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Welcome to Hegra,
Saudi Arabia!
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Well, the temperature
may be soaring,
but I assure you
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that what you see behind me
is no mirage.
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It is one of hundreds
of massive structures
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carved out
of the very rock itself,
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the fingerprints
of an enigmatic civilization
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that once dominated
the richest trade routes
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of the ancient world,
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the Nabateans.
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Two thousand years ago,
the Nabatean kingdom
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ruled the desert
from here, in Arabia,
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all the way to the Sinai,
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a strategic position
that made them rich
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beyond imagination.
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Despite their immense wealth
and power,
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the reign of the Nabateans
was surprisingly brief
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before they vanished
into history.
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Today, shockingly little
is known about them.
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Most of their tombs
were found empty.
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Their legendary riches
never recovered.
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So, where did they come from?
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How did they manage to tame
these unforgiving deserts?
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And how did they build
these jaw-dropping monuments?
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The answers may lie
at their most famous city,
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hundreds of miles away
in the deserts of Jordan.
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Carved by hand into the walls
of a remote and hidden canyon,
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Petra is a place
that defies explanation.
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At its heart
is the mysterious marvel
known as the Treasury.
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The most famous facade
on earth
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is one of the New
Seven Wonders of the World,
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and played home
to the Holy Grail
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00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,934
in Indiana Jones
and the Last Crusade.
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Local folklore says
it hides the wealth
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of the city's founders.
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In reality, though,
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scholars remain puzzled
by its true purpose.
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Now, archeologist,
Pearce Paul Creasman
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has been granted
unprecedented access
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to excavate at the Treasury.
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A once in a lifetime chance
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to dig beneath
this historic icon,
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and a dangerous expedition
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to uncover
an ancient inscription
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may finally shine a light
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on the origins
of the Nabateans.
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Meanwhile, scientists
are using groundbreaking
imaging technology,
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to reconstruct
the charred remains of scrolls
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that could decipher
the lost fate
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of this civilization.
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So choose wisely, and join me
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on an adventure worthy
of Dr. Jones himself,
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as we unlock the truth
and treasures
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of the Nabateans.
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The past is all around us.
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Oh, this is crazy.
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A world of mystery...
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This is a plane.
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-[man] Yeah.
-[laughs]
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...danger...
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We are about to be underwater.
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Whoa!
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...and adventure.
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It's just straight down!
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Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!
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I travel to the far corners
of the earth
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to uncover
where legends end...
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[screams, laughs]
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...and history begins.
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Okay, let's punch in.
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I'm Josh Gates,
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and this
is Expedition Unknown.
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Well, I have flown from
the deserts of Saudi Arabia
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all the way
to the nation of Jordan.
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This was once the heartland
of the Nabatean kingdom.
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But their city of Petra
is still a ways off.
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To get there,
it's a three-hour drive
to the south.
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Okay, maybe four hours.
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[sighs]
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Nabateans probably had
a lot less traffic.
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[horns honking]
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[Josh] Amman is something
of a mirage
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because as soon
as you clear the capital,
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Jordan reveals
her true nature...
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vast, desolate,
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and absolutely stunning.
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Look at this place.
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Whoo!
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Like another world.
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After a long drive
in 100-degree heat,
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I've consumed every drop
of water in the car...
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and finally approached
the canyons surrounding Petra.
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There are, of course,
no cars allowed
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in the ancient city of Petra,
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which means I'm gonna have to
transfer to a more...
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00:04:49,567 --> 00:04:51,834
traditional form
of transportation.
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Even on the back
of a spitting, ornery camel,
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the entrance into Petra
is awe-inspiring.
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This is the Siq,
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a nearly mile-long slot canyon
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whose walls rise
almost 300 feet
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above the desert floor.
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It offers shade, but
more importantly, protection,
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concealing the Nabateans'
grand capital city,
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from the outside world.
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How well did it work?
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Well, western scholars had
no idea what was down here,
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until only 200 years ago.
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Swiss explorer,
Johann Ludwig Burckhardt,
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assuming the alias,
Sheikh Ibrahim Ibn Abdallah,
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earned the trust
of a local guide
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and gained access
to the ruins,
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making him the first outsider
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to lay eyes on this.
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Look at that.
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Wow.
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This is Al Khazna,
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better known as the Treasury.
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One look, and it takes
your breath away.
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A stunning
rose-colored facade,
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carved out
of the solid rock itself.
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It has become the emblem
of the Nabatean kingdom.
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Here to welcome me to the site
is my old friend,
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archeologist,
Pearce Paul Creasman.
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-Pearce Paul.
-Josh.
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I always knew someday
you'd come walking back
through my door.
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Oh, he even quotes Raiders!
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Last time I saw you,
you were trying to drown me.
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Not successfully, mind you.
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[Josh] A year ago,
he was excavating the tomb
of a pharaoh
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in a flooded pyramid in Sudan.
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And I was dumb enough
to follow him.
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Oh, my word!
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But finding the remains
of a pharaoh in his tomb
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was just a side quest
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to his work as the head
of the American Center
of Research in Jordan,
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where he and his team
are investigating
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the mysteries of Petra.
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The Holy Grail
is in there, right?
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-I mean, but it has to stay
behind the Great Seal.
-[Josh] Of course.
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Indiana Jones
and the Last Crusade made
this place incredibly famous.
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I mean, if you know Petra,
you know this building.
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It's one of the New
Seven Wonders of the World.
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This is only the tip
of the iceberg, though.
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Yes, Petra is a lot more
than just this building.
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Yeah, if you really
wanna understand Petra,
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-we gotta go for a walk
and check it out.
-All right. Lead on.
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Time for an all-access tour
of the Petra that many
never see.
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[Pearce] I know it looks like
this part of the canyon
is empty...
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-[Josh] Right.
-[Pearce] ...but
if you look closely,
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every surface
has been modified.
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[Josh] All of this
has been shaped?
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[Pearce] A lot of it
is below where we're
standing today, though.
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[Josh] Part of this city
is buried?
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-[Pearce] A lot of this city
is buried.
-[Josh] Wow.
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The valley we're walking in
has become choked with sand,
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burying many
of the earliest parts
of the city underground.
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Later generations just built
more structures on top.
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How many of these are there?
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There's more than
a thousand cataloged.
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It's insane.
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The Nabateans transformed rock
into a living city
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in one of the driest places
on earth.
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Construction on Petra
began in the 4th century BC.
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Over the next 300 years,
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the city grew
from desert outpost
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to engineering marvel,
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home to as many
as 30,000 people.
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Yet by some accounts,
only 15 percent of Petra
has been excavated,
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and the people
who built all of this
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are virtually unknown.
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So if I'm being honest,
the Nabateans are a mystery
to me.
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-[Pearce] Join the club.
-[Josh] They are a mystery,
right?
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There's a lot
we don't know about them.
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There's much more
we don't know than we do.
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[Josh] Where do they
come from?
Let's start with that.
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-I'd love to be able
to tell you.
-[chuckles softly]
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Where do we think
they come from?
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We think they came
as a confederation of...
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of what we would think of
as tribes today
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from the northern
Arabian deserts.
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Right, so when the Nabateans
come on the scene,
who are the big players?
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So, around the Nabateans
in their early history,
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it's the Greeks,
Alexander the Great.
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And then you've got
the Romans coming after that.
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You've got the Ptolemies
in Egypt,
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and you've got a couple
of Mesopotamian civilizations.
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And right in the middle
of all of this,
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-out in these deserts
are the Nabateans.
-[Pearce] Yes.
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The Nabateans
are desert people.
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They have mastered
what it is to cross them,
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-to live in them,
to be around them.
-Yeah.
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People just can't come
into their home
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and do what they do.
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-Right.
-So the Nabateans,
they're the highway
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00:09:09,266 --> 00:09:10,567
of the ancient world.
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And when you wanna move things
like the frankincense,
the myrrh,
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who are you gonna call?
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-The Nabateans.
-Obviously.
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[Josh] The Silk Road
and Incense Road,
200
00:09:19,367 --> 00:09:22,367
which moved
the most valuable goods
in the ancient world,
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00:09:22,367 --> 00:09:24,467
both ran right through here.
202
00:09:24,467 --> 00:09:27,533
In fact, every major
trade route from the east
203
00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:31,300
to Greece, Rome and Egypt
crossed this desert.
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So, these guys start out
like long-haul truckers.
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-Yeah.
-They're like the Teamsters
of the ancient world.
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00:09:36,567 --> 00:09:38,567
Yeah, they start off
independent contractors...
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-Right.
-...and then
they get organized.
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00:09:40,367 --> 00:09:42,367
-They are the Teamsters.
-[chuckles]
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00:09:42,367 --> 00:09:43,266
[chuckling] Yeah.
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And we see,
in all of this construction,
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they must have ended up
really wealthy.
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The numbers
that are thrown around
in the ancient texts
213
00:09:50,066 --> 00:09:52,367
are like Monopoly money.
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00:09:52,367 --> 00:09:56,000
[Josh] And money,
even in ancient times,
means power.
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Power that we see
reflected here at Petra,
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00:09:59,367 --> 00:10:03,066
where the Nabateans
somehow carved all of this,
217
00:10:03,066 --> 00:10:05,867
borrowing architectural
and artistic elements
218
00:10:05,867 --> 00:10:07,934
from all
their trading partners,
219
00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:10,433
Greeks, Romans and Egyptians,
220
00:10:10,500 --> 00:10:12,934
to impress upon anyone
who visits,
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"We are important."
222
00:10:15,100 --> 00:10:16,767
And impress, they did.
223
00:10:16,767 --> 00:10:17,867
Huh...
224
00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:19,033
And they have a theater.
225
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Uh, they do indeed.
226
00:10:20,367 --> 00:10:21,100
[Josh] Wow!
227
00:10:21,100 --> 00:10:22,266
Exhibit A...
228
00:10:22,266 --> 00:10:25,667
an 8,500-seat
Roman-style amphitheater,
229
00:10:25,667 --> 00:10:28,734
carved into
the bedrock itself.
230
00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,100
You know, when you think
about desert-dwelling people,
231
00:10:31,100 --> 00:10:32,634
you think about nomads,
232
00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:34,367
you think about
a simple way of life,
233
00:10:34,367 --> 00:10:35,834
just kind of humble way
of life.
234
00:10:35,900 --> 00:10:37,767
This communicates
something very different.
235
00:10:37,767 --> 00:10:39,166
-[Pearce] It's not that.
-[Josh chuckling] Right.
236
00:10:39,166 --> 00:10:41,367
This says art,
this says culture.
237
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There's writing
and performing, singing.
238
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This is sophistication.
239
00:10:44,367 --> 00:10:46,867
Yeah, the mathematics
to build all this,
in the first place...
240
00:10:46,867 --> 00:10:49,033
-Right...
-...to understand
the geography...
241
00:10:49,100 --> 00:10:51,567
Sadly, I don't remember
any great Nabatean plays.
242
00:10:51,567 --> 00:10:53,700
Not a lot
of Nabatean writing survives.
243
00:10:54,467 --> 00:10:55,967
[Josh] And this
is the problem.
244
00:10:55,967 --> 00:10:58,867
With the exception
of a handful of inscriptions,
245
00:10:58,867 --> 00:11:02,467
the Nabateans didn't exactly
leave us their biography.
246
00:11:02,467 --> 00:11:05,000
And it isn't just writing
that we're missing.
247
00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:09,467
Many of the small caves
cut into the canyon
are in fact tombs,
248
00:11:09,467 --> 00:11:12,233
but every single one of them
is empty.
249
00:11:12,300 --> 00:11:14,266
No bodies, no offerings.
250
00:11:14,266 --> 00:11:15,634
No relics.
251
00:11:15,700 --> 00:11:18,667
Nearly all of the structures
here are mysterious,
252
00:11:18,667 --> 00:11:21,000
like the so called
"Great Temple,"
253
00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,400
which may have actually
been a palace.
254
00:11:24,100 --> 00:11:25,767
Okay, so when
does this get built?
255
00:11:25,767 --> 00:11:27,867
So, this is associated
256
00:11:27,867 --> 00:11:30,367
with the reign of a king
named Aretas IV.
257
00:11:30,367 --> 00:11:33,233
-Right. He's, like, one
of the the big king, right?
-He's the big king.
258
00:11:33,300 --> 00:11:34,734
-He's the guy.
-[Pearce] He's the guy.
259
00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:36,100
He's the great builder here.
260
00:11:36,100 --> 00:11:38,033
The apex
of Nabatean civilization
261
00:11:38,100 --> 00:11:39,934
is considered
during this guy's reign.
262
00:11:42,266 --> 00:11:47,000
King Aretas IV ruled
from 9 BC to 40 AD,
263
00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:49,767
a fairly busy time
in this corner of the world.
264
00:11:49,767 --> 00:11:52,767
In fact, he's mentioned
twice in the New Testament.
265
00:11:52,767 --> 00:11:55,266
But Nabatean kings
may have been viewed
266
00:11:55,266 --> 00:11:57,934
more as administrators
than royalty.
267
00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,367
According to folklore,
they walked freely
among their people.
268
00:12:01,367 --> 00:12:04,133
This modesty may explain
why no confirmed
269
00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:08,166
royal Nabatean tombs
have ever been found.
270
00:12:08,166 --> 00:12:11,467
So Aretas is associated
with the most famous
constructions here.
271
00:12:11,467 --> 00:12:14,467
Yes, and he's also associated
with the most famous structure
272
00:12:14,467 --> 00:12:16,634
-here at Petra, the Treasury.
-Where we started.
273
00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:19,133
But it's a bit of a mystery,
and that's actually what
we're working on right now.
274
00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:21,767
-So, let's go up
and I'll show you.
-Back to the beginning.
275
00:12:21,767 --> 00:12:22,934
Okay, here we go.
276
00:12:25,266 --> 00:12:26,667
[Pearce] After all the stuff
we've seen
277
00:12:26,667 --> 00:12:28,266
and all the stuff
we've already talked about...
278
00:12:28,266 --> 00:12:29,834
-[Josh] Mmm-hmm.
-[Pearce] ...in a lot of ways,
279
00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:31,767
this is the biggest mystery
of Petra.
280
00:12:31,767 --> 00:12:35,266
[Josh] Which is crazy
because it's the most
famous thing here.
281
00:12:35,266 --> 00:12:37,433
Like, how can this be
the biggest mystery?
282
00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:39,066
-It's the postcard.
-[Pearce] It is,
283
00:12:39,066 --> 00:12:40,867
but there's just so much
we don't know about it.
284
00:12:40,867 --> 00:12:43,367
[Josh] Start with this,
why is it called the Treasury?
285
00:12:43,367 --> 00:12:45,166
[Pearce] So, this is called
the Treasury
286
00:12:45,166 --> 00:12:47,100
because of, basically,
urban legend.
287
00:12:47,100 --> 00:12:49,734
The story is that this was
a pharaoh's treasure chamber.
288
00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:51,734
But this is a myth, a legend.
289
00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:53,166
-This is a legend.
-Right.
290
00:12:53,166 --> 00:12:55,567
Okay, so what was it for?
291
00:12:55,567 --> 00:12:58,433
You look around, and even just
look directly at it.
292
00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:00,367
-And it gives you
a lot of hints.
-[Josh] Okay.
293
00:13:00,367 --> 00:13:01,667
[Pearce] Castor and Pollux.
294
00:13:01,667 --> 00:13:02,934
[Josh] The two figures
here and here.
295
00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,266
-Yes.
-This is the Gemini twins.
296
00:13:04,266 --> 00:13:05,867
These are the half
Roman twins.
297
00:13:05,867 --> 00:13:07,433
[Pearce] And they accompany
the dead.
298
00:13:07,500 --> 00:13:10,166
-And then you see,
there's a lot of urns here.
-[Josh] Yes.
299
00:13:10,166 --> 00:13:12,233
[Pearce]
Urn is the Roman symbol
for the dead.
300
00:13:12,300 --> 00:13:14,634
So maybe this is a grand tomb.
301
00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:16,767
The problem is,
we've never found
any physical evidence
302
00:13:16,767 --> 00:13:18,433
inside of the Treasury...
303
00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:19,767
to justify that.
304
00:13:19,767 --> 00:13:21,867
There's no name
and there's no text on here
305
00:13:21,867 --> 00:13:23,100
to tell us what's happening.
306
00:13:23,100 --> 00:13:24,567
[Josh] Isn't that incredible?
All the work
307
00:13:24,567 --> 00:13:26,567
to carve this
out of solid rock...
308
00:13:26,567 --> 00:13:27,934
-[Pearce] Yeah.
-[Josh] ...no
inscriptions left.
309
00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:29,934
[Pearce] Nothing left
to us today.
310
00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,934
[Josh] That's right.
Like nearly all the other
carved structures at Petra,
311
00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:35,867
no bodies were found inside.
312
00:13:35,867 --> 00:13:38,266
They were likely looted
in antiquity.
313
00:13:38,266 --> 00:13:40,867
Archeologists don't even know
when it was built.
314
00:13:40,867 --> 00:13:44,967
They guess it was constructed
by and for King Aretas IV
315
00:13:44,967 --> 00:13:46,734
around 40 AD
316
00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:48,834
because he had
the means to do it.
317
00:13:48,900 --> 00:13:50,567
But they can't prove it.
318
00:13:50,567 --> 00:13:52,767
Okay, so how do we
unravel the mystery
319
00:13:52,767 --> 00:13:54,567
of one of the most famous
buildings in the world?
320
00:13:54,567 --> 00:13:55,767
If we're gonna
understand this place,
321
00:13:55,767 --> 00:13:57,667
we've got to get a glimpse
of what's under us.
322
00:13:57,667 --> 00:13:59,800
And to do that
we need technology.
323
00:13:59,867 --> 00:14:00,967
Got it?
324
00:14:00,967 --> 00:14:03,867
One does not simply dig
beneath the treasury.
325
00:14:03,867 --> 00:14:06,233
If we're going to put
shovel to ground here,
326
00:14:06,300 --> 00:14:09,467
we need to be
absolutely certain
there's something to find.
327
00:14:09,467 --> 00:14:12,166
So Pearce has called in
another old friend.
328
00:14:12,166 --> 00:14:14,266
-I think you know this fella.
-Dickie Bates.
329
00:14:14,266 --> 00:14:15,567
-[Richard] Josh,
how you doing?
-How're you, brother?
330
00:14:15,567 --> 00:14:16,934
-[Richard] Good, mate.
-Good to see you.
331
00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:18,033
All right. Yeah, you too.
332
00:14:18,033 --> 00:14:20,533
[Josh] Richard Dickie Bates
is a geophysicist
333
00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:22,266
with the University
of St Andrews.
334
00:14:22,266 --> 00:14:25,033
He and I have worked together
for a long time.
335
00:14:25,100 --> 00:14:26,734
Some might say "too long."
336
00:14:27,867 --> 00:14:29,367
We wanted
to bring in the best...
337
00:14:29,367 --> 00:14:30,867
-instead we got Bates.
-Unfortunately-- Ah!
338
00:14:30,867 --> 00:14:32,533
-[all chuckling]
-[chuckling] We both
went after you.
339
00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:34,634
-I'm sorry.
-[indistinct]
340
00:14:34,700 --> 00:14:36,166
Bloody hell. What did I do?
341
00:14:36,166 --> 00:14:37,500
[chuckles] I'm just kidding.
342
00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:40,567
I'm only joking because
you know that you're
so damn good at this.
343
00:14:40,567 --> 00:14:42,333
Okay, so what's the plan?
344
00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,634
-Geophysics, I assume.
-Yeah, GPR or
Ground-Penetrating Radar
345
00:14:45,700 --> 00:14:48,367
picks out between,
in this case, rock layers,
346
00:14:48,367 --> 00:14:50,967
and then empty space,
void beneath it.
347
00:14:50,967 --> 00:14:52,767
-Mmm-hmm.
-And we're gonna see
what it shows.
348
00:14:52,767 --> 00:14:55,367
-And if it shows something?
-Well, then we'll get
our hands dirty.
349
00:14:55,367 --> 00:14:57,900
-Okay. Shall we scan?
-We scan.
350
00:14:59,667 --> 00:15:02,166
[Josh] Dickie sets up
his equipment.
351
00:15:02,166 --> 00:15:05,433
And Pearce Paul points us
toward our first target.
352
00:15:05,500 --> 00:15:07,266
We're getting exclusive access
353
00:15:07,266 --> 00:15:10,000
to scan in a sacred space
in Petra,
354
00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,467
that is normally off limits
to visitors.
355
00:15:12,467 --> 00:15:15,033
-[Pearce] Let's go
straight in.
-[Josh] Into the Treasury.
356
00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:17,567
-Wow.
-[Richard] This is huge!
357
00:15:17,567 --> 00:15:19,200
[Josh] Oh, my word.
358
00:15:26,767 --> 00:15:28,367
[Josh] Into the Treasury.
359
00:15:28,367 --> 00:15:30,567
-Wow.
-[Richard] This is huge!
360
00:15:30,567 --> 00:15:32,166
[Josh] In the ruins of Petra,
361
00:15:32,166 --> 00:15:34,734
one of the New Seven Wonders
of the World,
362
00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,934
we have exclusive access
to scan
363
00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:38,667
with Ground-Penetrating Radar
364
00:15:38,667 --> 00:15:40,667
inside the iconic building
365
00:15:40,667 --> 00:15:42,533
known as the Treasury.
366
00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:45,266
Look at the size of this room.
367
00:15:45,266 --> 00:15:46,667
-Oh, my word.
-[Richard] The scale.
368
00:15:46,667 --> 00:15:48,066
[Josh] It's incredible.
369
00:15:48,066 --> 00:15:49,767
Unlike Indiana Jones,
370
00:15:49,767 --> 00:15:52,567
we don't have to spell
"Jehovah" as we walk in.
371
00:15:52,567 --> 00:15:54,734
Instead, the inside
is comprised
372
00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,300
of a soaring,
but empty chamber.
373
00:15:59,300 --> 00:16:02,333
This is one of the most
mysterious rooms in the world
374
00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,133
because you see
all these carvings,
these little alcoves,
375
00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:08,266
and you just wonder what did
this used to look like.
376
00:16:08,266 --> 00:16:10,934
We've got these
other weird clues here.
Were these for doors?
377
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,567
[Pearce] Yeah, so this
is its first set of hinges.
378
00:16:12,567 --> 00:16:15,667
-And all the way up, you can
see the joints on the top.
-[Richard] Magnificent.
379
00:16:15,667 --> 00:16:18,767
[Josh] Can you imagine?
But nothing was ever found
in here?
380
00:16:18,767 --> 00:16:22,166
[Pearce] If it was found
in here, it was so long ago
that memory has lost it.
381
00:16:22,166 --> 00:16:24,367
Yeah. There are a series
of booby traps
382
00:16:24,367 --> 00:16:25,767
and a crusader knight
in here, right?
383
00:16:25,767 --> 00:16:27,433
[Pearce] Absolutely.
But that's in the back.
384
00:16:27,500 --> 00:16:29,266
[Josh] Oh, it's in the back.
All right, come on,
let's scan it.
385
00:16:29,266 --> 00:16:30,500
Let's see if anything's
down here.
386
00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:35,867
We scan the entire room,
387
00:16:35,867 --> 00:16:39,000
running the GPR
over every square inch,
388
00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,133
hoping the radar will reveal
a void beneath,
389
00:16:42,200 --> 00:16:45,800
a target that might explain
the purpose of the Treasury.
390
00:16:50,767 --> 00:16:51,834
Okay, so what do we got?
391
00:16:51,834 --> 00:16:54,000
[Richard] So, you know,
here's the ground surface,
392
00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,333
and then rock, rock, rock,
rock, rock, rock, rock, rock.
393
00:16:57,400 --> 00:16:59,166
At least 18, 20 feet, minimum.
394
00:16:59,166 --> 00:17:00,767
I mean,
it looks completely solid.
395
00:17:00,767 --> 00:17:02,367
[Richard] So right here
in the Treasury,
396
00:17:02,367 --> 00:17:05,400
it looks like there's
absolutely nothing
immediately underneath it.
397
00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,634
[Josh] The interior
of the Treasury
is magnificent,
398
00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:13,033
but a bust,
in terms of GPR hits.
399
00:17:13,100 --> 00:17:15,767
We expand our search
out into the courtyard.
400
00:17:15,767 --> 00:17:17,867
We haven't found any reason
to dig yet,
401
00:17:17,867 --> 00:17:21,066
but there already appears
to be a hole in the ground.
402
00:17:21,066 --> 00:17:22,467
All right, so what's
going on out here?
403
00:17:22,467 --> 00:17:25,233
About 20 years ago,
they came out and excavated,
404
00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:26,734
this part in front
of the Treasury.
405
00:17:26,800 --> 00:17:27,900
They found what?
406
00:17:27,900 --> 00:17:30,567
They found two big chambers,
almost completely empty.
407
00:17:30,567 --> 00:17:32,333
[Josh] Oh, you can see one
right there.
408
00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:34,667
But no royal tomb?
No writing, no treasure?
409
00:17:34,667 --> 00:17:37,467
Nothing under here
that would really
help us address the questions
410
00:17:37,467 --> 00:17:41,433
of the who, what and when
of this fantastic monument.
411
00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:43,467
Okay. And what about
on the other side
of the Treasury?
412
00:17:43,467 --> 00:17:44,934
Oh, that's the trick.
413
00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,533
So, this is why we have Bates.
414
00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:48,000
-Uh-huh.
-[Pearce] And so I'd like
415
00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:49,467
Dickie to come
and give us a better idea
416
00:17:49,467 --> 00:17:51,800
-about what's going
on over here.
-Let's do it.
417
00:17:52,867 --> 00:17:55,333
Bates scans
the existing cavity
418
00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:56,867
to get a baseline reading.
419
00:17:56,867 --> 00:18:00,867
Then we pull the GPR scanner
across the rocky courtyard,
420
00:18:00,867 --> 00:18:04,400
looking for evidence
of a similar void
for us to dig.
421
00:18:07,867 --> 00:18:09,266
Something like...
422
00:18:09,266 --> 00:18:12,166
-[Richard] Hey, guys,
come and look at this.
-Oh... No!
423
00:18:12,166 --> 00:18:14,767
-Something?
-Yeah. Now, what do you
make of that?
424
00:18:14,767 --> 00:18:15,967
There is something there!
425
00:18:15,967 --> 00:18:18,667
[Richard]
That is the signature
that we've seen before.
426
00:18:18,667 --> 00:18:19,934
[Josh] That looks exactly
like the other side.
427
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:21,634
-Where we know
there's a chamber.
-Yes.
428
00:18:21,700 --> 00:18:23,867
[Richard] That's a void,
or I'll eat my hat.
429
00:18:23,867 --> 00:18:25,000
[Josh] You're that confident?
430
00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:26,600
-Absolutely.
-Dude...
431
00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:28,567
unbelievable!
432
00:18:28,567 --> 00:18:31,367
So you're saying
that almost directly
in front of this building,
433
00:18:31,367 --> 00:18:33,867
there's some sort of chamber
we've never seen before?
434
00:18:33,867 --> 00:18:35,333
That's what this says.
435
00:18:35,867 --> 00:18:37,100
So now we've got to dig it.
436
00:18:37,100 --> 00:18:40,467
Can we do that? I mean,
can we put a shovel
in the ground
437
00:18:40,467 --> 00:18:42,634
in front of one of the most
famous buildings in the world?
438
00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:44,266
Look, we've got permission.
439
00:18:44,266 --> 00:18:45,634
But if you don't wanna do it--
440
00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:47,734
-No, I want to. I want to.
-[Pearce chuckles]
441
00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:49,233
[Josh] Let's see
what's down there.
442
00:18:52,266 --> 00:18:55,834
More than a million tourists
visit Petra each year.
443
00:18:55,900 --> 00:18:58,133
And as the first wave
arrives for the day,
444
00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:00,467
we rope off our dig site.
445
00:19:00,467 --> 00:19:02,433
After all,
we can't have a TikToker
446
00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:04,233
falling into
an excavation pit.
447
00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:06,166
Once the site is secure,
448
00:19:06,166 --> 00:19:09,133
Pearce calls in
his right-hand man
here at Petra,
449
00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,166
archeologist, Matthew Vincent.
450
00:19:11,166 --> 00:19:12,834
-Josh, nice to meet you.
-Nice to meet you, man.
451
00:19:12,900 --> 00:19:15,467
And Matthew calls in
the dig team.
452
00:19:15,467 --> 00:19:16,734
Yo, listen up!
453
00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,100
[Josh] Here we go. Hey, guys.
454
00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:21,667
The top of the GPR anomaly
is 12 feet beneath us.
455
00:19:21,667 --> 00:19:23,967
So for the first time
in decades,
456
00:19:23,967 --> 00:19:26,166
at the doorstep
of a world wonder,
457
00:19:26,166 --> 00:19:28,467
we are breaking ground
at Petra.
458
00:19:28,467 --> 00:19:29,600
Fingers crossed.
459
00:19:39,900 --> 00:19:41,767
There are no shortcuts
to discovery.
460
00:19:41,767 --> 00:19:46,233
The dig begins as we claw
at the hard earth
the old fashioned way.
461
00:19:52,667 --> 00:19:53,834
Digging in front
of the Treasury,
462
00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:55,934
it's totally, totally normal.
463
00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:57,934
It's allowed.
We have a permit,
464
00:19:58,000 --> 00:19:59,100
I'm told.
465
00:20:01,066 --> 00:20:02,433
The process...
466
00:20:02,500 --> 00:20:04,133
break up the dirt,
467
00:20:04,867 --> 00:20:06,533
transfer it to baskets,
468
00:20:07,300 --> 00:20:09,533
dump into wheelbarrows,
469
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:11,700
and transport away
from the Treasury.
470
00:20:16,700 --> 00:20:18,300
Then repeat...
471
00:20:19,567 --> 00:20:21,967
over and over...
472
00:20:21,967 --> 00:20:24,133
and over and over...
473
00:20:24,467 --> 00:20:26,600
in 100-degree heat.
474
00:20:29,166 --> 00:20:32,166
The sand,
filling every wheelbarrow
and basket,
475
00:20:32,166 --> 00:20:34,100
also needs
to be carefully sifted
476
00:20:34,100 --> 00:20:36,533
for potentially
valuable artifacts.
477
00:20:37,567 --> 00:20:39,634
So all of this soil
has to go through the screen.
478
00:20:39,700 --> 00:20:41,867
[Pearce] Yeah, they gotta
go in, check it out,
see what's in it,
479
00:20:41,867 --> 00:20:43,667
because we can't
always see everything
480
00:20:43,667 --> 00:20:44,700
-when we're taking it out.
-[Josh] Right.
481
00:20:44,700 --> 00:20:47,433
So we take the big pieces out,
the big rocks out.
482
00:20:47,500 --> 00:20:48,533
[Josh] I'll tell you
what is tough about this,
483
00:20:48,533 --> 00:20:51,433
is that because of the redness
of the rocks here,
484
00:20:51,500 --> 00:20:53,734
it all kind of looks
like ceramics at first glance.
485
00:20:53,800 --> 00:20:55,867
It does, but there's a trick
for that.
486
00:20:55,867 --> 00:20:57,233
So you take a piece and...
487
00:20:58,500 --> 00:21:01,367
Why... Archeologists
are always licking things?
Why?
488
00:21:01,367 --> 00:21:02,667
I... just... it's convenient.
489
00:21:02,667 --> 00:21:04,000
But what is that doing?
490
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:05,367
So if you lick the side of it,
491
00:21:05,367 --> 00:21:08,567
you can see whether or not
it's rock or ceramic.
492
00:21:08,567 --> 00:21:10,567
-[spits]
-Definitely rock.
493
00:21:10,567 --> 00:21:12,667
-Or whether a camel
peed on it.
-[chuckles]
494
00:21:12,667 --> 00:21:14,000
[sighing] God!
495
00:21:16,567 --> 00:21:18,333
So, rock or ceramic?
496
00:21:18,767 --> 00:21:19,934
[Josh] That is...
497
00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:21,767
-rock.
-Good call.
498
00:21:21,767 --> 00:21:23,033
[Josh] See?
499
00:21:23,100 --> 00:21:24,066
I didn't even have to lick it.
500
00:21:24,066 --> 00:21:26,066
-[chuckles]
-Rock or ceramic?
501
00:21:26,066 --> 00:21:28,333
-[Josh] That is ceramic!
-[Pearce] That is ceramic.
502
00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:30,467
[Josh] Look at that.
Piece of rim off of something?
503
00:21:30,467 --> 00:21:32,433
Yeah, you know how you go
to the grocery store today,
504
00:21:32,500 --> 00:21:34,667
get a tin can, and it's got
waves inside of it?
505
00:21:34,667 --> 00:21:37,166
-[Josh] Yeah.
-[Pearce] This idea is
a couple thousand years old.
506
00:21:37,166 --> 00:21:40,667
It allows you
to make it stronger
with less volume of material.
507
00:21:40,667 --> 00:21:43,066
-That's why Ruffles
potato chips are like that.
-Probably.
508
00:21:43,066 --> 00:21:45,867
That's why Ruffles
have ridges. Who knew?
509
00:21:45,867 --> 00:21:47,233
The pottery will be bagged,
510
00:21:47,233 --> 00:21:50,767
while we find
another bucket of sand
to run through the sifter.
511
00:21:50,767 --> 00:21:53,767
And considering
the Nabateans
were famous for their wealth,
512
00:21:53,767 --> 00:21:57,200
it's important to look
for things that shine.
513
00:21:59,266 --> 00:22:00,800
Uh, hold on. Hold on.
514
00:22:01,100 --> 00:22:02,533
[chuckles softly]
515
00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:03,533
So, look at that.
516
00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:05,433
Oh, my word!
517
00:22:11,166 --> 00:22:12,467
-That's a coin.
-Yeah.
518
00:22:12,467 --> 00:22:15,166
Oh, my word!
519
00:22:15,166 --> 00:22:17,667
I'm digging
in the ancient city of Petra,
520
00:22:17,667 --> 00:22:19,367
where a mysterious anomaly
521
00:22:19,367 --> 00:22:21,667
deep beneath the iconic
Treasury building,
522
00:22:21,667 --> 00:22:24,867
may finally help us
learn its true purpose.
523
00:22:24,867 --> 00:22:26,066
But on the way down,
524
00:22:26,066 --> 00:22:30,166
we've managed to discover
a piece of Nabatean treasure.
525
00:22:30,166 --> 00:22:32,767
It's a well-loved coin.
It's got some mileage on it.
526
00:22:32,767 --> 00:22:34,300
[Josh] And it's got markings.
527
00:22:34,700 --> 00:22:36,033
Walk me through this.
528
00:22:36,033 --> 00:22:37,533
-Help me see it.
-[Pearce] So, we've got...
Nike's standing here,
529
00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:39,100
and then the wings
draping down.
530
00:22:39,100 --> 00:22:41,634
And these are the feathers
of the wings.
531
00:22:41,700 --> 00:22:45,433
[Josh] This is a Nabatean coin
featuring a Greek theme.
532
00:22:45,500 --> 00:22:47,634
Nike was often depicted
in flight,
533
00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:49,233
and was the goddess
of victory,
534
00:22:49,233 --> 00:22:53,333
someone the Nabateans
would be thrilled
to associate themselves with.
535
00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:54,867
And we are no different today.
536
00:22:54,867 --> 00:22:57,166
People hear the name "Nike,"
they think the shoe company.
537
00:22:57,166 --> 00:22:58,667
And they don't realize that...
538
00:22:58,667 --> 00:22:59,667
-Yeah.
-[Josh] ...that's why
it's called "Nike."
539
00:22:59,667 --> 00:23:01,467
-Yeah.
-That's why
that swoosh logo is there.
540
00:23:01,467 --> 00:23:04,567
-It's a representation
of what is on this coin...
-[Pearce] Mmm-hmm.
541
00:23:04,567 --> 00:23:06,166
[Josh] ...the Nike wing.
542
00:23:06,166 --> 00:23:07,667
-That is so cool.
-[Pearce] Yeah.
543
00:23:07,667 --> 00:23:10,567
And that's a really
distinctive, uh, design
544
00:23:10,567 --> 00:23:13,533
that only shows up
in two types
of the Nabatean coinage.
545
00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,266
-The really,
really old stuff...
-[Josh] Okay.
546
00:23:15,266 --> 00:23:17,767
-...before we even know who
the names of the kings are.
-Right.
547
00:23:17,767 --> 00:23:19,834
And, uh, then Aretas III,
548
00:23:19,900 --> 00:23:21,467
like, around 75 BC.
549
00:23:21,467 --> 00:23:25,000
Here we have an actual
chronological fingerprint.
550
00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:27,133
[Pearce] Like
a distinctive marker.
551
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:29,166
Again, giving us
this relational chronology,
552
00:23:29,166 --> 00:23:31,767
but also, we're right under
the Treasury here.
553
00:23:31,767 --> 00:23:34,033
-That's amazing.
-It's incredible.
554
00:23:35,066 --> 00:23:37,467
[Josh] The Treasury's true age
is a mystery.
555
00:23:37,467 --> 00:23:41,166
One theory is that
it was built around 40 AD
as a tomb
556
00:23:41,166 --> 00:23:45,333
for the Nabateans'
most accomplished king,
Aretas IV.
557
00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:47,467
The fact that we've
discovered an older coin
558
00:23:47,467 --> 00:23:50,734
bearing the image
of his predecessor,
Aretas III,
559
00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,333
below the Treasury
is a promising sign.
560
00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:57,533
We get back to work,
561
00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:00,233
going slow and steady
in the desert sun.
562
00:24:01,667 --> 00:24:04,233
But it will take days
for Pearce Paul's team
563
00:24:04,300 --> 00:24:06,400
to reach the depth
of our anomaly.
564
00:24:07,266 --> 00:24:09,533
In the meantime,
Pearce Paul is taking me
565
00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:11,967
to unravel another mystery
of Petra,
566
00:24:11,967 --> 00:24:13,867
the secrets of how
the Nabateans
567
00:24:13,867 --> 00:24:16,734
became powerful enough
to build all this.
568
00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,266
The answer isn't in Petra.
569
00:24:23,266 --> 00:24:26,700
So early the next morning,
we venture beyond.
570
00:24:30,767 --> 00:24:32,200
Look at this place.
571
00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,934
Is there a road around here,
Pearce Paul?
572
00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:38,867
[Pearce] Uh,
this is one of those
573
00:24:38,867 --> 00:24:41,033
choose-your-own-adventure
situations.
574
00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:42,100
Those never end well.
575
00:24:44,667 --> 00:24:47,567
This part of Jordan
is known as Wadi Rum.
576
00:24:47,567 --> 00:24:51,433
And when Hollywood
needs a desert,
this is where they go.
577
00:24:51,500 --> 00:24:53,533
Lawrence of Arabia
was filmed here...
578
00:24:54,367 --> 00:24:56,467
so was Dune, Prometheus,
579
00:24:56,467 --> 00:24:58,667
Rogue One, The Martian.
580
00:24:58,667 --> 00:24:59,967
Seeing a pattern?
581
00:24:59,967 --> 00:25:02,767
If your desert
can double for Mars,
582
00:25:02,767 --> 00:25:06,100
you know you're
in a serious environment.
583
00:25:06,100 --> 00:25:08,767
The average rainfall here
is two-and-a-half inches.
584
00:25:08,767 --> 00:25:11,000
That's in an entire year.
585
00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:12,867
But at least the temperature
isn't too warm
586
00:25:12,867 --> 00:25:14,500
in the early morning hours.
587
00:25:15,467 --> 00:25:16,767
96 degrees.
588
00:25:16,767 --> 00:25:18,000
[Pearce] I mean, just look.
589
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:19,900
Look at how terrible
this would be. [chuckles]
590
00:25:20,867 --> 00:25:22,567
And yet somehow,
591
00:25:22,567 --> 00:25:25,333
the Nabateans are able,
592
00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:27,333
without vehicles like this,
593
00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,567
without ornithopters
from Dune,
594
00:25:29,567 --> 00:25:31,867
the Nabateans are able
to conquer this place.
595
00:25:31,867 --> 00:25:34,033
-Yes, they mastered
this place.
-[Josh] How?
596
00:25:34,100 --> 00:25:36,066
Look, I'm gonna show you.
I gonna want you to pull over
597
00:25:36,066 --> 00:25:38,133
right up over the...
by that mesa.
598
00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:39,166
[Josh] Is there a Starbucks?
599
00:25:39,166 --> 00:25:40,700
Sadly, no.
600
00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:42,033
Damn.
601
00:25:42,033 --> 00:25:43,767
-In here?
-[Pearce] Yeah.
Let's pull off here.
602
00:25:43,767 --> 00:25:45,000
[Josh] Okay.
603
00:25:45,467 --> 00:25:46,934
Here we go.
604
00:25:51,166 --> 00:25:53,667
[Pearce] I wanna get up here
and take a look at something.
605
00:25:53,667 --> 00:25:54,767
[Josh] What is back here?
606
00:25:54,767 --> 00:25:56,033
[Pearce] We've got to go up.
607
00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:57,967
[Josh] We're going up? Okay.
608
00:25:57,967 --> 00:26:00,600
[Pearce] I mean,
it's no free solo,
but it's not easy.
609
00:26:02,867 --> 00:26:04,367
Petroglyphs!
610
00:26:04,367 --> 00:26:06,100
Unbelievable. Look at these!
611
00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:09,433
In the middle of nowhere,
all of this incredible art.
612
00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:12,567
Petroglyphs are ancient
pictures carved into stone.
613
00:26:12,567 --> 00:26:14,467
And out here,
in the middle of the desert,
614
00:26:14,467 --> 00:26:17,166
the builders of Petra
chiseled their own.
615
00:26:17,166 --> 00:26:19,066
So, okay, what am I
looking at here?
616
00:26:19,066 --> 00:26:20,266
[Pearce] Give me
your first impression.
617
00:26:20,266 --> 00:26:22,133
What's the story you think
is being told here?
618
00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,634
[Josh] Okay, so we have
a bunch of camels here,
and they're facing this way.
619
00:26:24,700 --> 00:26:26,433
Yeah. What do you think
is in that direction?
620
00:26:26,500 --> 00:26:27,333
-Petra.
-Yeah.
621
00:26:27,333 --> 00:26:28,834
-Petra is that way.
-[Pearce] Yeah.
622
00:26:28,900 --> 00:26:31,166
Amazing. And then
it looks like...
623
00:26:31,166 --> 00:26:33,467
mounted guys with spears.
Maybe a hunting scene?
624
00:26:33,467 --> 00:26:36,567
It might look like that,
but you have to understand it
625
00:26:36,567 --> 00:26:39,166
to really get the full value
of the information out of it.
626
00:26:39,166 --> 00:26:41,567
These symbols tell you a lot,
if you know how to read them.
627
00:26:41,567 --> 00:26:44,767
-So the Nabateans
are encoding these symbols.
-Yes.
628
00:26:44,767 --> 00:26:46,066
These spears
that we're looking at
629
00:26:46,066 --> 00:26:48,333
that make this look
like a hunting scene
630
00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:52,066
have been interpreted
as navigational aids
towards water.
631
00:26:52,066 --> 00:26:54,634
Wow. So this is more than
just a piece of art.
632
00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:56,333
This is a navigational beacon.
633
00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:57,266
-[Pearce] Yeah.
-This is a direction.
634
00:26:57,266 --> 00:26:58,467
This is ancient Google Maps.
635
00:26:58,467 --> 00:27:01,266
So this is how the Nabateans
are able to survive out here.
636
00:27:01,266 --> 00:27:04,000
They've actually
left themselves
waypoints everywhere.
637
00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:05,734
[Pearce] Yeah, symbols
like this and other markers
638
00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:07,734
are scattered
all over the deserts here.
639
00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,734
If you know how to read it,
you'll be okay in the desert.
640
00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:12,934
-Right.
-[Pearce] And everybody else
had no chance.
641
00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:14,600
[Josh] Wow, that's incredible.
642
00:27:15,667 --> 00:27:17,533
Now, I noticed, though,
that we are not going
643
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:18,667
in the direction
of the camels.
644
00:27:18,667 --> 00:27:20,100
We're going deeper
into the desert?
645
00:27:20,100 --> 00:27:22,567
Yeah, we're gonna do
the exact opposite thing
that this tells us to do.
646
00:27:22,567 --> 00:27:24,433
Right. Why don't we...
Why don't we follow the map?
647
00:27:24,500 --> 00:27:26,967
-[Pearce] Remember,
"X" never marks the spot.
-That's right.
648
00:27:26,967 --> 00:27:28,867
I heard that somewhere.
649
00:27:28,867 --> 00:27:30,166
[Josh] The glyphs
are a glimpse
650
00:27:30,166 --> 00:27:33,033
at how the Nabateans
succeeded as nomads.
651
00:27:33,100 --> 00:27:35,567
But to find out how
they became powerful enough
652
00:27:35,567 --> 00:27:38,433
to build their capital city
of Petra,
653
00:27:38,500 --> 00:27:41,767
Pearce Paul wants to find out
where they first
put down roots.
654
00:27:41,767 --> 00:27:44,166
To get there,
we point the car north.
655
00:27:44,166 --> 00:27:45,967
A couple of hours
through the dunes,
656
00:27:45,967 --> 00:27:49,233
until we run out
of what passes
for a road around here.
657
00:27:55,467 --> 00:27:56,600
Well, it's beautiful.
658
00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:57,867
[Pearce] It is that.
659
00:27:57,867 --> 00:27:59,367
[Josh] Okay, so where are we?
660
00:27:59,367 --> 00:28:01,967
-This is As Sela.
-[Josh] Sela.
661
00:28:01,967 --> 00:28:04,033
So how does this place
help us understand
662
00:28:04,100 --> 00:28:06,033
the Nabatean rise to power?
663
00:28:06,100 --> 00:28:07,567
This is the closest thing
we get
664
00:28:07,567 --> 00:28:09,166
to the Nabatean origin story.
665
00:28:09,166 --> 00:28:11,300
-So let's go take a look.
-[Josh] Okay. Let's see it.
666
00:28:18,767 --> 00:28:19,767
Whoo!
667
00:28:19,767 --> 00:28:21,734
Look at this place.
668
00:28:21,800 --> 00:28:23,433
-[Pearce] Impressive, huh?
-[Josh] It's incredible.
669
00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:25,300
I mean, we could be
in the Grand Canyon right now.
670
00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:27,233
Okay, so why are we here?
671
00:28:27,233 --> 00:28:30,767
The reason we're here
is that this was
an ancient fortress
672
00:28:30,767 --> 00:28:32,867
-of the Edomites.
-The Edomites.
673
00:28:32,867 --> 00:28:34,367
How well do you remember
your Old Testament?
674
00:28:34,367 --> 00:28:37,266
Oh, flawless.
Like the... like the
inside of a Denny's menu.
675
00:28:37,266 --> 00:28:39,367
Um, I kind of remember this.
676
00:28:39,367 --> 00:28:41,667
There's, uh, Jacob
and the 12 tribes.
677
00:28:41,667 --> 00:28:43,000
This is where
we get Israel, right?
678
00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:44,734
-And then he has a brother--
-Esau.
679
00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:45,767
-Esau.
-[Pearce] Yeah.
680
00:28:45,767 --> 00:28:47,767
Esau establishes the kingdom
of the Edomites.
681
00:28:47,767 --> 00:28:50,867
Yes, and they're
one of several kingdoms
in this area
682
00:28:50,867 --> 00:28:52,867
at that time, 1250 BC.
683
00:28:52,867 --> 00:28:54,767
Okay, so we're, like,
a thousand years
684
00:28:54,767 --> 00:28:56,133
-before the Nabateans.
-[Pearce] Yeah.
685
00:28:56,133 --> 00:28:59,100
All right, so what do
the Edomites have to do
with the Nabateans?
686
00:28:59,100 --> 00:29:01,567
Look up on this cliff face
and tell me what you see.
687
00:29:01,567 --> 00:29:03,433
Uh, okay. On the cliff.
688
00:29:03,500 --> 00:29:04,667
I'm looking for caves.
689
00:29:04,667 --> 00:29:06,533
I'm looking for tombs.
I don't see either.
690
00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:08,867
[Pearce] Well, start up
at the cut in the rock
in the top...
691
00:29:08,867 --> 00:29:10,367
-[Josh] Uh-huh.
-...and then
come straight down
692
00:29:10,367 --> 00:29:12,133
until you find
some right angles.
693
00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:13,600
[Josh] Oh, that square!
694
00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:18,233
-Is that carved in the rock?
-[Pearce] That is.
695
00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:19,767
[Josh] What is that?
696
00:29:19,767 --> 00:29:21,467
That's an ancient inscription.
697
00:29:21,467 --> 00:29:23,100
-That's an inscription?
-[Pearce] Yeah.
698
00:29:23,100 --> 00:29:24,533
[Josh] Can we read it?
699
00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,867
[Pearce] And there's the rub.
700
00:29:25,867 --> 00:29:28,667
Out of about 100 lines,
we can only read about
six or seven.
701
00:29:28,667 --> 00:29:30,934
And what we can read
says what?
702
00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:32,867
It tells us
what happened to the Edomites,
703
00:29:32,867 --> 00:29:35,166
and how it sets up
the Nabatean world.
704
00:29:35,166 --> 00:29:36,567
[Josh] So, how do we
read more of it?
705
00:29:36,567 --> 00:29:37,934
We need to scan it.
706
00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:40,000
There's never been
a digital scan of this done.
707
00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:41,834
All right.
Can it be scanned from here?
708
00:29:41,900 --> 00:29:43,567
-No.
-No.
709
00:29:43,567 --> 00:29:44,834
No!
710
00:29:44,900 --> 00:29:46,934
-No.
-We only need to be,
like, this close.
711
00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,467
No, it's a sheer
cliff face, man.
712
00:29:49,467 --> 00:29:51,000
-I called some friends.
-No.
713
00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:52,166
They're waiting for us.
714
00:29:52,166 --> 00:29:53,767
Come on, let's get
the packs in the car
and let's do it.
715
00:29:53,767 --> 00:29:55,000
No!
716
00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:58,000
I'm not gonna answer
your calls anymore.
717
00:29:59,500 --> 00:30:02,934
It's a long, long way up.
718
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:04,367
Not exactly a leisurely hike
719
00:30:04,367 --> 00:30:06,100
under the best
of circumstances.
720
00:30:06,100 --> 00:30:09,367
And in the summer heat,
it's downright punishing.
721
00:30:09,367 --> 00:30:10,900
Okay, this sucks.
722
00:30:14,300 --> 00:30:16,233
Fortunately,
as we reach the top,
723
00:30:16,300 --> 00:30:18,467
it's clear
that we are not on our own.
724
00:30:18,467 --> 00:30:21,166
Pearce Paul has called in
an advance team,
725
00:30:21,166 --> 00:30:23,567
including master rappeller,
Marwan Ma'ayta,
726
00:30:23,567 --> 00:30:26,734
to help us examine
the inscription
on the cliff face.
727
00:30:27,300 --> 00:30:28,066
How's it going?
728
00:30:28,066 --> 00:30:30,333
I'm tired.
That's how it's going.
729
00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:32,567
-Yeah, it's quite a ways up.
-It's quite a ways up.
730
00:30:32,567 --> 00:30:34,000
-[Pearce] Okay.
-[Josh] How far
a drop is this?
731
00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,433
From the top to the bottom,
it's two football fields.
732
00:30:36,500 --> 00:30:38,567
Will we be hands-free there
to be able to scan?
733
00:30:38,567 --> 00:30:41,166
Yeah. Yeah.
We will be lowering you guys.
734
00:30:41,166 --> 00:30:42,433
Okay.
Should we get kitted up?
735
00:30:42,500 --> 00:30:43,634
-Yeah.
-Yeah. Let's do it.
736
00:30:43,700 --> 00:30:45,100
-Let's do it. Come on.
-Yeah.
737
00:30:47,367 --> 00:30:49,800
[Josh] We gear up
to head down.
738
00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:52,467
Safety first.
739
00:30:52,467 --> 00:30:54,100
I hope.
740
00:30:56,767 --> 00:31:00,533
The rappel platform
has already been set up
on the cliff face,
741
00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:04,033
so we clip in
and make our way to the edge.
742
00:31:04,100 --> 00:31:06,467
700 feet above the ground.
743
00:31:06,467 --> 00:31:08,300
Oh, my word.
744
00:31:16,467 --> 00:31:17,033
Josh, you ready?
745
00:31:17,033 --> 00:31:18,767
Ready as I'm gonna be.
746
00:31:18,767 --> 00:31:21,166
Archeologist
Pearce Paul Creasman and I
747
00:31:21,166 --> 00:31:24,734
are attempting to decipher
an immense but faint
inscription
748
00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:26,834
carved into this cliff,
749
00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:31,166
which may be the key
to understanding the origins
of the mysterious Nabateans.
750
00:31:31,166 --> 00:31:35,567
But scanning it may be
one of the scariest things
I've ever done.
751
00:31:35,567 --> 00:31:37,233
All right, we've got
the scanner clipped to you.
752
00:31:37,300 --> 00:31:39,100
Okay, yup.
I have the scanner here. Yup.
753
00:31:39,100 --> 00:31:41,300
So you're gonna
have to deploy it
when we get down there.
754
00:31:41,767 --> 00:31:43,166
And why am I
going first again?
755
00:31:43,166 --> 00:31:44,867
Because you have the scanner.
That's the ticket.
756
00:31:44,867 --> 00:31:46,834
-Because I have
the scanner. Right.
-[Pearce] Yeah, yeah.
757
00:31:46,900 --> 00:31:47,734
But why did I have to have--
758
00:31:47,734 --> 00:31:49,800
It doesn't matter.
Okay, here we go.
759
00:31:51,300 --> 00:31:54,000
To scan
the inscription up close,
we'll need to dangle
760
00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:56,667
about 30 feet
below the platform.
761
00:31:56,667 --> 00:32:00,100
The ground,
that thing I'm hoping
to kiss in a few hours,
762
00:32:00,166 --> 00:32:03,433
that's another
650 feet below.
763
00:32:03,500 --> 00:32:06,600
This is
officially terrifying.
764
00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:09,000
Pearce Paul,
see you in a minute.
765
00:32:10,266 --> 00:32:11,367
[Josh exhales deeply]
766
00:32:11,367 --> 00:32:12,467
[inhales deeply]
767
00:32:12,467 --> 00:32:13,033
Calm your nerves.
768
00:32:13,033 --> 00:32:15,734
Calm your nerves. Okay.
769
00:32:16,767 --> 00:32:17,867
I see the inscription.
770
00:32:17,867 --> 00:32:19,433
It's below me.
771
00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:26,934
Oh, God, this is scary.
772
00:32:27,166 --> 00:32:28,834
Keep going.
773
00:32:29,066 --> 00:32:31,033
Keep going.
774
00:32:31,100 --> 00:32:33,500
A little bit more.
I'm almost at the top.
775
00:32:33,767 --> 00:32:34,867
Copy that.
776
00:32:34,867 --> 00:32:36,100
[Josh] Keep going.
777
00:32:37,500 --> 00:32:39,433
I'm at the top
of the inscription.
778
00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:41,333
A little lower.
779
00:32:41,967 --> 00:32:42,834
Little more.
780
00:32:43,166 --> 00:32:44,800
Okay, stop.
781
00:32:45,667 --> 00:32:47,000
That's good.
782
00:32:47,767 --> 00:32:49,800
[man on walkie-talkie]
Copy that. Hang in there.
783
00:32:50,266 --> 00:32:51,800
Pearce is on his way down.
784
00:32:55,266 --> 00:32:57,333
-[Pearce] Coming down, buddy.
-[Josh] Yup.
785
00:32:59,767 --> 00:33:01,967
You got it, man.
Nice and slow.
786
00:33:01,967 --> 00:33:03,500
[Pearce] I'm going
as slow as I can.
787
00:33:04,200 --> 00:33:06,033
[Josh] Okay, you're on it.
788
00:33:06,100 --> 00:33:07,700
-It's the very top.
-[Josh] Yeah.
789
00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:10,600
[Josh] A little bit more.
790
00:33:11,767 --> 00:33:13,433
[Pearce] Hold.
791
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:17,667
[Josh] Finally,
my cameraman, Ryan,
makes the trip down.
792
00:33:17,667 --> 00:33:20,634
My drastically
underpaid cameraman.
793
00:33:20,700 --> 00:33:21,934
Okay, we're good.
794
00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:23,767
All right. Welcome.
795
00:33:23,767 --> 00:33:25,567
[Pearce] Okay, Josh,
now that we're here,
what do you see?
796
00:33:25,567 --> 00:33:28,367
Uh, a sheer drop
to my death.
797
00:33:28,367 --> 00:33:29,533
-Oh, on here?
-[Pearce] Yeah, yeah.
798
00:33:29,533 --> 00:33:31,467
-Sorry, sorry.
-[Pearce] That's a few minutes
from now.
799
00:33:31,467 --> 00:33:33,867
Uh, I see a figure.
800
00:33:33,867 --> 00:33:36,667
There's somebody here.
And a helmet, a crown,
something like that.
801
00:33:36,667 --> 00:33:38,266
Oh, that's a fancy hat,
technical term.
802
00:33:38,266 --> 00:33:39,667
-[Josh] Technical term?
-Yeah.
803
00:33:39,667 --> 00:33:41,166
And he's holding a staff.
804
00:33:41,166 --> 00:33:42,867
-[Josh] Oh, yes.
This right here?
-[Pearce] Yeah.
805
00:33:42,867 --> 00:33:44,834
[Josh] So, we have a staff
going down here.
806
00:33:44,900 --> 00:33:45,867
So, who is this?
807
00:33:45,867 --> 00:33:48,033
Josh, no question,
you're looking at a king.
808
00:33:48,100 --> 00:33:50,533
-[Josh] It's a king?
-[Pearce] No question.
809
00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:52,333
[Josh chuckles] Incredible.
810
00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:54,066
You're one of the
only people in the world
811
00:33:54,066 --> 00:33:56,100
to have ever come face to face
with this carving.
812
00:33:56,100 --> 00:33:57,333
I mean, look at this.
813
00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:58,300
Who's foolish enough
to come up here?
814
00:33:58,300 --> 00:34:00,834
[Josh] The people
who carved it, right?
815
00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:03,433
So, king of what?
816
00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:05,834
No doubt this is
a Mesopotamian king.
817
00:34:05,900 --> 00:34:06,967
-A Mesopotamian king?
-Yeah.
818
00:34:06,967 --> 00:34:09,133
What the heck
is a Mesopotamian king
doing here?
819
00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:12,333
[Josh] It does have
that distinctive shape
to the crown.
820
00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:14,100
-[Pearce] Yeah.
-[Josh] How do we know
it's Mesopotamian?
821
00:34:14,100 --> 00:34:15,233
[Pearce] Well, because
of the writing, too.
822
00:34:15,300 --> 00:34:16,266
[Josh]
Oh, there's the writing.
823
00:34:16,266 --> 00:34:17,533
You can see it going down.
824
00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:19,166
You can see them there
by your left knee.
825
00:34:19,166 --> 00:34:20,867
There's some really
good quality preservation.
826
00:34:20,867 --> 00:34:22,300
[Josh] This is...
827
00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:24,767
-cuneiform?
-[Pearce] Cuneiform.
828
00:34:24,767 --> 00:34:26,867
[Josh] These little
wedge-shaped cuts.
829
00:34:26,867 --> 00:34:29,033
This is one of the oldest
scripts in the world.
830
00:34:29,100 --> 00:34:30,667
It's extremely distinctive.
831
00:34:30,667 --> 00:34:33,166
[Josh] Cuneiform is
an ancient writing system
832
00:34:33,166 --> 00:34:36,066
used in this part of the world
by civilizations
833
00:34:36,066 --> 00:34:38,767
dating back to the
Sumerians of Mesopotamia
834
00:34:38,767 --> 00:34:41,166
in the fourth millennia BC.
835
00:34:41,166 --> 00:34:44,500
It helps mark the beginning
of recorded history itself.
836
00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:46,367
This is incredible.
837
00:34:46,367 --> 00:34:49,100
-A whole lot of
very faded cuneiform.
-[Pearce] Yeah.
838
00:34:49,100 --> 00:34:52,333
It's been blasted
for centuries
by the elements.
839
00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:53,934
I mean, just turn around
and take a look.
840
00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:55,934
I'm not turning around.
I'm not turning around.
841
00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:56,767
[shrieks] I turned around.
842
00:34:56,767 --> 00:34:58,100
Why did you
make me turn around?
843
00:34:58,100 --> 00:34:59,467
Oh, my God,
it's so far down.
844
00:34:59,467 --> 00:35:01,367
It's so far down. Okay.
845
00:35:01,367 --> 00:35:03,000
Shall we get to work?
846
00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,000
-I'm ready if you are.
-Yeah, let's get to work.
847
00:35:06,667 --> 00:35:11,266
The Artec Leo 3D scanner
will capture the inscription
with incredible detail,
848
00:35:11,266 --> 00:35:12,967
detecting
variances in the rock
849
00:35:12,967 --> 00:35:14,767
invisible to the naked eye.
850
00:35:14,767 --> 00:35:19,233
I've used this tech before,
but never on anything
this large.
851
00:35:20,667 --> 00:35:22,700
[Josh grunts] Whoo.
852
00:35:23,700 --> 00:35:24,567
Okay, I've got it.
853
00:35:24,567 --> 00:35:25,967
Swinging back.
854
00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:34,433
Pearce Paul and I
pass the scanner
back and forth
855
00:35:34,500 --> 00:35:36,367
to cover
the entire inscription.
856
00:35:36,367 --> 00:35:38,166
We're almost done, guys.
857
00:35:38,166 --> 00:35:41,266
Forty photos a second
will be stitched together
858
00:35:41,266 --> 00:35:43,166
to digitally view
the inscription
859
00:35:43,166 --> 00:35:45,133
with unprecedented accuracy.
860
00:35:49,500 --> 00:35:52,667
So now we got to go down,
take a look at this data
and see what we got.
861
00:35:52,667 --> 00:35:53,834
That means we can leave?
862
00:35:53,834 --> 00:35:55,634
You sure you just don't want
to hang around for a while?
863
00:35:55,700 --> 00:35:56,867
[Josh] Oh, my God.
864
00:35:56,867 --> 00:35:58,767
I'm gonna cut his rope.
Let's go.
865
00:35:58,767 --> 00:36:01,066
Okay, we're headed down.
866
00:36:01,066 --> 00:36:02,266
-[Pearce] Awesome.
-[Josh] Awesome job.
867
00:36:02,266 --> 00:36:03,567
[Pearce] Epic.
868
00:36:03,567 --> 00:36:06,433
[Josh] The journey
to the inscription
was a one-way trip.
869
00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:11,233
Instead of going back up,
we need to rappel down
to solid ground.
870
00:36:11,567 --> 00:36:12,800
That's a long way down.
871
00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:15,767
-[Pearce] Watch the
scanner on the overhang.
-[Josh] Yeah.
872
00:36:15,767 --> 00:36:18,233
[Pearce] Otherwise
we do it again tomorrow.
873
00:36:24,000 --> 00:36:25,266
[Josh] Whoo.
874
00:36:25,266 --> 00:36:26,433
I'm good.
875
00:36:35,100 --> 00:36:36,600
I'm down!
876
00:36:42,900 --> 00:36:44,734
Back on terra firma,
877
00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:47,533
we grab some water
and cry quietly to ourselves
878
00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,233
before Pearce Paul brings up
the scan on our computer.
879
00:36:50,300 --> 00:36:53,934
Time to see
what the mysterious
inscription reveals.
880
00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:56,000
All right, moment of truth.
You ready?
881
00:36:56,000 --> 00:36:58,367
Please let this have worked.
882
00:36:58,367 --> 00:36:59,567
Oh!
883
00:36:59,567 --> 00:37:00,867
Oh, my God!
884
00:37:00,867 --> 00:37:02,266
-Look at that!
-Amazing.
885
00:37:02,266 --> 00:37:03,934
Amazing.
886
00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:06,567
-The detail is incredible.
-It's stunning.
887
00:37:06,567 --> 00:37:09,166
Instantly,
just on the first look,
888
00:37:09,166 --> 00:37:12,166
I can tell
so much more about this.
889
00:37:12,166 --> 00:37:13,734
There are
so many details here...
890
00:37:13,800 --> 00:37:14,934
-Yeah.
-...that I couldn't see
when we were up there.
891
00:37:14,934 --> 00:37:17,166
[Pearce] When this thing
was originally discovered,
892
00:37:17,166 --> 00:37:19,333
they were able to read
a couple of lines of text.
893
00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,567
The data we got,
I can see dozens of lines.
894
00:37:22,567 --> 00:37:23,667
[Josh] This is so awesome.
895
00:37:23,667 --> 00:37:25,967
And out of all of
these lines of text,
896
00:37:25,967 --> 00:37:28,467
-how many of them
have been translated?
-Not very many.
897
00:37:28,467 --> 00:37:30,533
We're talking 2, 3, 4, 5%.
898
00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:32,734
-Single digit, small number.
-Okay.
899
00:37:32,800 --> 00:37:36,433
So maybe with this scan,
with this detail,
more to follow?
900
00:37:36,500 --> 00:37:37,400
I think not maybe.
901
00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,233
I think certainly
there's more to come.
902
00:37:39,300 --> 00:37:41,333
So my cuneiform
is a little rusty.
903
00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:43,667
Who is this guy?
What does the text tell us?
904
00:37:43,667 --> 00:37:46,667
So this first sentence
gives us the home run.
905
00:37:46,667 --> 00:37:50,367
It says, "I am Nabonidus,
King of Babylon."
906
00:37:50,367 --> 00:37:53,133
[Josh]
In the sixth century BC,
907
00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:55,233
the Babylonian King,
Nabonidus,
908
00:37:55,300 --> 00:37:57,033
had spent a decade
in this region
909
00:37:57,100 --> 00:37:59,166
conquering small tribes
and settlements,
910
00:37:59,166 --> 00:38:03,433
when he set his sights
on the people living here
in Sela.
911
00:38:03,500 --> 00:38:04,266
And we know
one of the things
912
00:38:04,266 --> 00:38:06,233
that he is reported
to have done
913
00:38:06,300 --> 00:38:08,266
is to bring
the Edomite empire to an end.
914
00:38:08,266 --> 00:38:11,734
And this
monumental inscription
is announcing that.
915
00:38:11,800 --> 00:38:13,133
[Pearce]
This is rubbing it in.
916
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:14,100
-[Josh] Yeah.
-This is insult to injury.
917
00:38:14,100 --> 00:38:16,867
This is going to their place
and saying,
918
00:38:16,867 --> 00:38:18,033
"You're gonna remember this."
919
00:38:18,100 --> 00:38:19,367
-Yeah. "I won."
-Yeah.
920
00:38:19,367 --> 00:38:21,000
So, him defeating
the Edomites
921
00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:22,634
happens around when
do you think?
922
00:38:22,700 --> 00:38:23,600
Like, 550 BC.
923
00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:25,567
So this really is
a smoking gun saying,
924
00:38:25,567 --> 00:38:28,233
"At this moment in time,
in this place,
925
00:38:28,300 --> 00:38:30,667
the Edomites are destroyed."
926
00:38:30,667 --> 00:38:35,266
Unfortunately for them,
the Babylonians didn't get
to enjoy Sela for too long.
927
00:38:35,266 --> 00:38:37,934
Soon after taking this place
from the Edomites,
928
00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:39,533
Babylon itself was conquered,
929
00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:42,000
leaving Sela
without a landlord.
930
00:38:42,000 --> 00:38:43,266
But not for long.
931
00:38:43,266 --> 00:38:44,934
A void appears.
932
00:38:45,000 --> 00:38:46,634
There's a dark spot
on the map.
933
00:38:46,700 --> 00:38:48,166
Right. Nobody's here now.
934
00:38:48,166 --> 00:38:50,333
-The Nabateans are here now.
-[Pearce] Uh-huh.
935
00:38:50,400 --> 00:38:51,367
They start filling it in.
936
00:38:51,367 --> 00:38:53,767
This power vacuum
that's here, they fill it.
937
00:38:53,767 --> 00:38:55,634
-This is their origin story.
-[Josh] Right.
938
00:38:55,700 --> 00:38:58,367
All these nomadic tribes
that are out in the desert.
939
00:38:58,367 --> 00:39:01,133
Suddenly,
nobody is in charge here.
940
00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:03,567
And there's an opportunity
for them to coalesce,
941
00:39:03,567 --> 00:39:05,133
and to come to this place.
942
00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:06,433
And this is
one of those things
943
00:39:06,500 --> 00:39:08,100
where we get really lucky.
944
00:39:08,100 --> 00:39:11,433
Later in history,
a Roman historian tells us
945
00:39:11,500 --> 00:39:14,467
that in 312 BC
the Nabateans,
946
00:39:14,467 --> 00:39:16,166
the first time
we ever hear this word,
947
00:39:16,166 --> 00:39:20,467
are so present, so powerful,
so dynamic at Sela
948
00:39:20,467 --> 00:39:21,867
that they are able
to fight off
949
00:39:21,867 --> 00:39:23,867
one of Alexander
the Great's generals.
950
00:39:23,867 --> 00:39:25,533
-[Josh] Whoa.
-Not once, but twice.
951
00:39:25,600 --> 00:39:26,767
Wow.
952
00:39:26,767 --> 00:39:29,567
Perhaps forged by generations
enduring in the desert,
953
00:39:29,567 --> 00:39:32,433
the Nabateans
prove formidable,
954
00:39:32,500 --> 00:39:35,000
a trait that will help
propel them to great success.
955
00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:38,066
So here we are,
centuries before Petra
is really a thing...
956
00:39:38,066 --> 00:39:39,767
-Yeah.
-...and the Nabateans
are on the scene.
957
00:39:39,767 --> 00:39:40,767
[Pearce] Yes.
958
00:39:40,767 --> 00:39:42,467
And so what do they do
with that here at Sela?
959
00:39:42,467 --> 00:39:44,233
Well, I can take you up
and show you.
960
00:39:44,300 --> 00:39:47,133
-They left stuff behind?
-Yeah. Let's go take a look.
961
00:39:48,667 --> 00:39:50,467
[Josh] We strap
our packs back on
962
00:39:50,467 --> 00:39:52,834
and hike up
to another part
of the mesa.
963
00:39:52,900 --> 00:39:54,367
It's just as hot.
964
00:39:54,367 --> 00:39:57,000
But at least this time,
I'm not worried about
how I'm getting down.
965
00:39:57,467 --> 00:39:59,033
Oh, wow.
966
00:39:59,967 --> 00:40:02,934
-This looks like something
you'd see at Petra.
-[Pearce] Yeah.
967
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:05,934
This is where
we really start to see
Nabateans' fingerprints.
968
00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:07,867
-This is what?
-[Pearce] The city gate.
969
00:40:07,867 --> 00:40:09,567
[Josh] These are for doors?
970
00:40:09,567 --> 00:40:13,533
Yup. This allows them
to block things off,
control access.
971
00:40:13,600 --> 00:40:15,533
[Josh] The Nabateans
are learning how to take
972
00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:17,433
the natural shape
of these canyons
973
00:40:17,500 --> 00:40:19,834
and use it
to their advantage.
974
00:40:19,900 --> 00:40:22,000
-So entrance
to the city and beyond.
-[Pearce] Yup.
975
00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:23,400
[Josh] All right.
Shall we see what's in there?
976
00:40:24,467 --> 00:40:25,667
We walk through the gates
977
00:40:25,667 --> 00:40:29,634
and see what
the Nabateans built
long before Petra.
978
00:40:31,166 --> 00:40:32,467
Oh, my lord!
979
00:40:32,467 --> 00:40:34,400
Look at this place.
980
00:40:39,767 --> 00:40:42,567
[Pearce] So, all around,
you can see signs of life.
981
00:40:42,567 --> 00:40:44,967
[Josh] I'm in the
mountaintop ruins
known as Sela,
982
00:40:44,967 --> 00:40:48,934
investigating the origins
of the Nabatean kingdom.
983
00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:50,767
Here,
at their first settlement,
984
00:40:50,767 --> 00:40:53,567
we're seeing the genesis
of their incredible ability
985
00:40:53,567 --> 00:40:55,567
to shape the stone
around them.
986
00:40:55,567 --> 00:40:58,166
You can see all these
signs of construction.
Oh, look at this.
987
00:40:58,166 --> 00:40:59,667
-[Pearce] Yeah.
-[Josh] I mean,
look at that up there.
988
00:40:59,667 --> 00:41:01,133
That looks exactly like Petra.
989
00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:03,266
-That squared off,
carved area.
-[Pearce] I know.
990
00:41:03,266 --> 00:41:05,433
If these were red rocks,
you wouldn't be able
to tell the difference.
991
00:41:05,500 --> 00:41:08,066
[Josh] Totally.
That's very Nabatean looking.
992
00:41:08,066 --> 00:41:11,533
Using only manual tools
like hammers and chisels,
993
00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:13,667
the Nabateans fashioned
rough-looking caves,
994
00:41:13,667 --> 00:41:18,667
and then
clearly honed their skills
into more refined designs.
995
00:41:18,667 --> 00:41:21,100
-Oh, this is a house.
-[Pearce] This is a house.
996
00:41:21,100 --> 00:41:22,867
-Here, you've got
the front door area.
-[Josh] Uh-huh.
997
00:41:22,867 --> 00:41:24,867
-[Pearce] You put your
little oil lamp in here.
-[Josh] Right.
998
00:41:24,867 --> 00:41:26,166
-You've got--
-That's your
front porch light.
999
00:41:26,166 --> 00:41:27,667
-Yeah.
-[Josh] Okay.
1000
00:41:27,667 --> 00:41:29,433
So you've got that
in the front of your house.
1001
00:41:29,500 --> 00:41:31,867
And then we've got this pretty
spacious dwelling here, right?
1002
00:41:31,867 --> 00:41:33,433
Yeah. I mean,
it's good space.
1003
00:41:33,500 --> 00:41:35,767
And it's well protected
from several sides.
1004
00:41:35,767 --> 00:41:39,467
-But if you look at the holes
above the ceiling.
-Yeah. Are they post holes?
1005
00:41:39,467 --> 00:41:40,333
[Pearce]
These are post holes.
1006
00:41:41,300 --> 00:41:42,867
[Josh] To turn this cave
into a home,
1007
00:41:42,867 --> 00:41:46,333
the Nabateans would mount
beams in the post holes,
1008
00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:50,200
then drape fabric
over them, like a tarp,
for shade and shelter.
1009
00:41:51,367 --> 00:41:52,467
Pretty sophisticated.
1010
00:41:52,467 --> 00:41:55,667
-Indoor, outdoor
like a covered porch.
-Absolutely.
1011
00:41:55,667 --> 00:41:58,533
[Josh]
The mountain is covered
with homes like this,
1012
00:41:58,600 --> 00:42:01,333
where the Nabateans
could cease their wandering
in the desert
1013
00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:02,934
and live in safety.
1014
00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:04,667
They took the knowledge
they gained here
1015
00:42:04,667 --> 00:42:06,934
and applied it
to their capital at Petra.
1016
00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:09,467
It's an amazing
evolutionary leap,
1017
00:42:09,467 --> 00:42:12,333
as was their ability
to navigate the deserts.
1018
00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:16,967
But then we spot the thing
that made the Nabateans
a true powerhouse.
1019
00:42:16,967 --> 00:42:19,033
[whistles] Whoa.
1020
00:42:19,100 --> 00:42:19,834
Look at the hole.
1021
00:42:19,834 --> 00:42:21,634
[Josh] Is that
a water cistern?
1022
00:42:21,700 --> 00:42:23,100
It is. It's a cistern.
1023
00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:26,934
I mean, that is deep.
1024
00:42:27,967 --> 00:42:28,967
[rock thuds]
1025
00:42:28,967 --> 00:42:31,367
-[Josh] That must be
20 feet deep.
-At least.
1026
00:42:31,367 --> 00:42:33,667
-So this is
a massive water cistern.
-Yes.
1027
00:42:33,667 --> 00:42:36,100
This would have held
thousands and thousands
of gallons.
1028
00:42:36,100 --> 00:42:38,767
When you think about
this part of the world,
you don't think of water,
1029
00:42:38,767 --> 00:42:40,867
but there must have been
a ton of it here.
1030
00:42:40,867 --> 00:42:43,734
Well, this is
a big part of the secret
of the Nabateans rise,
1031
00:42:43,800 --> 00:42:48,533
is their ability
to manage water,
to direct it, to dam it.
1032
00:42:48,600 --> 00:42:51,667
Without that technology,
they don't make it.
1033
00:42:51,667 --> 00:42:52,867
This is life.
1034
00:42:52,867 --> 00:42:55,634
Without this,
you cannot survive here,
much less thrive.
1035
00:42:55,700 --> 00:42:57,834
And this will
make you think about Petra
in a whole new way.
1036
00:42:57,900 --> 00:43:00,500
Absolutely.
It's all about water.
1037
00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:06,066
We make the long drive
back to Petra,
1038
00:43:06,066 --> 00:43:08,266
and I see
that Pearce is right.
1039
00:43:08,266 --> 00:43:10,433
Within these
well-protected walls,
1040
00:43:10,500 --> 00:43:12,266
the innovation
and building prowess
1041
00:43:12,266 --> 00:43:14,467
the Nabateans mastered
in the desert
1042
00:43:14,467 --> 00:43:16,166
is on full display.
1043
00:43:16,166 --> 00:43:18,066
Now that
we're back from Sela,
1044
00:43:18,066 --> 00:43:19,867
you have to look at Petra
through a different lens.
1045
00:43:19,867 --> 00:43:21,867
Everything is about
water management.
1046
00:43:21,867 --> 00:43:23,667
Oh, all of this is
like a channel,
1047
00:43:23,667 --> 00:43:25,133
like an aqueduct system.
1048
00:43:25,133 --> 00:43:27,967
[Pearce] And every
one of these little valleys
would have had dams in it.
1049
00:43:27,967 --> 00:43:31,000
This is a big part
of why Petra is Petra.
1050
00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:33,634
-Right.
-If your whole situation
in this part of the world
1051
00:43:33,700 --> 00:43:35,533
-is about managing water...
-Right.
1052
00:43:35,600 --> 00:43:36,567
...this is the place.
1053
00:43:36,567 --> 00:43:37,834
-Look at this valley.
-Right.
1054
00:43:37,834 --> 00:43:41,100
All the water
during rains floods down
through these canyons.
1055
00:43:41,100 --> 00:43:43,333
And if you can learn
to harness it,
1056
00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:44,867
you can then
take advantage of it.
1057
00:43:44,867 --> 00:43:46,467
Got it.
1058
00:43:46,467 --> 00:43:49,467
Today, we see Petra
as surrounded by desert,
1059
00:43:49,467 --> 00:43:52,533
but it was once
a resplendent oasis.
1060
00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:54,867
Thanks to the Nabateans
mastery of water,
1061
00:43:54,867 --> 00:43:57,266
precisely engineered
irrigation systems
1062
00:43:57,266 --> 00:44:00,767
would have carried water
to every corner of this city.
1063
00:44:00,767 --> 00:44:04,033
The path we walk
would have been
surrounded by greenery
1064
00:44:04,100 --> 00:44:06,567
and terraces
of exotic fruit trees.
1065
00:44:06,567 --> 00:44:09,433
There was even,
honest to God,
ancient piping.
1066
00:44:09,500 --> 00:44:11,033
[Pearce] This is
actual plumbing.
1067
00:44:11,100 --> 00:44:14,567
-Right.
-Ceramic pipes like cones
set one into another.
1068
00:44:14,567 --> 00:44:16,433
And the place is plumbed.
1069
00:44:16,500 --> 00:44:18,233
And at multiple levels
in some places.
1070
00:44:18,300 --> 00:44:19,767
But these ones
that would have been open,
1071
00:44:19,767 --> 00:44:23,333
if you were entering Petra
coming down through the Siq,
1072
00:44:23,400 --> 00:44:26,567
you would have been
listening to the echoes
and seeing water,
1073
00:44:26,567 --> 00:44:27,867
-flowing water.
-Yeah.
1074
00:44:27,867 --> 00:44:29,634
It sets
a real distinctive tone.
1075
00:44:29,700 --> 00:44:31,667
It's like having a fountain
in the foyer of your house.
1076
00:44:31,667 --> 00:44:32,834
It's a statement.
1077
00:44:32,900 --> 00:44:34,567
-I mean, you're showing off.
-Right.
1078
00:44:34,567 --> 00:44:35,834
They're doing
something in the desert
1079
00:44:35,900 --> 00:44:37,233
that you shouldn't
be able to do.
1080
00:44:37,300 --> 00:44:38,166
They have running water.
1081
00:44:38,166 --> 00:44:39,567
And we have resources.
1082
00:44:39,567 --> 00:44:40,867
-[Josh] Yeah.
-Look at us.
1083
00:44:40,867 --> 00:44:42,400
-Yeah.
-[Pearce] Look what we can do.
1084
00:44:45,100 --> 00:44:46,367
[Josh]
But its greatest mystery,
1085
00:44:46,367 --> 00:44:48,667
the truth behind
the wondrous treasury,
1086
00:44:48,667 --> 00:44:51,000
is still waiting
to be solved.
1087
00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:53,367
As we continue down
the corridor of the Siq,
1088
00:44:53,367 --> 00:44:56,634
we hear a reason
to pick up the pace.
1089
00:44:56,700 --> 00:44:57,767
[man] Josh, Pearce,
get over here.
1090
00:44:57,767 --> 00:44:59,467
They found something.
1091
00:44:59,467 --> 00:45:01,433
-Let's see what we got.
-[Josh] Yeah. What is it?
1092
00:45:01,500 --> 00:45:03,934
-We got a lot
more people here.
-[Pearce] Yeah.
1093
00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:05,100
[Pearce]
Oh, this looks very official.
1094
00:45:06,166 --> 00:45:07,634
[Josh] Turns out
we've got company.
1095
00:45:07,700 --> 00:45:10,367
The team is joined
by the Director General
1096
00:45:10,367 --> 00:45:14,634
of the Jordanian
Department of Antiquities,
Dr. Fadi Balawi.
1097
00:45:14,700 --> 00:45:15,934
Your Excellency.
Nice to meet you, sir.
1098
00:45:16,000 --> 00:45:17,367
-Lovely seeing you.
-Yes.
1099
00:45:17,367 --> 00:45:22,000
Along with the Chief
Commissioner of Petra,
Dr. Fares Braizat.
1100
00:45:22,000 --> 00:45:23,000
Thank you
for having us back.
1101
00:45:23,000 --> 00:45:24,433
Where have you been?
1102
00:45:24,500 --> 00:45:25,367
We've been in the desert,
we've been in the desert.
1103
00:45:25,367 --> 00:45:27,767
-We're back. Okay.
-[Fares] Really? Oh.
1104
00:45:27,767 --> 00:45:30,066
Look at how much progress
you guys have made here.
1105
00:45:30,066 --> 00:45:31,567
Look, you're all the way
down there.
1106
00:45:31,567 --> 00:45:32,867
You guys have moved
a lot of earth.
1107
00:45:32,867 --> 00:45:34,100
So, what'd you find?
1108
00:45:34,100 --> 00:45:36,367
We think we have
an entrance to something here.
1109
00:45:36,367 --> 00:45:38,100
-There's an opening there?
-[man] There's an opening.
1110
00:45:38,100 --> 00:45:40,166
-[Josh] Where?
-I can put
my hand in this way.
1111
00:45:40,166 --> 00:45:41,567
Look at that.
That's a doorway.
1112
00:45:41,567 --> 00:45:43,634
And it goes
all the way here as well.
1113
00:45:43,700 --> 00:45:45,433
And it's just got these
big blocks in front of it?
1114
00:45:45,500 --> 00:45:47,066
Yeah. It's been sealed up.
1115
00:45:47,066 --> 00:45:48,734
Is that a tomb?
What is that?
1116
00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:50,266
I mean,
why do we have to wonder?
1117
00:45:50,266 --> 00:45:51,767
We should go down and see.
1118
00:45:51,767 --> 00:45:54,166
-Let's find out. Come down.
-Yeah. I knew I like this guy.
1119
00:45:54,166 --> 00:45:56,133
-Yeah.
-We're coming down.
1120
00:46:03,700 --> 00:46:05,767
Oh, my word.
Can you see in there?
1121
00:46:05,767 --> 00:46:07,233
Wow.
1122
00:46:08,567 --> 00:46:09,867
I can't wait.
1123
00:46:09,867 --> 00:46:10,934
What is in there?
1124
00:46:11,000 --> 00:46:13,367
It is something
really huge.
1125
00:46:13,367 --> 00:46:15,000
Is it empty? Is it--
Can you see anything?
1126
00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:17,367
-[Fadi] Ooh.
-Is it a room?
Does it go back?
1127
00:46:17,367 --> 00:46:18,900
It's a new tomb, I think.
1128
00:46:19,500 --> 00:46:21,467
[Josh] It is a tomb!
1129
00:46:21,467 --> 00:46:23,266
Oh, my God.