00:29:26,000
[Josh exhales]
626
00:29:27,967 --> 00:29:30,634
But to get to the unseen
sections of La Garma,
627
00:29:30,634 --> 00:29:32,130
we're going even deeper,
628
00:29:32,130 --> 00:29:32,467
we're going even deeper,
629
00:29:32,533 --> 00:29:36,100
thanks to one last ladder
placed by Pablo's team.
630
00:29:45,967 --> 00:29:47,867
Okay.
631
00:29:47,867 --> 00:29:49,066
Unlike the ladders above,
632
00:29:49,066 --> 00:29:51,166
it feels hastily rigged.
633
00:29:51,166 --> 00:29:52,634
To get to the bottom safely,
634
00:29:52,634 --> 00:29:55,100
we may need to resort
to Pelayo's technique,
635
00:29:55,100 --> 00:29:56,634
prayer.
636
00:29:56,700 --> 00:29:58,367
-Jose?
-Yes?
637
00:29:58,367 --> 00:30:00,467
-You like this ladder?
-No, I hate this ladder.
638
00:30:00,467 --> 00:30:02,130
But it's the only ladder
we have.
639
00:30:02,130 --> 00:30:02,367
But it's the only ladder
we have.
640
00:30:02,433 --> 00:30:04,967
You ever think about starting
a greeting card company, Jose?
641
00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,166
Eh... I don't
know. [chuckling]
642
00:30:07,166 --> 00:30:08,867
-What?
-Nothing.
643
00:30:08,867 --> 00:30:11,467
It's very inspirational.
Here we go.
644
00:30:12,900 --> 00:30:15,367
We clip in
for one final descent,
645
00:30:15,433 --> 00:30:17,467
and then down we go.
646
00:30:18,266 --> 00:30:19,900
Is that a rung my foot's on?
647
00:30:20,533 --> 00:30:22,166
Okay.
648
00:30:22,233 --> 00:30:24,266
Boy, it's just blind.
You can't see anything.
649
00:30:24,266 --> 00:30:26,467
[softly] Oh, this sucks. Okay.
650
00:30:26,467 --> 00:30:28,000
Okay, coming down.
651
00:30:45,100 --> 00:30:47,367
Hoo! Okay, I'm down.
652
00:30:48,900 --> 00:30:50,467
Shaking like a leaf.
653
00:30:50,467 --> 00:30:51,634
[chuckling]
654
00:30:51,700 --> 00:30:53,266
[Josh] This is it.
655
00:30:53,333 --> 00:30:55,066
Literal rock bottom.
656
00:30:55,066 --> 00:30:57,367
We're heading
into unknown territory,
657
00:30:57,367 --> 00:30:59,734
a new, unmapped level
of tunnels
658
00:30:59,734 --> 00:31:02,130
here at La Garma
that may contain more burials
659
00:31:02,130 --> 00:31:02,967
here at La Garma
that may contain more burials
660
00:31:02,967 --> 00:31:06,533
and perhaps
even a tangible connection
to Pelayo.
661
00:31:16,467 --> 00:31:17,734
Down, down, down.
662
00:31:19,533 --> 00:31:20,867
Do I hear water?
663
00:31:20,867 --> 00:31:22,266
Yes, it's a river.
664
00:31:22,333 --> 00:31:24,066
-[Josh] The river
runs through this level?
-Yeah.
665
00:31:24,066 --> 00:31:27,066
-And I don't see any of
your excavation markers here.
-Nothing.
666
00:31:27,066 --> 00:31:28,467
-[Josh] This is new territory.
-New territory.
667
00:31:28,533 --> 00:31:30,433
All right.
Let's see what we find.
668
00:31:38,367 --> 00:31:39,533
We're really going
in the river.
669
00:31:39,533 --> 00:31:41,900
[Pablo laughing] Yeah. Really.
670
00:31:47,467 --> 00:31:50,066
[Josh] We follow the river
deeper into the mountain
671
00:31:50,066 --> 00:31:52,166
until there's nothing
but a trickle left.
672
00:31:53,367 --> 00:31:55,967
At the end, we meet up with
the rest of the team
673
00:31:55,967 --> 00:31:57,867
that's been working
just ahead of us.
674
00:31:58,533 --> 00:32:00,634
Hola, hola, hola.
675
00:32:00,634 --> 00:32:02,130
All right, so here we are
at the bottom of the world.
676
00:32:02,130 --> 00:32:03,000
All right, so here we are
at the bottom of the world.
677
00:32:14,467 --> 00:32:17,367
-Okay, so,
careful where you step...
-[Pablo] Yeah.
678
00:32:17,433 --> 00:32:20,100
-...and see
what you can find, yeah?
-Okay.
679
00:32:20,100 --> 00:32:22,100
All right, here we go.
Keep your eyes open.
680
00:32:33,266 --> 00:32:37,166
Nobody has even tread
in some of these galleries
681
00:32:37,233 --> 00:32:39,734
and these chambers
in centuries.
682
00:32:41,467 --> 00:32:43,000
This is exploration,
right here.
683
00:32:49,367 --> 00:32:51,066
[speaking Spanish]
684
00:32:51,066 --> 00:32:53,734
-This is the end.
-[Josh] Oh, look at that.
685
00:32:53,734 --> 00:32:55,066
We got an opening right there.
686
00:32:55,634 --> 00:32:57,166
That does look like a chamber.
687
00:32:57,166 --> 00:32:58,166
You climbing up?
688
00:32:58,233 --> 00:32:59,734
[Pablo] We are. Be careful.
689
00:33:01,166 --> 00:33:02,130
[Josh] Careful.
690
00:33:02,130 --> 00:33:02,634
[Josh] Careful.
691
00:33:04,634 --> 00:33:05,867
Careful, Luis.
692
00:33:05,867 --> 00:33:07,367
[Pablo] Can you see
anything there?
693
00:33:07,367 --> 00:33:08,467
[exclaims in Spanish]
694
00:33:08,467 --> 00:33:09,967
Que pasa?
695
00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:11,066
[Josh] You see something?
696
00:33:11,066 --> 00:33:12,967
[speaking Spanish]
697
00:33:12,967 --> 00:33:14,467
[Pablo] He says
it's full of bones.
698
00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:17,066
[Josh] It's what?
It's full of bones?
699
00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:18,467
-[Pablo] Yeah.
-[Luis speaking Spanish]
700
00:33:18,533 --> 00:33:21,266
-[Josh] Human bones?
-[Pablo] Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
701
00:33:21,333 --> 00:33:23,800
-Can I see?
-Yeah.
702
00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,634
[exhales] I mean, they could
not be in a worse place.
703
00:33:30,634 --> 00:33:32,130
[chuckles nervously]
704
00:33:32,130 --> 00:33:32,266
[chuckles nervously]
705
00:33:33,100 --> 00:33:35,800
Ha! Oh, my word!
706
00:33:36,967 --> 00:33:39,000
It is! It's full of bones!
707
00:33:46,166 --> 00:33:48,734
[Josh] Here in Asturias,
they don't dance the flamenco
708
00:33:48,734 --> 00:33:51,266
or run with the bulls.
Instead, they drink.
709
00:33:51,266 --> 00:33:54,867
Specifically, hard cider
poured with a lot of flair.
710
00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,266
The waiters pour the cider
like this to aerate it.
711
00:33:58,266 --> 00:34:00,867
And, let's face it,
because it's very cool.
712
00:34:00,867 --> 00:34:02,367
The best of them
can even do it
713
00:34:02,367 --> 00:34:03,634
without looking at the glass.
714
00:34:07,266 --> 00:34:08,367
The whole thing?
715
00:34:08,367 --> 00:34:09,634
The whole thing. Okay, sure.
716
00:34:11,867 --> 00:34:12,320
That's smooth!
717
00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:13,266
That's smooth!
718
00:34:13,266 --> 00:34:15,467
Can I pour it? Yes!
719
00:34:16,500 --> 00:34:18,000
You're going up? Okay.
720
00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:19,867
Here we go.
I got this, I got this.
721
00:34:19,867 --> 00:34:22,333
Going up here. Okay, ready?
722
00:34:23,700 --> 00:34:25,467
Oh, boy. That's all right.
723
00:34:25,533 --> 00:34:26,634
I'm getting
some of it in there.
724
00:34:26,734 --> 00:34:28,867
[cheering and clapping]
725
00:34:29,634 --> 00:34:31,634
[Josh] I did all right.
726
00:34:31,734 --> 00:34:33,900
This tradition dates back
to ancient times.
727
00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:35,634
Who knows? Pelayo and his men
728
00:34:35,734 --> 00:34:36,867
may have celebrated
their victory
729
00:34:36,867 --> 00:34:39,166
with a cider pour
just like this.
730
00:34:39,867 --> 00:34:42,000
Keep it coming.
Keep it coming.
731
00:34:45,367 --> 00:34:48,066
Ha! Oh, my word!
732
00:34:49,467 --> 00:34:51,166
It is! It's full of bones!
733
00:34:51,166 --> 00:34:53,066
It is full of bones.
734
00:34:53,500 --> 00:34:54,634
Deep in a cave,
735
00:34:54,734 --> 00:34:56,533
we're discovering
the real history
736
00:34:56,533 --> 00:34:59,600
behind the legendary character
of King Pelayo.
737
00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:03,166
And we've just discovered
a new burial site.
738
00:35:03,166 --> 00:35:05,634
I can see part of a mandible.
I can see teeth.
739
00:35:05,734 --> 00:35:07,166
Long bones.
740
00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:10,233
It's different
from the one we saw
741
00:35:10,266 --> 00:35:11,600
on the level above.
742
00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:12,313
The skulls here
aren't smashed at all.
743
00:35:12,313 --> 00:35:14,367
The skulls here
aren't smashed at all.
744
00:35:14,367 --> 00:35:16,533
-[Pablo] Can you see
anything else?
-[Josh] No.
745
00:35:16,533 --> 00:35:19,233
It's just bones
as far as you can see.
746
00:35:20,266 --> 00:35:22,634
Given the extreme effort
surely required
747
00:35:22,734 --> 00:35:25,533
to bring the bodies down
to this level of the cave,
748
00:35:25,634 --> 00:35:27,734
it's likely this was
a hallowed place.
749
00:35:28,967 --> 00:35:31,266
Only artifacts will tell us
for sure.
750
00:35:31,266 --> 00:35:32,867
Fortunately...
751
00:35:32,900 --> 00:35:35,100
There's... Oh,
there's something metal here.
752
00:35:37,066 --> 00:35:39,066
There's something metal
in here, for sure.
753
00:35:39,100 --> 00:35:40,634
-Pablo?
-[Pablo] Mmm-hmm?
754
00:35:40,734 --> 00:35:41,867
Now what?
755
00:35:41,900 --> 00:35:42,313
Well, eh, let's see.
756
00:35:42,313 --> 00:35:43,266
Well, eh, let's see.
757
00:35:43,266 --> 00:35:45,166
We'll have
to take some photographs.
758
00:35:45,166 --> 00:35:47,233
-Photogrammetry, yes?
-Yeah.
759
00:35:47,266 --> 00:35:49,166
[Josh] Okay.
Let's get them in here.
760
00:35:50,367 --> 00:35:52,867
This is
a groundbreaking discovery.
761
00:35:52,867 --> 00:35:55,533
But we can't risk
touching any of the bones
762
00:35:55,533 --> 00:35:59,634
before preserving the scene
with a photographic 3D scan.
763
00:35:59,634 --> 00:36:02,533
To create a work space
on a sheer ledge,
764
00:36:02,533 --> 00:36:05,533
the team sets climbing pins
into the rock.
765
00:36:09,900 --> 00:36:12,313
Then, team member Carlos
climbs up
766
00:36:12,313 --> 00:36:12,367
Then, team member Carlos
climbs up
767
00:36:12,367 --> 00:36:14,700
and positions the camera,
while his partner Luis
768
00:36:14,700 --> 00:36:16,867
controls the shutter remotely.
769
00:36:19,734 --> 00:36:22,467
[Josh] They quickly take
hundreds of photographs
770
00:36:22,467 --> 00:36:24,467
that are instantly beamed
to a computer,
771
00:36:24,467 --> 00:36:25,734
where they'll be
stitched together
772
00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:27,967
to create a final image.
773
00:36:27,967 --> 00:36:30,867
And it all takes place
in the blink of an eye.
774
00:36:32,166 --> 00:36:34,066
-We have data, yes?
-Yes, we have.
775
00:36:34,066 --> 00:36:35,900
Okay, let's see.
What did we get?
776
00:36:36,467 --> 00:36:37,533
-Ha-ha!
-Oh!
777
00:36:37,634 --> 00:36:38,967
This is incredible.
778
00:36:39,000 --> 00:36:41,066
[Pablo] So many bones.
779
00:36:41,100 --> 00:36:42,313
[Josh] There are
bones everywhere.
780
00:36:42,313 --> 00:36:42,734
[Josh] There are
bones everywhere.
781
00:36:42,734 --> 00:36:44,600
-And in the back?
-[Pablo] Look there.
782
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:46,266
[Josh] Wow, more in the back!
783
00:36:46,266 --> 00:36:47,734
[Pablo] A concentration there
of bones.
784
00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:49,867
[Josh] So many more than you
can see from the entrance.
785
00:36:49,867 --> 00:36:51,266
It goes all the way back.
786
00:36:51,266 --> 00:36:53,433
How many people
do we think this is?
787
00:36:56,467 --> 00:36:57,967
[Josh] Incredible.
788
00:36:57,967 --> 00:37:00,734
And the metal piece that's
near the front is where?
789
00:37:02,700 --> 00:37:04,166
[softly] Where is that?
790
00:37:04,166 --> 00:37:05,166
Here. So here.
791
00:37:05,166 --> 00:37:07,000
This large piece
of metal here.
792
00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:08,600
Some big chunk of iron, yeah?
793
00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:09,867
[Pablo] Yeah, it is.
794
00:37:09,867 --> 00:37:11,467
Okay, so...
795
00:37:11,467 --> 00:37:12,313
-There's a lot in here.
-Yeah, yeah.
796
00:37:12,313 --> 00:37:13,533
-There's a lot in here.
-Yeah, yeah.
797
00:37:16,967 --> 00:37:18,967
[Josh] It's incredible.
It's just incredible.
798
00:37:18,967 --> 00:37:20,467
The preservation is so good.
799
00:37:20,467 --> 00:37:23,266
Yeah. Okay, we have
incredible imagery.
800
00:37:23,266 --> 00:37:25,634
-Now what?
-Now it's time to dig.
801
00:37:25,734 --> 00:37:27,100
Time to dig.
802
00:37:27,100 --> 00:37:28,634
-Yes.
-Let's dig.
803
00:37:30,166 --> 00:37:33,467
[Josh] The scientists
have tentatively dated
this new burial
804
00:37:33,467 --> 00:37:35,367
to around the time of Pelayo.
805
00:37:35,367 --> 00:37:38,634
More importantly, there appear
to be metal artifacts here
806
00:37:38,734 --> 00:37:40,000
with the bodies.
807
00:37:40,000 --> 00:37:42,066
Now that we've documented
the find,
808
00:37:42,100 --> 00:37:42,313
we get to excavate and see
exactly what they are.
809
00:37:42,313 --> 00:37:45,800
we get to excavate and see
exactly what they are.
810
00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:48,100
Okay. Coming to you.
811
00:37:48,967 --> 00:37:50,634
This is going to be
a type of archaeology
812
00:37:50,634 --> 00:37:52,533
I've never practiced before.
813
00:37:52,634 --> 00:37:54,233
Delicately moving
human remains
814
00:37:54,266 --> 00:37:57,066
while dangling
off the ledge of a cave.
815
00:37:57,066 --> 00:37:59,166
But we manage
to gently clear the bones
816
00:37:59,166 --> 00:38:01,734
away from
the mysterious metal object.
817
00:38:07,467 --> 00:38:08,634
[Josh] Got it.
818
00:38:08,734 --> 00:38:10,233
Once the bones are removed,
819
00:38:10,266 --> 00:38:11,967
Pablo can access the metal,
820
00:38:11,967 --> 00:38:12,313
which, over
the last thousand years,
821
00:38:12,313 --> 00:38:13,967
which, over
the last thousand years,
822
00:38:13,967 --> 00:38:16,433
appears to have been
concreted to the cave.
823
00:38:19,166 --> 00:38:21,734
He gently chisels
at the calcium buildup
824
00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:23,634
on the wall to work it free.
825
00:38:24,166 --> 00:38:26,066
Until...
826
00:38:26,066 --> 00:38:27,266
-[Pablo] We got it.
-You got it?
827
00:38:27,266 --> 00:38:29,100
-Yeah.
-It's free?
828
00:38:29,100 --> 00:38:31,467
-It's free.
-Okay, hold on.
Here, I'll take it.
829
00:38:31,467 --> 00:38:33,166
Behind you, behind you.
830
00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:36,333
-Okay, I have it. I have it.
-Yeah.
831
00:38:39,634 --> 00:38:41,166
Oh, my word.
832
00:38:41,166 --> 00:38:42,313
It's an axe, yeah?
833
00:38:42,313 --> 00:38:42,433
It's an axe, yeah?
834
00:38:43,500 --> 00:38:45,634
You can see the hole
for the handle.
835
00:38:47,533 --> 00:38:48,867
Unbelievable.
836
00:38:49,367 --> 00:38:51,233
Now holding an axe head,
837
00:38:51,266 --> 00:38:53,867
we rush back down
to rejoin the rest
of the team,
838
00:38:53,900 --> 00:38:55,333
so we can examine it.
839
00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,367
I mean, look... look at this.
840
00:38:57,433 --> 00:38:58,967
-It's stunning.
-[Pablo] Wonderful.
841
00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:00,634
-[Josh] It's wonderful.
-[Pablo] Yeah, yeah.
842
00:39:00,734 --> 00:39:03,533
So, this is, like, not
a household chopping item.
843
00:39:04,700 --> 00:39:05,867
-This is a weapon?
-Yes.
844
00:39:05,900 --> 00:39:06,867
[Josh] When is this from?
845
00:39:06,867 --> 00:39:08,166
[Pablo] Around Pelayo's time.
846
00:39:08,166 --> 00:39:10,467
So, who do you think this is,
the person who owned this?
847
00:39:10,467 --> 00:39:12,313
-Was probably a warrior.
-A warrior.
848
00:39:12,313 --> 00:39:13,066
-Was probably a warrior.
-A warrior.
849
00:39:13,066 --> 00:39:14,867
In this period in Spain,
do we find
850
00:39:14,867 --> 00:39:16,967
-many burials with weapons?
-[Jose] No.
851
00:39:21,533 --> 00:39:22,800
-Rare.
-[Josh] Rare.
852
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,066
Have you found anything
like this before?
853
00:39:27,700 --> 00:39:29,700
[Josh] Wow. Incredible.
854
00:39:29,700 --> 00:39:32,266
An Asturian warrior
from the eighth century
855
00:39:32,266 --> 00:39:34,533
buried near
the Battle of Covadonga
856
00:39:34,634 --> 00:39:36,166
is beyond rare.
857
00:39:36,233 --> 00:39:38,800
And the implications
are humbling.
858
00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:41,166
This could be a warrior
of Pelayo right here.
859
00:39:41,166 --> 00:39:42,313
Incredible. And now
what will happen here?
860
00:39:42,313 --> 00:39:43,467
Incredible. And now
what will happen here?
861
00:39:43,467 --> 00:39:44,900
Much more work to be done?
862
00:39:50,634 --> 00:39:51,634
[Josh] Good.
863
00:39:51,634 --> 00:39:52,867
And you'll send me
lots of photos?
864
00:39:52,867 --> 00:39:54,166
Yeah, many, many.
865
00:39:54,166 --> 00:39:56,467
Hey, thank you so much.
866
00:39:56,467 --> 00:39:57,533
Gracias.
867
00:39:57,533 --> 00:39:59,066
[Josh] Thank you so much.
868
00:39:59,066 --> 00:40:01,800
Okay. The long journey
back up to the surface.
869
00:40:01,800 --> 00:40:03,066
-[Pablo] Okay.
-Let's go.
870
00:40:08,533 --> 00:40:11,166
[Josh] In terms of
the legend of King Pelayo,
871
00:40:11,166 --> 00:40:12,313
there's little doubt
that he was
872
00:40:12,313 --> 00:40:13,266
there's little doubt
that he was
873
00:40:13,266 --> 00:40:15,533
an actual historical figure,
874
00:40:15,533 --> 00:40:17,467
but his story didn't unfold
875
00:40:17,467 --> 00:40:20,166
the way
the Christian chronicles
would have us believe.
876
00:40:21,800 --> 00:40:24,867
Evidence hidden
in the foundations
of Gauzon Castle
877
00:40:24,867 --> 00:40:26,867
suggests that,
rather than being
878
00:40:26,867 --> 00:40:29,734
a shining Christian knight
from the big city,
879
00:40:29,800 --> 00:40:33,467
Pelayo might well have been
a home-grown Asturian leader,
880
00:40:33,467 --> 00:40:36,066
a king of the north,
a Braveheart,
881
00:40:36,100 --> 00:40:40,000
who rallied local warriors
to win an improbable victory.
882
00:40:42,533 --> 00:40:44,634
The vampiric skeletons
we found
883
00:40:44,634 --> 00:40:46,166
in the depths of La Garma
884
00:40:46,166 --> 00:40:47,867
show us that this was a time
885
00:40:47,900 --> 00:40:50,700
where Christianity
was still deeply infused
886
00:40:50,700 --> 00:40:52,333
with pagan beliefs.
887
00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:56,967
And as for the seemingly
venerated warriors
888
00:40:57,000 --> 00:40:58,533
buried deep in the cave,
889
00:40:58,533 --> 00:41:00,467
they could well be among those
890
00:41:00,467 --> 00:41:04,066
who fought victoriously
at the Battle of Covadonga.
891
00:41:05,867 --> 00:41:07,266
What we do know
892
00:41:07,266 --> 00:41:09,467
is that, much like
the Cross of Victory,
893
00:41:09,467 --> 00:41:12,313
Pelayo's story has been
gilded, embellished,
894
00:41:12,313 --> 00:41:13,000
Pelayo's story has been
gilded, embellished,
895
00:41:13,000 --> 00:41:16,634
to animate a young country
forging a new identity.
896
00:41:18,266 --> 00:41:23,166
And now, 1,300 years after
Pelayo united his people,
897
00:41:23,233 --> 00:41:26,100
his story continues
to inspire them.