1 00:00:02,967 --> 00:00:04,767 [Josh] Welcome to the Indian Ocean. 2 00:00:04,767 --> 00:00:07,000 I'm sailing off the coast of Tanzania 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,467 here in East Africa. 4 00:00:08,467 --> 00:00:10,967 The trade winds are blowing strong. 5 00:00:10,967 --> 00:00:12,166 Perfect weather for me 6 00:00:12,166 --> 00:00:14,567 to begin my search for a sunken city. 7 00:00:14,567 --> 00:00:17,367 But when it comes to legendary lost locations, 8 00:00:17,367 --> 00:00:20,367 there is one name that stands above all others. 9 00:00:20,367 --> 00:00:21,400 Atlantis. 10 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:25,867 It is synonymous with mystery, 11 00:00:25,867 --> 00:00:27,400 a utopian island, 12 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:29,100 an advanced naval power, 13 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:31,800 not to mention a killer resort in The Bahamas. 14 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:33,667 Atlantis started as an allegory 15 00:00:33,667 --> 00:00:36,900 by the Greek philosopher Plato in 360 BC. 16 00:00:36,900 --> 00:00:39,467 The island kingdom tries to take down Athens, 17 00:00:39,467 --> 00:00:41,967 an act of hubris which annoyed the gods enough 18 00:00:41,967 --> 00:00:44,767 to send them crashing to the bottom of the sea. 19 00:00:44,767 --> 00:00:46,767 It is a fascinating fiction that's been 20 00:00:46,767 --> 00:00:48,567 retold for centuries 21 00:00:48,567 --> 00:00:50,667 and earned a billion at the box office. 22 00:00:50,667 --> 00:00:53,867 But it turns out there are real life lost cities 23 00:00:53,867 --> 00:00:55,467 hiding beneath the waves. 24 00:00:55,467 --> 00:00:56,567 And I should know. 25 00:00:56,567 --> 00:00:58,000 I've gone looking for them. 26 00:00:58,900 --> 00:01:01,967 My own longstanding fascination with these tales has 27 00:01:01,967 --> 00:01:04,667 taken me beneath the waves all over the world. 28 00:01:04,667 --> 00:01:07,767 From India's legendary sunken city of Dwarka 29 00:01:07,767 --> 00:01:09,166 to waterlogged structures 30 00:01:09,166 --> 00:01:11,567 in a high altitude lake in the Andes. 31 00:01:11,567 --> 00:01:13,567 I've investigated the enigmatic 32 00:01:13,567 --> 00:01:15,500 Yonaguni ruins in Japan. 33 00:01:16,166 --> 00:01:17,867 And even the dubiously titled 34 00:01:17,867 --> 00:01:20,000 Bimini Road in The Bahamas. 35 00:01:21,300 --> 00:01:22,967 And now I'm on a quest 36 00:01:22,967 --> 00:01:24,300 for another Atlantis. 37 00:01:24,300 --> 00:01:26,867 What, Aquaman gets a sequel, why can't I? 38 00:01:26,867 --> 00:01:28,100 Especially considering 39 00:01:28,100 --> 00:01:30,300 this is a city like no other. 40 00:01:30,300 --> 00:01:31,467 It is a very real 41 00:01:31,467 --> 00:01:33,867 and very lost ancient emporium. 42 00:01:33,867 --> 00:01:37,100 The Roman Empire's southernmost trading outpost, 43 00:01:37,100 --> 00:01:38,800 known as Rhapta. 44 00:01:40,567 --> 00:01:42,000 Several thousand years ago, 45 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,500 Rhapta was a major center of maritime commerce. 46 00:01:45,500 --> 00:01:48,367 Through its port flowed the treasures of Africa. 47 00:01:48,367 --> 00:01:51,266 Gold and silver, ivory, tortoise shell 48 00:01:51,266 --> 00:01:53,400 and priceless jewels. 49 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:55,767 It was a place rich in ceramics. 50 00:01:55,767 --> 00:01:58,867 Both ornate vessels and large storage jars 51 00:01:58,867 --> 00:02:00,667 which were traded to and from 52 00:02:00,667 --> 00:02:02,500 the bustling seaside city. 53 00:02:03,567 --> 00:02:06,300 By the Middle Ages, though, it's gone. 54 00:02:06,300 --> 00:02:09,266 All traces of this metropolis and its precious goods 55 00:02:09,266 --> 00:02:11,567 vanish from the face of the earth. 56 00:02:11,567 --> 00:02:13,667 But now, new efforts are underway 57 00:02:13,667 --> 00:02:15,700 to reveal its true location. 58 00:02:16,767 --> 00:02:18,867 It is believed that a powerful tsunami 59 00:02:18,867 --> 00:02:20,667 may have destroyed Rhapta. 60 00:02:20,667 --> 00:02:23,700 But now, new clues are coming to the surface. 61 00:02:24,367 --> 00:02:26,100 One archaeologist is exploring 62 00:02:26,100 --> 00:02:27,800 a graveyard of shipwrecks 63 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,500 that may point to the long lost site. 64 00:02:31,066 --> 00:02:32,600 Meanwhile, a different team 65 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,000 thinks they've discovered 66 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,667 submerged harbor walls 67 00:02:35,667 --> 00:02:38,367 that once surrounded the mighty outpost. 68 00:02:38,367 --> 00:02:40,567 Finding Rhapta would rewrite maps 69 00:02:40,567 --> 00:02:41,967 of the Roman Empire. 70 00:02:41,967 --> 00:02:44,367 And could lead to knowledge and artifacts 71 00:02:44,367 --> 00:02:46,600 beyond our wildest dreams. 72 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:47,867 So let's trim the sails 73 00:02:47,867 --> 00:02:49,100 and set a course 74 00:02:49,100 --> 00:02:51,233 for Africa's Atlantis. 75 00:02:55,166 --> 00:02:56,567 [theme music playing] 76 00:02:56,567 --> 00:02:59,100 [Josh] The past is all around us. 77 00:02:59,100 --> 00:03:01,000 Oh, this is crazy. 78 00:03:01,367 --> 00:03:03,100 A world of mystery. 79 00:03:03,100 --> 00:03:04,266 -This is a plane. -[man] Yeah. 80 00:03:04,266 --> 00:03:05,433 [laughs] 81 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:06,767 Danger. 82 00:03:06,767 --> 00:03:08,400 We are about to be underwater. 83 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:09,333 Whoa! 84 00:03:10,767 --> 00:03:11,734 And adventure. 85 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:15,800 It's just straight down! 86 00:03:16,867 --> 00:03:19,000 [exclaiming] 87 00:03:20,367 --> 00:03:23,000 I travel to the far corners of the earth 88 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,100 to uncover where legends end... 89 00:03:25,100 --> 00:03:26,600 [screams, laughs] 90 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:28,200 ...and history begins. 91 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:29,100 Okay, let's punch it. 92 00:03:30,166 --> 00:03:31,300 I'm Josh Gates. 93 00:03:31,300 --> 00:03:32,667 And this is 94 00:03:32,667 --> 00:03:35,233 Expedition Unknown. 95 00:03:40,367 --> 00:03:41,867 My search for Rhapta begins 96 00:03:41,867 --> 00:03:44,300 on another historic African outpost. 97 00:03:44,300 --> 00:03:46,800 On the island of Zanzibar. 98 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,066 It's been on maps for as long as maps have been drawn. 99 00:03:50,066 --> 00:03:52,033 And at its heart is Stone Town. 100 00:03:53,166 --> 00:03:54,500 It's a weathered labyrinth of 101 00:03:54,500 --> 00:03:57,300 moldering citadels and narrow streets. 102 00:03:57,300 --> 00:04:00,567 All covered by a blanket of rusted tin. 103 00:04:00,567 --> 00:04:02,667 Everything here feels exotic, 104 00:04:02,667 --> 00:04:05,467 right down to the ornately carved wooden doors. 105 00:04:05,467 --> 00:04:07,800 It's not every day you encounter brass spikes 106 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,133 to defend against ramming elephants. 107 00:04:10,867 --> 00:04:13,100 On these humid streets, you rub shoulders 108 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:14,600 with an eclectic crowd. 109 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,667 From Muslim traders and Buddhist monks 110 00:04:17,667 --> 00:04:21,000 to Maasai warriors and some high-flying kids. 111 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:28,166 I'm on my way to meet a local explorer 112 00:04:28,166 --> 00:04:31,266 with new information about the hunt for Rhapta. 113 00:04:31,266 --> 00:04:32,166 But in this neighborhood, 114 00:04:32,166 --> 00:04:34,800 it's a good idea to leave a little early. 115 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:36,266 -I'm good, brother. All right? -Boom. 116 00:04:36,266 --> 00:04:37,800 Good, yeah. 117 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,467 Stone Town is a place like no other. 118 00:04:40,467 --> 00:04:42,266 I could pick up a local street map 119 00:04:42,266 --> 00:04:43,900 but frankly it wouldn't help. 120 00:04:43,900 --> 00:04:46,200 Getting lost here is all but guaranteed. 121 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,100 And, well, kind of the point. 122 00:04:50,667 --> 00:04:52,266 They say all roads lead to Rome. 123 00:04:52,266 --> 00:04:54,367 But in Stone Town, they converge at 124 00:04:54,367 --> 00:04:57,667 a coffee and dominoes hangout known as Jaws Corner. 125 00:04:57,667 --> 00:04:59,500 I wonder why they call it that. 126 00:05:00,166 --> 00:05:01,433 I'm gonna need a bigger cup. 127 00:05:02,567 --> 00:05:04,700 Maybe it has something to do with the sharks 128 00:05:04,700 --> 00:05:06,400 circling the domino tables. 129 00:05:07,967 --> 00:05:09,233 Yeah I'm ready. 130 00:05:09,233 --> 00:05:11,667 -I was the president of my high school dominoes club. -Really? 131 00:05:11,667 --> 00:05:13,467 Oh, no, wait a minute, I worked at Domino's. 132 00:05:13,467 --> 00:05:14,767 -[man laughs] -It's close. 133 00:05:14,767 --> 00:05:17,200 -Okay, here we go. Come on. Bring it. -[man] Okay. Double draw. 134 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:18,900 -[mouthing] I have no idea what I'm doing. -[man] Two. 135 00:05:18,900 --> 00:05:20,133 Two, eh? 136 00:05:21,867 --> 00:05:23,200 Hit. Double four. 137 00:05:23,767 --> 00:05:25,066 -Double four. -[man] Go. 138 00:05:25,066 --> 00:05:26,433 [Josh exclaims] 139 00:05:29,767 --> 00:05:30,867 Six. 140 00:05:30,867 --> 00:05:32,900 -Yeah. Yeah! -Okay. 141 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:33,567 Here we go. 142 00:05:33,567 --> 00:05:35,133 Again. Again. Again. Again. 143 00:05:35,567 --> 00:05:37,700 -[people cheering] -Yeah! 144 00:05:38,867 --> 00:05:39,867 Give me the watch. Come on. 145 00:05:39,867 --> 00:05:40,700 No. 146 00:05:43,500 --> 00:05:45,166 [Josh] I may be flush with victory, 147 00:05:45,166 --> 00:05:46,667 but Rhapta awaits. 148 00:05:46,667 --> 00:05:49,100 To hear the story of this once-mighty city, 149 00:05:49,100 --> 00:05:52,900 I head to the rooftop bar of the exotic Emerson Hotel. 150 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:55,166 This one-time palace boasts the best views 151 00:05:55,166 --> 00:05:56,867 of Zanzibar in town. 152 00:05:56,867 --> 00:05:58,166 Up many flights of stairs, 153 00:05:58,166 --> 00:06:01,767 I find diver and explorer, Alan Sutton. 154 00:06:01,767 --> 00:06:02,734 [Alan speaking foreign language] 155 00:06:02,734 --> 00:06:04,467 -[in English] Take a seat. -[Josh] Thank you. 156 00:06:04,467 --> 00:06:07,967 Alan has lived and dived in Zanzibar for decades, 157 00:06:07,967 --> 00:06:10,767 and nobody knows more about the island's history 158 00:06:10,767 --> 00:06:12,166 and legends. 159 00:06:12,166 --> 00:06:13,467 This is incredible. 160 00:06:13,467 --> 00:06:15,400 -[Alan] This is paradise. -It is paradise. 161 00:06:16,867 --> 00:06:19,266 The only thing missing from our view here is Rhapta. 162 00:06:19,266 --> 00:06:20,233 Yeah. Um, 163 00:06:20,233 --> 00:06:22,567 Rhapta's been missing for a long, long time. 164 00:06:22,567 --> 00:06:23,467 -Very long time. -[Alan] Yeah. 165 00:06:23,467 --> 00:06:25,367 So, okay, help me understand this place. 166 00:06:25,367 --> 00:06:27,400 When do we first hear about Rhapta? 167 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:28,667 When is it first written down? 168 00:06:28,667 --> 00:06:31,967 Well, about 2,000 years ago, from a periplus. 169 00:06:31,967 --> 00:06:33,667 A periplus. I'm gonna need some help with that. 170 00:06:33,667 --> 00:06:35,700 Yeah, well, a periplus is a nautical log. 171 00:06:35,700 --> 00:06:37,467 [Josh] Specifically, a periplus 172 00:06:37,467 --> 00:06:39,467 is a record kept by sailors 173 00:06:39,467 --> 00:06:41,166 to note landmarks and harbors 174 00:06:41,166 --> 00:06:44,367 as they navigate through unfamiliar areas. 175 00:06:44,367 --> 00:06:46,767 And Alan's research has revealed this one 176 00:06:46,767 --> 00:06:48,300 from 40 AD, 177 00:06:48,300 --> 00:06:49,900 when an unnamed Roman merchant 178 00:06:49,900 --> 00:06:52,767 sailing the ports along the eastern coast of Africa 179 00:06:52,767 --> 00:06:55,500 recorded a detailed account of his trip. 180 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,100 Okay, to get my bearings here, we have 181 00:06:58,100 --> 00:07:00,967 India and Arabia and this is eastern Africa. 182 00:07:00,967 --> 00:07:02,400 -[Alan] Eastern Africa. Yeah. -[Josh] Okay. 183 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:03,967 And if you look over here, 184 00:07:03,967 --> 00:07:05,100 you'll see... 185 00:07:05,100 --> 00:07:06,967 [Josh] "Rapta Emporium." 186 00:07:06,967 --> 00:07:08,600 -[Alan] Yeah, that's correct. -It's on the map. 187 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:09,400 Yes, it is. 188 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,100 [Josh] Translating the periplus, 189 00:07:11,100 --> 00:07:12,033 we learned that Rhapta 190 00:07:12,033 --> 00:07:15,066 was the very last trading outpost for Rome 191 00:07:15,066 --> 00:07:16,600 on the African continent. 192 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:18,967 And the description is that this is 193 00:07:18,967 --> 00:07:20,467 kind of a happening place. 194 00:07:20,467 --> 00:07:21,634 Yeah, it must have been bustling. 195 00:07:21,634 --> 00:07:24,600 You know, they're dealing with really high-end products. 196 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:26,767 [Josh] In the first century, the Roman Empire 197 00:07:26,767 --> 00:07:29,166 was home to more than 50 million people, 198 00:07:29,166 --> 00:07:31,266 a quarter of the world's population, 199 00:07:31,266 --> 00:07:34,266 many clamoring for exotic goods from Africa. 200 00:07:34,266 --> 00:07:36,000 And Rhapta had it all. 201 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:37,233 Lucky for us, 202 00:07:37,233 --> 00:07:39,767 the periplus gives up an amazing clue as to 203 00:07:39,767 --> 00:07:41,667 where this emporium was. 204 00:07:41,667 --> 00:07:43,700 It says the city was two days' sail 205 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:45,700 south of an island known as... 206 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:46,867 [Alan] Menouthias. 207 00:07:46,867 --> 00:07:48,166 -Menouthias. -[Alan] Mm. 208 00:07:48,166 --> 00:07:49,367 And what do we think Menouthias is? 209 00:07:49,367 --> 00:07:50,867 [Alan] Well, Menouthias is, uh, 210 00:07:50,867 --> 00:07:52,467 Zanzibar, which is right where we are now. 211 00:07:52,467 --> 00:07:53,967 -[Josh] So we're in Menouthias? -[Alan] Yes. 212 00:07:53,967 --> 00:07:55,000 [Josh] Based on a projection 213 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:58,100 of how far a ship could sail in two days' time, 214 00:07:58,100 --> 00:08:00,266 Rhapta must lie within a search zone 215 00:08:00,266 --> 00:08:02,867 of a few hundred miles from here. 216 00:08:02,867 --> 00:08:05,166 Okay, so we have some good clues here now. 217 00:08:05,166 --> 00:08:06,767 We know it's off the coast of East Africa. 218 00:08:06,767 --> 00:08:09,367 We know it's within a few days' sailing of where we're sitting. 219 00:08:09,367 --> 00:08:11,500 -So we're close? -Yeah, we're definitely close. 220 00:08:11,500 --> 00:08:13,100 Can we get closer? 221 00:08:13,100 --> 00:08:14,567 -Yeah, we can. -Okay. 222 00:08:14,567 --> 00:08:16,600 In AD 150, 223 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,367 uh, Claudius Ptolemy mentions Rhapta as well. 224 00:08:19,367 --> 00:08:21,800 -Okay. -And we can have a look at his map. 225 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:22,467 Okay. 226 00:08:22,467 --> 00:08:24,567 We trade in one ancient map 227 00:08:24,567 --> 00:08:26,700 that Alan's uncovered for another. 228 00:08:26,700 --> 00:08:30,066 I have to say, for being 2,000 years old, 229 00:08:30,066 --> 00:08:31,433 this map's pretty incredible. 230 00:08:31,433 --> 00:08:34,000 -We have a real sense of the shape of Africa here. -[Alan] Africa. 231 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:35,867 If you have a look over here... 232 00:08:35,867 --> 00:08:37,200 -Oh, right there. -Yeah. 233 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:38,567 -[Josh] Rhapta. -[Alan] Yes. 234 00:08:38,567 --> 00:08:41,100 And you'll see it calls it a metropolis. 235 00:08:41,100 --> 00:08:44,066 -A metropolis? -Yes. It's expanded. 236 00:08:44,066 --> 00:08:46,667 [Josh] Ptolemy's account, written only 100 years 237 00:08:46,667 --> 00:08:47,767 after the periplus, 238 00:08:47,767 --> 00:08:50,967 describes the city as being much more significant, 239 00:08:50,967 --> 00:08:52,600 including fortifications 240 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,100 and a sizeable harbor, 241 00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:55,266 which would have been necessary 242 00:08:55,266 --> 00:08:56,867 to accommodate Roman ships 243 00:08:56,867 --> 00:08:59,567 of up to 150 feet in length. 244 00:08:59,567 --> 00:09:01,467 Well, Alan, now I'm confused. 245 00:09:01,467 --> 00:09:03,967 We've got two different maps here that show Rhapta. 246 00:09:03,967 --> 00:09:05,567 It's two days' sail from here. 247 00:09:05,567 --> 00:09:07,100 Why can't we just go there? 248 00:09:07,100 --> 00:09:08,767 Rhapta vanished. 249 00:09:08,767 --> 00:09:09,800 -Literally? -[Alan] Literally. 250 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,266 By the Middle Ages, it's disappeared. It's gone. 251 00:09:12,266 --> 00:09:13,600 No one knows where it is. 252 00:09:14,367 --> 00:09:15,967 [Josh] The legends say that Rhapta, 253 00:09:15,967 --> 00:09:17,700 like Plato's storied city, 254 00:09:17,700 --> 00:09:19,467 was swallowed by the ocean, 255 00:09:19,467 --> 00:09:22,200 perhaps obliterated by a violent tsunami. 256 00:09:22,967 --> 00:09:24,867 But, of course, Plato's Atlantis is 257 00:09:24,867 --> 00:09:26,800 the stuff of legend, but this is real. 258 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:28,800 Look, there's no question this was a real place, 259 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:30,300 and it's gone. 260 00:09:30,300 --> 00:09:31,500 So, Africa's Atlantis? 261 00:09:31,500 --> 00:09:33,567 Africa's Atlantis, yes, correct. 262 00:09:33,567 --> 00:09:36,066 [Josh] And by studying these maps and documents, 263 00:09:36,066 --> 00:09:38,467 there's one place within the search zone 264 00:09:38,467 --> 00:09:39,867 that Alan has pinpointed 265 00:09:39,867 --> 00:09:42,600 as concealing this real Atlantis. 266 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:44,767 Most people think that it's under the ocean 267 00:09:44,767 --> 00:09:45,734 and, uh, 268 00:09:46,100 --> 00:09:47,567 close to Mafia Island. 269 00:09:47,567 --> 00:09:48,667 Mafia Island? 270 00:09:48,667 --> 00:09:50,000 So it's in Italy? 271 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,467 No, it's not. [laughs] In Swahili, Mafia means 272 00:09:52,467 --> 00:09:53,767 a pleasant place to live. 273 00:09:53,767 --> 00:09:55,266 Thought it meant sleeps with fishes. 274 00:09:55,266 --> 00:09:56,567 -Different Mafia, yeah. -[Josh] Okay. 275 00:09:56,567 --> 00:09:59,266 Mafia Island is about how far from here? 276 00:09:59,266 --> 00:10:00,867 It's two days' sail south of here. 277 00:10:00,867 --> 00:10:01,867 Okay, that's good. 278 00:10:01,867 --> 00:10:03,600 And in Ptolemy's account, uh, 279 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,000 he describes Rhapta as being at seven degrees south. 280 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:08,400 And interestingly, 281 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,600 Mafia Island is at seven degrees south. 282 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,667 [Josh] In other words, a perfect candidate. 283 00:10:13,667 --> 00:10:16,567 Do we know exactly where off the coast of the island 284 00:10:16,567 --> 00:10:17,667 Rhapta might have been? 285 00:10:17,667 --> 00:10:19,667 We don't know exactly where it is yet. 286 00:10:19,667 --> 00:10:22,467 But there are two groups of archaeologists on the island 287 00:10:22,467 --> 00:10:23,233 looking for it. 288 00:10:23,233 --> 00:10:24,800 And I can introduce you to them. 289 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:26,600 -I would love that. Okay. -Great. 290 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:28,266 To Mafia. 291 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:39,900 I'm heading to an island off the coast of an island 292 00:10:39,900 --> 00:10:41,166 known as Mafia. 293 00:10:41,166 --> 00:10:43,967 But a two-day sail is not in the cards. 294 00:10:43,967 --> 00:10:47,166 So I squeeze aboard a Cessna 208 Caravan. 295 00:10:47,166 --> 00:10:48,400 It's a tight fit. 296 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,200 [exhales] 297 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,200 All right, well, what else do we need? 298 00:10:52,367 --> 00:10:53,233 Oh, right. 299 00:10:54,467 --> 00:10:56,266 Once the crew boards, we take off 300 00:10:56,266 --> 00:10:59,500 and I settle in for a quick 100-mile trip. 301 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:02,200 It doesn't take long to spot our destination. 302 00:11:03,500 --> 00:11:05,000 There's the island. 303 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:06,567 [Josh] Wow. 304 00:11:06,567 --> 00:11:09,367 Mafia may be six times the size of Manhattan, 305 00:11:09,367 --> 00:11:12,266 but only has 3% of its population. 306 00:11:12,266 --> 00:11:14,900 We land at their version of JFK. 307 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:17,333 Okay. 308 00:11:17,667 --> 00:11:18,967 Now what? 309 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:23,300 Alan called ahead to the archaeology team here 310 00:11:23,300 --> 00:11:24,500 to say I was coming. 311 00:11:24,500 --> 00:11:26,300 But there's no cab to hail. 312 00:11:26,300 --> 00:11:28,367 Instead, I just grab one of these. 313 00:11:28,367 --> 00:11:31,166 Well, this little three-wheeled beauty is known as a tuk-tuk. 314 00:11:31,166 --> 00:11:33,166 At least that's what they call them in Thailand. 315 00:11:33,166 --> 00:11:35,400 Around the world, they're known as pigeons, 316 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,467 jonnybees, bajaj, 317 00:11:37,467 --> 00:11:39,600 bao-bao, or easy bikes. 318 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:41,767 Hey, what do you call this? 319 00:11:41,767 --> 00:11:42,667 It is a tuk-tuk. 320 00:11:42,667 --> 00:11:44,000 It's a tuk-tuk. 321 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:45,634 Yeah. It's a tuk-tuk. 322 00:11:48,767 --> 00:11:49,834 As to why it's emblazoned 323 00:11:49,834 --> 00:11:52,400 with a huge sticker that reads "Boss Lady" that's 324 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,400 partially obscuring my view, 325 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,467 it's because I insisted they put it there. 326 00:11:56,467 --> 00:11:58,967 What can I say? I'm a sassy CEO. 327 00:11:58,967 --> 00:12:00,266 Let's do this. 328 00:12:03,166 --> 00:12:05,066 The team I'm meeting is across the island, 329 00:12:05,066 --> 00:12:06,600 so I've got a bit of a drive. 330 00:12:11,166 --> 00:12:12,400 Just look at this island. 331 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:14,567 Mafia is one of those places you just 332 00:12:14,567 --> 00:12:17,000 don't find in the world very much anymore. 333 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,000 There's a little bit of tourism here. 334 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:21,066 But at one point, this may have been 335 00:12:21,066 --> 00:12:22,667 a bustling emporium 336 00:12:22,667 --> 00:12:24,467 where the treasures of the continent 337 00:12:24,467 --> 00:12:26,600 were traded with the Roman Empire. 338 00:12:30,467 --> 00:12:32,700 I make my way to the far side of the island 339 00:12:32,700 --> 00:12:35,400 where I trade in three wheels for no wheels, 340 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,066 and motor well offshore 341 00:12:37,066 --> 00:12:39,400 to a set of watery coordinates. 342 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,767 There should be absolutely nothing here, 343 00:12:41,767 --> 00:12:43,900 which is why I'm puzzled to spot... 344 00:12:44,266 --> 00:12:45,133 land? 345 00:12:45,367 --> 00:12:46,400 Whoa. 346 00:12:46,667 --> 00:12:48,600 What is that? 347 00:12:54,166 --> 00:12:55,467 [Josh] Whoa. 348 00:12:55,467 --> 00:12:57,467 What is that? 349 00:12:57,467 --> 00:13:00,266 On remote Mafia Island off the coast of Tanzania, 350 00:13:00,266 --> 00:13:03,367 I'm searching for the lost city of Atlantis. 351 00:13:03,367 --> 00:13:04,567 No, not that one. 352 00:13:04,567 --> 00:13:06,100 I'm talking about Rhapta, 353 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:08,867 known as the Atlantis of Africa. 354 00:13:08,867 --> 00:13:10,667 Once a wealthy center of commerce 355 00:13:10,667 --> 00:13:12,000 thousands of years ago, 356 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:15,000 it vanished beneath the waves of the Indian Ocean. 357 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:16,200 Or did it? 358 00:13:17,500 --> 00:13:18,400 That's land. 359 00:13:19,066 --> 00:13:20,800 Not much, but it's land. 360 00:13:21,867 --> 00:13:23,600 I transfer to a waiting skiff 361 00:13:23,600 --> 00:13:25,600 and complete my journey to this 362 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:27,667 improbable spit of terra firma 363 00:13:27,667 --> 00:13:30,100 where I find archaeologist Caesar Bita 364 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:32,133 and Dr. Felix Chami. 365 00:13:32,767 --> 00:13:34,166 Professor Chami, I presume. 366 00:13:34,166 --> 00:13:36,100 -Yeah. Welcome. -[Josh] Thank you. 367 00:13:36,100 --> 00:13:37,367 Very nice to meet both of you. 368 00:13:37,367 --> 00:13:39,467 Now, I have read that you are the world's 369 00:13:39,467 --> 00:13:41,667 foremost authority on Rhapta. 370 00:13:41,667 --> 00:13:43,100 It is true, yes, yes. 371 00:13:43,100 --> 00:13:45,166 Does that mean that you know where Rhapta is? 372 00:13:45,166 --> 00:13:47,867 Yes, I know exactly where it is. 373 00:13:47,867 --> 00:13:49,300 It is under your feet. 374 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:50,467 -[chuckles] -This is Rhapta? 375 00:13:50,467 --> 00:13:53,867 Yes, the metropolis of Rhapta. 376 00:13:53,867 --> 00:13:57,000 [Josh] We are standing on a mysterious linear formation 377 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,567 that rises up out of the Indian Ocean. 378 00:13:59,567 --> 00:14:01,266 The locals have long referred to it 379 00:14:01,266 --> 00:14:02,800 as Mwamba Ukuta, 380 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:04,700 or the Rocky Wall. 381 00:14:04,700 --> 00:14:07,000 You are standing now on the wall of Rhapta. 382 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:08,667 And it's quite long, 383 00:14:08,667 --> 00:14:09,867 three miles east-west. 384 00:14:09,867 --> 00:14:11,967 You can see how extensive it goes. 385 00:14:11,967 --> 00:14:14,166 [Josh] So this whole thing I see going off into the distance, 386 00:14:14,166 --> 00:14:16,000 -that's all part of Rhapta? -[Caesar] That's it. 387 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:17,100 You say this is man-made? 388 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:19,233 Yes, this is man-made, exactly. 389 00:14:20,266 --> 00:14:21,500 [Josh] But to my eyes, 390 00:14:21,500 --> 00:14:24,200 it is not at all clear that this is man-made. 391 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,100 It's the kind of hotly debated question 392 00:14:26,100 --> 00:14:28,000 I've encountered before. 393 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,100 Have you ever heard of the Yonaguni ruins 394 00:14:30,100 --> 00:14:31,867 -in Japan? -Yep, yep, yep. 395 00:14:31,867 --> 00:14:33,266 This is another place that 396 00:14:33,266 --> 00:14:34,667 there's a real debate 397 00:14:34,667 --> 00:14:37,400 as to whether it's man-made or geological. 398 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:42,700 [Josh speaking] 399 00:14:47,867 --> 00:14:50,567 And this site is just as puzzling. 400 00:14:50,567 --> 00:14:53,100 Is this the work of human engineering? 401 00:14:54,066 --> 00:14:55,867 Finding out won't be easy. 402 00:14:55,867 --> 00:14:58,000 I'm informed that Mwamba Ukuta here 403 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:01,200 only shows itself for a brief period every day. 404 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,867 So as the tide comes up, this gets submerged? 405 00:15:03,867 --> 00:15:06,367 Yeah, it gets completely submerged. 406 00:15:06,367 --> 00:15:07,500 How much time do we have? 407 00:15:07,767 --> 00:15:08,700 [Caesar] Hmm. 408 00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:10,166 Roughly 409 00:15:10,166 --> 00:15:11,800 -half an hour to one hour. -[Josh] Half an hour? 410 00:15:11,800 --> 00:15:14,000 -And then we're underwater? -[Caesar] We will be submerged. 411 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,000 [Josh] Suddenly, we're on a short clock 412 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,166 to examine the site 413 00:15:17,166 --> 00:15:19,500 before the sea claims it once again. 414 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:22,467 So do you have any doubt that this is Rhapta? 415 00:15:22,467 --> 00:15:23,600 Not at all. 416 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:24,467 Prove it. 417 00:15:24,467 --> 00:15:27,166 Okay, let us go. I'll show you boulders. 418 00:15:27,166 --> 00:15:28,700 Please, show me the boulders. 419 00:15:29,867 --> 00:15:32,367 Since Rhapta was likely destroyed by a tsunami, 420 00:15:32,367 --> 00:15:34,100 Dr. Chami contends that 421 00:15:34,100 --> 00:15:36,567 this toppled wall is what's left. 422 00:15:36,567 --> 00:15:38,867 We walk down a rapidly sinking path 423 00:15:38,867 --> 00:15:40,367 atop the formation 424 00:15:40,367 --> 00:15:41,667 to see his proof 425 00:15:41,667 --> 00:15:43,800 lying half submerged in the water. 426 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:45,000 Look at this! 427 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:46,500 This looks like a block. 428 00:15:46,767 --> 00:15:48,066 Oh, my word, 429 00:15:48,066 --> 00:15:50,600 that is like a squared-off block. 430 00:15:51,367 --> 00:15:52,433 [Caesar speaking] 431 00:15:54,500 --> 00:15:56,133 [Josh] This is crazy! 432 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:00,900 [Caesar speaking] 433 00:16:00,900 --> 00:16:03,467 [Josh] I mean, they are rectangular blocks. 434 00:16:03,467 --> 00:16:05,400 This looks like a LEGO set. 435 00:16:06,066 --> 00:16:06,900 [Caesar speaking] 436 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:10,000 [Josh] Let's see. 437 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:12,433 Okay, so I'm putting this right up in the corner. 438 00:16:15,367 --> 00:16:17,066 [Caesar speaking] 439 00:16:17,066 --> 00:16:19,367 78 inches. So more than 6 feet. 440 00:16:19,367 --> 00:16:20,600 So what do you think this is? 441 00:16:20,600 --> 00:16:23,000 Is this carved stone 442 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,467 or is this like concrete? 443 00:16:24,467 --> 00:16:26,467 This is what we call Roman concrete. 444 00:16:26,467 --> 00:16:27,767 Roman concrete. 445 00:16:28,500 --> 00:16:31,100 The ancient Romans were masters of engineering 446 00:16:31,100 --> 00:16:33,867 who invented so-called hydraulic concrete, 447 00:16:33,867 --> 00:16:35,800 which was used to build harbor walls 448 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:37,467 across the ancient world 449 00:16:37,467 --> 00:16:40,166 by sinking squared-off caissons of cement 450 00:16:40,166 --> 00:16:42,700 that set into a rock-hard material. 451 00:16:42,700 --> 00:16:44,166 Dr. Chami and Caesar 452 00:16:44,166 --> 00:16:46,867 have recorded these types of so-called blocks 453 00:16:46,867 --> 00:16:49,767 all along the vast extent of the wall. 454 00:16:49,767 --> 00:16:51,767 They also contend that there are clear 455 00:16:51,767 --> 00:16:54,066 architectural blocks underwater, 456 00:16:54,066 --> 00:16:57,567 as well as possible remains of pottery or artifacts 457 00:16:57,567 --> 00:16:59,300 from Rhapta's rich emporium. 458 00:16:59,300 --> 00:17:00,467 Can we see it? 459 00:17:00,467 --> 00:17:01,467 We can see it. 460 00:17:01,467 --> 00:17:02,867 We can dive and see it. 461 00:17:02,867 --> 00:17:04,900 [Josh] Okay, we're running out of dry land here. 462 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:10,500 Okay, let's get moving. This tide is coming in real quick now. 463 00:17:13,467 --> 00:17:15,066 In the few minutes we've been here, 464 00:17:15,066 --> 00:17:16,567 the waves have gotten higher, 465 00:17:16,567 --> 00:17:18,400 and the land beneath our feet 466 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,367 is rapidly disappearing. 467 00:17:20,367 --> 00:17:21,734 We're about to get swamped. 468 00:17:24,367 --> 00:17:26,300 This tide is really coming in now. 469 00:17:32,100 --> 00:17:34,634 Oh, big wave! Caesar! Caesar! Come here! 470 00:17:38,967 --> 00:17:41,400 We climb what passes for higher ground here, 471 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:42,667 and we call in a boat 472 00:17:42,667 --> 00:17:44,567 to pluck us out of the rising water. 473 00:17:44,567 --> 00:17:46,600 -Hey! -[Chami] Bring the vessel here! 474 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:47,700 [Josh] Hang on, hang on! 475 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,133 Okay. Let's get aboard. 476 00:17:54,500 --> 00:17:55,900 We make it aboard safely 477 00:17:55,900 --> 00:17:58,667 and watch as the mysterious stone structure 478 00:17:58,667 --> 00:18:00,800 retreats beneath the waves. 479 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:02,667 That wall, if it is a wall, 480 00:18:02,667 --> 00:18:04,467 would be a huge discovery, 481 00:18:04,467 --> 00:18:06,800 and could put Rhapta back on the map. 482 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:09,500 But not without a smoking gun. 483 00:18:09,500 --> 00:18:11,467 It will take unimpeachable signs 484 00:18:11,467 --> 00:18:12,900 of human construction, 485 00:18:12,900 --> 00:18:15,800 or the discovery of Rhapta's ancient artifacts, 486 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,567 to prove this is the missing emporium. 487 00:18:18,567 --> 00:18:20,200 The truth is underwater, 488 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,300 which is where we intend to go. 489 00:18:36,100 --> 00:18:38,266 [Josh speaking] 490 00:18:38,266 --> 00:18:39,867 [Caesar speaking] 491 00:18:39,867 --> 00:18:41,700 [Josh speaking] 492 00:18:41,700 --> 00:18:43,467 Our time here is limited. 493 00:18:43,467 --> 00:18:46,000 Once the tide fully sweeps over the wall, 494 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,000 the strong current will sweep us out to sea. 495 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:50,634 We'll need to work fast. 496 00:18:51,367 --> 00:18:52,400 [Caesar speaking] 497 00:19:03,700 --> 00:19:05,333 [Josh speaking] 498 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:07,000 [Caesar speaking] 499 00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:08,400 [Josh speaking] 500 00:19:10,266 --> 00:19:11,500 [Caesar speaking] 501 00:19:13,567 --> 00:19:16,367 [Josh speaking] 502 00:19:16,367 --> 00:19:19,500 [Caesar speaking] 503 00:19:22,066 --> 00:19:23,433 [Josh speaking] 504 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,100 The Romans' engineering prowess 505 00:19:32,100 --> 00:19:34,000 extended to water management. 506 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:37,400 They built elegant aqueducts that function to this day. 507 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:38,567 Caesar thinks this channel 508 00:19:38,567 --> 00:19:41,600 could be part of a system that they built for Rhapta. 509 00:19:42,266 --> 00:19:44,467 [Caesar speaking] 510 00:19:44,467 --> 00:19:45,867 [Josh] It may look that way, 511 00:19:45,867 --> 00:19:48,233 but looks have been known to deceive. 512 00:19:49,867 --> 00:19:52,500 We continue to search the bottom for any artifacts 513 00:19:52,500 --> 00:19:54,500 or evidence of construction. 514 00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:56,166 It's a job made more challenging 515 00:19:56,166 --> 00:19:57,467 by the strong current, 516 00:19:57,467 --> 00:19:59,467 which drags us against the reef. 517 00:19:59,467 --> 00:20:01,767 But this is the only way we're going to find 518 00:20:01,767 --> 00:20:03,900 conclusive evidence of Rhapta. 519 00:20:04,266 --> 00:20:06,100 [Josh speaking] 520 00:20:21,867 --> 00:20:23,834 [Josh speaking] 521 00:20:24,767 --> 00:20:26,400 [Caesar speaking] 522 00:20:28,567 --> 00:20:31,000 [Josh] I'm diving on an enigmatic rock formation 523 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:33,300 that may have once served as an outer wall 524 00:20:33,300 --> 00:20:36,066 for the lost trading metropolis of Rhapta. 525 00:20:36,066 --> 00:20:39,667 We don't have much time before the strong current overpowers us. 526 00:20:39,667 --> 00:20:41,567 And we've just discovered blocks 527 00:20:41,567 --> 00:20:44,634 that appear to have signs of being manufactured. 528 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,200 [Josh speaking] 529 00:20:49,767 --> 00:20:52,266 [Caesar speaking] 530 00:20:52,266 --> 00:20:54,500 [Josh] We take measurements to see how this block 531 00:20:54,500 --> 00:20:57,233 compares to the one we examined on the surface. 532 00:21:01,467 --> 00:21:03,300 [Caesar speaking] 533 00:21:03,900 --> 00:21:05,600 [Josh speaking] 534 00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:10,634 [Caesar speaking] 535 00:21:12,166 --> 00:21:14,000 [Josh speaking] 536 00:21:17,867 --> 00:21:20,367 Admittedly, the blocks here are compelling. 537 00:21:20,367 --> 00:21:24,567 But as we sweep the sand, we don't see any pottery fragments, 538 00:21:24,567 --> 00:21:28,367 anchors or other telltale remains of a port. 539 00:21:28,367 --> 00:21:30,934 And soon, we can't see anything at all. 540 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:38,700 [Caesar speaking] 541 00:21:39,967 --> 00:21:41,533 [Josh speaking] 542 00:21:46,667 --> 00:21:48,667 Professor Chami is a true believer. 543 00:21:48,667 --> 00:21:51,767 To him, these are the Walls of Rhapta. 544 00:21:51,767 --> 00:21:55,967 He doesn't need to see more proof, but I think I do. 545 00:21:55,967 --> 00:21:59,767 Rock formations can fracture along perfectly straight lines, 546 00:21:59,767 --> 00:22:02,100 and until the blocks can be cored and studied, 547 00:22:02,100 --> 00:22:03,567 I'd say it's much more likely 548 00:22:03,567 --> 00:22:06,000 that this is a natural barrier reef. 549 00:22:08,900 --> 00:22:10,433 But fear not, 550 00:22:10,433 --> 00:22:13,867 because right now, there's another group of explorers on Mafia Island, 551 00:22:13,867 --> 00:22:16,567 also on the hunt for Africa's Atlantis. 552 00:22:16,567 --> 00:22:19,000 So I navigate back down the coast, 553 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,600 and come ashore at a place called Chole Bay. 554 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:24,000 It's here that I meet Bridget Buxton, 555 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,066 a professor at the University of Rhode Island 556 00:22:26,066 --> 00:22:29,300 with a PhD in ancient history from UC Berkeley. 557 00:22:29,300 --> 00:22:31,467 Her work as an underwater archaeologist 558 00:22:31,467 --> 00:22:34,400 has taken her from the Black Sea to New Zealand. 559 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:37,467 Joining her, is pottery expert and field archaeologist, 560 00:22:37,467 --> 00:22:39,600 Professor Alexandra Ratzlaff. 561 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:40,700 -Hi, I'm Josh. -[Bridget chuckles] 562 00:22:40,700 --> 00:22:42,266 -Nice to meet you. -Great to meet you. 563 00:22:42,266 --> 00:22:44,367 -Hi. Alex. -Alex. A pleasure. 564 00:22:44,367 --> 00:22:46,166 I come seeking Rhapta. 565 00:22:46,166 --> 00:22:48,467 You have come to the right place. 566 00:22:48,467 --> 00:22:49,700 Sort of. [chuckles] 567 00:22:49,700 --> 00:22:52,200 Okay, wait. So, have I? I mean, do you think 568 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:54,567 Rhapta was somewhere around Mafia Island? 569 00:22:54,567 --> 00:22:57,100 -Yes. -[Josh] Okay, that's good. I'm not on the wrong island. 570 00:22:57,100 --> 00:22:58,667 Now the question is, where? 571 00:22:58,667 --> 00:23:00,867 That's the better question. Where is it? 572 00:23:00,867 --> 00:23:02,600 Where does the evidence point us? 573 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:06,100 So I have just been to one potential candidate for Rhapta, 574 00:23:06,100 --> 00:23:07,667 this place Mwamba Ukutu. 575 00:23:07,667 --> 00:23:09,600 Are you bullish on that as Rhapta? 576 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,066 Sorry, no, that is not Rhapta. 577 00:23:12,066 --> 00:23:14,567 I have seen many formations like that 578 00:23:14,567 --> 00:23:17,367 with more than 20 years of working underwater. 579 00:23:17,367 --> 00:23:20,867 With Mwamba Ukutu, it's not about what's there, it's about what's missing. 580 00:23:20,867 --> 00:23:24,166 If it was this major Roman city or emporium 581 00:23:24,166 --> 00:23:25,467 and this trade nexus, 582 00:23:25,467 --> 00:23:27,867 you would have monumental architecture, 583 00:23:27,867 --> 00:23:29,467 you would have domestic houses. 584 00:23:29,467 --> 00:23:31,400 The Romans weren't shy about leaving their footprint. 585 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,767 If they decided to show up somewhere, you'd know about it. 586 00:23:33,767 --> 00:23:35,400 And even this argument that a tsunami 587 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:37,100 may have swept through and destroyed the city... 588 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:40,867 If this is the Amazon fulfillment center of the ancient world, 589 00:23:40,867 --> 00:23:43,000 -where are all those boxes, right? -[Alexandra] Yeah. 590 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:44,033 Which is the pottery in this case. 591 00:23:44,033 --> 00:23:45,867 Yeah, we're missing all the shipping containers. 592 00:23:45,867 --> 00:23:48,367 So that leads to an obvious next question. 593 00:23:48,367 --> 00:23:50,567 Where else do we look, and how do we look? 594 00:23:50,567 --> 00:23:54,066 We look in the sea, and we look for shipwrecks. 595 00:23:54,066 --> 00:23:57,166 One of the places that ships love to have accidents 596 00:23:57,166 --> 00:23:58,467 is close to a port. 597 00:23:58,467 --> 00:24:01,367 Shipwrecks equal port, port may equal Rhapta. 598 00:24:01,367 --> 00:24:02,500 That all makes good sense. 599 00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:04,266 So, how do we find those shipwrecks? 600 00:24:04,266 --> 00:24:06,967 The number one way to find shipwrecks... 601 00:24:06,967 --> 00:24:08,600 ask the local people. 602 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,667 The local people have been reporting 603 00:24:10,667 --> 00:24:13,367 a lot of interesting sites, just out here. 604 00:24:13,367 --> 00:24:16,400 What are the items that we want to find to say we are in Rhapta? 605 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:20,066 I'd love to find anchors, because we know from Roman texts 606 00:24:20,066 --> 00:24:23,200 that Mediterranean style, Roman style ships 607 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:25,367 -were trading in this ocean. -[Josh] Right. 608 00:24:25,367 --> 00:24:27,166 [Bridget] But no one's ever found one of those ships. 609 00:24:27,166 --> 00:24:28,367 I'd love to find pottery. 610 00:24:28,367 --> 00:24:30,166 This is an area of expertise for you, right? 611 00:24:30,166 --> 00:24:31,767 -[Alexandra] Absolutely. -You are a pot-head. 612 00:24:31,767 --> 00:24:33,800 -[Alexandra chuckles] -Is that-- Pot expert. Pottery expert? 613 00:24:33,800 --> 00:24:35,400 -Did I use it correctly? -I don't think that'd be a stretch. 614 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:36,567 Okay. Perfect. 615 00:24:36,567 --> 00:24:38,567 Yeah. So, the pottery I look at 616 00:24:38,567 --> 00:24:41,467 tells me, not only about what the Romans have, 617 00:24:41,467 --> 00:24:43,667 but what the Romans that came to Mafia, 618 00:24:43,667 --> 00:24:45,266 that came to Rhapta, brought with them. 619 00:24:45,266 --> 00:24:47,200 Okay, so we know what we're looking for. 620 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:48,467 Now we just need to find it. 621 00:24:48,467 --> 00:24:49,667 Should we go diving? 622 00:24:49,667 --> 00:24:51,433 -Sounds good. -Let's do it. Come on. 623 00:24:55,900 --> 00:24:56,967 We get back on the boat 624 00:24:56,967 --> 00:24:58,300 and head out to the coordinates 625 00:24:58,300 --> 00:25:00,100 provided by local fishermen, 626 00:25:00,100 --> 00:25:03,133 where they think they've found evidence of shipwrecks. 627 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:07,467 Bridget and I prepare to dive the coordinates, 628 00:25:07,467 --> 00:25:09,800 while Alexandra will stay topside. 629 00:25:23,967 --> 00:25:25,400 [Bridget speaking] 630 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:29,700 [Josh speaking] 631 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:36,367 The conditions here are better than at Mwamba Ukutu, 632 00:25:36,367 --> 00:25:37,767 at least for now. 633 00:25:37,767 --> 00:25:40,200 While currents here can also be treacherous, 634 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:43,133 at least I can actually see my hand in front of my face. 635 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,300 [Bridget speaking] 636 00:25:52,567 --> 00:25:54,266 [Josh speaking] 637 00:25:54,266 --> 00:25:55,800 [Bridget speaking] 638 00:25:59,667 --> 00:26:01,400 [Josh speaking] 639 00:26:22,166 --> 00:26:23,400 [Bridget speaking] 640 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:29,300 [Josh speaking] 641 00:26:30,567 --> 00:26:32,400 [Bridget speaking] 642 00:26:40,767 --> 00:26:43,400 We continue to search for signs of a shipwreck, 643 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:46,800 suddenly mindful of Bridget's suggestion to search carefully. 644 00:26:48,900 --> 00:26:50,700 [Bridget speaking] 645 00:26:52,166 --> 00:26:53,066 [Josh speaking] 646 00:26:53,066 --> 00:26:54,133 [Bridget speaking] 647 00:26:55,266 --> 00:26:57,033 [Josh speaking] 648 00:26:59,867 --> 00:27:01,500 Moray eels aren't venomous, 649 00:27:01,500 --> 00:27:03,867 but their jaws and teeth are powerful, 650 00:27:03,867 --> 00:27:05,934 with bites prone to infections. 651 00:27:07,700 --> 00:27:09,200 I'm so busy looking down, 652 00:27:09,200 --> 00:27:11,800 I fail to notice the shadow overhead. 653 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:14,133 [Bridget speaking] 654 00:27:14,867 --> 00:27:16,800 [Josh speaking] 655 00:27:19,767 --> 00:27:22,767 Whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean, 656 00:27:22,767 --> 00:27:25,467 growing up to 60 feet long. 657 00:27:25,467 --> 00:27:26,667 They're gentle giants, 658 00:27:26,667 --> 00:27:30,400 gliding through the waves and dwarfing us in their wake. 659 00:27:33,900 --> 00:27:35,767 With the whale shark swimming away, 660 00:27:35,767 --> 00:27:37,700 we refocus on the mission. 661 00:27:38,867 --> 00:27:40,634 [Bridget speaking] 662 00:27:44,667 --> 00:27:46,000 [Josh speaking] 663 00:27:48,667 --> 00:27:51,567 Fighting the currents as we scour the seabed, 664 00:27:51,567 --> 00:27:53,700 something catches Bridget's eyes. 665 00:27:54,166 --> 00:27:55,800 [Bridget speaking] 666 00:27:57,166 --> 00:27:58,900 [Josh speaking] 667 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:06,700 [Josh speaking] 668 00:28:07,367 --> 00:28:08,900 [Bridget speaking] 669 00:28:11,767 --> 00:28:13,100 [Josh] In the Indian Ocean, 670 00:28:13,100 --> 00:28:16,367 I'm looking for evidence of Africa's Atlantis, 671 00:28:16,367 --> 00:28:19,266 the very real sunken port city of Rhapta, 672 00:28:19,266 --> 00:28:21,667 which was once the southernmost Roman trade center 673 00:28:21,667 --> 00:28:22,900 on the continent. 674 00:28:22,900 --> 00:28:26,266 We've just discovered a collection of ceramic vessels, 675 00:28:26,266 --> 00:28:27,934 and resting beside them... 676 00:28:33,367 --> 00:28:35,500 [Bridget speaking] 677 00:28:43,467 --> 00:28:45,200 [Josh] Ballast stones were once used 678 00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:47,100 to steady the hulls of ships, 679 00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:50,166 weighing them down in the water so they wouldn't tip over. 680 00:28:50,166 --> 00:28:51,867 If this ship was made of wood, 681 00:28:51,867 --> 00:28:54,567 it's possible these stones could be the only thing 682 00:28:54,567 --> 00:28:56,834 to survive centuries underwater. 683 00:28:57,567 --> 00:28:59,467 So we likely have a shipwreck. 684 00:28:59,467 --> 00:29:01,200 Finding out if it's from Rhapta, though, 685 00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,300 will mean identifying its cargo. 686 00:29:07,367 --> 00:29:09,000 [Bridget speaking] 687 00:29:10,567 --> 00:29:13,166 [Josh] Before attempting to raise one of the pots, 688 00:29:13,166 --> 00:29:17,233 we have to carefully select one strong enough to survive the trip. 689 00:29:17,967 --> 00:29:19,433 [Bridget speaking] 690 00:29:27,967 --> 00:29:29,367 [Josh speaking] 691 00:29:39,567 --> 00:29:43,100 From topside, Alexandra sends down a recovery basket 692 00:29:43,100 --> 00:29:45,233 to cradle and raise our find. 693 00:29:50,700 --> 00:29:52,266 [Bridget speaking] 694 00:29:52,266 --> 00:29:53,700 [Josh speaking] 695 00:30:10,567 --> 00:30:12,834 [Bridget speaking] 696 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:14,500 [Josh speaking] 697 00:30:14,967 --> 00:30:15,867 Safely loaded, 698 00:30:15,867 --> 00:30:18,000 we bring the artifact to the surface, 699 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:19,800 until, at long last, 700 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:22,467 this piece of pottery sees the light of day 701 00:30:22,467 --> 00:30:24,800 for what may be the first time in centuries. 702 00:30:26,467 --> 00:30:27,900 [Alexandra] Oh, wow. 703 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:29,166 It's a complete vessel. 704 00:30:29,166 --> 00:30:30,634 -Whoo! -[Alexandra] I'll get this. 705 00:30:30,634 --> 00:30:32,367 -[Bridget] All right, let's try to get it out. -[Josh] Careful, careful! 706 00:30:32,367 --> 00:30:33,300 -Up we go. -[Alexandra] We're done. 707 00:30:33,300 --> 00:30:35,467 -Careful. -[Josh whoops] 708 00:30:35,467 --> 00:30:38,100 This is amazing. We never find complete vessels like this. 709 00:30:38,100 --> 00:30:40,600 I'm always working with shards that are the size of a quarter. 710 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:41,767 You guys have a full vessel here. 711 00:30:41,767 --> 00:30:43,567 -It's really beautiful. -[Alexandra] Yeah. 712 00:30:43,567 --> 00:30:45,400 [Josh] I mean, it is just almost complete. 713 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,367 Now, you are the queen of pottery here, as I understand it. 714 00:30:48,367 --> 00:30:50,567 So if you had to date this, what would you say? 715 00:30:50,567 --> 00:30:53,266 I would say that this is definitely post medieval. 716 00:30:53,266 --> 00:30:55,767 So not old enough. Not the smoking gun of Rhapta. 717 00:30:55,767 --> 00:30:56,967 Not Rhapta, 718 00:30:56,967 --> 00:30:59,900 but the site was obviously important throughout history. 719 00:30:59,900 --> 00:31:01,567 At the very least, it does indicate 720 00:31:01,567 --> 00:31:03,967 that we may be in the right area. 721 00:31:03,967 --> 00:31:05,500 -Any evidence is good evidence. -[Josh] All right. 722 00:31:05,500 --> 00:31:07,166 You guys had an amazing find today. 723 00:31:07,166 --> 00:31:08,667 Great work. 724 00:31:08,667 --> 00:31:11,300 Reports of shipwrecks here will continue to be examined, 725 00:31:11,300 --> 00:31:15,100 as the history of this region seems laid out on the seabed. 726 00:31:15,100 --> 00:31:17,567 But back on the boat, Bridget and Alexandra 727 00:31:17,567 --> 00:31:19,467 remind me that when it comes to Rhapta, 728 00:31:19,467 --> 00:31:22,166 regional is not what we're looking for. 729 00:31:22,166 --> 00:31:26,266 We want a site that tells us about international trade. 730 00:31:26,266 --> 00:31:28,567 The ancient texts tell us that Rhapta 731 00:31:28,567 --> 00:31:32,266 is an international emporium, a metropolis. 732 00:31:32,266 --> 00:31:33,900 We're looking for something on a bigger scale. 733 00:31:33,900 --> 00:31:37,567 Yes. There's another site that we'd like to show you 734 00:31:37,567 --> 00:31:40,900 that we think is another important piece of this puzzle. 735 00:31:40,900 --> 00:31:42,500 Okay. Where is this place? 736 00:31:42,500 --> 00:31:44,100 It's called Ras Kisimani. 737 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:47,066 Okay. And do I get to know what's at this place? 738 00:31:47,066 --> 00:31:48,967 -[Bridget] No. -You're going to need to see it. 739 00:31:48,967 --> 00:31:49,934 Okay. 740 00:31:52,066 --> 00:31:54,367 We hit the throttle hard and raced the tide 741 00:31:54,367 --> 00:31:57,100 to the place known as Ras Kisimani. 742 00:31:57,100 --> 00:31:59,200 Several hours later, we arrive at the tip 743 00:31:59,200 --> 00:32:01,300 of Mafia's westernmost peninsula, 744 00:32:01,300 --> 00:32:03,634 and climb out into the shallows. 745 00:32:05,266 --> 00:32:08,200 Another low tide, another walk through the water, 746 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:11,734 and on this particular beach, it pays to look down. 747 00:32:12,300 --> 00:32:13,300 Is that pottery? 748 00:32:15,066 --> 00:32:17,266 -Oh, nice find! -That's pottery. Look at that! 749 00:32:17,266 --> 00:32:19,600 This is the base of a... of a storage container, yeah? 750 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:21,867 [Alexandra] Yeah, and the storage vessels, we like finding these, 751 00:32:21,867 --> 00:32:25,867 because it says harbor, facilities, infrastructure. 752 00:32:25,867 --> 00:32:28,467 So this is part of the puzzle that we're looking for. 753 00:32:28,467 --> 00:32:29,567 And there's more of this here? 754 00:32:29,567 --> 00:32:30,800 There's so much more of it here. 755 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:32,400 This is why we brought you here. 756 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:34,100 Show me. Yeah. 757 00:32:34,100 --> 00:32:37,166 She doesn't need to show me. Everywhere I step... 758 00:32:37,166 --> 00:32:38,500 More pottery here. 759 00:32:39,166 --> 00:32:40,433 Everywhere I look... 760 00:32:40,700 --> 00:32:41,767 And more here. 761 00:32:41,767 --> 00:32:42,634 And here. 762 00:32:42,634 --> 00:32:43,700 -It's everywhere. -[Bridget chuckles] 763 00:32:43,700 --> 00:32:46,767 [Josh] ...pottery is laid out before me. 764 00:32:46,767 --> 00:32:48,767 -What do you got? -Something a little different. 765 00:32:48,767 --> 00:32:51,667 Fifteenth century Portuguese import. 766 00:32:51,667 --> 00:32:53,667 And so, what is this doing here? 767 00:32:53,667 --> 00:32:57,000 This is more indicative of a town, a city, 768 00:32:57,000 --> 00:32:58,367 some permanent settlement. 769 00:32:58,367 --> 00:33:00,800 [Josh] We wanted evidence of international trade, 770 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:02,600 and here we have it. 771 00:33:02,600 --> 00:33:04,967 And the Middle Ages would be right around the time 772 00:33:04,967 --> 00:33:08,000 Rhapta is said to have sunk into the ocean. 773 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:09,367 And along with the pottery, 774 00:33:09,367 --> 00:33:12,367 there's other clues revealed by the low tide. 775 00:33:12,367 --> 00:33:14,100 [Bridget] Guys, come and have a look at this. 776 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:15,900 -[Alexandra] Ooh. -[Josh] Find something? 777 00:33:16,300 --> 00:33:17,400 [Bridget] Yep. 778 00:33:18,266 --> 00:33:19,467 [Josh] What is this? 779 00:33:19,467 --> 00:33:20,900 [Bridget] This is an anchor. 780 00:33:20,900 --> 00:33:22,066 [Josh] This is an anchor! 781 00:33:22,066 --> 00:33:23,467 [Bridget] Yep. 782 00:33:23,467 --> 00:33:25,867 -[Josh] It's a stone anchor. -[Bridget] Yes. 783 00:33:25,867 --> 00:33:27,600 [Josh] So we can see it has this squared off form, 784 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:29,500 and there's a hole through the center here for rope. 785 00:33:29,500 --> 00:33:31,567 [Bridget] They were in continuous use 786 00:33:31,567 --> 00:33:33,667 -for hundreds of years. -[Josh] Right. 787 00:33:33,667 --> 00:33:36,900 Here we have now, literally, rock solid evidence. 788 00:33:36,900 --> 00:33:39,166 that there must have been ships here. 789 00:33:39,166 --> 00:33:41,400 [Alexandra] Where there's ships and anchors, there's a port. 790 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:44,567 [Josh] A historic ship's anchor and this much pottery 791 00:33:44,567 --> 00:33:48,233 could be strong evidence of this as a trade center. 792 00:33:49,100 --> 00:33:51,800 We quickly scan every inch of the beach. 793 00:33:53,500 --> 00:33:54,467 Worked stone. 794 00:33:54,467 --> 00:33:55,667 Pulling up clue... 795 00:33:55,667 --> 00:33:57,000 That is a worked edge for sure. 796 00:33:57,000 --> 00:33:58,266 This is man made here. 797 00:33:58,266 --> 00:33:59,634 ...after clue. 798 00:33:59,900 --> 00:34:01,467 Whoa, loom weight! 799 00:34:01,467 --> 00:34:02,367 [Alexandra] A loom weight? 800 00:34:02,367 --> 00:34:03,533 -[Bridget] Yeah. -[Josh] That's super cool. 801 00:34:03,533 --> 00:34:06,734 I'm seeing pottery with every step that I take. 802 00:34:07,900 --> 00:34:10,100 Oh, sorry, just half a jar at my feet 803 00:34:10,100 --> 00:34:11,567 while we're talking here. 804 00:34:11,567 --> 00:34:12,767 This is insane. 805 00:34:12,767 --> 00:34:15,800 And then, something green catches my eye. 806 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:17,667 -Bridget? -[Bridget] Yeah? 807 00:34:17,667 --> 00:34:19,000 Bridget, come here! 808 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,500 It might be nothing, but it looks... 809 00:34:21,500 --> 00:34:23,200 -[Bridget] Oh, my God. -[Josh] Is it? 810 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:24,500 -[Bridget] Yes. -[Josh] It is. 811 00:34:24,500 --> 00:34:25,567 That is a coin? 812 00:34:25,567 --> 00:34:27,333 Yeah. You found one. 813 00:34:27,700 --> 00:34:29,333 [Josh] Get out of here! 814 00:34:31,867 --> 00:34:34,800 [Alexandra] Wow, it's nestled right in between the pottery. 815 00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,467 -You can see decoration. -Can you actually? 816 00:34:37,467 --> 00:34:40,367 -Yeah, you can. -Oh, you can. There's writing on it. 817 00:34:40,367 --> 00:34:41,634 But this is not a modern coin? 818 00:34:41,634 --> 00:34:44,467 [Bridget] It's late in the medieval period if it's medieval. 819 00:34:44,467 --> 00:34:46,367 -But that's old-- -[Josh] But it could be cleaned up for sure. 820 00:34:46,367 --> 00:34:47,266 -Oh, yeah. -[Alexandra] Oh, yeah. 821 00:34:47,266 --> 00:34:48,700 [Josh] We found trade goods, 822 00:34:48,700 --> 00:34:51,867 and now, coins washing up on the beach. 823 00:34:51,867 --> 00:34:55,567 This place has all the ingredients of a major marketplace. 824 00:34:55,567 --> 00:34:56,967 But was it Rhapta? 825 00:34:56,967 --> 00:34:59,133 We continue searching for proof. 826 00:35:01,767 --> 00:35:03,367 Oh, my word. 827 00:35:03,367 --> 00:35:05,734 Oh, my word! Look at this! 828 00:35:06,300 --> 00:35:07,967 -[gasps] -That's not from here. 829 00:35:07,967 --> 00:35:09,000 Look at this. 830 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:09,934 Bridget, come here! 831 00:35:09,934 --> 00:35:11,567 [Alexandra] Bridget, this is something new. 832 00:35:11,567 --> 00:35:13,300 [dramatic music playing] 833 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:20,967 [Josh] In Zanzibar's bustling night market, 834 00:35:20,967 --> 00:35:24,066 amongst Swahili stews and seafood skewers, 835 00:35:24,066 --> 00:35:27,367 I'm surprised to find a food I'm intimately familiar with. 836 00:35:27,367 --> 00:35:29,033 Or at least I thought I was. 837 00:35:30,367 --> 00:35:32,166 Okay, this is Zanzibar pizza? 838 00:35:32,166 --> 00:35:33,667 Yeah, this is Zanzibar pizza. 839 00:35:33,667 --> 00:35:35,000 Famous for its pizza. 840 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:37,166 Meat, we have vegetable, 841 00:35:37,166 --> 00:35:39,166 we have nice cheese... 842 00:35:39,166 --> 00:35:40,967 -Lobster? -Yeah, lobster pizza. 843 00:35:40,967 --> 00:35:43,166 -Okay, I'm gonna have the lobster pizza. -One pizza? 844 00:35:43,166 --> 00:35:46,166 One classic Zanzibar lobster pizza. 845 00:35:46,166 --> 00:35:47,700 Just like Mom used to make. 846 00:35:47,700 --> 00:35:49,667 Hakuna matata. 847 00:35:49,667 --> 00:35:53,600 [Josh] Naturally, lobster pizza is made with two full cups of onions, 848 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:55,867 mayonnaise, an egg with the shell... 849 00:35:55,867 --> 00:35:57,367 I'm sure they'll take that out. 850 00:35:57,367 --> 00:35:59,000 ...and presumably lobster? 851 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:01,000 All right, here we go. Moment of truth. 852 00:36:04,100 --> 00:36:06,800 I got to say, it's great! 853 00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:09,000 -Have you had pizza from America? -No. 854 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:10,300 -No? -No. 855 00:36:10,300 --> 00:36:12,100 It's just like this. Nice work. 856 00:36:12,100 --> 00:36:13,166 Yeah, hakuna matata. 857 00:36:13,166 --> 00:36:14,600 Hakuna ma-tasty. 858 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:20,166 Is that stone? 859 00:36:20,166 --> 00:36:22,166 It's stone. Really fine stone. 860 00:36:22,166 --> 00:36:24,166 -Beautiful stone. -[Alexandra] Not local stone. 861 00:36:24,166 --> 00:36:25,467 -Not even close. -[Josh] This looks like something 862 00:36:25,467 --> 00:36:27,266 that would line a doorway. 863 00:36:27,266 --> 00:36:30,266 On a remote beach off the coast of a Tanzanian island, 864 00:36:30,266 --> 00:36:33,800 I'm exploring a treasure trove of ancient artifacts 865 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:37,367 from what I hope is Africa's sunken city of Rhapta. 866 00:36:37,367 --> 00:36:39,800 And this one is jaw dropping. 867 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:41,166 This looks like an architectural element. 868 00:36:41,166 --> 00:36:43,100 This is the nicest stone that we have seen. 869 00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:47,166 This is about maybe a belief system or a cultural tradition. 870 00:36:47,166 --> 00:36:50,166 This is going to tell us not just the fact someone was here, 871 00:36:50,166 --> 00:36:51,400 -but who was here. -[Josh] Right. 872 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:52,667 [Alexandra] Beautiful. 873 00:36:52,667 --> 00:36:55,100 That... That is incredible. 874 00:36:56,767 --> 00:36:59,300 The low tide continues to reveal treasures, 875 00:36:59,300 --> 00:37:01,867 many dating to around the eighth century, 876 00:37:01,867 --> 00:37:04,233 when Rhapta vanished off the map. 877 00:37:05,367 --> 00:37:07,266 Oh, hey, guys. 878 00:37:07,266 --> 00:37:09,400 -[Josh] Got something? -Yeah. Check this out. 879 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:11,467 What do you have? More pottery? 880 00:37:11,467 --> 00:37:14,166 [Alexandra] It's more pottery, but it's early. 881 00:37:14,166 --> 00:37:15,667 This is probably a little juglet. 882 00:37:15,667 --> 00:37:17,567 The bottom is worn out, 883 00:37:17,567 --> 00:37:20,266 uh, and I'd push it into the Islamic period. 884 00:37:20,266 --> 00:37:23,467 Maybe sixth century, which is pretty amazing. 885 00:37:23,467 --> 00:37:26,767 Sixth century would put us within just a few centuries of Rhapta. 886 00:37:26,767 --> 00:37:30,400 The earliest known pottery from this area 887 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:31,867 is the eighth century. 888 00:37:31,867 --> 00:37:33,700 That's the absolute earliest. 889 00:37:33,700 --> 00:37:35,266 Until a few seconds ago. Yeah. 890 00:37:35,266 --> 00:37:36,800 Until a few seconds ago. 891 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,166 -We're turning back the clock here. -Definitely. 892 00:37:39,166 --> 00:37:40,900 -Yeah. -[Josh] Let's keep turning it. 893 00:37:41,667 --> 00:37:43,266 The objects buried on this beach 894 00:37:43,266 --> 00:37:46,867 are snapshots from across cultures and centuries. 895 00:37:46,867 --> 00:37:50,734 I'm absolutely stunned, especially by this. 896 00:37:51,967 --> 00:37:54,667 [chuckles] I'm sorry, I keep picking up things that are really cool. 897 00:37:54,667 --> 00:37:56,100 Is this of interest? 898 00:37:56,100 --> 00:37:58,200 -[Bridget] It's Chinese. -[Josh] It is Chinese? 899 00:37:58,200 --> 00:38:00,166 -[Bridget] Yes, it's Chinese. -[Alexandra] Yes, it actually is Chinese. 900 00:38:00,166 --> 00:38:01,867 Look at that pattern. 901 00:38:01,867 --> 00:38:03,467 It's beautiful. 902 00:38:03,467 --> 00:38:07,266 This, so different than any other pottery that we've seen. 903 00:38:07,266 --> 00:38:09,800 This is very, very finely made. 904 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:11,667 And then the glaze is just beautiful. 905 00:38:11,667 --> 00:38:13,600 It covers the whole thing. 906 00:38:14,467 --> 00:38:16,100 It is stunning. 907 00:38:16,900 --> 00:38:19,667 But if this was the storied trading outpost, 908 00:38:19,667 --> 00:38:21,400 where's the town itself? 909 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:23,634 The answer may be just up the beach. 910 00:38:24,100 --> 00:38:25,800 Wow, what is this? 911 00:38:26,166 --> 00:38:27,300 Is it a tower? 912 00:38:27,300 --> 00:38:29,266 Tower foundations, yeah. 913 00:38:29,266 --> 00:38:32,166 But something lopped the top off it. 914 00:38:32,166 --> 00:38:34,300 I just noticed something. Look. 915 00:38:35,300 --> 00:38:36,767 -[Josh] Shells. -You see what I'm seeing? 916 00:38:36,767 --> 00:38:39,166 A layer of articulated shells. 917 00:38:39,166 --> 00:38:42,700 -The killer just left its signature right here. -[Alexandra] Yeah. 918 00:38:42,700 --> 00:38:45,700 [Josh] So when you see a line of shells like that, it says what? 919 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:47,767 Tsunami, big storm. 920 00:38:47,767 --> 00:38:50,100 So, one of those waves that comes crashing in, 921 00:38:50,100 --> 00:38:51,800 it pushes everything that way, 922 00:38:51,800 --> 00:38:56,166 and then it has this trail of shells and marine life with it. 923 00:38:56,166 --> 00:38:57,600 And it gets deposited, 924 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:00,367 and then all the heavy stuff on top of it 925 00:39:00,367 --> 00:39:02,767 gets pulled back out to sea. 926 00:39:02,767 --> 00:39:05,667 Well, there's a theory that Rhapta was destroyed by a tsunami, 927 00:39:05,667 --> 00:39:08,800 and we might be looking at a tsunami fingerprint. 928 00:39:08,800 --> 00:39:13,033 That is one of the biggest discoveries we have made here. 929 00:39:15,100 --> 00:39:18,266 [Josh] This layer of shells is a monumental find. 930 00:39:18,266 --> 00:39:21,367 It hints at a story, one of destruction, 931 00:39:21,367 --> 00:39:24,266 perhaps of a thriving Roman trade emporium. 932 00:39:24,266 --> 00:39:26,767 After all, literally at our feet, 933 00:39:26,767 --> 00:39:29,867 we've just made a dizzying array of finds. 934 00:39:29,867 --> 00:39:31,700 So, you're holding Chinese pottery, 935 00:39:31,700 --> 00:39:35,100 we already picked up medieval pottery from Portugal. 936 00:39:35,100 --> 00:39:39,266 Also, next to... contemporary African pottery from the medieval period. 937 00:39:39,266 --> 00:39:42,300 And then we have going even further back, 938 00:39:42,300 --> 00:39:44,100 possibly sixth century pottery. 939 00:39:44,100 --> 00:39:47,000 And then, you throw in a decorative architectural element... 940 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,166 It doesn't get more diverse than that at a site. 941 00:39:50,166 --> 00:39:53,100 [Josh] And stone anchors and structural elements, and a coin. 942 00:39:53,100 --> 00:39:55,000 And all of those things share something else, 943 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,100 which is that they've all been destroyed. 944 00:39:58,100 --> 00:40:00,800 There is some serious destruction happening here. 945 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:03,967 You have a major natural disaster. 946 00:40:03,967 --> 00:40:06,467 Some kind of Atlantis scenario, yes. 947 00:40:06,467 --> 00:40:10,300 Great. So, are we standing in Rhapta? 948 00:40:10,300 --> 00:40:13,266 Maybe. We think this area here 949 00:40:13,266 --> 00:40:16,867 is a good candidate for our missing city. 950 00:40:16,867 --> 00:40:19,567 This whole coast, over the centuries, 951 00:40:19,567 --> 00:40:23,066 has experienced catastrophes and huge erosion. 952 00:40:23,066 --> 00:40:26,567 The ancient shoreline was much further out 2,000 years ago. 953 00:40:26,567 --> 00:40:29,667 There could have been, maybe more city out there... 954 00:40:29,667 --> 00:40:31,400 -Underwater. -...underwater. 955 00:40:31,400 --> 00:40:33,133 This is just the beginning. 956 00:40:34,467 --> 00:40:36,667 Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. 957 00:40:36,667 --> 00:40:37,900 -All the best. -[Alexandra] Thank you. 958 00:40:37,900 --> 00:40:39,900 -Thank you. -And thanks for finding so much stuff for us. 959 00:40:39,900 --> 00:40:41,166 Of course. Are you kidding? 960 00:40:41,166 --> 00:40:43,800 And for you to let me keep all of it, it's amazing. 961 00:40:43,800 --> 00:40:45,533 [Alexandra chuckles] 962 00:40:47,166 --> 00:40:50,867 [Josh] The story of Atlantis is one that has resonated across time 963 00:40:50,867 --> 00:40:53,100 for more than 2,000 years. 964 00:40:53,100 --> 00:40:56,166 It is a legend that pulls at our imagination. 965 00:40:56,166 --> 00:40:59,000 But here, off the coast of East Africa 966 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:02,100 is a mystery far greater than Atlantis, 967 00:41:02,100 --> 00:41:04,600 because it's entirely real. 968 00:41:05,867 --> 00:41:09,667 We may be able to officially put Rhapta back on the map. 969 00:41:09,667 --> 00:41:12,400 Because of these finds in just a few months, 970 00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:13,867 an excavation will be launched 971 00:41:13,867 --> 00:41:16,500 to study this speech in greater detail. 972 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:19,567 And based on the wrecks off shore 973 00:41:19,567 --> 00:41:21,567 and the treasures at our feet, 974 00:41:21,567 --> 00:41:24,166 I have a feeling that new discoveries here 975 00:41:24,166 --> 00:41:26,767 will be nothing short of historic.