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[josh gates] tonight
my exclusive access
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To an ancient egyptian
necropolis continues.
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Do you know that you are
the only foreigner
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To come here to my site?
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[josh] beneath
the sands of saqqara,
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I'm on the hunt to unravel
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The secrets of egypt's
old kingdom.
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Everywhere you dig here,
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You have no idea
what you're gonna find.
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-Mohammed!
-Yes?
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Hold on. I got something.
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I think it's a face.
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Can cutting-edge technology
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Help solve
a 4,000-year-old mystery?
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This mummy we scanned is
unbelievably historic.
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As we put together the clue
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Of how one
of the greatest civilization
of the ancient world
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Fell into chaos...
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[woman]
the entirety of upper egypt
was dying of hunger.
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...There's no telling
what secrets these tombs hol
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This is the first tomb
to be decorated underground.
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-Ever found in egypt?
-Ever found.
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It's expedition unknown
right now.
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[dr. Waziri] look at those
beautiful colors, josh!
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[josh] amazing. Look at it!
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-[josh] are those bones?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
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Oh, yes. We got
a skull right here!
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My name is josh gates.
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Hello!
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Explorer, adventurer...
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Amazing.
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Help!
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...And a guy
who ends up in some very
strange situations.
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Oh, [bleep]!
Phew, that was exciting.
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With a degree in archaeolog
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And a passion
for the unexplained...
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Ya-haw!
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...I travel to the ends
of the earth investigating
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The greatest legends
in history.
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Okay, let's punch it.
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This is expedition unkn
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Egypt's old kingdom.
The age of pyramids.
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Stretching from about
2,7000 bce to 2,200 bce,
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It was a flourishing cultur
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Where dynasties
of all-powerful pharaohs
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Acting as gods on earth
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Commissioned many of egypt'
grandest monuments
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And then suddenly
it all came crashing down.
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Egypt mysteriously fell
into a dark time
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Known as the first
intermediate period.
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But why?
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Now, after 4,000 years,
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The old kingdom is
finally giving up its secret
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In a desert cemetery
called saqqara.
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In the shadow
of the sixth dynasty pharao
merenre's pyramid,
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Archaeologists are excavatin
a necropolis
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Where nobles of merenre's ti
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Were entombed
for their eternal afterlife
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And I have an all-access pas
to explore the dig.
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In a couple of minutes
of working,
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We can find the entrance
of this tomb.
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[josh] dr. Mostafa waziri I
secretary general
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Of egypt's supreme council
of antiquities.
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He's invited me
to help excavate
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Some of the site's
burial shafts
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For the very first time.
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Oh! Hey, hey, hey!
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Hey, hey, here!
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We've got an opening!
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Our hope is that these tomb
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Can help explain the fall
of the old kingdom.
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We've already found
a perfectly preserved offeri
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Of more than 40 intact vesse
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That showed us how rich
these elite citizens were.
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And the badly damaged mummy
of a child
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Interred here
in a simple coffin,
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Reminding us
of the disparity of wealth
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In this ancient society.
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And there are
other mysteries as well.
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Because the old kingdom
descended into chaos
and civil war,
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All of the great pyramids
from this period were looted
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And no mummy
of an old kingdom pharaoh
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Has ever been found.
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Or has one?
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I climbed into the collapse
pyramid of the pharaoh meren
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Where at the end
of a long sealed corridor,
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A controversial mummy
was found over a century ago
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[josh] it may be the remain
of the young king.
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If it could be proven,
it would be historic,
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And the oldest royal mummy
ever discovered in egypt.
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To help confirm its identity
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We performed the first-ever
3d digital scan
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Of the would-be pharaoh.
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It's unbelievable.
It's perfect.
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Now, while the scan
is being processed,
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I've returned
to the saqqara dig site
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Where we had
previously discovered
a large burial shaft.
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After repairing
a collapsing wall
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And moving literally
tons of sand,
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I, along with dr. Waziri
and his colleagues
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Dr. Mohamed el-saidy
and mohammad youssef,
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Have descended into the pit
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Where we make
a remarkable discovery.
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[josh] we got a vault.
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-[dr. Waziri] oh, no. Josh!
-[josh laughing]
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[josh] oh, my god!
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It's a tomb!
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[dr. Waziri] a-ha!
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-It's fully decorated!
-[dr. Waziri speaking
in foreign language]
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-[dr. Waziri laughing]
-look at this!
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[josh] holy [bleep]
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Oh, my god.
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[crew cheering]
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[josh] the crew sings
in celebration of the find,
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And dr. Waziri wastes
zero time in exploring
the new chamber.
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[dr. Waziri] I can't wait.
I can't wait.
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It's beautiful colors!
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[exclaiming in
foreign language]
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[josh] dr. El-saidy
and I follow.
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Coming in. [groans]
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-Unbelievable.
-[dr. Waziri] josh! Josh!
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[dr. Waziri] look at these
beautiful colors, josh!
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[josh] oh, this is insane.
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Oh, amazing. Look at it!
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Look at this place.
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Every inch of every wall
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Is covered
in stunning decoration.
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Scenes of offerings
and hundreds of hieroglyphs
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All painted by hand
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And all unseen
for thousands of years.
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[dr. Waziri] look at those
beautiful, beautiful colors.
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We can see red.
We can see white.
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We can see black.
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If we start looking
at the top here
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-We can see
hieroglyphic inscriptions.
-[josh] yeah.
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All of them are talking
about the titles
of the guy himself.
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-His name is there!
-Ha ha!
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-[dr. Waziri]
his name is henu!
-[josh] henu.
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Here, he was a mayor.
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-He's the mayor?
-Oh, yes.
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-And also he was
a sole friend to the king.
-[josh] uh-huh.
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This is something typical.
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One famous title
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-Of those guys
of the old kingdom.
-Right.
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-Like I'm your sole friend.
-You are my close friend.
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-Sole friend.
-Okay, sole friend.
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-[josh snickering]
-look.
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[josh] waziri and I have bee
so focused
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On looking up at the walls
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That we almost miss
something lower down.
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[dr. Waziri] wait, wait, wait!
Wait, josh! Josh, josh, josh!
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-Oh, wow, wow, wow, wow,
wow, wow, wow!
-Whoa!
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[dr. Waziri]
the seven sacred oils!
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[josh] ha ha!
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[dr. Waziri] this is something
really very important.
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[josh] known to the egyptian
as merhet or sometimes
the eye of horus,
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Seven different scented oil
were considered
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The divine breath of the god
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Used to anoint the deceased
for the afterlife.
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[dr. Waziri]
if you start counting here
this is one, two, three,
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Four, five, six and seven.
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[josh] used
in mummification rituals,
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The refinement of these oil
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Is the ancient prototype
for modern perfumes.
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The oils were offered up
in tombs like this
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In precious stone and crysta
carved vessels.
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Look.
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Look at this one.
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-[josh] absolutely beautiful.
-[dr. Waziri] look
how beautiful!
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-I like it, josh.
-Stunning.
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Ah, yes, it is.
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-It's really stunning.
-Wow.
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[josh] we know that these
belonged to henu
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Because, well, the receipt I
literally on the wall.
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Look at that. Those are
the seven sacred oils
right there.
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-Unbelievable.
-[dr. Waziri] yeah, this is
really perfect.
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Ah, we can see here is
the facade of the palace,
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Or what you call it,
like this.
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-So, it's symbolic
representation of the palace.
-It's true.
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[josh] just like the tomb
of the noble named yaret
that we saw earlier,
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This is meant to imitate
the tomb of a pharaoh:
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The symbolic representation
of the palace on the walls,
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The ceiling painted
to resemble granite.
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By going to these lengths,
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Henu was taking
some of the power
that only a pharaoh had,
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Which even for a mayor
took some big stones...
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Literally.
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This is old kingdom, yes?
No question?
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-This is for sure.
No question.
-[josh]
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It's old kingdom,
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And we believe
that it's sixth dynasty.
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The sixth dynasty. This is
the pharaoh merenre,
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Which the pyramid is
right next door to us here.
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After our excavations,
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So, we believe
that we may find connections
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Between this guy
and the king merenre.
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Right. Because
if he is a mayor,
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Sole friend of the king,
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He would have been
someone who was an elite
under merenre.
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-[dr. Waziri] right.
-Yeah.
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00:08:14,528 --> 00:08:16,261
[dr. Waziri] have you ever
seen something like this
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In all of your life?
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Just have been discovered?
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What a sensation
to come into this tomb
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To be the first people
in here.
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-After 4,000 years.
-[chuckling] I know.
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It's a feeling that you are
never, ever gonna forget
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00:08:31,044 --> 00:08:32,310
-For the rest of your life.
-I know.
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00:08:32,312 --> 00:08:35,514
I'm trying not to cry.
It's unbelievable.
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I'm shaking with excitement
here in the tomb,
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00:08:38,018 --> 00:08:39,718
But there's
much more left to do.
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00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,521
We're on top of about
five feet of sand
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00:08:42,523 --> 00:08:44,189
And much of the painted wall
214
00:08:44,191 --> 00:08:47,259
And perhaps henu himself,
lie beneath us.
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00:08:47,327 --> 00:08:49,160
We'll need to vacate
the chamber
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In order for the workers
to continue.
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00:08:51,164 --> 00:08:52,564
Okay.
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00:08:52,666 --> 00:08:53,698
Shall we?
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00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:55,534
We'll let them
start sifting the sand,
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00:08:55,602 --> 00:08:57,335
And we'll investigate
the other side
of the site, yeah?
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00:08:57,437 --> 00:08:58,503
-Yes. Yeah.
-Okay.
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-We'll be back.
-Okay.
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00:08:59,673 --> 00:09:03,208
Ha ha! This is unbelievable.
224
00:09:04,478 --> 00:09:06,945
[josh] henu's tomb is
a major discovery,
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00:09:06,947 --> 00:09:09,414
And we've only begun
to dig it out.
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I ascend by bucket
and head over
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00:09:11,518 --> 00:09:13,218
To the other corner
of the site
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00:09:13,220 --> 00:09:16,054
To explore progress
on a smaller burial shaft
229
00:09:16,156 --> 00:09:18,356
Being excavated by the team
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00:09:18,425 --> 00:09:19,758
-Mohamed!
-[dr. El-saidy] yes?
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00:09:19,859 --> 00:09:20,992
-[josh] you fall down there?
-[dr. El-saidy] no, no.
232
00:09:20,994 --> 00:09:22,327
-[josh] you okay?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes, I'm okay.
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Okay.
234
00:09:23,463 --> 00:09:24,696
Thank you.
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00:09:24,698 --> 00:09:26,031
Protect that for me, will you?
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[josh] a few days ago,
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00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:30,001
This area was simply
a low hill of sand.
238
00:09:30,003 --> 00:09:33,605
Then digging revealed a hug
collection of beer vessels
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00:09:33,607 --> 00:09:35,006
Next to a burial shaft.
240
00:09:35,008 --> 00:09:37,175
So, I count more than
40 vessels now.
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This is huge.
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Now, we're ready to see
what's at the bottom.
243
00:09:41,415 --> 00:09:44,049
Not enough space
for both of us.
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00:09:44,051 --> 00:09:46,952
-I'm not sure there's
enough space for one of us.
-Yes.
245
00:09:47,020 --> 00:09:48,820
[josh] burial shafts
were constructed
246
00:09:48,822 --> 00:09:51,122
With a smaller vaulted
upper chamber
247
00:09:51,124 --> 00:09:52,524
Where we are now.
248
00:09:52,526 --> 00:09:55,727
This space would often hous
offerings for the deceased
249
00:09:55,729 --> 00:09:58,430
Who was interred
in a burial chamber below.
250
00:09:59,633 --> 00:10:00,532
Okay.
251
00:10:03,937 --> 00:10:05,203
[straining]
252
00:10:06,206 --> 00:10:09,007
All right. Back in my hole.
253
00:10:17,217 --> 00:10:18,316
-Mohamed?
-Yes?
254
00:10:18,318 --> 00:10:19,517
Hold on. I got something.
255
00:10:19,519 --> 00:10:21,620
-[dr. El-saidy] oh, good.
-[josh] come here.
256
00:10:21,622 --> 00:10:23,722
-[josh] here,
the edge of something.
-[dr. El-saidy] show it to me.
257
00:10:23,724 --> 00:10:25,724
-[josh] it has paint on it.
-[dr. El-saidy] good.
258
00:10:25,726 --> 00:10:27,826
-So, it's ceramic?
-I don't think so.
259
00:10:27,828 --> 00:10:29,260
I think it's a face.
260
00:10:30,230 --> 00:10:31,830
[dr. El-saidy] face of what?
261
00:10:31,832 --> 00:10:33,098
A face of a person.
262
00:10:33,100 --> 00:10:34,232
-[dr. El-saidy] you mean
a statue?
-[josh]yes!
263
00:10:34,234 --> 00:10:35,333
-I think it's a statue.
-[dr. El-saidy] good, good.
264
00:10:35,435 --> 00:10:36,501
-[dr. El-saidy] good.
-Ha!
265
00:10:36,503 --> 00:10:38,203
-[josh] yes.
-[dr. El-saidy] good, man.
266
00:10:38,205 --> 00:10:39,637
There's more here. Look.
267
00:10:39,706 --> 00:10:41,506
-[dr. El-saidy] I think
this is a leg.
-[josh] oh! There's a leg.
268
00:10:45,045 --> 00:10:46,111
Oh, my lord.
269
00:10:46,113 --> 00:10:47,812
This is unbelievable.
270
00:10:47,814 --> 00:10:52,017
We have this
wooden offering here.
271
00:10:52,019 --> 00:10:56,121
-This does not represent
the owner of this tomb, right?
-[dr. El-saidy] no.
272
00:10:56,123 --> 00:10:57,822
-[josh] who is this?
-[dr. El-saidy]
one of his servants.
273
00:10:57,824 --> 00:11:00,558
-So that he has someone
to serve him in the afterlife?
-Yes.
274
00:11:01,228 --> 00:11:02,761
[josh quietly] wow.
275
00:11:02,796 --> 00:11:04,629
This doll is known as a shab
276
00:11:04,631 --> 00:11:08,133
And is actually here to serv
the god of the dead osiris,
277
00:11:08,234 --> 00:11:09,701
In place of the deceased,
278
00:11:09,703 --> 00:11:12,637
Releasing him from having
to work in the afterlife.
279
00:11:13,607 --> 00:11:15,073
A wooden statue
280
00:11:15,075 --> 00:11:18,043
That has survived
for four millennia down here.
281
00:11:18,144 --> 00:11:20,211
It's still painted.
Look at the detail.
282
00:11:20,213 --> 00:11:22,514
Look at the eyes
and the eyebrows and the hair.
283
00:11:22,516 --> 00:11:23,915
Be really careful
with that arm.
284
00:11:26,119 --> 00:11:28,520
Yep. Yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah, yeah.
285
00:11:29,222 --> 00:11:30,755
Look at that!
286
00:11:30,757 --> 00:11:33,425
-Unbelievable. Okay,
I'm gonna pass him to you.
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
287
00:11:33,427 --> 00:11:35,260
-You got it?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes, I got it.
288
00:11:35,361 --> 00:11:36,528
-You got that arm?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
289
00:11:36,530 --> 00:11:37,529
-Okay, he's yours?
-[dr. El-saidy] I have it.
290
00:11:37,531 --> 00:11:39,064
Let's get a look
at in the light.
291
00:11:39,132 --> 00:11:40,198
Whew!
292
00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:41,433
Awesome.
293
00:11:41,501 --> 00:11:44,402
Oh, oh! Come on.
294
00:11:44,404 --> 00:11:46,137
Oh, it's beautiful.
295
00:11:46,206 --> 00:11:47,505
Look at the details still.
296
00:11:47,507 --> 00:11:49,941
[dr. El-saidy] details.
The color white and the black.
297
00:11:49,943 --> 00:11:51,943
Look at the color.
It's still painted.
298
00:11:52,011 --> 00:11:53,812
-Look at these wooden nails,
-[dr. El-saidy] mmm.
299
00:11:53,814 --> 00:11:55,613
So that the arms
actually articulate.
300
00:11:55,615 --> 00:11:56,948
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
-[josh] look at that.
The arms.
301
00:11:57,017 --> 00:12:00,151
It's something to say
he is really for serving.
302
00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:01,219
-Right.
-Yes.
303
00:12:01,221 --> 00:12:02,520
-He's ready to... Right.
-Moving, yes.
304
00:12:02,522 --> 00:12:04,656
[josh] he's ready
to serve. Wow.
305
00:12:04,725 --> 00:12:07,559
-This is a 4,000-year-old
action figure.
-Mmm.
306
00:12:07,660 --> 00:12:09,661
[chuckling] it's amazing.
307
00:12:09,763 --> 00:12:11,763
[josh] this wooden statue
in this condition
308
00:12:11,832 --> 00:12:13,898
Is an exceedingly rare find
309
00:12:13,900 --> 00:12:17,736
A true treasure in this
archaeological gold mine.
310
00:12:17,804 --> 00:12:19,537
[josh] okay, let's get
him up to safety.
311
00:12:19,639 --> 00:12:21,106
-[josh] yeah? You got it?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes, sure.
312
00:12:21,108 --> 00:12:22,140
[josh] okay.
313
00:12:22,209 --> 00:12:24,242
Another find
and a lot more to dig.
314
00:12:25,278 --> 00:12:26,511
And dig they do,
315
00:12:26,513 --> 00:12:28,413
Moving sand until they expos
316
00:12:28,415 --> 00:12:31,516
The main burial chamber
below the vault.
317
00:12:31,518 --> 00:12:33,518
After what we found
in the last shaft,
318
00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,721
Dr. Waziri wants to be here
to see firsthand.
319
00:12:38,625 --> 00:12:41,392
-This is where we found
the wooden statue, yeah.
-Where it was found, yeah.
320
00:12:41,394 --> 00:12:43,561
-[dr. Waziri] yes.
-[josh] and now
it's all been cleaned out.
321
00:12:43,663 --> 00:12:45,363
Nothing else found
in this upper vault,
322
00:12:45,431 --> 00:12:47,632
So we're gonna try to take
this down,
323
00:12:47,701 --> 00:12:49,234
-This layer?
-[dr. Waziri] yes.
324
00:13:00,847 --> 00:13:02,514
We are about
to discover something.
325
00:13:05,118 --> 00:13:06,417
-Oh!
-Yes, yes.
326
00:13:06,419 --> 00:13:08,052
-Here. Paint.
-Yes, yes.
327
00:13:08,054 --> 00:13:09,521
-Yes, yes, yes.
-We have paint.
328
00:13:09,523 --> 00:13:11,122
There's a cavity behind it.
329
00:13:13,527 --> 00:13:15,627
-[dr. Waziri] oh, no. Oh, no.
-[josh chuckling]
330
00:13:15,629 --> 00:13:17,428
Oh, my word.
331
00:13:17,430 --> 00:13:18,830
Another tomb.
332
00:13:30,043 --> 00:13:32,143
Okay, let's see
what's going on in here.
333
00:13:32,245 --> 00:13:34,312
Okay. Coming in.
334
00:13:34,314 --> 00:13:36,047
[straining]
335
00:13:38,351 --> 00:13:39,818
Oh, my word.
336
00:13:42,522 --> 00:13:43,955
Like henu's tomb,
337
00:13:43,957 --> 00:13:46,124
This chamber is
ornately painted.
338
00:13:46,126 --> 00:13:48,326
The deceased's biography
on the walls
339
00:13:48,328 --> 00:13:49,727
Like a morbid book jacket.
340
00:13:50,897 --> 00:13:54,499
And here is the name
of the guy, pepi nefhany.
341
00:13:54,501 --> 00:13:56,201
-[josh] pepi nefhany.
-Pepi nefhany.
342
00:13:56,203 --> 00:14:00,805
[dr. Waziri] he got the title
that he was also
a [speaking foreign language]
343
00:14:00,807 --> 00:14:02,040
-So... Oh! Look at this!
-[dr. Waziri] oh!
344
00:14:02,042 --> 00:14:03,007
[josh] look at this!
345
00:14:08,248 --> 00:14:09,447
Oh!
346
00:14:09,516 --> 00:14:10,348
Look at this!
347
00:14:10,450 --> 00:14:12,550
His foot is right
in front of me.
348
00:14:12,619 --> 00:14:13,818
I didn't even see that.
349
00:14:13,820 --> 00:14:15,987
We're in a newly
excavated chamber
350
00:14:15,989 --> 00:14:17,722
In the necropolis of saqqara
351
00:14:17,791 --> 00:14:19,490
And we're not alone.
352
00:14:19,492 --> 00:14:21,793
Oh, my word.
This is his skeleton.
353
00:14:21,795 --> 00:14:24,629
This is a tomb
and this is its owner.
354
00:14:24,631 --> 00:14:26,831
Look at the nails on his toes.
355
00:14:26,867 --> 00:14:28,967
So, we've got his foot,
his femur, his leg
356
00:14:28,969 --> 00:14:30,869
-And then where's
the other foot?
-[dr. Waziri] here it is.
357
00:14:30,871 --> 00:14:32,503
[josh] oh, look at that.
It's all the way down there.
358
00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:34,806
[dr. Waziri] yeah,
we can see linen.
359
00:14:34,875 --> 00:14:36,540
[josh] unbelievable.
360
00:14:36,609 --> 00:14:40,445
The position of the body
suggests that this tomb
was likely robbed
361
00:14:40,513 --> 00:14:43,214
With the mummy dislocated
in the process.
362
00:14:43,216 --> 00:14:45,683
Clearly this is
a disturbed burial.
363
00:14:45,685 --> 00:14:47,151
-I mean, he is...
-[dr. Waziri] it is.
364
00:14:47,153 --> 00:14:50,989
It is, but it was disturbed
50 or a hundred years
after his death.
365
00:14:50,991 --> 00:14:53,424
Maybe robbed but robbed
in ancient times.
366
00:14:53,426 --> 00:14:55,260
This tomb was likely looted
367
00:14:55,328 --> 00:14:57,095
In the first
intermediate period,
368
00:14:57,097 --> 00:15:00,231
The chaotic time
that followed the collapse
of the old kingdom.
369
00:15:01,101 --> 00:15:02,366
It is perhaps a clue
370
00:15:02,368 --> 00:15:04,969
That despite the prosperity
of the upper class,
371
00:15:04,971 --> 00:15:08,206
Not everyone at this time
was thriving.
372
00:15:08,208 --> 00:15:10,675
And though this mummy's
burial was disturbed,
373
00:15:10,677 --> 00:15:13,211
It is still a remarkable fin
374
00:15:13,213 --> 00:15:15,213
You know, to read his titles,
375
00:15:15,215 --> 00:15:19,117
To hear his name and then
to have him here with us,
376
00:15:19,119 --> 00:15:21,452
It's something.
377
00:15:21,521 --> 00:15:23,721
So, a lot of very careful work
378
00:15:23,823 --> 00:15:24,822
To do in here
with these remains.
379
00:15:24,824 --> 00:15:26,991
-Okay, another tomb.
-Okay, yeah.
380
00:15:28,328 --> 00:15:30,161
[josh] there's far more wor
to be done here
381
00:15:30,263 --> 00:15:31,328
At the site in saqqara.
382
00:15:31,330 --> 00:15:33,865
But while the workers
continue to dig,
383
00:15:33,867 --> 00:15:35,300
I'm off to continue my work
384
00:15:35,302 --> 00:15:37,201
On another
old kingdom mystery.
385
00:15:37,203 --> 00:15:39,938
A cold case involving
a missing pharaoh.
386
00:15:42,943 --> 00:15:44,174
Earlier I had joined
387
00:15:44,176 --> 00:15:47,045
Renowned archaeologist,
dr. Mohamed megahed
388
00:15:47,047 --> 00:15:49,914
Inside the nearby
partially-collapsed pyramid
389
00:15:49,916 --> 00:15:52,250
Of the old kingdom
pharaoh, merenre.
390
00:15:52,319 --> 00:15:56,054
The interior was
first explored in 1881,
391
00:15:56,056 --> 00:15:59,724
And an unusual mummy was fou
in the tomb's inner chamber
392
00:15:59,726 --> 00:16:03,628
Unusual because
all old kingdom royal tombs
were looted,
393
00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:08,333
And no mummies of pharaohs
of the old kingdom
have ever been found.
394
00:16:08,434 --> 00:16:11,235
For this reason, many assume
that the mummy found here
395
00:16:11,337 --> 00:16:14,005
Was some interloper
who poached the tomb
396
00:16:14,007 --> 00:16:16,040
Much later in history.
397
00:16:16,042 --> 00:16:18,343
The mummy was moved
to a nearby museum
398
00:16:18,444 --> 00:16:21,346
Where we were given
unprecedented access
to scan it
399
00:16:21,414 --> 00:16:23,114
Using state-of-the-art
equipment.
400
00:16:23,116 --> 00:16:25,516
The scans are now complete,
401
00:16:25,518 --> 00:16:26,951
And I'm hoping to use them
402
00:16:26,953 --> 00:16:29,220
To unravel
the mummy's identity.
403
00:16:29,222 --> 00:16:31,089
To do that,
I'm headed to a place
404
00:16:31,091 --> 00:16:32,523
That isn't just off-site,
405
00:16:32,525 --> 00:16:34,726
It's off-road.
406
00:16:34,827 --> 00:16:39,097
A positive id
of the supposed mummy
of merenre would be huge.
407
00:16:39,099 --> 00:16:40,832
But there's
this on-going debate
408
00:16:40,867 --> 00:16:44,936
That an old kingdom mummy
shouldn't look
so sophisticated.
409
00:16:44,938 --> 00:16:48,406
The mummy we scanned
in the museum is
incredibly lifelike
410
00:16:48,408 --> 00:16:51,142
Thanks to the application
of layers of resin,
411
00:16:51,244 --> 00:16:54,779
A substance used
by master embalmers
in ancient egypt
412
00:16:54,781 --> 00:16:56,681
To preserve the dead.
413
00:16:56,683 --> 00:16:58,349
But scholars long believed
414
00:16:58,451 --> 00:17:00,518
That it wasn't used
until the new kingdom
415
00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:03,755
A thousand years
after the reign of merenre.
416
00:17:03,757 --> 00:17:05,923
It's the main reason
that our mystery mummy
417
00:17:05,925 --> 00:17:08,393
Was discounted as being
from the old kingdom.
418
00:17:08,395 --> 00:17:11,529
So, what's
an old kingdom mummy
supposed to look like?
419
00:17:11,531 --> 00:17:13,965
To find out, I've been granted
special access
420
00:17:13,967 --> 00:17:16,401
To another tomb
in northern saqqara.
421
00:17:36,756 --> 00:17:39,624
So, this is
the tomb of nefer,
422
00:17:39,626 --> 00:17:42,360
And it is an absolute stunner.
423
00:17:45,732 --> 00:17:49,434
Nefer lived
about 4,500 years ago
424
00:17:49,502 --> 00:17:50,868
During the fifth dynasty.
425
00:17:50,870 --> 00:17:54,972
So, this is
just before the reign
of the pharaoh merenre.
426
00:17:54,974 --> 00:17:57,608
But nefer here,
he wasn't a pharaoh,
427
00:17:57,710 --> 00:17:59,544
But he was a high official.
428
00:17:59,612 --> 00:18:01,512
This is him
on the wall of the tomb,
429
00:18:01,514 --> 00:18:02,814
And here's his name.
430
00:18:02,915 --> 00:18:04,515
This is nefer.
431
00:18:04,517 --> 00:18:09,187
His titles over here say
that he was a chief
of the palace,
432
00:18:09,189 --> 00:18:13,291
And a supervisor of artisans.
433
00:18:13,293 --> 00:18:16,894
The walls of this tomb
are covered in scenes
from nefer's life:
434
00:18:16,896 --> 00:18:19,997
Drinking, fishing,
sacrificing goats.
435
00:18:20,700 --> 00:18:22,133
All the good stuff.
436
00:18:22,202 --> 00:18:25,103
The really remarkable thing
about this tomb
437
00:18:25,105 --> 00:18:28,439
Other than its preservation is
that nefer himself
438
00:18:28,541 --> 00:18:29,807
Is still here.
439
00:18:29,809 --> 00:18:31,442
Actually, he's down there.
440
00:18:31,511 --> 00:18:32,610
Let's go.
441
00:18:35,682 --> 00:18:36,714
Okay.
442
00:18:41,688 --> 00:18:43,121
And here...
443
00:18:44,891 --> 00:18:46,257
Underneath this glass,
444
00:18:46,325 --> 00:18:47,625
This is the man himself.
445
00:18:48,561 --> 00:18:50,261
Look at this mummy.
446
00:18:52,699 --> 00:18:54,999
This is the mummy of nefer,
447
00:18:55,134 --> 00:18:57,201
And he is
absolutely incredible.
448
00:18:57,203 --> 00:18:59,770
You could see he has
this false beard,
449
00:18:59,772 --> 00:19:01,973
This necklace
that he's wearing
450
00:19:01,975 --> 00:19:04,041
With these beautiful
blue-green stones
451
00:19:04,110 --> 00:19:06,511
And just remarkably lifelike.
452
00:19:06,513 --> 00:19:09,113
So, this is
a true old kingdom mummy.
453
00:19:09,115 --> 00:19:11,782
Something for us to compare
to the mummy that was found
454
00:19:11,784 --> 00:19:13,684
In the pyramid of merenre.
455
00:19:13,686 --> 00:19:16,521
And we have our scans
back from the museum,
456
00:19:16,523 --> 00:19:18,789
So we can compare them
with this confirmed
457
00:19:18,791 --> 00:19:20,258
Old kingdom mummy.
458
00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,126
Time for us, and the world,
459
00:19:22,128 --> 00:19:26,130
To get our first look
at a detailed scan
of our mummy.
460
00:19:26,132 --> 00:19:28,132
This is unbelievable!
461
00:19:29,335 --> 00:19:30,868
Outrageous detail here.
462
00:19:30,870 --> 00:19:34,105
We can see every millimeter
of this mummy at the museum
463
00:19:35,775 --> 00:19:37,675
At face value,
no pun intended,
464
00:19:37,677 --> 00:19:40,511
They do look really similar
in a lot of ways.
465
00:19:40,513 --> 00:19:42,780
We have this appearance
of preservation,
466
00:19:42,782 --> 00:19:45,016
But it is kind of
just an appearance.
467
00:19:45,018 --> 00:19:46,417
It's a bit of an illusion
468
00:19:46,419 --> 00:19:48,519
Because our mummy
in the museum,
469
00:19:48,521 --> 00:19:51,355
It actually is
really well-preserved.
470
00:19:51,424 --> 00:19:53,324
We can see
that these features,
471
00:19:53,326 --> 00:19:56,527
His nose, his eyes,
his bone structure,
472
00:19:56,529 --> 00:19:57,895
It's really him.
473
00:19:57,897 --> 00:19:59,263
Here, with nefer,
474
00:19:59,332 --> 00:20:01,065
We have something
that's more cosmetic.
475
00:20:01,133 --> 00:20:03,301
We can see
an almost plastering on him.
476
00:20:03,303 --> 00:20:04,535
Look at his chest.
477
00:20:04,537 --> 00:20:07,505
We see this layer and we see
it on his face as well.
478
00:20:07,507 --> 00:20:11,108
So, what we have here is
the appearance of real life.
479
00:20:11,110 --> 00:20:13,811
And our mummy
in the museum is real life.
480
00:20:13,813 --> 00:20:17,114
So, I have to say this is
kind of a serious knock
481
00:20:17,116 --> 00:20:20,618
On the idea that our mummy
in the museum is merenre.
482
00:20:20,620 --> 00:20:22,420
Those that have dismissed
this mummy
483
00:20:22,422 --> 00:20:25,256
Because of this difference
in sophistication,
484
00:20:25,358 --> 00:20:26,457
Well, they have a point,
485
00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:28,559
Which means we have
more work to do.
486
00:20:29,229 --> 00:20:30,560
Thanks, nefer.
487
00:20:31,431 --> 00:20:34,498
Our suspect in the museum
does look more sophisticate
488
00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:36,934
Than this confirmed
old kingdom mummy.
489
00:20:36,936 --> 00:20:38,603
So, things aren't looking go
490
00:20:38,605 --> 00:20:40,972
For him being
the pharaoh merenre,
491
00:20:40,974 --> 00:20:44,342
But that may change as I ge
a call from dr. Megahed.
492
00:20:46,613 --> 00:20:48,212
-[car door shutting]
-[josh] hello, hello!
How are you.
493
00:20:48,214 --> 00:20:49,313
Good morning.
494
00:20:49,315 --> 00:20:51,315
Look at you hard at work.
495
00:20:51,317 --> 00:20:54,151
[josh] dr. Megahed recently
discovered and excavated
496
00:20:54,220 --> 00:20:55,920
This old kingdom tomb.
497
00:20:55,922 --> 00:20:57,989
He believes
the mummy found inside
498
00:20:57,991 --> 00:20:59,724
May help settle our mystery
499
00:20:59,792 --> 00:21:02,026
Look at this tomb. I mean,
this looks like...
500
00:21:02,028 --> 00:21:03,127
Like something for a king.
501
00:21:03,195 --> 00:21:05,363
This is like the site
of a pyramid. Look at this.
502
00:21:05,398 --> 00:21:07,498
[dr. Megahed] josh,
you have a very good eye.
503
00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:09,000
Those stones are made
of white limestone,
504
00:21:09,002 --> 00:21:11,235
Which were only reserved
for kings and queens.
505
00:21:11,304 --> 00:21:12,903
Right. But this is not a king.
506
00:21:12,905 --> 00:21:15,039
No, no, no, no. This is
a high official.
507
00:21:15,041 --> 00:21:17,675
[josh] like the phenomenon
we observed at our dig site
508
00:21:17,677 --> 00:21:19,443
High officials
in the old kingdom
509
00:21:19,545 --> 00:21:21,112
Are becoming so powerful,
510
00:21:21,114 --> 00:21:23,447
They're acting like
pharaohs themselves
511
00:21:23,549 --> 00:21:25,249
When it comes
to their burials.
512
00:21:25,318 --> 00:21:27,451
In this case,
the owner of this tomb
513
00:21:27,553 --> 00:21:30,788
Even tried to emulate
a pyramid-like exterior
514
00:21:30,790 --> 00:21:32,723
With an entrance door
to the north
515
00:21:32,725 --> 00:21:34,325
Just like a royal tomb.
516
00:21:35,328 --> 00:21:37,061
Josh, I have good news
and bad news.
517
00:21:37,063 --> 00:21:39,463
-Good news,
we can enter the tomb.
-Yeah.
518
00:21:39,565 --> 00:21:43,034
-The bad news, I'm not sure
that the air is safe.
-Right.
519
00:21:43,135 --> 00:21:44,402
What about the snakes
and scorpions?
520
00:21:44,404 --> 00:21:45,703
Well, it depends
521
00:21:45,805 --> 00:21:47,605
If you are good or bad
as a person.
522
00:21:49,609 --> 00:21:51,909
That's what depends
on whether I get attacked?
523
00:21:51,911 --> 00:21:54,979
If you are sure you are
a good person, it's fine.
524
00:21:54,981 --> 00:21:57,348
-[dr. Megahed] are you sure?
-I don't think that's
how snake safety works.
525
00:21:57,450 --> 00:21:58,716
Are you a good person?
526
00:21:58,718 --> 00:22:00,418
-Yes.
-No snakes.
527
00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:02,353
[dr. Megahed] no scorpions.
528
00:22:02,422 --> 00:22:03,621
Oh, boy.
529
00:22:03,623 --> 00:22:04,989
-[josh] ready?
-I'm ready.
530
00:22:07,527 --> 00:22:09,260
-Oh, boy.
-Yes.
531
00:22:09,329 --> 00:22:10,428
Here we go.
532
00:22:13,132 --> 00:22:14,165
Who's going first?
533
00:22:15,201 --> 00:22:16,600
-I think me.
-Yeah.
534
00:22:16,669 --> 00:22:18,002
That's a great answer.
535
00:22:18,004 --> 00:22:19,670
It feels like
that's appropriate.
536
00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:22,540
Hope you're a good person.
537
00:22:22,641 --> 00:22:23,708
I'm a good person.
538
00:22:23,743 --> 00:22:25,443
-We'll see.
-[dr. Megahed] yeah.
539
00:22:25,511 --> 00:22:27,011
[hisses]
540
00:22:27,013 --> 00:22:28,312
All right. Here we go.
541
00:22:33,419 --> 00:22:35,720
This passage is known
as a descending corridor.
542
00:22:37,123 --> 00:22:38,356
Try and guess why.
543
00:22:38,424 --> 00:22:40,024
How deep is this?
544
00:22:41,894 --> 00:22:43,027
The lower we go,
545
00:22:43,029 --> 00:22:44,195
The thinner the air feels.
546
00:22:44,197 --> 00:22:46,530
Turns out there's
a reason for that.
547
00:22:47,367 --> 00:22:48,599
Oh, and here we are.
548
00:22:49,235 --> 00:22:50,301
Wow.
549
00:22:50,303 --> 00:22:52,770
So, we got
a little room here now.
550
00:22:52,772 --> 00:22:54,872
Yeah, it's like
a pyramid exactly.
551
00:22:54,874 --> 00:22:56,240
Through a descending corridor,
552
00:22:56,308 --> 00:22:57,708
You come to a vestibule.
553
00:22:57,777 --> 00:22:59,977
-But we have to check the air.
-Yeah.
554
00:22:59,979 --> 00:23:02,947
[josh] tombs often lack
sufficient breathable air
555
00:23:02,949 --> 00:23:05,316
And can be filled
with ancient toxins.
556
00:23:05,318 --> 00:23:08,786
A portable gas meter like th
takes precise measurements
557
00:23:08,788 --> 00:23:11,021
To let us know
if it's safe to proceed.
558
00:23:12,258 --> 00:23:13,524
[automated voice]
attention, please.
559
00:23:13,526 --> 00:23:15,059
Oxygen low concentration.
560
00:23:15,061 --> 00:23:16,727
[alarm blaring]
561
00:23:16,796 --> 00:23:18,529
[josh] that's good.
That's a good sign.
562
00:23:18,531 --> 00:23:20,331
-19.1%
-[alarm blaring]
563
00:23:21,901 --> 00:23:23,000
[josh] 19.5%.
564
00:23:23,002 --> 00:23:25,102
19.7%. So, we're gonna live.
565
00:23:25,104 --> 00:23:27,204
A little under normal, but
566
00:23:27,206 --> 00:23:28,806
-I think we'll make it.
-We can go.
567
00:23:28,808 --> 00:23:30,441
-It doesn't look
for snakes, though.
-Yeah.
568
00:23:30,510 --> 00:23:31,976
-Here we go.
-Okay.
569
00:23:31,978 --> 00:23:34,044
All right.
Nobody breathe too much.
570
00:23:37,116 --> 00:23:40,151
Oh, my god.
571
00:23:40,219 --> 00:23:41,552
[dr. Megahed] wonderful, huh?
572
00:23:41,654 --> 00:23:43,120
[josh] are you kidding me?
573
00:23:47,794 --> 00:23:48,926
Look at this.
574
00:23:49,829 --> 00:23:51,529
Are you kidding me?
575
00:23:51,531 --> 00:23:54,064
To pinpoint the identity
of a mystery mummy,
576
00:23:54,066 --> 00:23:57,435
Which could be the only
old kingdom pharaoh
ever found,
577
00:23:57,437 --> 00:24:01,539
Dr. Mohamed megahed
has brought me to a recentl
discovered tomb
578
00:24:01,607 --> 00:24:03,974
That is unlike any
I've ever seen.
579
00:24:03,976 --> 00:24:05,810
I mean, this is insane.
580
00:24:07,513 --> 00:24:09,413
Look at the details.
581
00:24:09,415 --> 00:24:12,316
Different paints,
different colors. It's...
582
00:24:12,318 --> 00:24:16,320
-...Interesting.
-This is absolutely
unbelievable.
583
00:24:16,322 --> 00:24:18,923
Would you like
to see a fingerprint
of ancient egyptian,
584
00:24:18,925 --> 00:24:21,125
Who lived 4,400 years ago?
585
00:24:21,127 --> 00:24:23,427
-Like a real fingerprint?
-A real fingerprint.
586
00:24:23,429 --> 00:24:25,229
-Where?
-Come here. Look.
587
00:24:28,768 --> 00:24:31,702
-Oh, my word.
It's an actual fingerprint.
-Yes.
588
00:24:31,771 --> 00:24:33,137
[josh] I have chills
looking at that
589
00:24:33,205 --> 00:24:35,673
Because suddenly, it's human.
590
00:24:35,675 --> 00:24:39,610
This accidental signature
reminds us that an individua
591
00:24:39,612 --> 00:24:41,245
No different than you or I,
592
00:24:41,347 --> 00:24:45,015
Stood here four millennia ag
to decorate this tomb.
593
00:24:45,017 --> 00:24:48,219
And those decorations
are extraordinary.
594
00:24:48,221 --> 00:24:49,820
Delicately painted owls,
595
00:24:50,490 --> 00:24:52,223
Finely speckled fish,
596
00:24:52,225 --> 00:24:56,460
And scenes of sacrifice
complete with splattering
blood.
597
00:24:56,562 --> 00:24:59,830
There's a real artistry here.
This is, uh, animal slaughter?
598
00:24:59,832 --> 00:25:00,831
[dr. Megahed speaking]
599
00:25:10,877 --> 00:25:11,809
[josh] wow.
600
00:25:14,347 --> 00:25:16,514
-[josh] he's pictured.
-Yes.
601
00:25:16,516 --> 00:25:18,549
This is him.
This is the owner
of the tomb.
602
00:25:18,618 --> 00:25:19,550
[josh] and do we know
his name?
603
00:25:20,953 --> 00:25:22,052
And do we have his titles?
604
00:25:25,091 --> 00:25:27,091
But he's not like the top man.
605
00:25:28,694 --> 00:25:30,327
[josh] viziers were
the underbosses
606
00:25:30,329 --> 00:25:32,263
Of the ancient
egyptian pharaohs.
607
00:25:32,331 --> 00:25:35,299
Right below the king
in the social hierarchy.
608
00:25:35,301 --> 00:25:37,301
You'd think a tomb
this luxurious
609
00:25:37,303 --> 00:25:40,204
Would be for someone
at least at that level.
610
00:25:40,206 --> 00:25:41,405
It isn't.
611
00:25:41,407 --> 00:25:43,574
So hold on a second,
but all of this...
612
00:25:43,576 --> 00:25:45,876
All of this imagery,
this decoration,
613
00:25:45,878 --> 00:25:48,312
And even him
being depicted here,
614
00:25:48,314 --> 00:25:50,247
Like at this time
in the old kingdom,
615
00:25:50,349 --> 00:25:52,449
You don't see this
underground in people's tombs.
616
00:25:52,518 --> 00:25:54,251
Never before him. Never.
617
00:25:54,353 --> 00:25:57,821
This is the first tomb
to be decorated underground.
618
00:25:57,823 --> 00:26:00,090
-Ever found in egypt.
-Ever found.
619
00:26:00,092 --> 00:26:01,091
[chuckles]
620
00:26:01,093 --> 00:26:03,127
And so, he served
under which pharaoh?
621
00:26:03,129 --> 00:26:06,430
He was working
under king djedkare.
622
00:26:06,432 --> 00:26:08,299
[josh] chui, the owner
of this tomb,
623
00:26:08,301 --> 00:26:12,536
Was a judge during the reig
of 5th dynasty pharaoh,
djedkare,
624
00:26:12,638 --> 00:26:15,506
Who ruled less than a centur
before merenre.
625
00:26:15,508 --> 00:26:18,075
And in djedkare's pyramid,
in his tomb,
626
00:26:18,077 --> 00:26:20,010
-Is it decorated like this?
-No.
627
00:26:20,613 --> 00:26:21,712
So hold on a second.
628
00:26:21,714 --> 00:26:24,782
The pharaoh's tomb
isn't decorated, but this is.
629
00:26:24,784 --> 00:26:25,916
Exactly.
630
00:26:25,918 --> 00:26:29,420
So the pharaohs are taking
their cues from officials?
631
00:26:29,422 --> 00:26:30,988
It's supposed to work
the other way around.
632
00:26:31,056 --> 00:26:34,224
Yes, we used to know
that the change comes
from the king to the people.
633
00:26:34,226 --> 00:26:37,528
So the pyramid text
that we saw in the pyramid
of merenre,
634
00:26:38,331 --> 00:26:40,130
That whole idea
635
00:26:41,133 --> 00:26:43,334
-Is starting here.
-The seed is here.
636
00:26:43,435 --> 00:26:46,136
Right and what's so crazy
about this is that
637
00:26:46,238 --> 00:26:48,038
This isn't just decoration,
638
00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,074
This is religion.
639
00:26:50,076 --> 00:26:54,011
This is your connection
to the afterlife. How you get
to the afterlife.
640
00:26:54,013 --> 00:26:56,547
Josh, it's a revolution.
641
00:26:58,084 --> 00:27:00,718
[josh] we've already seen
that toward the end
of the old kingdom,
642
00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:04,088
Wealthy bureaucrats
have been flexing
their power in their tombs
643
00:27:04,090 --> 00:27:06,023
By copying the pharaoh's.
644
00:27:06,025 --> 00:27:08,425
But this is something
else entirely.
645
00:27:08,427 --> 00:27:11,528
It now seems that
these high ranking
government officials
646
00:27:11,530 --> 00:27:16,100
Are so bold
that later pharaohs
begin copying them.
647
00:27:16,102 --> 00:27:20,204
So these officials,
they're not just getting
more power,
648
00:27:20,206 --> 00:27:24,908
They're rewriting the playbook
on how to die and transition.
649
00:27:24,910 --> 00:27:27,444
They are changing
the afterlife forever.
650
00:27:27,513 --> 00:27:32,416
After chui, every king
started to create
his underground.
651
00:27:32,418 --> 00:27:35,419
-This is a huge find.
-It's fantastic.
652
00:27:35,421 --> 00:27:37,988
And so, in terms
of our man chui here,
653
00:27:37,990 --> 00:27:40,724
-Is his burial chamber
behind this?
-Yes.
654
00:27:40,726 --> 00:27:42,426
-Let's see.
-Let's go.
655
00:27:46,832 --> 00:27:48,298
Wow. Look at this.
656
00:27:48,300 --> 00:27:52,436
And just all limestone lined,
all of it.
657
00:27:52,505 --> 00:27:54,938
So his sarcophagus
is where? Was here?
658
00:27:54,940 --> 00:27:56,607
-Was here.
-Was right here.
659
00:27:56,709 --> 00:28:00,711
Was right here
and this is remains
of the sarcophagus.
660
00:28:00,713 --> 00:28:03,714
-And this tomb
had been looted.
-It was looted. Yes.
661
00:28:03,816 --> 00:28:05,816
And what about chui himself?
662
00:28:05,918 --> 00:28:10,320
Well, remains of his human
body was found scattered here.
663
00:28:10,322 --> 00:28:12,723
-So you did find him. Right?
-Yes.
664
00:28:12,792 --> 00:28:13,623
And where are they?
665
00:28:13,625 --> 00:28:15,726
Our store room here
on the side.
666
00:28:15,828 --> 00:28:16,694
-He's still here.
-Yes.
667
00:28:16,696 --> 00:28:19,063
-Can we see him?
-Absolutely.
668
00:28:19,065 --> 00:28:20,698
-Come on.
-Let's go.
669
00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:22,299
I gotta meet this guy.
670
00:28:23,335 --> 00:28:26,403
In my continuing search
for whether the mummy
in the museum
671
00:28:26,405 --> 00:28:29,206
Could be the oid kingdom
pharaoh merenre,
672
00:28:29,208 --> 00:28:33,310
I now have a chance
to view another mummy
that's even older than his.
673
00:28:33,312 --> 00:28:35,112
We go to the nearby
store room,
674
00:28:35,114 --> 00:28:38,882
Where artifacts
from dr. Megahed's dig
are being preserved.
675
00:28:38,884 --> 00:28:40,684
[josh exclaims]
676
00:28:40,686 --> 00:28:42,219
[josh] you got the ark
of the covenant in here?
677
00:28:42,221 --> 00:28:43,554
[dr. Megahed laughs] yes.
678
00:28:43,622 --> 00:28:45,055
[josh] this is amazing.
679
00:28:45,891 --> 00:28:48,225
It's where we keep
all our materials
680
00:28:48,227 --> 00:28:51,161
To study them
and to go on with our work.
681
00:28:51,497 --> 00:28:53,630
And, chui.
682
00:28:53,732 --> 00:28:55,899
-What's left of chui.
-What's left of chui,
you are right.
683
00:28:55,901 --> 00:28:57,701
-Yeah?
-Yes. But...
684
00:28:58,504 --> 00:28:59,503
Gloves.
685
00:29:06,712 --> 00:29:07,811
Oh, wow.
686
00:29:09,115 --> 00:29:10,447
There he is.
687
00:29:10,549 --> 00:29:13,117
[dr. Megahed] this is what
we collect from his burial
tomb.
688
00:29:13,119 --> 00:29:15,519
[josh] wow, so I mean,
really quite destroyed.
689
00:29:15,521 --> 00:29:18,222
So we've got bits
of the spine here.
690
00:29:18,224 --> 00:29:19,923
-[dr. Megahed] ribs, yeah.
-Chest cavity here, ribs.
691
00:29:19,925 --> 00:29:22,226
-Spine, part of the leg.
-Is this his leg?
692
00:29:22,228 --> 00:29:24,595
So he really was scattered
around the tomb.
693
00:29:24,597 --> 00:29:26,630
[dr. Megahed]
but we collected it,
we brought it here
694
00:29:26,632 --> 00:29:29,199
And we found out
that he was mummified.
695
00:29:29,201 --> 00:29:31,101
-He was mummified.
-He was mummified.
696
00:29:32,071 --> 00:29:34,204
[josh] carbon-14 dating
has confirmed
697
00:29:34,206 --> 00:29:37,407
That chui's mummy
is one of the oldest
ever discovered.
698
00:29:37,409 --> 00:29:40,110
Older than our friend
from merenre's tomb.
699
00:29:40,112 --> 00:29:43,814
The supposed mummy
of merenre would be
100 years later than this.
700
00:29:43,816 --> 00:29:45,582
-Absolutely yes.
-Right?
701
00:29:45,584 --> 00:29:48,986
So, okay, what do we see?
We have our scans of the mummy
from the merenre pyramid.
702
00:29:51,023 --> 00:29:52,523
So the first thing we see he
703
00:29:52,525 --> 00:29:56,226
Is linen and actually
it looks like quite
a few layers of linen.
704
00:29:56,228 --> 00:29:59,963
It's more than one layer
and it's very fine linen.
705
00:29:59,965 --> 00:30:03,100
[josh] mmm-hmm.
Similarly wrapped
as the mummy in merenre.
706
00:30:03,102 --> 00:30:04,334
[dr. Megahed]
yes, yes, similar.
707
00:30:04,436 --> 00:30:07,771
-Another big similarity
is the use of resin.
-Resin.
708
00:30:07,773 --> 00:30:10,307
This resin on the mummy
from merenre's pyramid,
709
00:30:10,309 --> 00:30:12,209
This is one of the big point
of contention, right?
710
00:30:12,211 --> 00:30:14,545
-[dr. Megahed] yes.
-Because the idea was
we shouldn't be seeing
711
00:30:14,613 --> 00:30:15,879
This resin in the old kingdo
712
00:30:15,881 --> 00:30:17,548
They weren't using it
back then.
713
00:30:17,616 --> 00:30:19,349
-We see it
a thousand years later.
-Right.
714
00:30:19,418 --> 00:30:21,451
-But it's here.
-It's here.
715
00:30:21,553 --> 00:30:23,420
[josh] so this dark material.
716
00:30:23,422 --> 00:30:26,023
-This dark material
everywhere, it's resin.
-Yes.
717
00:30:26,025 --> 00:30:29,993
[josh] all in here,
like we see on our scan.
718
00:30:29,995 --> 00:30:32,729
So that's kind of
a smoking gun in of itself.
719
00:30:32,798 --> 00:30:36,300
Ancient egyptians
knew the technique
of mummifications,
720
00:30:36,302 --> 00:30:39,336
At least a thousand years
earlier than what we thought.
721
00:30:39,438 --> 00:30:42,606
[josh] detractors
of the mummy
in merenre's pyramid
722
00:30:42,608 --> 00:30:47,344
Argue that the mummificatio
techniques were far too mode
to be from the old kingdom.
723
00:30:47,446 --> 00:30:51,114
But I'm looking
at an old kingdom mummy
that says otherwise.
724
00:30:51,116 --> 00:30:52,816
Dramatically so.
725
00:30:52,818 --> 00:30:56,920
So let's bring this back
around to the mystery
mummy of merenre.
726
00:30:56,922 --> 00:31:01,625
Doesn't this put a lot of heat
on the fire that in fact
it is merenre?
727
00:31:01,727 --> 00:31:05,796
Josh, I'm confident
that this scan belongs
to king merenre.
728
00:31:05,798 --> 00:31:09,132
[josh] that would mean
that this is the only
complete pharaoh
729
00:31:09,201 --> 00:31:10,534
That we have
from the old kingdom.
730
00:31:10,636 --> 00:31:12,002
Yes.
731
00:31:12,004 --> 00:31:16,707
It also means
that this mummy we scanned
is unbelievably historic.
732
00:31:16,709 --> 00:31:19,142
We are rewriting history.
733
00:31:19,211 --> 00:31:22,813
[josh] dr. Megahed is
convinced that the mummy
in the imhotep museum
734
00:31:22,881 --> 00:31:24,615
Belongs to merenre.
735
00:31:24,683 --> 00:31:28,118
It seems all but certain no
that we met
an egyptian pharaoh
736
00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:30,520
More than 4,000 years old.
737
00:31:30,522 --> 00:31:34,124
A king who led egypt
during the age of pyramids.
738
00:31:34,126 --> 00:31:38,929
Josh, I think you met
the oldest royal mummy
ever found in egypt.
739
00:31:38,931 --> 00:31:40,631
-You met the king.
-I met the king.
740
00:31:40,699 --> 00:31:41,798
This is awesome.
741
00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:44,034
All right, should we let
chui rest here?
742
00:31:44,036 --> 00:31:47,037
I think we should
let him in peace.
As he always wanted.
743
00:31:47,039 --> 00:31:48,338
That's right. All right.
744
00:31:48,440 --> 00:31:50,507
Thank you, chui.
Nice to meet you.
745
00:31:51,777 --> 00:31:54,811
The case of the mystery
mummy seems all but solved.
746
00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,414
It was the recently discover
tomb of chui
747
00:31:57,416 --> 00:31:59,783
That gave us the final
puzzle piece.
748
00:31:59,785 --> 00:32:02,819
It also showed us
that high ranking officials
like him
749
00:32:02,821 --> 00:32:06,990
Were becoming incredibly bol
in the decoration
of their tombs.
750
00:32:08,294 --> 00:32:09,927
As the old kingdom expanded,
751
00:32:09,929 --> 00:32:11,628
And as the population grew,
752
00:32:11,664 --> 00:32:14,097
So did the power
of these high officials.
753
00:32:14,099 --> 00:32:18,669
But it turns out
there may be other reasons
why the old kingdom collapsed.
754
00:32:18,671 --> 00:32:23,140
To see just how
the old kingdom descended
into a century of discord,
755
00:32:23,241 --> 00:32:26,610
I'm headed south
to another of egypt's
great cities.
756
00:32:28,247 --> 00:32:31,949
I travel 400 miles south
to the city on the banks
of the nile
757
00:32:31,951 --> 00:32:34,117
That's synonymous
with ancient egypt.
758
00:32:44,463 --> 00:32:46,530
All of this was once part
of thebes,
759
00:32:46,532 --> 00:32:50,600
One of the most powerful
and richest cities
in ancient egypt.
760
00:32:50,602 --> 00:32:54,504
On the west bank of the nile,
the world of the dead
and the valley of the kings.
761
00:32:54,506 --> 00:32:57,808
Final resting place
for some of egypt's
greatest pharaohs.
762
00:32:57,810 --> 00:33:00,811
And here on the east bank,
the world of the living
763
00:33:00,813 --> 00:33:04,614
And massive temples
like luxor and karnak.
764
00:33:04,683 --> 00:33:06,350
Back at the end
of the old kingdom,
765
00:33:06,418 --> 00:33:08,018
This was a trade out post
766
00:33:08,020 --> 00:33:11,822
Ruled for a time
by a regional governor
named ankhtifi.
767
00:33:11,890 --> 00:33:14,524
I head south of the ruins
to see his tomb
768
00:33:14,526 --> 00:33:18,028
And to meet with egyptologis
dr. Ines torres.
769
00:33:18,030 --> 00:33:20,464
-This is the tomb of ankhtifi.
-Yes, it is.
770
00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:25,302
Ankhtifi lived in the perio
right after the old kingdom
771
00:33:25,304 --> 00:33:27,904
And by that time,
we see that these
regional rulers
772
00:33:27,906 --> 00:33:30,007
Become more and more powerful.
773
00:33:30,009 --> 00:33:33,710
-Right, so this is the first
intermediate period?
-Exactly.
774
00:33:33,779 --> 00:33:36,313
Historically, this has been
thought of as a time of
775
00:33:36,315 --> 00:33:39,149
Some chaos and strife
and change.
776
00:33:39,218 --> 00:33:41,718
There is a major shift
in the centers of power.
777
00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:44,821
And there are some
really interesting examples
of this in this tomb.
778
00:33:44,923 --> 00:33:46,556
-If you would like
to have a look.
-Yeah.
779
00:33:53,532 --> 00:33:54,598
[dr. Torres] so, josh.
780
00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,968
-Whoa.
-Welcome to the tomb
of ankhtifi.
781
00:33:57,970 --> 00:34:00,237
[josh] this is awesome.
Look at this place.
782
00:34:00,305 --> 00:34:01,571
[dr. Torres] isn't it amazing?
783
00:34:01,573 --> 00:34:03,974
First of all, I can't believe
this is not a royal tomb.
784
00:34:03,976 --> 00:34:05,208
I know, it's massive.
785
00:34:05,210 --> 00:34:07,544
Right? This is bigger
than where I live.
786
00:34:07,612 --> 00:34:09,780
And let's talk about
all of this beautiful imagery.
787
00:34:09,782 --> 00:34:12,249
-Is this our guy?
-That's him. That's our guy.
788
00:34:12,317 --> 00:34:13,716
-Ankhtifi.
-Wow.
789
00:34:13,718 --> 00:34:16,820
And what about all these
inscriptions we see
on the columns?
790
00:34:16,889 --> 00:34:20,824
[dr. Torres] so ankhtifi
inscribed his so-called
autobiography
791
00:34:20,893 --> 00:34:22,826
In every single
one of these columns.
792
00:34:22,861 --> 00:34:27,564
And if you want to learn
more about him,
we can let him tell us.
793
00:34:27,632 --> 00:34:30,400
[josh] the walls of this tom
are filled with clues
794
00:34:30,402 --> 00:34:33,236
And ankhtifi himself
may be able to tell us
795
00:34:33,305 --> 00:34:35,205
Why the old kingdom
fell apart.
796
00:34:35,207 --> 00:34:37,707
-I love this. Okay,
what does he have to say?
-Go and have a look.
797
00:34:44,550 --> 00:34:45,715
[dr. Torres] let's start here
798
00:34:45,817 --> 00:34:48,452
Because in here, he lists
all of his titles.
799
00:34:48,520 --> 00:34:49,352
This is his resume?
800
00:34:49,421 --> 00:34:51,221
-Yes, absolutely.
-Okay.
801
00:34:51,223 --> 00:34:55,525
At a tomb near luxor
dated from egypt's chaotic
first intermediate period,
802
00:34:55,527 --> 00:35:00,363
Dr. Ines torres is helping m
understand how the ancient
old kingdom
803
00:35:00,465 --> 00:35:02,265
Descended into a dark age.
804
00:35:02,334 --> 00:35:03,432
Okay, who is he?
805
00:35:03,502 --> 00:35:05,836
-So he tells us that he is
a dignitary.
-Sure.
806
00:35:05,838 --> 00:35:07,938
-Um, a governor.
-Okay.
807
00:35:07,940 --> 00:35:10,440
-Uh, royal seal bearer.
-That's important.
808
00:35:10,442 --> 00:35:14,311
[dr. Torres]
and he also tells us
he is the regional ruler.
809
00:35:14,313 --> 00:35:15,712
And a bit of a bragger.
810
00:35:15,814 --> 00:35:18,181
He is, in fact,
next to his titles,
811
00:35:18,183 --> 00:35:22,819
He tells us that he is
the beginning of men
and the end of men.
812
00:35:22,921 --> 00:35:27,224
And that no one like him
was ever born, nor will he be.
813
00:35:27,226 --> 00:35:29,326
-I say that, though,
sometimes.
-[dr. Torres laughs]
814
00:35:29,328 --> 00:35:31,628
That's on
my business card, actually.
815
00:35:31,630 --> 00:35:33,497
Is that inappropriate
to have that on there?
816
00:35:33,499 --> 00:35:36,700
It's incredible to think
that we go from this,
817
00:35:36,702 --> 00:35:40,770
Like, iron grip on power
that the pharaohs seem
to have in the old kingdom,
818
00:35:40,772 --> 00:35:44,808
To people building
these, like, lavish tombs
for themselves.
819
00:35:44,910 --> 00:35:46,710
It's a huge shift.
820
00:35:46,712 --> 00:35:48,277
[dr. Torres] absolutely.
821
00:35:48,279 --> 00:35:50,714
[josh] but the decline
in the pharaoh's absolute
authority
822
00:35:50,716 --> 00:35:52,649
Is only part of the story.
823
00:35:52,684 --> 00:35:57,888
The walls of ankhtifi's tom
reveal another reason
the old kingdom fell apart.
824
00:35:57,890 --> 00:36:00,223
So when we get to this column,
825
00:36:00,225 --> 00:36:05,795
Uh, we see ankhtifi telling us
a little bit about possible
historical events.
826
00:36:05,797 --> 00:36:07,397
He's highlighting a period
of crisis.
827
00:36:07,399 --> 00:36:10,967
He tells us that the entirety
of upper egypt
828
00:36:10,969 --> 00:36:12,936
Was dying of hunger.
829
00:36:13,605 --> 00:36:15,205
And every man was
830
00:36:15,207 --> 00:36:17,007
Eating his child.
831
00:36:17,009 --> 00:36:20,510
And probably
saying that metaphorically,
like, they have no food.
832
00:36:20,512 --> 00:36:22,212
Absolutely.
833
00:36:22,214 --> 00:36:23,980
[josh] references
to this famine appear
834
00:36:23,982 --> 00:36:26,316
In multiple tombs
from this period.
835
00:36:26,318 --> 00:36:29,519
In addition,
scientists have conducted
sediment test,
836
00:36:29,521 --> 00:36:32,189
Showing that around
2,200 b.C.E.
837
00:36:32,191 --> 00:36:34,891
At the time of the collapse
of the old kingdom,
838
00:36:34,893 --> 00:36:37,928
Certain lands around
the nile were bone dry.
839
00:36:37,930 --> 00:36:40,463
The start of
a decades long drought.
840
00:36:40,532 --> 00:36:42,766
Add to that governors,
like ankhtifi,
841
00:36:42,768 --> 00:36:46,603
With growing power
and a need to feed people
in their own region.
842
00:36:46,605 --> 00:36:48,638
And things get dangerous.
843
00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:51,174
So this kinda feels like
a powder keg.
844
00:36:51,176 --> 00:36:56,012
Because now you've got power
in the hands of lots
of different people,
845
00:36:56,014 --> 00:36:57,714
You've got a scarcity of foo
846
00:36:57,816 --> 00:36:59,049
You've got a drought,
847
00:36:59,051 --> 00:37:03,019
And these regional rulers
are controlling resources.
848
00:37:03,021 --> 00:37:04,287
[dr. Torres] yes, absolutely
849
00:37:04,355 --> 00:37:08,258
Those are typically,
historical the conditions
for war.
850
00:37:08,326 --> 00:37:12,262
Yes. And in fact, elsewhere,
in this tomb ankhtifi tells us
851
00:37:12,330 --> 00:37:17,167
How he's been at war
against enemy coalitions
of different regions.
852
00:37:17,169 --> 00:37:21,271
And it shows that there was
fights for power within egypt.
853
00:37:21,273 --> 00:37:23,340
Among these regional leaders.
854
00:37:23,809 --> 00:37:25,442
Right.
855
00:37:25,543 --> 00:37:27,611
The tombs we've explored
in saqqara
856
00:37:27,712 --> 00:37:31,214
Those belong to yaret,
wahtye, and henu
857
00:37:31,216 --> 00:37:33,817
Show the road
to ankhtifi's time.
858
00:37:33,819 --> 00:37:37,487
A time when the pharaoh
is no longer in control
of his kingdom.
859
00:37:37,489 --> 00:37:43,260
And a kingdom in dire need
of food, water, and securit
for its people.
860
00:37:43,328 --> 00:37:47,530
To see how those puzzle piec
fit into the tombs we're
continuing to explore,
861
00:37:47,532 --> 00:37:49,699
I head from luxor
back to saqqara,
862
00:37:49,701 --> 00:37:51,868
For one last trip
to our dig site.
863
00:37:51,870 --> 00:37:55,905
To excavate the final layer
of this mystery.
864
00:37:55,907 --> 00:38:00,510
I descend down into
the impressively painted tom
that belonged to henu.
865
00:38:00,512 --> 00:38:03,246
A mayor in the time
of the pharaoh, merenre.
866
00:38:03,348 --> 00:38:06,016
The excavations
have progressed
further down.
867
00:38:06,018 --> 00:38:08,785
So that the finer
archaeological work
can continue.
868
00:38:08,787 --> 00:38:09,452
Okay.
869
00:38:10,222 --> 00:38:11,054
I'm alive!
870
00:38:11,690 --> 00:38:13,023
I'm alive.
871
00:38:13,025 --> 00:38:15,325
Okay, so,
some real progress here.
872
00:38:15,327 --> 00:38:17,427
This is not what I expected
to see here.
873
00:38:17,429 --> 00:38:20,530
Blocking half the tomb here
we have this mud brick wall.
874
00:38:20,532 --> 00:38:22,532
And have any of
the tombs here had this?
875
00:38:22,601 --> 00:38:24,701
Not in these sites,
a very rare feature here.
876
00:38:24,803 --> 00:38:26,603
It is not common to find
something like this.
877
00:38:26,705 --> 00:38:30,407
Is this feature part
of the original tomb
do we think? Or is it later?
878
00:38:30,409 --> 00:38:32,809
I think it's later.
But not much later.
879
00:38:32,811 --> 00:38:34,110
So still in antiquity?
880
00:38:34,179 --> 00:38:36,713
-Someone added this
shortly after the tomb?
-Yes.
881
00:38:36,715 --> 00:38:40,016
-So does that mean this tomb
has been reused?
-Maybe.
882
00:38:40,018 --> 00:38:43,820
All right,
the mystery continues.
More digging.
883
00:38:43,822 --> 00:38:47,023
For this kind of excavation
in tight dusty spaces
884
00:38:47,025 --> 00:38:50,126
We need to use
respirator masks
to protect our lungs.
885
00:38:51,196 --> 00:38:53,430
So this kinda the tedious part
of the process.
886
00:38:53,432 --> 00:38:58,034
We're literally gonna
scrap sand from the back
of the vault toward the front,
887
00:38:58,036 --> 00:39:00,003
And just take it down, like,
an inch at a time.
888
00:39:01,940 --> 00:39:04,507
[dr. El-saidy] oh, josh.
889
00:39:04,509 --> 00:39:05,709
-[josh] got something?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
890
00:39:07,946 --> 00:39:09,045
[josh] hold on,
he's got something here.
891
00:39:11,717 --> 00:39:12,916
-Something painted?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
892
00:39:15,620 --> 00:39:17,187
-It's an offering.
-[josh] an offering?
893
00:39:17,189 --> 00:39:19,022
-[dr. El-saidy]
yes, it's a goose.
-[josh] it's a goose?
894
00:39:19,024 --> 00:39:21,991
Yes, look at the wing.
And this is the neck.
895
00:39:21,993 --> 00:39:22,959
Kind of offering.
896
00:39:22,961 --> 00:39:24,160
It's a kind of offering.
897
00:39:24,228 --> 00:39:27,731
So this would have been a
small carved limestone statue?
898
00:39:27,799 --> 00:39:29,999
-Carved into the shape
of a goose.
-Yes.
899
00:39:30,001 --> 00:39:31,534
-And left as an offering.
-Yes.
900
00:39:31,603 --> 00:39:32,969
Wow!
901
00:39:34,172 --> 00:39:37,173
And you can imagine
them trying to imitate
the yellow color
902
00:39:37,175 --> 00:39:39,442
-With the skin of the goose.
-Right.
903
00:39:39,544 --> 00:39:43,413
And so this is the neck,
and the head of the goose,
bend backwards.
904
00:39:43,415 --> 00:39:45,615
-This offering bring for henu.
-[josh] right.
905
00:39:45,617 --> 00:39:49,552
-So this is matching
with the original tomb.
-Right.
906
00:39:49,621 --> 00:39:51,221
Okay, let's start again.
907
00:39:53,725 --> 00:39:57,327
Remember when you were a kid
and you use to play
in the sand at the beach?
908
00:39:57,329 --> 00:39:58,628
It's just like that.
909
00:39:58,697 --> 00:40:00,697
Except there might be
a human...
910
00:40:01,433 --> 00:40:02,665
...Corpse under here.
911
00:40:05,370 --> 00:40:06,403
It's a lot of sand.
912
00:40:09,775 --> 00:40:12,208
I can almost sit up,
which is an improvement.
913
00:40:12,210 --> 00:40:15,111
And then I find something
that makes me sit up.
914
00:40:15,113 --> 00:40:17,781
Here, here, here, here.
Is that wood or a bone?
915
00:40:20,519 --> 00:40:22,619
-Bone.
-[josh] piece of bone.
916
00:40:22,687 --> 00:40:23,920
-Piece of bone, yes.
-[josh] long bone, yeah?
917
00:40:23,922 --> 00:40:25,021
[dr. El-saidy]
long bone, yeah.
918
00:40:25,023 --> 00:40:27,090
[josh] okay.
Human remains here.
919
00:40:29,127 --> 00:40:31,428
Looks like we've got
another long bone here.
920
00:40:31,430 --> 00:40:32,562
[dr. El-saidy]
another long bone.
921
00:40:32,664 --> 00:40:35,565
[josh] so we've got a burial
up against this wall here.
922
00:40:35,633 --> 00:40:36,599
[dr. El-saidy] this is a foot.
923
00:40:37,302 --> 00:40:38,701
[josh] that a foot?
924
00:40:38,803 --> 00:40:41,104
Got part of
the foot here looks like.
925
00:40:41,206 --> 00:40:43,006
-Both feet!
-[dr. El-saidy] both feet.
926
00:40:43,008 --> 00:40:45,608
[josh] oh, my word.
Oh, man. Look at this.
927
00:40:45,644 --> 00:40:50,079
So we've got a body
that's laid out this way
along the edge of the tomb.
928
00:40:50,081 --> 00:40:53,983
-So this is definitely
an intrusive burial, yeah?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
929
00:40:53,985 --> 00:40:58,087
[josh] intrusive burials
were a common practice
in ancient egypt.
930
00:40:58,089 --> 00:41:00,056
People would break into tomb
931
00:41:00,058 --> 00:41:01,791
Discard the original residen
932
00:41:01,793 --> 00:41:04,527
And reuse the space
for their loved ones.
933
00:41:04,529 --> 00:41:07,497
By surrounding them
with offerings and spells,
934
00:41:07,499 --> 00:41:09,265
Even from someone else's tom
935
00:41:09,334 --> 00:41:13,703
The belief was that this
might have ensured a journe
to the afterlife.
936
00:41:13,705 --> 00:41:17,207
We've got somebody
who was laid here,
in the tomb, after the owner.
937
00:41:17,209 --> 00:41:20,043
-And no sign
of a coffin, yeah?
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
938
00:41:20,045 --> 00:41:22,879
[josh] this skeleton
looks like it's going
kinda down angle.
939
00:41:22,881 --> 00:41:28,017
So it may be
that the rest of him
is laid out right under here.
940
00:41:28,019 --> 00:41:30,820
We can see traces of linen
on the leg bone.
941
00:41:30,889 --> 00:41:32,889
So this is a mummy.
942
00:41:32,891 --> 00:41:36,526
Obviously in a really,
really bad state
of preservation.
943
00:41:36,528 --> 00:41:38,695
He was mummified
and placed here.
944
00:41:38,697 --> 00:41:41,631
But definitely after
the owner of our tomb.
945
00:41:43,301 --> 00:41:44,601
[josh] uh-huh.
946
00:41:46,037 --> 00:41:48,404
Got a whole body here,
except for a head.
947
00:41:48,406 --> 00:41:49,439
Where's his head?
948
00:41:51,142 --> 00:41:52,208
Oh, hold on.
949
00:41:53,812 --> 00:41:56,446
Oh, yes!
We got a skull right here!
950
00:42:00,986 --> 00:42:03,820
[josh] it may seen obvious,
but it's also easy to forget
951
00:42:03,889 --> 00:42:06,890
If you can see me,
it means I'm not alone.
952
00:42:06,892 --> 00:42:08,791
Mac, you coming to work today
or what?
953
00:42:08,793 --> 00:42:11,628
My crew is with me
every step of the way.
954
00:42:11,729 --> 00:42:14,931
Even when that step
is a long way down.
955
00:42:14,933 --> 00:42:18,601
-All right, guys. Prefect.
-[josh] welcome to the office.
956
00:42:18,670 --> 00:42:21,504
But there are times
when I have to toughen
these guys up.
957
00:42:21,506 --> 00:42:23,439
Mac, this guy's working,
you're not working.
958
00:42:24,209 --> 00:42:25,642
Okay, this is not work.
959
00:42:25,644 --> 00:42:28,278
-[mac] this is easy.
-This is easy,
what's happening.
960
00:42:28,280 --> 00:42:30,213
So I engineer a little trade
961
00:42:30,215 --> 00:42:32,215
Here we go,
this is more like it.
962
00:42:35,053 --> 00:42:37,720
That's right, mac.
Not so easy now, is it?
963
00:42:39,357 --> 00:42:40,723
That's good, that's good.
964
00:42:40,725 --> 00:42:43,927
Okay. I'm done. Let's switch.
965
00:42:43,929 --> 00:42:46,930
-Can I have my camera back?
-That's good, mac.
You lasted 10 seconds.
966
00:42:50,402 --> 00:42:51,701
[josh] look at this!
967
00:42:51,770 --> 00:42:52,769
-Teeth.
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
968
00:42:52,771 --> 00:42:54,370
-[josh] in the mouth.
-Mouth.
969
00:42:54,372 --> 00:42:56,105
[josh] we have a skull.
970
00:42:56,107 --> 00:43:00,209
In the burial shaft
of a 6th dynasty
egyptian noble named, henu,
971
00:43:00,311 --> 00:43:02,712
We've discovered
an uninvited guest.
972
00:43:02,814 --> 00:43:06,883
An intrusive burial
laid to rest after
the tombs owner.
973
00:43:06,885 --> 00:43:09,619
Top of the skull here,
coming into view.
974
00:43:09,621 --> 00:43:12,455
Look at his mouth.
Look at the preservation.
975
00:43:12,523 --> 00:43:14,023
Nose is coming into view here.
976
00:43:15,126 --> 00:43:17,527
This body shows
the mummification technique
977
00:43:17,529 --> 00:43:19,429
That were the norm
for the old kingdom.
978
00:43:20,799 --> 00:43:22,565
This really is
an old kingdom
mummy here.
979
00:43:22,601 --> 00:43:24,601
We have a
life-like appearance.
980
00:43:24,702 --> 00:43:26,302
But it's almost molded on.
981
00:43:26,371 --> 00:43:29,005
You can see
the way his lips are.
982
00:43:29,007 --> 00:43:30,940
The way his nose is preserved.
983
00:43:30,942 --> 00:43:32,775
We don't see any
of those resins,
984
00:43:32,777 --> 00:43:34,811
Any of those advanced
techniques we would see later.
985
00:43:34,879 --> 00:43:38,014
So very much like the mummy
of nefer that we saw.
986
00:43:40,719 --> 00:43:42,051
There's something just...
987
00:43:43,321 --> 00:43:46,055
...Overwhelming about
digging down through
this sand.
988
00:43:46,057 --> 00:43:49,425
And just coming,
literally coming
face-to-face with...
989
00:43:50,228 --> 00:43:51,294
...With a person.
990
00:43:51,296 --> 00:43:54,030
It's meeting someone
from the past.
991
00:43:56,301 --> 00:43:57,700
So we'll dig this out
a bit more,
992
00:43:57,702 --> 00:44:00,603
-And then photograph it,
yeah?
-Yes.
993
00:44:00,605 --> 00:44:03,306
The remains are quickly
and carefully removed.
994
00:44:03,408 --> 00:44:07,043
So we can continue
digging down toward
henu's burial layer.
995
00:44:18,490 --> 00:44:19,188
[josh] oh!
996
00:44:19,824 --> 00:44:20,456
Hold on.
997
00:44:21,326 --> 00:44:22,291
Got some wood here.
998
00:44:23,428 --> 00:44:24,961
Could this be from the coffin?
999
00:44:24,963 --> 00:44:26,729
From the original coffin
of henu.
1000
00:44:26,798 --> 00:44:28,064
-You think so?
-Yes.
1001
00:44:29,401 --> 00:44:32,068
[dr. El-saidy] we are now
in the layer down the burial.
1002
00:44:32,070 --> 00:44:33,803
Right, so we're at
the burial layer now.
1003
00:44:33,805 --> 00:44:37,607
-So his burial
is definitely disturbed then.
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
1004
00:44:37,609 --> 00:44:41,444
You see that man
who came after henu,
he's poor man.
1005
00:44:41,513 --> 00:44:44,881
He's just... They put his body
above the sand.
1006
00:44:44,883 --> 00:44:47,917
-Right.
-So if we have
a wooden coffin,
1007
00:44:47,919 --> 00:44:50,053
We must find something
around his mummy.
1008
00:44:50,055 --> 00:44:51,220
-Right.
-We have nothing.
1009
00:44:51,222 --> 00:44:53,890
So the mummy
we found earlier,
the later mummy,
1010
00:44:53,892 --> 00:44:56,926
He came in here, and what?
Destroyed this coffin?
1011
00:44:56,928 --> 00:44:58,026
[dr. El-saidy] yes.
1012
00:44:58,096 --> 00:45:00,830
We think of these tombs
as such sacred places.
1013
00:45:00,932 --> 00:45:05,802
As the ancient egyptians,
clearly, had such respect
for the afterlife,
1014
00:45:05,804 --> 00:45:07,370
For their religion,
for their gods.
1015
00:45:07,372 --> 00:45:09,539
Yet they were willing
to come in,
1016
00:45:09,640 --> 00:45:12,175
And desecrate
a tomb like this,
for themselves.
1017
00:45:13,778 --> 00:45:16,679
This is the end of
the old kingdom in a nutshel
1018
00:45:16,681 --> 00:45:20,516
Traditions throw aside
as chaos reigns.
1019
00:45:20,518 --> 00:45:23,720
-But you can imagine
if this man was desperate.
-Right.
1020
00:45:23,788 --> 00:45:27,123
Well he's desperate,
he comes here,
destroys the original burial,
1021
00:45:27,125 --> 00:45:29,192
-To make an afterlife
for himself.
-Yes.
1022
00:45:30,061 --> 00:45:31,561
The great henu.
1023
00:45:31,629 --> 00:45:33,830
He was the mayor.
He was the soul-friend
of the king.
1024
00:45:33,931 --> 00:45:36,032
He was this powerful guy
in the palace.
1025
00:45:36,701 --> 00:45:38,467
And it all comes to this.
1026
00:45:41,372 --> 00:45:45,541
We step out as the very las
layers of sand are swept ou
of the tomb.
1027
00:45:45,643 --> 00:45:49,979
This is likely
as clean as it was on the da
henu first occupied it.
1028
00:45:51,416 --> 00:45:53,316
All done. Nice work.
1029
00:45:53,417 --> 00:45:54,817
Thank you.
1030
00:45:54,819 --> 00:45:56,719
-All right look at this place.
It's beautiful.
-[both dr's] yes.
1031
00:45:56,721 --> 00:46:01,224
[josh] a tomb fit for,
not a king, a mayor.
1032
00:46:01,292 --> 00:46:04,327
-And for someone else
who came after.
-[both dr's] yes.
1033
00:46:04,329 --> 00:46:06,529
All right, come on.
Let's walk out. Here we go.
1034
00:46:10,001 --> 00:46:11,934
Look how far we've come.
1035
00:46:11,936 --> 00:46:13,970
This is, maybe, 25 feet deep.
1036
00:46:13,972 --> 00:46:16,172
And in the beginning
it was just sand
all the way to the top.
1037
00:46:16,174 --> 00:46:19,175
So how much sand do you figure
we moved out of here?
1038
00:46:19,177 --> 00:46:21,210
2,000 cubic feet of sand.
1039
00:46:21,279 --> 00:46:25,014
You can imagine
its weight 200,000 pounds.
1040
00:46:25,016 --> 00:46:27,617
We moved 200,000 pounds
of sand.
1041
00:46:27,718 --> 00:46:30,620
And look at that,
at the bottom of all this,
1042
00:46:30,688 --> 00:46:32,822
-There are
incredible things to find.
-[dr. El-saidy] yes.
1043
00:46:32,924 --> 00:46:34,690
All right, can we get out
of this shaft now?
1044
00:46:34,692 --> 00:46:37,293
Yes. Just say for them rayya
1045
00:46:37,595 --> 00:46:38,661
Rayyah!
1046
00:46:40,331 --> 00:46:42,598
The mystery and allure
of ancient egypt
1047
00:46:42,600 --> 00:46:46,969
Has kept archaeologists
digging through its sand
for centuries.
1048
00:46:46,971 --> 00:46:51,007
Well in my brief time here,
I've helped move
my share of that sand.
1049
00:46:51,009 --> 00:46:53,709
And I can tell you
that the necropolis at saqqa
1050
00:46:53,745 --> 00:46:57,413
Is worth all of that effort
and more.
1051
00:46:57,415 --> 00:47:02,618
I've never been at a dig sit
where so much history felt
so immediate and urgent,
1052
00:47:02,687 --> 00:47:04,387
Asking to be unearthed.
1053
00:47:04,389 --> 00:47:06,322
Got a burial up against
this wall here.
1054
00:47:07,725 --> 00:47:10,726
The discoveries here show
that powerful officials
1055
00:47:10,828 --> 00:47:13,830
Undermined the absolute
authority of the pharaoh.
1056
00:47:13,898 --> 00:47:18,534
That combined with famine,
drought, and rising
regional governments
1057
00:47:18,603 --> 00:47:22,505
All conspired to bring
the old kingdom to its knees
1058
00:47:22,507 --> 00:47:26,776
At the same time,
we may well have put a face
on one of its rulers.
1059
00:47:26,778 --> 00:47:30,913
Scanning and identifying
the only old kingdom
pharaoh ever found.
1060
00:47:31,916 --> 00:47:34,617
I know the discoveries
will only continue.
1061
00:47:34,719 --> 00:47:38,821
As intrepid archaeologists
across saqqara, and beyond,
1062
00:47:38,890 --> 00:47:43,059
Along with
their tireless teams,
continue to dig.
1063
00:47:43,061 --> 00:47:47,697
After all, the sands of egyp
have many more
stories to tell.
1064
00:47:47,699 --> 00:47:50,199
And many more mysteries
to reveal.
1065
00:47:50,201 --> 00:47:51,400
Listen carefully.
1066
00:47:51,402 --> 00:47:54,871
Because the past calls out
from just below our feet.
1067
00:47:54,873 --> 00:47:57,206
Waiting patiently to be hear