1 00:00:01,502 --> 00:00:04,536 [josh gates] tonight my exclusive access 2 00:00:04,638 --> 00:00:07,106 To an ancient egyptian necropolis continues. 3 00:00:07,108 --> 00:00:09,708 Do you know that you are the only foreigner 4 00:00:09,710 --> 00:00:11,844 To come here to my site? 5 00:00:11,912 --> 00:00:13,946 [josh] beneath the sands of saqqara, 6 00:00:13,948 --> 00:00:15,114 I'm on the hunt to unravel 7 00:00:15,116 --> 00:00:17,816 The secrets of egypt's old kingdom. 8 00:00:17,818 --> 00:00:19,318 Everywhere you dig here, 9 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,053 You have no idea what you're gonna find. 10 00:00:21,122 --> 00:00:22,321 -Mohammed! -Yes? 11 00:00:22,323 --> 00:00:23,522 Hold on. I got something. 12 00:00:23,524 --> 00:00:24,757 I think it's a face. 13 00:00:24,825 --> 00:00:26,725 Can cutting-edge technology 14 00:00:26,727 --> 00:00:30,062 Help solve a 4,000-year-old mystery? 15 00:00:30,164 --> 00:00:33,399 This mummy we scanned is unbelievably historic. 16 00:00:33,401 --> 00:00:35,501 As we put together the clue 17 00:00:35,503 --> 00:00:38,804 Of how one of the greatest civilization of the ancient world 18 00:00:38,806 --> 00:00:40,171 Fell into chaos... 19 00:00:40,173 --> 00:00:43,809 [woman] the entirety of upper egypt was dying of hunger. 20 00:00:43,811 --> 00:00:47,713 ...There's no telling what secrets these tombs hol 21 00:00:47,715 --> 00:00:51,350 This is the first tomb to be decorated underground. 22 00:00:51,419 --> 00:00:53,952 -Ever found in egypt? -Ever found. 23 00:00:54,054 --> 00:00:56,622 It's expedition unknown right now. 24 00:00:56,624 --> 00:00:58,223 [dr. Waziri] look at those beautiful colors, josh! 25 00:00:58,225 --> 00:00:59,525 [josh] amazing. Look at it! 26 00:01:00,694 --> 00:01:02,561 -[josh] are those bones? -[dr. El-saidy] yes. 27 00:01:02,630 --> 00:01:05,230 Oh, yes. We got a skull right here! 28 00:01:07,301 --> 00:01:08,934 My name is josh gates. 29 00:01:08,936 --> 00:01:10,502 Hello! 30 00:01:10,504 --> 00:01:13,205 Explorer, adventurer... 31 00:01:13,207 --> 00:01:14,139 Amazing. 32 00:01:14,208 --> 00:01:15,740 Help! 33 00:01:15,742 --> 00:01:18,110 ...And a guy who ends up in some very strange situations. 34 00:01:18,112 --> 00:01:20,412 Oh, [bleep]! Phew, that was exciting. 35 00:01:20,414 --> 00:01:22,247 With a degree in archaeolog 36 00:01:22,349 --> 00:01:23,849 And a passion for the unexplained... 37 00:01:23,917 --> 00:01:25,150 Ya-haw! 38 00:01:25,152 --> 00:01:27,419 ...I travel to the ends of the earth investigating 39 00:01:27,421 --> 00:01:29,688 The greatest legends in history. 40 00:01:29,690 --> 00:01:31,056 Okay, let's punch it. 41 00:01:31,058 --> 00:01:33,625 This is expedition unkn 42 00:01:37,298 --> 00:01:40,933 Egypt's old kingdom. The age of pyramids. 43 00:01:41,034 --> 00:01:45,804 Stretching from about 2,7000 bce to 2,200 bce, 44 00:01:45,806 --> 00:01:47,706 It was a flourishing cultur 45 00:01:47,708 --> 00:01:50,509 Where dynasties of all-powerful pharaohs 46 00:01:50,511 --> 00:01:52,344 Acting as gods on earth 47 00:01:52,413 --> 00:01:55,347 Commissioned many of egypt' grandest monuments 48 00:01:55,449 --> 00:01:59,518 And then suddenly it all came crashing down. 49 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,855 Egypt mysteriously fell into a dark time 50 00:02:02,923 --> 00:02:05,524 Known as the first intermediate period. 51 00:02:05,526 --> 00:02:06,792 But why? 52 00:02:06,794 --> 00:02:09,061 Now, after 4,000 years, 53 00:02:09,063 --> 00:02:12,030 The old kingdom is finally giving up its secret 54 00:02:12,032 --> 00:02:15,834 In a desert cemetery called saqqara. 55 00:02:15,903 --> 00:02:19,304 In the shadow of the sixth dynasty pharao merenre's pyramid, 56 00:02:19,306 --> 00:02:22,441 Archaeologists are excavatin a necropolis 57 00:02:22,543 --> 00:02:24,710 Where nobles of merenre's ti 58 00:02:24,712 --> 00:02:27,446 Were entombed for their eternal afterlife 59 00:02:27,448 --> 00:02:31,216 And I have an all-access pas to explore the dig. 60 00:02:31,218 --> 00:02:33,418 In a couple of minutes of working, 61 00:02:33,420 --> 00:02:35,954 We can find the entrance of this tomb. 62 00:02:36,023 --> 00:02:38,790 [josh] dr. Mostafa waziri I secretary general 63 00:02:38,792 --> 00:02:41,460 Of egypt's supreme council of antiquities. 64 00:02:41,529 --> 00:02:43,495 He's invited me to help excavate 65 00:02:43,497 --> 00:02:45,264 Some of the site's burial shafts 66 00:02:45,365 --> 00:02:46,899 For the very first time. 67 00:02:46,901 --> 00:02:48,634 Oh! Hey, hey, hey! 68 00:02:48,702 --> 00:02:49,801 Hey, hey, here! 69 00:02:49,803 --> 00:02:51,036 We've got an opening! 70 00:02:51,105 --> 00:02:52,938 Our hope is that these tomb 71 00:02:52,940 --> 00:02:55,941 Can help explain the fall of the old kingdom. 72 00:02:55,943 --> 00:02:58,810 We've already found a perfectly preserved offeri 73 00:02:58,812 --> 00:03:01,313 Of more than 40 intact vesse 74 00:03:01,315 --> 00:03:04,216 That showed us how rich these elite citizens were. 75 00:03:04,218 --> 00:03:07,119 And the badly damaged mummy of a child 76 00:03:07,121 --> 00:03:09,621 Interred here in a simple coffin, 77 00:03:09,623 --> 00:03:12,024 Reminding us of the disparity of wealth 78 00:03:12,026 --> 00:03:13,659 In this ancient society. 79 00:03:14,628 --> 00:03:16,862 And there are other mysteries as well. 80 00:03:16,964 --> 00:03:20,799 Because the old kingdom descended into chaos and civil war, 81 00:03:20,801 --> 00:03:23,835 All of the great pyramids from this period were looted 82 00:03:23,937 --> 00:03:26,405 And no mummy of an old kingdom pharaoh 83 00:03:26,407 --> 00:03:28,240 Has ever been found. 84 00:03:28,342 --> 00:03:30,242 Or has one? 85 00:03:30,344 --> 00:03:33,812 I climbed into the collapse pyramid of the pharaoh meren 86 00:03:33,814 --> 00:03:36,415 Where at the end of a long sealed corridor, 87 00:03:36,417 --> 00:03:39,418 A controversial mummy was found over a century ago 88 00:03:42,056 --> 00:03:44,489 [josh] it may be the remain of the young king. 89 00:03:44,491 --> 00:03:47,726 If it could be proven, it would be historic, 90 00:03:47,728 --> 00:03:51,430 And the oldest royal mummy ever discovered in egypt. 91 00:03:51,432 --> 00:03:53,198 To help confirm its identity 92 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,201 We performed the first-ever 3d digital scan 93 00:03:56,203 --> 00:03:57,903 Of the would-be pharaoh. 94 00:03:57,905 --> 00:04:00,105 It's unbelievable. It's perfect. 95 00:04:00,107 --> 00:04:02,407 Now, while the scan is being processed, 96 00:04:02,409 --> 00:04:04,409 I've returned to the saqqara dig site 97 00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:08,313 Where we had previously discovered a large burial shaft. 98 00:04:08,315 --> 00:04:10,749 After repairing a collapsing wall 99 00:04:10,818 --> 00:04:12,718 And moving literally tons of sand, 100 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,621 I, along with dr. Waziri and his colleagues 101 00:04:15,623 --> 00:04:18,724 Dr. Mohamed el-saidy and mohammad youssef, 102 00:04:18,726 --> 00:04:20,626 Have descended into the pit 103 00:04:20,628 --> 00:04:23,328 Where we make a remarkable discovery. 104 00:04:23,330 --> 00:04:24,429 [josh] we got a vault. 105 00:04:24,431 --> 00:04:27,599 -[dr. Waziri] oh, no. Josh! -[josh laughing] 106 00:04:27,601 --> 00:04:29,601 [josh] oh, my god! 107 00:04:29,603 --> 00:04:31,003 It's a tomb! 108 00:04:31,005 --> 00:04:32,470 [dr. Waziri] a-ha! 109 00:04:32,472 --> 00:04:34,840 -It's fully decorated! -[dr. Waziri speaking in foreign language] 110 00:04:34,941 --> 00:04:37,809 -[dr. Waziri laughing] -look at this! 111 00:04:37,811 --> 00:04:40,212 [josh] holy [bleep] 112 00:04:40,214 --> 00:04:41,713 Oh, my god. 113 00:04:41,715 --> 00:04:43,915 [crew cheering] 114 00:04:43,917 --> 00:04:46,652 [josh] the crew sings in celebration of the find, 115 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,689 And dr. Waziri wastes zero time in exploring the new chamber. 116 00:04:50,691 --> 00:04:51,857 [dr. Waziri] I can't wait. I can't wait. 117 00:04:51,925 --> 00:04:53,825 It's beautiful colors! 118 00:04:53,827 --> 00:04:55,560 [exclaiming in foreign language] 119 00:04:55,629 --> 00:04:57,829 [josh] dr. El-saidy and I follow. 120 00:04:59,233 --> 00:05:00,799 Coming in. [groans] 121 00:05:03,504 --> 00:05:05,203 -Unbelievable. -[dr. Waziri] josh! Josh! 122 00:05:05,205 --> 00:05:07,306 [dr. Waziri] look at these beautiful colors, josh! 123 00:05:07,308 --> 00:05:08,840 [josh] oh, this is insane. 124 00:05:08,942 --> 00:05:11,043 Oh, amazing. Look at it! 125 00:05:12,112 --> 00:05:13,512 Look at this place. 126 00:05:13,514 --> 00:05:15,247 Every inch of every wall 127 00:05:15,349 --> 00:05:18,050 Is covered in stunning decoration. 128 00:05:18,151 --> 00:05:20,819 Scenes of offerings and hundreds of hieroglyphs 129 00:05:20,821 --> 00:05:22,688 All painted by hand 130 00:05:22,690 --> 00:05:25,724 And all unseen for thousands of years. 131 00:05:25,726 --> 00:05:28,727 [dr. Waziri] look at those beautiful, beautiful colors. 132 00:05:28,729 --> 00:05:30,629 We can see red. We can see white. 133 00:05:30,631 --> 00:05:31,596 We can see black. 134 00:05:31,598 --> 00:05:33,498 If we start looking at the top here 135 00:05:33,500 --> 00:05:35,233 -We can see hieroglyphic inscriptions. -[josh] yeah. 136 00:05:35,302 --> 00:05:38,704 All of them are talking about the titles of the guy himself. 137 00:05:38,706 --> 00:05:40,405 -His name is there! -Ha ha! 138 00:05:40,407 --> 00:05:42,541 -[dr. Waziri] his name is henu! -[josh] henu. 139 00:05:42,609 --> 00:05:44,810 Here, he was a mayor. 140 00:05:44,812 --> 00:05:46,712 -He's the mayor? -Oh, yes. 141 00:05:46,714 --> 00:05:50,916 -And also he was a sole friend to the king. -[josh] uh-huh. 142 00:05:50,918 --> 00:05:52,617 This is something typical. 143 00:05:52,619 --> 00:05:54,953 One famous title 144 00:05:55,022 --> 00:05:56,421 -Of those guys of the old kingdom. -Right. 145 00:05:56,423 --> 00:05:59,324 -Like I'm your sole friend. -You are my close friend. 146 00:05:59,326 --> 00:06:01,226 -Sole friend. -Okay, sole friend. 147 00:06:01,228 --> 00:06:03,061 -[josh snickering] -look. 148 00:06:03,063 --> 00:06:04,663 [josh] waziri and I have bee so focused 149 00:06:04,765 --> 00:06:06,198 On looking up at the walls 150 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,000 That we almost miss something lower down. 151 00:06:09,002 --> 00:06:11,503 [dr. Waziri] wait, wait, wait! Wait, josh! Josh, josh, josh! 152 00:06:11,505 --> 00:06:14,539 -Oh, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! -Whoa! 153 00:06:14,641 --> 00:06:18,310 [dr. Waziri] the seven sacred oils! 154 00:06:18,312 --> 00:06:19,444 [josh] ha ha! 155 00:06:19,446 --> 00:06:21,446 [dr. Waziri] this is something really very important. 156 00:06:21,548 --> 00:06:26,451 [josh] known to the egyptian as merhet or sometimes the eye of horus, 157 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,987 Seven different scented oil were considered 158 00:06:28,989 --> 00:06:31,223 The divine breath of the god 159 00:06:31,225 --> 00:06:33,959 Used to anoint the deceased for the afterlife. 160 00:06:33,961 --> 00:06:37,863 [dr. Waziri] if you start counting here this is one, two, three, 161 00:06:37,964 --> 00:06:41,199 Four, five, six and seven. 162 00:06:41,201 --> 00:06:43,301 [josh] used in mummification rituals, 163 00:06:43,303 --> 00:06:45,036 The refinement of these oil 164 00:06:45,072 --> 00:06:47,906 Is the ancient prototype for modern perfumes. 165 00:06:47,908 --> 00:06:50,742 The oils were offered up in tombs like this 166 00:06:50,811 --> 00:06:54,012 In precious stone and crysta carved vessels. 167 00:06:54,448 --> 00:06:55,514 Look. 168 00:06:55,516 --> 00:06:56,948 Look at this one. 169 00:06:57,017 --> 00:06:58,617 -[josh] absolutely beautiful. -[dr. Waziri] look how beautiful! 170 00:06:58,619 --> 00:07:00,152 -I like it, josh. -Stunning. 171 00:07:00,253 --> 00:07:01,853 Ah, yes, it is. 172 00:07:01,922 --> 00:07:03,922 -It's really stunning. -Wow. 173 00:07:03,924 --> 00:07:06,057 [josh] we know that these belonged to henu 174 00:07:06,159 --> 00:07:09,394 Because, well, the receipt I literally on the wall. 175 00:07:09,396 --> 00:07:12,330 Look at that. Those are the seven sacred oils right there. 176 00:07:12,332 --> 00:07:15,033 -Unbelievable. -[dr. Waziri] yeah, this is really perfect. 177 00:07:15,102 --> 00:07:18,103 Ah, we can see here is the facade of the palace, 178 00:07:18,105 --> 00:07:19,504 Or what you call it, like this. 179 00:07:19,506 --> 00:07:22,607 -So, it's symbolic representation of the palace. -It's true. 180 00:07:22,609 --> 00:07:26,111 [josh] just like the tomb of the noble named yaret that we saw earlier, 181 00:07:26,113 --> 00:07:29,514 This is meant to imitate the tomb of a pharaoh: 182 00:07:29,516 --> 00:07:33,118 The symbolic representation of the palace on the walls, 183 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,554 The ceiling painted to resemble granite. 184 00:07:35,655 --> 00:07:37,255 By going to these lengths, 185 00:07:37,357 --> 00:07:40,559 Henu was taking some of the power that only a pharaoh had, 186 00:07:40,627 --> 00:07:43,829 Which even for a mayor took some big stones... 187 00:07:43,831 --> 00:07:44,963 Literally. 188 00:07:45,032 --> 00:07:47,399 This is old kingdom, yes? No question? 189 00:07:47,401 --> 00:07:49,701 -This is for sure. No question. -[josh] 190 00:07:49,703 --> 00:07:51,403 It's old kingdom, 191 00:07:51,405 --> 00:07:53,805 And we believe that it's sixth dynasty. 192 00:07:53,807 --> 00:07:56,441 The sixth dynasty. This is the pharaoh merenre, 193 00:07:56,510 --> 00:07:59,010 Which the pyramid is right next door to us here. 194 00:07:59,012 --> 00:08:01,046 After our excavations, 195 00:08:01,147 --> 00:08:04,216 So, we believe that we may find connections 196 00:08:04,218 --> 00:08:06,818 Between this guy and the king merenre. 197 00:08:06,820 --> 00:08:08,553 Right. Because if he is a mayor, 198 00:08:08,622 --> 00:08:09,954 Sole friend of the king, 199 00:08:09,956 --> 00:08:13,425 He would have been someone who was an elite under merenre. 200 00:08:13,427 --> 00:08:14,526 -[dr. Waziri] right. -Yeah. 201 00:08:14,528 --> 00:08:16,261 [dr. Waziri] have you ever seen something like this 202 00:08:16,363 --> 00:08:17,329 In all of your life? 203 00:08:17,331 --> 00:08:19,297 Just have been discovered? 204 00:08:19,299 --> 00:08:23,034 What a sensation to come into this tomb 205 00:08:23,136 --> 00:08:24,836 To be the first people in here. 206 00:08:24,905 --> 00:08:28,006 -After 4,000 years. -[chuckling] I know. 207 00:08:28,008 --> 00:08:31,042 It's a feeling that you are never, ever gonna forget 208 00:08:31,044 --> 00:08:32,310 -For the rest of your life. -I know. 209 00:08:32,312 --> 00:08:35,514 I'm trying not to cry. It's unbelievable. 210 00:08:35,516 --> 00:08:37,949 I'm shaking with excitement here in the tomb, 211 00:08:38,018 --> 00:08:39,718 But there's much more left to do. 212 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,521 We're on top of about five feet of sand 213 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. 215 00:08:47,327 --> 00:08:49,160 We'll need to vacate the chamber 216 00:08:49,229 --> 00:08:51,062 In order for the workers to continue. 217 00:08:51,164 --> 00:08:52,564 Okay. 218 00:08:52,666 --> 00:08:53,698 Shall we? 219 00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:55,534 We'll let them start sifting the sand, 220 00:08:55,602 --> 00:08:57,335 And we'll investigate the other side of the site, yeah? 221 00:08:57,437 --> 00:08:58,503 -Yes. Yeah. -Okay. 222 00:08:58,505 --> 00:08:59,671 -We'll be back. -Okay. 223 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, 225 00:09:06,947 --> 00:09:09,414 And we've only begun to dig it out. 226 00:09:09,416 --> 00:09:11,516 I ascend by bucket and head over 227 00:09:11,518 --> 00:09:13,218 To the other corner of the site 228 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 230 00:09:18,425 --> 00:09:19,758 -Mohamed! -[dr. El-saidy] yes? 231 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. 233 00:09:22,329 --> 00:09:23,361 Okay. 234 00:09:23,463 --> 00:09:24,696 Thank you. 235 00:09:24,698 --> 00:09:26,031 Protect that for me, will you? 236 00:09:26,033 --> 00:09:27,098 [josh] a few days ago, 237 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 239 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. 241 00:09:37,177 --> 00:09:38,944 This is huge. 242 00:09:38,946 --> 00:09:41,413 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. 244 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