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WILLIAM SHATNER:
A giant stone monument rising
from the sands of Egypt...
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...a labyrinth
of long-forgotten tunnels
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...a labyrinth
of long-forgotten tunnels
beneath the German countryside
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beneath the German countryside
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and the remains
of an ancient pyramid
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located in the heart
of the United States.
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Ancient ruins fascinate us
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because they often reveal
how much
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or how little we know
about our past.
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or how little we know
about our past.
The discovery of a lost city
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The discovery of a lost city
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or the unearthing
of a giant stone monument
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can suddenly challenge our
understanding of human history.
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But is it possible that,
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by investigating
ancient structures,
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we can uncover
their long-held secrets?
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Or has the truth
behind these mysterious ruins
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simply been lost to time?
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Well, that is what we'll try
and find out.
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♪ ♪
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While conducting research
high in the Andes Mountains,
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archaeologist
Dr. Ruth Shady notices
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a number of mounds and hills
in the landscape
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that do not appear to
have been made by Mother Nature.
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PAUL BAHN:
Most people had assumed that
these great mounds were natural.
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But, nevertheless,
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when Ruth Shady arrived
at the site in 1994,
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she realized
that there was something here
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that was more
than just natural hills.
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She had an instinct, really,
a gut feeling, I think,
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which many archaeologists
acquire,
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that this place
was worth exploring.
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And, boy, she explored it
and hit the jackpot.
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SHATNER:
As they began excavating,
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Dr. Shady
and her team discovered
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the ruins
of a forgotten ancient city
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the ruins
of a forgotten ancient city
that has become known as Caral.
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that has become known as Caral.
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FELICIA BEARDSLEY:
Ruth Shady has spent
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years, now, working in Caral.
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years, now, working in Caral.
Caral has,
under her supervision,
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Caral has,
under her supervision,
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become part
of the World Heritage List now.
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So that says this is one
of those unique places
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that tells a story about
civilization in the New World.
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SHATNER:
According to experts, what is
remarkable about Caral is that,
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unlike other ancient ruins
located in Peru
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such as Machu Picchu,
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Sacsayhuaman
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and Ollantaytambo,
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Caral was not built
by the Incas.
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It was built by a previously
unknown civilization
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It was built by a previously
unknown civilization
that remains shrouded
in mystery.
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that remains shrouded
in mystery.
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Caral is one
of the most impressive
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and so the most important sites
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in South America.
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Certainly in terms of its size.
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Excavations revealed
it covers a huge area
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and was clearly
a great metropolis
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for prehistoric South America.
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You've got
this incredible complex
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covering hundreds of acres,
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covering hundreds of acres,
with an amphitheater...
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with an amphitheater...
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...supplementary temples,
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all kinds of artifacts,
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suggesting
a sophisticated civilization.
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BEARDSLEY:
The Greater Pyramid in Caral,
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this is the biggest structure
there is.
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It dominates the landscape.
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It is the center of the city.
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It is nearly 500 feet long,
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It is nearly 500 feet long,
nearly 400 feet wide,
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nearly 400 feet wide,
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60 feet tall.
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60 feet tall.
And on one side of it,
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And on one side of it,
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it has
this 30-foot-wide staircase
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it has
this 30-foot-wide staircase
that descends from the very top
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that descends from the very top
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down to a sunken circular plaza.
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The whole structure itself
has a stepped profile,
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which has a number of very large
terraces built into the side.
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There's a network of ceremonial
rooms, some large rooms,
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There's a network of ceremonial
rooms, some large rooms,
some smaller rooms,
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some smaller rooms,
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built with stone and mortar.
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It's a phenomenal structure.
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BAHN:
This was a culture with
no wheels, with no metal tools.
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BAHN:
This was a culture with
no wheels, with no metal tools.
And so the building
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And so the building
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took an awful lot of people
carrying earth and stones
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from wherever
they got them from.
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You needed architects
of some kind, maybe engineers,
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probably thousands and thousands
of man-hours to erect that.
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BEARDSLEY:
The other thing that shows up
in the Greater Pyramid
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that tells us something
about the nature of...
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of Caral as a civilization
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are symbols of monkeys.
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So, in this part of Peru,
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So, in this part of Peru,
there are no monkeys.
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there are no monkeys.
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Those actually come
from the Amazon basin.
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Which means that the people
of Caral had to
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basically go over the Andes
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and into another part
of South America altogether.
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So why is this significant?
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It tells us
that they are a central point
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for a vast trading network.
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And not just goods but ideas.
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SHATNER:
The discovery of Caral's ruins
challenged everything we knew
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or thought we knew about
the history of civilization
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or thought we knew about
the history of civilization
in Central and South America.
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in Central and South America.
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And not just because
of its elaborate design
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but also because
of what experts learned
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when they were able to begin
carbon-dating its artifacts.
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BAHN:
Towards the bottom
of the great mound,
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they found remains
of what seemed to be
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reed bags or baskets
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reed bags or baskets
in which the earth and stones
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in which the earth and stones
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would have been carried
to make the mound.
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These are called "shicras."
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Of course, you can date reeds
by the radiocarbon method.
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And so samples were sent off
to various labs.
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And to everyone's surprise,
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the answer was far earlier
than anybody had expected.
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The dates came back
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to approximately 2600 BC
and earlier.
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The same age
as the pyramids in Egypt,
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much older
than other civilizations
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that were known at the time
in the New World.
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It's very likely
that Caral goes back
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at least to that kind of period.
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It is arguable that Caral
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It is arguable that Caral
is the kind of mother culture
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is the kind of mother culture
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for what came later
in South America,
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like the Inca civilizations.
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However, there are lower layers
at Caral which have been dug.
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They may well find samples
that can be dated far earlier
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They may well find samples
that can be dated far earlier
than anybody expected,
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than anybody expected,
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possibly at a period
even several centuries
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possibly at a period
even several centuries
before the pyramids of Giza,
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before the pyramids of Giza,
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which will alter
our view of the past.
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SHATNER:
Is it possible that the ruins
of Caral are actually older
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SHATNER:
Is it possible that the ruins
of Caral are actually older
than the Egyptian pyramids,
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than the Egyptian pyramids,
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which were built
almost 5,000 years ago?
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It's an extraordinary
possibility,
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and the discoveries at Caral
are forcing archaeologists
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to redefine
the timeline of human history.
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BEARDSLEY:
What was the old definition
of civilization?
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It was extracted
from the site of Mesopotamia,
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It was extracted
from the site of Mesopotamia,
which is in Iraq, basically.
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which is in Iraq, basically.
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Mesopotamia starts at 3500 BC.
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And then the idea was that all
civilizations used Mesopotamia
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as the model.
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as the model.
But, looking at Caral,
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But, looking at Caral,
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we expect that Caral
is gonna reach back to 3200 BC,
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which indicates
an incredible possibility
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that faces
the world of archaeology.
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So we have to start rethinking
what we mean by "civilization."
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It's incredible to think that,
before Caral was discovered,
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we had no idea
that such a massive civilization
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existed in South America
that far back in history.
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And it also makes you wonder--
could there be other ruins
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around the world that are older
than we ever thought possible?
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Perhaps the answer
can be found by examining
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the most recognizable
ancient ruin in the world today,
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the Sphinx.
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SHATNER:
Sitting atop a plateau just a
few miles west of the Nile River
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is the Giza Necropolis,
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perhaps the most famous
collection of ruins
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in the entire world.
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Believed to be constructed
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during ancient Egypt's
Fourth Dynasty,
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around 2550 BC,
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these limestone monuments
attract
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thousands of tourists every day
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who come to marvel
at the immense pyramids,
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forbidding tombs
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and a mysterious stone sentinel
known as...
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the Sphinx.
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I think you can argue
that the Sphinx
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is the most recognizable statue
anywhere in the world.
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Its scale is immense.
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It's one single piece of stone.
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It is cut from the natural rock
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It is cut from the natural rock
of the Giza Plateau.
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of the Giza Plateau.
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SHATNER:
The Sphinx stands 240 feet long,
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66 feet tall and 62 feet wide.
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For thousands of years,
this massive statue
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has been an object
of both fascination and wonder.
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But even
after centuries of study,
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the Sphinx holds many secrets
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that archaeologists
are still trying to unravel.
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that archaeologists
are still trying to unravel.
The Sphinx that we know today,
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The Sphinx that we know today,
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the Sphinx
from the Great Pyramids of Giza,
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is the most famous
of all sphinxes.
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But there are sphinxes
all over ancient Egypt.
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There are smaller sphinxes.
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There's an avenue full
of sphinxes between the temples.
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NAUNTON:
But the Great Sphinx at Giza
is something very different.
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NAUNTON:
But the Great Sphinx at Giza
is something very different.
It's a single sculpture.
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It's a single sculpture.
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It's a single sculpture.
It sits
in a very particular place.
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It sits
in a very particular place.
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It doesn't seem
to have performed
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the same function at all.
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What was it for?
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This is what
we really want to know.
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No one has understood
exactly what it means.
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Because, for literally
thousands of years,
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the Sphinx was buried up
to its neck in sand.
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So it's only a head
sticking out of the sand
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So it's only a head
sticking out of the sand
for much of its history.
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for much of its history.
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NAUNTON:
There is a very famous painting
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of Emperor Napoleon
standing in front of the Sphinx,
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buried still, at this point,
up to its shoulders.
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You might think,
what has Napoleon got to do
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with Egypt and the Sphinx?
Well, in fact,
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Napoleon led an invasion
of Egypt in 1798,
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Napoleon led an invasion
of Egypt in 1798,
which had a big impact
back in Europe
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which had a big impact
back in Europe
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in raising awareness and
interest in ancient Egypt sites.
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SHATNER:
It wasn't until the 1920s
that a team of archaeologists,
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led by engineer Emile Baraize,
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succeeded in unearthing the
Sphinx from the desert sands.
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succeeded in unearthing the
Sphinx from the desert sands.
They were able to expose it
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They were able to expose it
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and to... so to reveal
for the first time in centuries
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that this was not just a head,
a disembodied head,
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that this was not just a head,
a disembodied head,
but a-a full sphinx sculpture.
244
00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:55,239
but a-a full sphinx sculpture.
245
00:11:56,241 --> 00:11:58,278
And this is a watershed moment
246
00:11:58,378 --> 00:12:01,017
for our understanding
of the Sphinx.
247
00:12:02,086 --> 00:12:04,324
Archaeologists
and Egyptologists like myself
248
00:12:04,390 --> 00:12:09,434
believe that the Sphinx
was sculpted around 2500 BC
249
00:12:09,434 --> 00:12:12,240
by King Khephren
250
00:12:12,373 --> 00:12:15,179
as a part
of his funerary complex.
251
00:12:15,212 --> 00:12:19,321
But a lot of scholars disagree
about the Sphinx,
252
00:12:19,420 --> 00:12:22,394
and there's a lot
of mystery surrounding
253
00:12:22,493 --> 00:12:25,834
when was the Sphinx
actually sculpted.
254
00:12:26,936 --> 00:12:29,474
One of the most important
documents we have
255
00:12:29,507 --> 00:12:33,348
to deal with the dating of the
Sphinx is the Inventory Stela.
256
00:12:34,818 --> 00:12:39,962
This is a commemorative stone
that actually records details
257
00:12:40,062 --> 00:12:44,271
of how the Pharaoh Khufu
repaired the Sphinx
258
00:12:44,404 --> 00:12:46,274
after it was struck
by lightning.
259
00:12:49,113 --> 00:12:55,159
The significance of this is
that Khufu came before Khafre,
260
00:12:55,259 --> 00:12:58,767
the pharaoh
who is conventionally said
261
00:12:58,900 --> 00:13:01,304
to have constructed the Sphinx.
262
00:13:02,506 --> 00:13:06,081
SCHOCH:
The Inventory Stela
has an inscription
263
00:13:06,181 --> 00:13:11,458
that goes back
to about 4,600 years ago.
264
00:13:11,458 --> 00:13:11,491
that goes back
to about 4,600 years ago.
And that inscription says
265
00:13:11,491 --> 00:13:13,229
And that inscription says
266
00:13:13,328 --> 00:13:17,103
that the Sphinx
is a much older structure
267
00:13:17,269 --> 00:13:19,440
that the Egyptians adopted
268
00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:19,507
that the Egyptians adopted
and repaired and venerated.
269
00:13:19,507 --> 00:13:22,848
and repaired and venerated.
270
00:13:24,150 --> 00:13:27,223
SHATNER:
Based on the inscriptions
on the Inventory Stela,
271
00:13:27,323 --> 00:13:29,127
there are some archaeologists
who believe
272
00:13:29,293 --> 00:13:31,098
that the Sphinx is so ancient
273
00:13:31,164 --> 00:13:34,872
that it could predate
any records in human history
274
00:13:35,038 --> 00:13:36,909
that are known to exist.
275
00:13:38,044 --> 00:13:40,316
And some researchers are
convinced that physical evidence
276
00:13:40,349 --> 00:13:45,126
of the Sphinx's true age can be
found on the structure itself.
277
00:13:45,192 --> 00:13:48,099
SCHOCH:
The first time
I visited the Sphinx
278
00:13:48,265 --> 00:13:50,603
was in the summer of 1990.
279
00:13:50,603 --> 00:13:50,637
was in the summer of 1990.
My early studies of the Sphinx
280
00:13:50,637 --> 00:13:53,008
My early studies of the Sphinx
281
00:13:53,074 --> 00:13:57,250
looked at the erosional features
on the body of the Sphinx
282
00:13:57,316 --> 00:14:00,758
and comparing that
to other erosional features
283
00:14:00,924 --> 00:14:02,326
right on the Giza Plateau.
284
00:14:02,426 --> 00:14:06,268
And what I found was
the body of the Sphinx
285
00:14:06,367 --> 00:14:08,940
and the walls
of the Sphinx enclosure
286
00:14:09,107 --> 00:14:10,877
are weathered differently
287
00:14:10,977 --> 00:14:13,448
than everything else
on the Giza Plateau.
288
00:14:14,618 --> 00:14:20,129
The rest of the plateau shows
classic wind erosion.
289
00:14:20,229 --> 00:14:24,671
But what is on the Sphinx
is water weathering.
290
00:14:24,671 --> 00:14:24,738
But what is on the Sphinx
is water weathering.
It's rainfall, precipitation,
291
00:14:24,738 --> 00:14:28,011
It's rainfall, precipitation,
292
00:14:28,145 --> 00:14:30,183
and this makes no sense
293
00:14:30,215 --> 00:14:34,324
when the Sphinx is sitting on
the edge of the Sahara Desert
294
00:14:34,490 --> 00:14:36,629
that has been a bone-dry desert
295
00:14:36,629 --> 00:14:36,696
that has been a bone-dry desert
for literally thousands
of years.
296
00:14:36,696 --> 00:14:39,569
for literally thousands
of years.
297
00:14:39,635 --> 00:14:43,442
So what I concluded is
that the body of the Sphinx,
298
00:14:43,576 --> 00:14:46,181
and therefore
the original statue,
299
00:14:46,314 --> 00:14:49,555
had to go back
to pre-Sahara times,
300
00:14:49,655 --> 00:14:53,262
when there was
a much more temperate climate,
301
00:14:53,361 --> 00:14:56,569
much more moisture,
much more rainfall.
302
00:14:56,602 --> 00:15:00,376
And it has to go back not just
a little bit into that period
303
00:15:00,409 --> 00:15:04,317
but quite far back, given
that we have incredible amount
304
00:15:04,417 --> 00:15:07,389
of weathering and erosion
on the Sphinx.
305
00:15:08,425 --> 00:15:10,663
I now think that it goes back
306
00:15:10,663 --> 00:15:10,731
I now think that it goes back
to the end of the last ice age,
307
00:15:10,731 --> 00:15:13,569
to the end of the last ice age,
308
00:15:13,569 --> 00:15:15,674
circa 10,000 BC.
309
00:15:15,740 --> 00:15:20,817
I am convinced that it is a ruin
from predynastic Egypt.
310
00:15:21,084 --> 00:15:23,689
SHATNER:
Is it possible
that the Sphinx was constructed
311
00:15:23,689 --> 00:15:23,756
SHATNER:
Is it possible
that the Sphinx was constructed
more than 12,000 years ago,
312
00:15:23,756 --> 00:15:26,094
more than 12,000 years ago,
313
00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:29,601
centuries before the ancient
Egyptian civilization
314
00:15:29,601 --> 00:15:31,204
even existed?
315
00:15:32,273 --> 00:15:35,512
If so, who carved it?
And for what purpose?
316
00:15:35,547 --> 00:15:38,553
Some researchers believe
the answers to these questions
317
00:15:38,586 --> 00:15:44,263
will be found in a secret room
hidden beneath the Sphinx.
318
00:15:45,499 --> 00:15:48,171
NAUNTON:
Something that there's been
a lot of speculation about
319
00:15:48,305 --> 00:15:50,008
regarding the Sphinx
is that there is
320
00:15:50,108 --> 00:15:53,015
some kind of chamber
hidden underneath it.
321
00:15:53,181 --> 00:15:57,123
A psychic named Edgar Cayce,
322
00:15:57,223 --> 00:15:59,127
in the first half
of the 20th century,
323
00:15:59,227 --> 00:16:02,299
asserted that there would be
such a chamber
324
00:16:02,366 --> 00:16:06,775
and that this was
the legendary Hall of Records,
325
00:16:06,775 --> 00:16:06,876
and that this was
the legendary Hall of Records,
which would reveal
very great secrets
326
00:16:06,876 --> 00:16:09,447
which would reveal
very great secrets
327
00:16:09,581 --> 00:16:12,053
relating to
an ancient civilization
328
00:16:12,186 --> 00:16:14,190
responsible
for creating the Sphinx
329
00:16:14,323 --> 00:16:16,629
and all these great wonders.
330
00:16:16,729 --> 00:16:19,434
He also suggested
that this would be discovered
331
00:16:19,601 --> 00:16:21,437
by the end of the 20th century.
332
00:16:21,537 --> 00:16:26,481
It was only confirmed
relatively recently
333
00:16:26,514 --> 00:16:32,526
that excavations discovered
a passageway in the Sphinx.
334
00:16:34,363 --> 00:16:35,633
ROMANY:
There is a tunnel
335
00:16:35,733 --> 00:16:38,706
that was found
under the paw of the Sphinx,
336
00:16:38,773 --> 00:16:44,350
a tunnel that people believe
connects to another structure.
337
00:16:45,385 --> 00:16:47,257
We have not discovered
338
00:16:47,356 --> 00:16:50,096
what happens
at the end of that tunnel.
339
00:16:50,228 --> 00:16:53,368
Where does this tunnel lead to?
340
00:16:53,468 --> 00:16:56,141
Someday in the future,
we might find a room
341
00:16:56,307 --> 00:16:57,978
that we've never heard of.
342
00:16:58,111 --> 00:17:00,315
So, the more we dig,
the more we find
343
00:17:00,449 --> 00:17:04,190
about the secrets
of ancient Egypt.
344
00:17:05,292 --> 00:17:08,198
Was the Sphinx built
by a civilization
345
00:17:08,298 --> 00:17:10,670
that existed long before
the ancient Egyptians?
346
00:17:10,703 --> 00:17:14,377
It seems hard to believe, but
the truth is that archaeologists
347
00:17:14,477 --> 00:17:16,582
dig up unbelievable things
all the time.
348
00:17:16,715 --> 00:17:18,686
For example,
consider the discovery
349
00:17:18,686 --> 00:17:18,753
For example,
consider the discovery
of a 100-foot-tall pyramid mound
350
00:17:18,753 --> 00:17:21,491
of a 100-foot-tall pyramid mound
351
00:17:21,592 --> 00:17:24,698
constructed
more than a thousand years ago
352
00:17:24,698 --> 00:17:24,765
constructed
more than a thousand years ago
that is located in the heartland
353
00:17:24,765 --> 00:17:26,969
that is located in the heartland
354
00:17:27,136 --> 00:17:28,739
of the United States.
355
00:17:34,317 --> 00:17:35,853
SHATNER: In the heart
of the downtown district
356
00:17:35,853 --> 00:17:35,921
SHATNER: In the heart
of the downtown district
stands the Wainwright Building.
357
00:17:35,921 --> 00:17:38,759
stands the Wainwright Building.
358
00:17:38,759 --> 00:17:40,096
Built in 1891,
359
00:17:40,295 --> 00:17:41,498
this office building
360
00:17:41,565 --> 00:17:45,005
is one of the world's
first modern skyscrapers.
361
00:17:45,172 --> 00:17:46,909
But, as it turns out,
362
00:17:47,176 --> 00:17:50,215
there is a similarly sized
structure in this region
363
00:17:50,382 --> 00:17:52,821
that is much, much older.
364
00:17:52,821 --> 00:17:52,855
that is much, much older.
Just ten miles east of the city
365
00:17:52,855 --> 00:17:56,294
Just ten miles east of the city
366
00:17:56,361 --> 00:17:59,768
stand the ruins of an ancient
man-made pyramid mound
367
00:17:59,768 --> 00:17:59,802
stand the ruins of an ancient
man-made pyramid mound
that was built centuries ago
368
00:17:59,802 --> 00:18:03,475
that was built centuries ago
369
00:18:03,576 --> 00:18:07,349
and is as tall
as a ten-story building.
370
00:18:08,652 --> 00:18:11,825
This is the largest
prehistoric earthwork
371
00:18:11,825 --> 00:18:11,859
This is the largest
prehistoric earthwork
in the Western Hemisphere,
372
00:18:11,859 --> 00:18:13,796
in the Western Hemisphere,
373
00:18:13,896 --> 00:18:16,134
the largest
totally earthen mound built
374
00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:17,971
by ancient people
in North or South America.
375
00:18:19,340 --> 00:18:22,380
Its base actually is bigger
than the Great Pyramid in Egypt,
376
00:18:22,513 --> 00:18:24,718
and it stands 100 feet high.
377
00:18:24,751 --> 00:18:29,762
And it was built with about
22 million cubic feet of dirt
378
00:18:29,828 --> 00:18:33,001
that had to be carried
in baskets on people's backs
379
00:18:33,201 --> 00:18:34,671
and deposited.
380
00:18:34,738 --> 00:18:37,911
SHATNER:
The fact that the ruins
of a man-made pyramid
381
00:18:37,911 --> 00:18:38,012
SHATNER:
The fact that the ruins
of a man-made pyramid
sit in the middle
of the United States
382
00:18:38,012 --> 00:18:40,249
sit in the middle
of the United States
383
00:18:40,382 --> 00:18:43,355
might come as a surprise
for some.
384
00:18:43,488 --> 00:18:46,962
And yet
this monumental earthen mound
385
00:18:47,229 --> 00:18:50,770
is merely one of more than
a hundred similar structures
386
00:18:50,903 --> 00:18:52,841
that have been discovered
in this area.
387
00:18:52,907 --> 00:18:58,351
They're all part of a sprawling
ancient city named Cahokia.
388
00:18:59,353 --> 00:19:03,262
Cahokia is arguably
the most important
389
00:19:03,361 --> 00:19:07,369
of the ancient cities
of North America.
390
00:19:08,505 --> 00:19:14,250
Constructed approximately
between 700 and 1350 AD,
391
00:19:14,383 --> 00:19:17,690
it was an incredible metropolis.
392
00:19:18,692 --> 00:19:21,097
We have this idea
of the first peoples
393
00:19:21,264 --> 00:19:23,168
as being hunter-gatherers
394
00:19:23,268 --> 00:19:26,174
and riding around on horses
all the time,
395
00:19:26,274 --> 00:19:29,447
and that's simply
the wrong impression.
396
00:19:29,614 --> 00:19:31,385
They were an incredibly
397
00:19:31,517 --> 00:19:34,758
technologically sophisticated
society.
398
00:19:36,595 --> 00:19:39,233
ISEMINGER:
We don't know
what this place was called
399
00:19:39,300 --> 00:19:41,705
or what... the language
that people spoke here.
400
00:19:41,805 --> 00:19:43,943
The name Cahokia
comes from a later group
401
00:19:43,976 --> 00:19:47,450
of American Indians that moved
into this area in the 1600s
402
00:19:47,550 --> 00:19:49,788
from further north,
around the Great Lakes.
403
00:19:49,855 --> 00:19:52,526
They were here, but they
did not build the mounds.
404
00:19:52,594 --> 00:19:55,365
They just later used it
as part of their settlement.
405
00:19:56,568 --> 00:19:59,206
We often use the term "city"
when we talk about Cahokia
406
00:19:59,373 --> 00:20:00,977
because of its magnitude.
407
00:20:01,010 --> 00:20:04,450
It covered nearly six square
miles or about 4,000 acres.
408
00:20:05,452 --> 00:20:08,291
During its peak,
between 1050 and 1150 AD,
409
00:20:08,424 --> 00:20:09,628
there were probably, you know,
410
00:20:09,694 --> 00:20:12,533
40,000, 50,000 people
living within this region.
411
00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:16,374
It would be larger
than London was at that time.
412
00:20:17,376 --> 00:20:19,748
And yet, 200 years later,
413
00:20:19,748 --> 00:20:21,752
by 1350 AD,
414
00:20:21,852 --> 00:20:24,791
the whole place
had been abandoned.
415
00:20:25,860 --> 00:20:28,464
And, indeed, there is a mystery
416
00:20:28,599 --> 00:20:31,672
of exactly what took place
there.
417
00:20:32,907 --> 00:20:35,245
SHATNER:
But if Cahokia was such
a thriving metropolis,
418
00:20:35,378 --> 00:20:36,783
then it begs the question--
419
00:20:36,882 --> 00:20:39,888
how did this civilization
come to an end?
420
00:20:40,990 --> 00:20:43,563
It's a mystery
that has driven archaeologists
421
00:20:43,629 --> 00:20:47,402
to scour Cahokia's ruins
in search of an answer.
422
00:20:48,538 --> 00:20:51,879
There are a number of hypotheses
about the decline of Cahokia.
423
00:20:52,881 --> 00:20:55,687
One involves evidence
of a defensive wall
424
00:20:55,753 --> 00:20:58,124
that was built
around the center of Cahokia.
425
00:20:58,358 --> 00:21:01,732
So that indicates that they
had conflicts and warfare.
426
00:21:01,832 --> 00:21:03,936
And there's been suggestions
that maybe,
427
00:21:04,003 --> 00:21:06,942
with the crowded conditions
here, perhaps there was
428
00:21:06,942 --> 00:21:06,976
with the crowded conditions
here, perhaps there was
increases in-in disease.
429
00:21:06,976 --> 00:21:09,413
increases in-in disease.
430
00:21:10,550 --> 00:21:12,887
SHATNER:
Did the threat of warfare
or poor living conditions
431
00:21:12,921 --> 00:21:17,163
cause the inhabitants of Cahokia
to abandon this thriving city?
432
00:21:17,362 --> 00:21:18,799
It's hard to say.
433
00:21:18,799 --> 00:21:18,833
It's hard to say.
But in recent years
434
00:21:18,833 --> 00:21:20,903
But in recent years
435
00:21:20,903 --> 00:21:20,970
But in recent years
another theory has emerged,
436
00:21:20,970 --> 00:21:23,108
another theory has emerged,
437
00:21:23,374 --> 00:21:26,381
one that suggests there may
have been a more sinister reason
438
00:21:26,548 --> 00:21:29,453
behind Cahokia's demise.
439
00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,393
So, one of the ideas
that's been put forward is
440
00:21:32,526 --> 00:21:34,565
that something quite dark
took place there
441
00:21:34,598 --> 00:21:38,538
and this is why there's little
evidence in the oral tradition
442
00:21:38,672 --> 00:21:40,542
or the folklore of this area.
443
00:21:40,576 --> 00:21:43,348
And this could be ultimately
why the site was abandoned.
444
00:21:44,918 --> 00:21:47,423
ISEMINGER:
Back in the late '60s
and early '70s,
445
00:21:47,590 --> 00:21:48,826
there was an excavation
446
00:21:48,893 --> 00:21:51,665
at a small mound here
on the site called Mound 72.
447
00:21:51,798 --> 00:21:54,304
As we dug further
into the mound,
448
00:21:54,403 --> 00:21:56,374
there was a burial pit
about five feet deep.
449
00:21:56,507 --> 00:21:59,079
And at the bottom of that
they found
450
00:21:59,079 --> 00:21:59,080
And at the bottom of that
they found
53 mostly young women,
451
00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:02,319
53 mostly young women,
452
00:22:02,486 --> 00:22:03,889
all buried at the same time,
453
00:22:03,956 --> 00:22:06,862
laid out in two rows
and piled in there two deep.
454
00:22:07,864 --> 00:22:09,601
Next to them were four men
455
00:22:09,701 --> 00:22:11,404
with their heads
and their hands cut off,
456
00:22:11,571 --> 00:22:12,840
apparently, in some ritual.
457
00:22:14,577 --> 00:22:17,750
The burials that came out
of Mound 72
458
00:22:17,817 --> 00:22:21,992
quite clearly showed evidence
of mass sacrifice.
459
00:22:22,994 --> 00:22:24,631
We have to ask ourselves
460
00:22:24,698 --> 00:22:27,536
whether this would have had
any kind of impact
461
00:22:27,637 --> 00:22:30,977
upon the society as a whole
at Cahokia.
462
00:22:32,012 --> 00:22:33,382
SHATNER:
Did the vast majority
463
00:22:33,481 --> 00:22:36,956
of Cahokia's inhabitants
abandon their city
464
00:22:37,022 --> 00:22:39,260
because its leaders
were engaging in the practice
465
00:22:39,460 --> 00:22:41,464
of human sacrifice?
466
00:22:41,598 --> 00:22:44,671
And if so,
then where did they go?
467
00:22:44,804 --> 00:22:46,742
Is this tragedy enough
to explain
468
00:22:46,875 --> 00:22:48,646
why there is no written record
469
00:22:48,712 --> 00:22:50,884
that this civilization
ever existed?
470
00:22:50,983 --> 00:22:55,525
For now, experts
remain collectively baffled
471
00:22:55,626 --> 00:22:59,634
and worry that we may
never know for sure.
472
00:22:59,701 --> 00:23:02,206
We really must question,
you know, what really happened,
473
00:23:02,472 --> 00:23:05,478
because it could have been
something much more mysterious
474
00:23:05,613 --> 00:23:07,182
that we just don't know about.
475
00:23:08,184 --> 00:23:11,725
It's remarkable to think
that, centuries ago,
476
00:23:11,758 --> 00:23:14,831
there was a massive civilization
that built large structures
477
00:23:14,964 --> 00:23:18,271
in what is now
Southern Illinois.
478
00:23:18,538 --> 00:23:22,547
But not all ancient ruins
are hiding in plain sight.
479
00:23:22,613 --> 00:23:26,555
Some were designed
to remain secret and are hidden
480
00:23:26,722 --> 00:23:28,659
right beneath our feet.
481
00:23:34,871 --> 00:23:37,142
SHATNER:
In this quiet rural town,
482
00:23:37,242 --> 00:23:39,949
a Bavarian dairy farmer
watches in horror
483
00:23:39,981 --> 00:23:44,724
as one of her cows falls into
what appears to be a sinkhole.
484
00:23:46,561 --> 00:23:49,601
But after
thankfully rescuing the animal,
485
00:23:49,667 --> 00:23:52,440
the farmer discovers
that her cow hadn't stumbled
486
00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,076
into a sinkhole
487
00:23:54,176 --> 00:23:58,451
but rather
a mysterious subterranean ruin
488
00:23:58,652 --> 00:24:01,858
known as an erdstall.
489
00:24:02,827 --> 00:24:06,534
Erdstall
are human-carved tunnels
490
00:24:06,668 --> 00:24:08,773
that extend into the ground.
491
00:24:08,872 --> 00:24:11,043
You know, they're-they're
chiseled out of stone.
492
00:24:12,245 --> 00:24:14,685
COLLINS:
They are like mini labyrinths,
493
00:24:14,851 --> 00:24:16,922
mini underground cities,
494
00:24:16,955 --> 00:24:22,700
and the erdstalls consisted of
a series of chambers and tunnels
495
00:24:22,834 --> 00:24:25,673
and stretched for about 125 feet
496
00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:27,510
and was on different levels.
497
00:24:27,610 --> 00:24:30,850
And archaeologists
have investigated it
498
00:24:30,950 --> 00:24:35,125
and have suggested
that there was activity there
499
00:24:35,125 --> 00:24:35,191
and have suggested
that there was activity there
as much as a thousand years ago.
500
00:24:35,191 --> 00:24:37,296
as much as a thousand years ago.
501
00:24:38,665 --> 00:24:42,206
SHATNER:
But this isn't the only erdstall
that's been discovered.
502
00:24:42,239 --> 00:24:46,180
In fact, similar man-made
tunnels have been found hidden
503
00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,689
all across southeastern Germany
and Austria.
504
00:24:51,925 --> 00:24:54,864
Many of them are found
just in the middle of nowhere,
505
00:24:54,898 --> 00:24:58,104
um, you know, out in somebody's
field or something like that.
506
00:24:59,139 --> 00:25:00,843
Or within the cellar areas
507
00:25:00,910 --> 00:25:04,651
or foundations of old houses,
old structures.
508
00:25:05,719 --> 00:25:08,492
Some of them
may be very limited.
509
00:25:08,625 --> 00:25:10,128
You go in and it's just sort of
510
00:25:10,195 --> 00:25:12,667
one little chamber, two little
interconnected chambers.
511
00:25:12,767 --> 00:25:16,474
And some of them
extend hundreds of feet
512
00:25:16,608 --> 00:25:18,144
in many different directions
with,
513
00:25:18,244 --> 00:25:19,814
you know, all sorts
of different little,
514
00:25:19,914 --> 00:25:21,618
sort of, side chambers
and passages.
515
00:25:22,653 --> 00:25:24,925
COLLINS:
We don't know who carved them.
516
00:25:25,024 --> 00:25:27,496
We don't know
when they were carved.
517
00:25:27,630 --> 00:25:30,201
We don't know
their original purpose.
518
00:25:31,237 --> 00:25:32,574
Because of this,
519
00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:37,048
the erdstall tunnels
are incredibly mysterious.
520
00:25:38,619 --> 00:25:42,225
SHATNER:
One investigator driven to solve
the mystery of the erdstalls
521
00:25:42,225 --> 00:25:42,226
SHATNER:
One investigator driven to solve
the mystery of the erdstalls
is Dieter Ahlborn.
522
00:25:42,226 --> 00:25:44,998
is Dieter Ahlborn.
523
00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:50,108
He has been exploring these
tunnels for more than 20 years.
524
00:25:53,715 --> 00:25:54,717
Mm.
525
00:26:17,062 --> 00:26:18,097
And, uh...
526
00:26:29,888 --> 00:26:32,893
SHATNER:
To date, more than 1,200
long-abandoned erdstalls
527
00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:37,035
have been found beneath
the German and Austrian soil.
528
00:26:37,102 --> 00:26:41,344
But why would anyone go
to such lengths to carve
529
00:26:41,377 --> 00:26:45,185
these bizarre underground
structures in the first place?
530
00:26:46,220 --> 00:26:48,424
BAHN:
Normally, if you've got tunnels
531
00:26:48,424 --> 00:26:48,458
BAHN:
Normally, if you've got tunnels
or caves, you will find
532
00:26:48,458 --> 00:26:50,262
or caves, you will find
533
00:26:50,361 --> 00:26:53,367
bones or-or artifacts
or something inside them.
534
00:26:53,367 --> 00:26:53,468
bones or-or artifacts
or something inside them.
There is nothing
in these erdstalls,
535
00:26:53,468 --> 00:26:57,042
There is nothing
in these erdstalls,
536
00:26:57,142 --> 00:26:58,946
and that has made it
very, very difficult
537
00:26:59,112 --> 00:27:01,217
to know what they were for.
538
00:27:01,317 --> 00:27:04,156
TREISTER:
They're obviously
completely dark,
539
00:27:04,256 --> 00:27:06,327
and, interestingly,
you don't see areas
540
00:27:06,393 --> 00:27:09,667
where there were, like,
hearths or, um, fires.
541
00:27:09,767 --> 00:27:11,203
You don't have,
you know, charcoal.
542
00:27:11,303 --> 00:27:14,543
But there are
also these tiny little areas
543
00:27:14,777 --> 00:27:17,584
carved out for a place where,
like, a lamp would be placed
544
00:27:17,817 --> 00:27:20,022
so that people who are actually
building would be able to see.
545
00:27:20,121 --> 00:27:22,627
So it's clearly...
it was very well-planned
546
00:27:22,793 --> 00:27:24,665
and designed and executed,
547
00:27:24,731 --> 00:27:27,235
and yet we don't know
what they were built for.
548
00:27:42,165 --> 00:27:43,200
And, um...
549
00:28:04,443 --> 00:28:07,750
SHATNER:
If the erdstalls weren't made
for any practical purpose,
550
00:28:07,917 --> 00:28:09,386
then why were they built?
551
00:28:09,453 --> 00:28:13,327
Well, some people believe
that they weren't created
552
00:28:13,327 --> 00:28:13,328
Well, some people believe
that they weren't created
to be used by the living
553
00:28:13,328 --> 00:28:15,432
to be used by the living
554
00:28:15,498 --> 00:28:19,506
but, rather, they were designed
to be a resting place
555
00:28:19,506 --> 00:28:19,540
but, rather, they were designed
to be a resting place
for the souls of the dead.
556
00:28:19,540 --> 00:28:21,945
for the souls of the dead.
557
00:28:22,045 --> 00:28:27,056
A very unique theory,
uh, about erdstalls
558
00:28:27,188 --> 00:28:30,361
was that there was
a lot of Christian ideas
559
00:28:30,361 --> 00:28:30,395
was that there was
a lot of Christian ideas
as to their function.
560
00:28:30,395 --> 00:28:33,201
as to their function.
561
00:28:33,234 --> 00:28:38,278
And they would have been used to
collect the souls of the dead,
562
00:28:38,344 --> 00:28:42,987
where they would remain
until the Day of Judgment
563
00:28:43,087 --> 00:28:46,828
and then they would rise
to go to heaven.
564
00:28:48,097 --> 00:28:51,036
SHATNER:
Is it possible that
the erdstalls were constructed
565
00:28:51,136 --> 00:28:53,909
by Christians
throughout Central Europe
566
00:28:54,009 --> 00:28:58,484
to be holding chambers
for people's souls
567
00:28:58,484 --> 00:28:58,552
to be holding chambers
for people's souls
as they waited
to get into heaven?
568
00:28:58,552 --> 00:29:00,790
as they waited
to get into heaven?
569
00:29:01,023 --> 00:29:02,425
Perhaps.
570
00:29:03,996 --> 00:29:05,064
But, on the other hand,
571
00:29:05,164 --> 00:29:07,737
there are some archaeologists
who believe
572
00:29:07,837 --> 00:29:10,910
that explanation
isn't quite good enough.
573
00:29:11,010 --> 00:29:14,249
And one reason is that,
as it turns out,
574
00:29:14,282 --> 00:29:19,828
erdstalls aren't only being
found in Germany and Austria.
575
00:29:19,927 --> 00:29:25,104
People are discovering them
all over Europe.
576
00:29:25,138 --> 00:29:28,679
BAHN:
There are similar tunnels
in many parts of Europe.
577
00:29:28,912 --> 00:29:31,985
Even Israel has some,
but it's very, very difficult
578
00:29:32,052 --> 00:29:35,860
to see any kind of linking, uh,
phenomenon between them.
579
00:29:35,959 --> 00:29:39,099
Perhaps there was
some widespread belief
580
00:29:39,266 --> 00:29:40,903
that we know nothing about,
581
00:29:41,003 --> 00:29:44,443
because they were
clearly of great importance.
582
00:29:44,543 --> 00:29:46,214
TREISTER:
Humans have been able
to-to chisel
583
00:29:46,346 --> 00:29:49,086
into stone
for thousands of years.
584
00:29:49,186 --> 00:29:52,860
There's probably
countless structures
585
00:29:52,927 --> 00:29:56,568
throughout the ancient world
that are in places
586
00:29:56,568 --> 00:29:56,668
throughout the ancient world
that are in places
where we just don't know
that they exist.
587
00:29:56,668 --> 00:29:59,941
where we just don't know
that they exist.
588
00:30:01,310 --> 00:30:03,548
The discovery
of ancient underground tunnels
589
00:30:03,548 --> 00:30:03,549
The discovery
of ancient underground tunnels
beneath buildings and even
people's homes all over Europe
590
00:30:03,549 --> 00:30:07,522
beneath buildings and even
people's homes all over Europe
591
00:30:07,556 --> 00:30:11,230
is proof that ruins can
be found in unexpected places.
592
00:30:11,363 --> 00:30:13,067
In fact, there are
those who believe
593
00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:15,538
that there are
ancient structures
594
00:30:15,606 --> 00:30:19,446
located in areas
that you might never imagine,
595
00:30:19,479 --> 00:30:24,289
including the least hospitable
place on Earth: Antarctica.
596
00:30:27,328 --> 00:30:28,799
SHATNER:
On the bottom of our planet
597
00:30:28,932 --> 00:30:31,303
lies the frigid land
of Antarctica,
598
00:30:31,403 --> 00:30:34,543
the coldest and most
inhospitable continent
599
00:30:34,543 --> 00:30:35,979
in the world.
600
00:30:36,046 --> 00:30:39,086
Stretching over
five million square miles,
601
00:30:39,186 --> 00:30:41,758
Antarctica is covered
in ice sheets
602
00:30:41,891 --> 00:30:44,163
that reach more
than a mile deep.
603
00:30:44,196 --> 00:30:48,872
The average daily temperature
is -49 degrees Fahrenheit,
604
00:30:48,939 --> 00:30:52,580
and wind speeds can reach
over 100 miles per hour.
605
00:30:52,646 --> 00:30:56,555
Today, the only inhabitants
of this barren landscape
606
00:30:56,621 --> 00:31:00,061
are scientists who work
in research stations
607
00:31:00,228 --> 00:31:02,600
scattered across the continent.
608
00:31:02,633 --> 00:31:06,340
Mainstream geologists have long
believed that ancient humans
609
00:31:06,373 --> 00:31:10,883
never settled on Antarctica
because of its hostile climate.
610
00:31:11,083 --> 00:31:14,591
But incredibly, in 2016,
611
00:31:14,690 --> 00:31:17,663
satellite images
revealed a curious formation
612
00:31:17,663 --> 00:31:17,697
satellite images
revealed a curious formation
emerging from the ice
613
00:31:17,697 --> 00:31:20,837
emerging from the ice
614
00:31:20,969 --> 00:31:23,374
that some researchers
believe could be
615
00:31:23,374 --> 00:31:23,408
that some researchers
believe could be
a man-made pyramid.
616
00:31:23,408 --> 00:31:27,048
a man-made pyramid.
617
00:31:27,115 --> 00:31:30,322
COLLINS:
Recently, there have been
a number of reports
618
00:31:30,388 --> 00:31:35,298
of pyramids, huge, great
pyramids, in Antarctica.
619
00:31:35,431 --> 00:31:38,471
They jut out
of the ice and snow,
620
00:31:38,537 --> 00:31:42,746
and they look perfect,
just like those in Egypt.
621
00:31:42,980 --> 00:31:47,824
But they dwarf those in Egypt,
like the Great Pyramid.
622
00:31:47,990 --> 00:31:51,296
One has a perfectly square base
623
00:31:51,396 --> 00:31:55,038
that is two kilometers square
in each direction.
624
00:31:55,137 --> 00:31:59,246
Is it possible, therefore,
that our ancestors
625
00:31:59,346 --> 00:32:03,287
did actually reach
the Antarctic continent
626
00:32:03,420 --> 00:32:05,626
and perhaps even settle there?
627
00:32:05,692 --> 00:32:10,468
SHATNER:
A man-made pyramid
beneath the Antarctic ice?
628
00:32:10,569 --> 00:32:13,943
If such an incredible notion
is true,
629
00:32:14,042 --> 00:32:16,648
then it naturally
begs some questions.
630
00:32:16,681 --> 00:32:21,925
How was such a massive structure
built on Antarctica?
631
00:32:22,058 --> 00:32:24,931
When was it done? And by whom?
632
00:32:25,164 --> 00:32:29,139
COLLINS:
Antarctica, we have been told
from the geologists,
633
00:32:29,206 --> 00:32:33,381
has been under ice
for many millions of years.
634
00:32:33,447 --> 00:32:37,155
However, there is evidence
that it could have been
635
00:32:37,255 --> 00:32:41,496
free of ice,
certainly in certain areas,
636
00:32:41,496 --> 00:32:41,530
free of ice,
certainly in certain areas,
until, perhaps, 4000 BC.
637
00:32:41,530 --> 00:32:45,104
until, perhaps, 4000 BC.
638
00:32:47,208 --> 00:32:51,049
There are a large number
of stories from Polynesia
639
00:32:51,183 --> 00:32:53,955
of so-called "culture heroes,"
640
00:32:54,089 --> 00:32:56,995
who reached
the Antarctic continent.
641
00:32:57,095 --> 00:33:01,370
A French academic
by the name of Argod
642
00:33:01,470 --> 00:33:03,908
put together
all of these different stories
643
00:33:04,042 --> 00:33:07,550
in a book
titled Out of Antarctica.
644
00:33:07,650 --> 00:33:12,058
The Polynesian peoples'
stories describe
645
00:33:12,158 --> 00:33:15,197
this strange land,
with these white rocks
646
00:33:15,264 --> 00:33:17,670
that come out of the water,
which are icebergs,
647
00:33:17,770 --> 00:33:23,081
and other creatures,
such as seals and penguins,
648
00:33:23,147 --> 00:33:25,619
and seem to describe an area
that we now know
649
00:33:25,619 --> 00:33:27,122
as Antarctica.
650
00:33:27,255 --> 00:33:30,996
The Polynesian peoples believed
651
00:33:31,096 --> 00:33:33,568
this was the place
of the ancestors.
652
00:33:33,635 --> 00:33:36,975
And they said, this is where,
uh, we came from originally.
653
00:33:37,075 --> 00:33:41,585
Why did they believe this
if this was untrue?
654
00:33:41,618 --> 00:33:46,695
SHATNER:
Is it really possible
that the coldest place on Earth
655
00:33:46,794 --> 00:33:49,901
was once warm enough
to be inhabited by humans?
656
00:33:50,134 --> 00:33:51,370
Well,
657
00:33:51,436 --> 00:33:56,080
in 2017, German geologists
collected core samples
658
00:33:56,113 --> 00:33:59,286
from deep within
the frozen Antarctic seafloor
659
00:33:59,386 --> 00:34:02,025
in order to analyze
what the continent's climate
660
00:34:02,125 --> 00:34:05,298
might have been like
thousands of years ago.
661
00:34:05,398 --> 00:34:09,874
What they discovered
was astonishing.
662
00:34:10,141 --> 00:34:15,185
JOHANN KLAGES:
In the case of that
expedition in early 2017,
663
00:34:15,284 --> 00:34:18,390
we used a very special
seafloor drill rig
664
00:34:18,457 --> 00:34:21,698
that, uh, hasn't been used
before in Antarctica.
665
00:34:21,831 --> 00:34:25,606
So when we used
this special drill rig
666
00:34:25,706 --> 00:34:29,446
and the sediments came up,
we saw immediately
667
00:34:29,547 --> 00:34:34,389
more than 60 different
taxa of plants.
668
00:34:34,422 --> 00:34:38,565
Similar to something that
you would find in a rain forest,
669
00:34:38,665 --> 00:34:43,241
in a temperature regime
that was similar
670
00:34:43,340 --> 00:34:47,282
to what we today
know from Northern Italy.
671
00:34:47,382 --> 00:34:52,926
And finding that
on the Antarctic continent--
672
00:34:52,926 --> 00:34:52,993
And finding that
on the Antarctic continent--
that was the most
exciting thing.
673
00:34:52,993 --> 00:34:55,098
that was the most
exciting thing.
674
00:34:55,231 --> 00:34:58,404
Because the climatic conditions
675
00:34:58,537 --> 00:35:01,477
doesn't today allow
any vegetation
676
00:35:01,611 --> 00:35:03,581
to survive
under those conditions.
677
00:35:03,581 --> 00:35:03,582
to survive
under those conditions.
So, based on that location
and the environment we found,
678
00:35:03,582 --> 00:35:08,592
So, based on that location
and the environment we found,
679
00:35:08,658 --> 00:35:12,499
I think that the Antarctic
continent and the secrets
680
00:35:12,633 --> 00:35:15,138
that still need to be recovered
681
00:35:15,237 --> 00:35:18,878
will tell us a lot
about planet Earth.
682
00:35:18,945 --> 00:35:23,888
SHATNER:
Was Antarctica once
a tropical rain forest
683
00:35:23,888 --> 00:35:23,889
SHATNER:
Was Antarctica once
a tropical rain forest
where people lived?
684
00:35:23,889 --> 00:35:26,360
where people lived?
685
00:35:26,526 --> 00:35:28,331
It may sound impossible,
686
00:35:28,430 --> 00:35:30,902
but some scientists
have suggested a theory
687
00:35:30,902 --> 00:35:30,969
but some scientists
have suggested a theory
that might offer an explanation.
688
00:35:30,969 --> 00:35:33,608
that might offer an explanation.
689
00:35:33,641 --> 00:35:37,750
They claim that it's possible
that the continent of Antarctica
690
00:35:37,750 --> 00:35:37,816
They claim that it's possible
that the continent of Antarctica
wasn't always at the South Pole,
691
00:35:37,816 --> 00:35:40,288
wasn't always at the South Pole,
692
00:35:40,388 --> 00:35:44,229
but rather that it
shifted there over time.
693
00:35:44,295 --> 00:35:45,932
CARLOTTO:
The idea of pole shifts
was proposed
694
00:35:45,932 --> 00:35:45,999
CARLOTTO:
The idea of pole shifts
was proposed
by Charles Hapgood in the 1950s.
695
00:35:45,999 --> 00:35:49,173
by Charles Hapgood in the 1950s.
696
00:35:49,406 --> 00:35:52,880
Hapgood was a science teacher,
a professor in New Hampshire,
697
00:35:52,913 --> 00:35:57,121
and he published a book called
the Earth's Shifting Crust
698
00:35:57,321 --> 00:35:58,758
in the 1950s.
699
00:35:58,758 --> 00:35:58,792
in the 1950s.
And what Hapgood proposed
700
00:35:58,792 --> 00:36:01,330
And what Hapgood proposed
701
00:36:01,430 --> 00:36:04,069
was that the geographic pole
will change.
702
00:36:04,269 --> 00:36:05,973
In Hapgood's research,
703
00:36:06,239 --> 00:36:10,549
he proposed that the poles
shifted 18,000 years ago.
704
00:36:10,682 --> 00:36:12,386
And the way it changes is that
705
00:36:12,518 --> 00:36:14,757
the whole crust
of the Earth changes.
706
00:36:14,824 --> 00:36:19,934
It slips, sort of like
an orange skin over an orange.
707
00:36:19,934 --> 00:36:19,968
It slips, sort of like
an orange skin over an orange.
If Hapgood's theory is correct,
708
00:36:19,968 --> 00:36:21,838
If Hapgood's theory is correct,
709
00:36:21,938 --> 00:36:25,445
Antarctica would have been
not at the South Pole
710
00:36:25,478 --> 00:36:28,317
but would have been shifted to
a much more temperate climate,
711
00:36:28,450 --> 00:36:31,457
like New Zealand
or South Africa.
712
00:36:31,557 --> 00:36:34,262
It's possible
that there could have been
713
00:36:34,329 --> 00:36:38,370
an ancient civilization
long ago when Antarctica
714
00:36:38,437 --> 00:36:42,813
was in a more temperate, uh,
climate and was habitable.
715
00:36:42,813 --> 00:36:42,847
was in a more temperate, uh,
climate and was habitable.
COLLINS:
Is it possible
716
00:36:42,847 --> 00:36:44,984
COLLINS:
Is it possible
717
00:36:45,284 --> 00:36:50,028
that such a pyramid
could actually be in Antarctica?
718
00:36:50,261 --> 00:36:54,502
We are now getting slim pieces
of evidence that are telling us
719
00:36:54,637 --> 00:36:59,079
that it was occupied
in the past.
720
00:36:59,345 --> 00:37:03,020
All of these are clues that will
give us more information
721
00:37:03,020 --> 00:37:03,086
All of these are clues that will
give us more information
about the people of the past,
722
00:37:03,086 --> 00:37:05,358
about the people of the past,
723
00:37:05,457 --> 00:37:09,567
and the greater antiquity
of the human race.
724
00:37:09,600 --> 00:37:13,809
If it was ever proven that there
really is an ancient pyramid
725
00:37:13,908 --> 00:37:17,349
on Antarctica,
that could very well be
726
00:37:17,448 --> 00:37:20,254
the most extraordinary structure
ever found.
727
00:37:20,421 --> 00:37:22,325
But there are other ruins
728
00:37:22,458 --> 00:37:24,564
that, while they may seem
more ordinary,
729
00:37:24,730 --> 00:37:26,500
are no less baffling.
730
00:37:26,601 --> 00:37:29,473
For instance,
a seemingly unremarkable series
731
00:37:29,573 --> 00:37:32,713
of stone buildings
off the coast of Scotland
732
00:37:32,746 --> 00:37:36,754
that left behind a mystery
we may never be able to solve.
733
00:37:39,627 --> 00:37:42,766
SHATNER:
The Orkney Islands, Scotland.
734
00:37:43,801 --> 00:37:46,039
This rocky archipelago
735
00:37:46,039 --> 00:37:46,106
This rocky archipelago
off the coast of Great Britain
736
00:37:46,106 --> 00:37:47,777
off the coast of Great Britain
737
00:37:47,910 --> 00:37:50,916
is home to well-preserved
Stone Age ruins
738
00:37:50,916 --> 00:37:50,950
is home to well-preserved
Stone Age ruins
known as Skara Brae.
739
00:37:50,950 --> 00:37:54,791
known as Skara Brae.
740
00:37:54,890 --> 00:37:57,696
Skara Brae
was discovered in 1850,
741
00:37:57,796 --> 00:38:03,340
after a storm revealed
these ancient ruins.
742
00:38:03,407 --> 00:38:06,079
COLLINS:
This storm moved
a whole load of sand
743
00:38:06,079 --> 00:38:06,113
COLLINS:
This storm moved
a whole load of sand
away from a location,
744
00:38:06,113 --> 00:38:08,952
away from a location,
745
00:38:09,052 --> 00:38:14,329
revealing an entire
Neolithic village
746
00:38:14,529 --> 00:38:15,999
perfectly preserved,
747
00:38:16,066 --> 00:38:20,742
as if this is how
it was left 5,000 years ago.
748
00:38:20,809 --> 00:38:25,317
It was like something
out of The Flintstones,
749
00:38:25,417 --> 00:38:30,428
with these rooms
containing stone chairs,
750
00:38:30,527 --> 00:38:35,004
stone beds, stone cupboards
and mantelpieces.
751
00:38:35,070 --> 00:38:39,547
SHATNER:
Constructed around
the year 3000 BC,
752
00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:42,385
Skara Brae is believed
to be older
753
00:38:42,552 --> 00:38:44,657
than the Great Pyramid of Giza.
754
00:38:44,690 --> 00:38:49,032
However, further excavations
showed an astonishing connection
755
00:38:49,098 --> 00:38:54,910
between Skara Brae and the
mysterious ancient stone circles
756
00:38:54,977 --> 00:38:58,752
that can be found throughout
Great Britain and Ireland.
757
00:38:58,851 --> 00:39:02,459
The culture responsible
for Skara Brae
758
00:39:02,559 --> 00:39:04,563
are known
as the Grooved ware people,
759
00:39:04,597 --> 00:39:09,539
due to a very specific type
of pottery that they created.
760
00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:13,548
And if you go to somewhere
like Stonehenge,
761
00:39:13,615 --> 00:39:18,324
they found examples
of ceramics that are identical
762
00:39:18,457 --> 00:39:21,931
to those that were found
at Skara Brae.
763
00:39:22,064 --> 00:39:24,002
And that in itself
is significant,
764
00:39:24,002 --> 00:39:24,035
And that in itself
is significant,
because it's very clear
765
00:39:24,035 --> 00:39:26,674
because it's very clear
766
00:39:26,741 --> 00:39:30,414
that the people on Orkney
were gradually spreading out
767
00:39:30,582 --> 00:39:32,620
to cover the whole of Britain,
768
00:39:32,719 --> 00:39:35,525
building stone circles
all over the country.
769
00:39:35,725 --> 00:39:39,465
Stonehenge, Avebury,
770
00:39:39,600 --> 00:39:42,405
Anglesey, Newgrange in Ireland--
771
00:39:42,471 --> 00:39:46,781
all of these were
the product of the culture
772
00:39:46,881 --> 00:39:49,953
that originally started
with Skara Brae.
773
00:39:51,523 --> 00:39:53,126
GRAHAM PHILIPS:
These huge stone circles
774
00:39:53,126 --> 00:39:53,160
GRAHAM PHILIPS:
These huge stone circles
obviously had some sort
775
00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,999
obviously had some sort
776
00:39:56,099 --> 00:39:59,607
of special significance
to the builders.
777
00:39:59,673 --> 00:40:02,411
But they didn't have any form
of writing to tell us
778
00:40:02,511 --> 00:40:04,617
why they were building
stone circles.
779
00:40:04,750 --> 00:40:06,921
And so, the only way that we can
780
00:40:07,021 --> 00:40:11,129
reconstruct what
these people were doing
781
00:40:11,162 --> 00:40:15,872
and the thinking behind it
is by what they left behind.
782
00:40:15,939 --> 00:40:20,014
These big megalithic complexes
that were built
783
00:40:20,114 --> 00:40:23,855
to exactly the same formula,
and it all began
784
00:40:23,955 --> 00:40:28,464
on the Orkney Isles,
and we don't know why.
785
00:40:28,698 --> 00:40:31,838
SHATNER:
Will we ever learn
what motivated the inhabitants
786
00:40:31,904 --> 00:40:36,614
of Skara Brae to build
such elaborate stone circles?
787
00:40:36,747 --> 00:40:38,785
It's questions like these
788
00:40:38,851 --> 00:40:42,491
that keep archaeologists
digging all over the world,
789
00:40:42,592 --> 00:40:45,965
in order to learn more
about our ancestors
790
00:40:46,066 --> 00:40:51,477
and the mysterious structures
they left behind.
791
00:40:51,610 --> 00:40:53,513
There are vast areas
of the world,
792
00:40:53,614 --> 00:40:56,486
vast parts of Asia and Africa,
for example,
793
00:40:56,554 --> 00:40:59,225
that are barely touched
by archaeology even now.
794
00:40:59,292 --> 00:41:02,900
And there will certainly be
all kinds of surprises,
795
00:41:02,966 --> 00:41:06,407
and endless strange things
coming out of these areas
796
00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:10,548
which will completely change our
view of that period of the past.
797
00:41:10,715 --> 00:41:12,451
NEWMAN: It does seem that
798
00:41:12,586 --> 00:41:14,724
the deeper we dig into our past,
799
00:41:14,823 --> 00:41:17,461
we are finding things
that we can't explain.
800
00:41:17,696 --> 00:41:22,640
Sites and temples that shouldn't
have been around at that time.
801
00:41:22,706 --> 00:41:25,244
And the further we explore,
the mystery just gets
802
00:41:25,244 --> 00:41:27,616
deeper and deeper.
803
00:41:27,716 --> 00:41:31,591
Whether it's lost pyramids
or abandoned tunnels
804
00:41:31,724 --> 00:41:33,928
or baffling stone artifacts,
805
00:41:34,028 --> 00:41:36,166
ancient structures have
the uncanny power
806
00:41:36,266 --> 00:41:40,174
to capture our curiosity,
and keep us wondering
807
00:41:40,174 --> 00:41:40,241
to capture our curiosity,
and keep us wondering
what secrets they might reveal.
808
00:41:40,241 --> 00:41:42,613
what secrets they might reveal.
809
00:41:42,746 --> 00:41:44,984
But no matter
how much time or effort
810
00:41:45,117 --> 00:41:46,721
we spend trying
to find and study
811
00:41:46,854 --> 00:41:50,762
and understand mysterious ruins,
812
00:41:50,862 --> 00:41:52,999
like many things from our past,
they remain...
813
00:41:52,999 --> 00:41:53,000
like many things from our past,
they remain...
unexplained.
814
00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:55,538
unexplained.
815
00:41:55,672 --> 00:41:57,174
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