1 00:00:03,900 --> 00:00:06,213 NARRATOR: Egypt, the richest source of 2 00:00:06,247 --> 00:00:09,078 archaeological treasures on the planet. 3 00:00:09,112 --> 00:00:11,873 SALIMA: Oh, that's a fabulous one. 4 00:00:14,290 --> 00:00:17,293 NARRATOR: Beneath this desert landscape, 5 00:00:18,018 --> 00:00:21,918 lie the secrets of this ancient civilization. 6 00:00:22,125 --> 00:00:25,784 WARD: Wow, you can see why the Pharaohs chose this place. 7 00:00:26,164 --> 00:00:29,546 NARRATOR: Now, for a full season of excavations, 8 00:00:29,581 --> 00:00:33,102 our cameras have unprecedented access 9 00:00:33,136 --> 00:00:37,692 to follow teams on the frontline of archaeology. 10 00:00:38,072 --> 00:00:40,868 ASHRAF: I'm driving so fast because I'm so excited. 11 00:00:41,938 --> 00:00:44,320 KATHLEEN: It's an entrance, we can see an entrance. 12 00:00:45,528 --> 00:00:48,220 NARRATOR: Revealing buried secrets... 13 00:00:48,255 --> 00:00:50,912 ANTONIO: I have just been told that they have found something. 14 00:00:51,327 --> 00:00:52,949 DON: Oh my gosh. 15 00:00:52,983 --> 00:00:56,090 WARD: A sphinx! 16 00:00:58,748 --> 00:01:02,924 NARRATOR: And making discoveries that could rewrite ancient history. 17 00:01:08,482 --> 00:01:13,314 This time, Egyptologists are in search of the secrets of the afterlife. 18 00:01:14,902 --> 00:01:19,286 Alejandro's team discovers a 4000 year-old sealed burial chamber... 19 00:01:19,803 --> 00:01:23,186 WOMAN: Oh my God! ALEJANDRO: Bingo! 20 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:27,501 NARRATOR: John and Colleen decode an ancient guide to the underworld... 21 00:01:28,053 --> 00:01:30,331 COLLEEN: The texts and the scenes and the hieroglyphs, 22 00:01:30,366 --> 00:01:33,472 all make this tomb a resurrection machine. 23 00:01:33,507 --> 00:01:36,337 NARRATOR: And Suzanne makes a shocking discovery. 24 00:01:36,372 --> 00:01:39,927 SUZANNE: Someone put their fist through in order to get into the cavity. 25 00:01:55,115 --> 00:01:56,875 NARRATOR: Ancient Egypt. 26 00:01:56,909 --> 00:02:00,741 One of the most sophisticated societies in history. 27 00:02:00,775 --> 00:02:04,848 The Egyptians built the great pyramids and giant temples, 28 00:02:04,883 --> 00:02:07,472 driven by one obsession: 29 00:02:08,576 --> 00:02:12,787 They dedicated their entire lives to preparing for death. 30 00:02:15,342 --> 00:02:19,173 For centuries, archaeologists have been trying to decode 31 00:02:19,208 --> 00:02:21,520 the rituals and techniques that 32 00:02:21,555 --> 00:02:25,145 the ancient Egyptians used to enter the afterlife. 33 00:02:31,185 --> 00:02:36,121 Dr. Colleen and Professor John Darnell are heading to the Valley of the Kings. 34 00:02:36,708 --> 00:02:39,918 JOHN: We're interested in the study and the understanding of the past 35 00:02:39,952 --> 00:02:42,852 and bringing it into the present, really making it live again. 36 00:02:44,509 --> 00:02:48,409 There is as of yet no real substitute for the field work. 37 00:02:50,894 --> 00:02:53,690 NARRATOR: For the past 250 years, the Valley 38 00:02:53,725 --> 00:02:57,177 has attracted generations of archaeologists. 39 00:02:57,591 --> 00:03:00,490 The 19th century was a prolific time. 40 00:03:00,525 --> 00:03:03,873 Archeologists discovered over 40 tombs, each revealing 41 00:03:03,907 --> 00:03:07,290 more clues about the ancient Egyptian afterlife. 42 00:03:07,739 --> 00:03:10,638 COLLEEN: The sky is so blue today. 43 00:03:10,673 --> 00:03:15,125 NARRATOR: In 1817, one explorer uncovered something remarkable, 44 00:03:15,816 --> 00:03:18,336 the Tomb of King Seti the First. 45 00:03:18,370 --> 00:03:21,097 [speaking Arabic]. 46 00:03:22,754 --> 00:03:25,205 COLLEEN: To understand the ancient Egyptian afterlife, 47 00:03:25,239 --> 00:03:28,691 you have to study the hieroglyphic text and scenes. 48 00:03:28,725 --> 00:03:32,626 And the tomb of Seti the first is perfect for understanding the 49 00:03:32,660 --> 00:03:35,905 foundations of the Egyptian belief in the afterlife. 50 00:03:39,011 --> 00:03:41,704 NARRATOR: Beneath the Valley of the Kings, 51 00:03:42,946 --> 00:03:47,434 Seti's tomb stretches 450 feet down into the mountain. 52 00:03:50,126 --> 00:03:53,681 It's the deepest tomb in the Valley. 53 00:03:56,512 --> 00:03:59,963 Artists decorated ten chambers, 54 00:04:00,378 --> 00:04:02,725 and seven ornate corridors, 55 00:04:02,759 --> 00:04:05,728 with elaborate scenes. 56 00:04:09,283 --> 00:04:12,873 These paintings, combined with this immense tomb, 57 00:04:12,907 --> 00:04:15,324 played a crucial role in the survival of 58 00:04:15,358 --> 00:04:18,637 the Pharaoh's soul after death. 59 00:04:30,546 --> 00:04:33,134 COLLEEN: Wow! 60 00:04:33,169 --> 00:04:37,932 It's incredible to see how well preserved all the hieroglyphs are. 61 00:04:39,658 --> 00:04:43,697 NARRATOR: The discovery of Seti's tomb was a turning point in Egyptology. 62 00:04:44,767 --> 00:04:49,289 At the time, experts were just learning to decode hieroglyphic text, 63 00:04:49,323 --> 00:04:53,534 and this tomb gave up a wealth of secrets. 64 00:04:53,569 --> 00:04:56,675 They found the structure of the tomb itself played a role 65 00:04:56,710 --> 00:05:01,093 in guiding the Pharaoh down to the underworld. 66 00:05:01,128 --> 00:05:03,337 JOHN: This descending passageway is probably 67 00:05:03,372 --> 00:05:06,202 one of the most important elements of the tomb. 68 00:05:06,236 --> 00:05:11,345 We have depicted on the walls a text that shows and describes 69 00:05:11,380 --> 00:05:16,350 the sloping passage down that would propel the dead 70 00:05:16,385 --> 00:05:19,077 into the other world. 71 00:05:19,388 --> 00:05:22,460 COLLEEN: The tomb of Seti the first is so deep in the cliffs, 72 00:05:22,494 --> 00:05:26,464 it perfectly mimics the architecture of the netherworld. 73 00:05:28,155 --> 00:05:32,780 NARRATOR: Seti the First reigned for 11 years, expanding his empire by 74 00:05:32,815 --> 00:05:36,577 crushing Middle Eastern and African rivals. 75 00:05:37,164 --> 00:05:41,789 He died unexpectedly in his 30s, but despite this, 76 00:05:41,824 --> 00:05:45,966 Seti's preparations for the afterlife were exceptional. 77 00:05:47,830 --> 00:05:52,973 He poured his wealth and power into building the most elaborate tomb in the Valley, 78 00:05:53,007 --> 00:05:55,665 and quickly too. 79 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:59,497 COLLEEN: It's really important to keep in mind that this entire tomb 80 00:05:59,531 --> 00:06:03,570 was excavated, decorated, painted in 12 years. 81 00:06:06,504 --> 00:06:10,162 NARRATOR: Scribes wrote entire books on these walls, 82 00:06:10,197 --> 00:06:14,097 instructions that would help Seti make it through the underworld. 83 00:06:15,961 --> 00:06:20,414 COLLEEN: "Calling This Great God by 84 00:06:20,449 --> 00:06:23,935 The Netherwordly Gods." 85 00:06:23,969 --> 00:06:27,283 And that's exactly what we see depicted here, the Sun, 86 00:06:27,317 --> 00:06:30,631 this great God as they refer in the hieroglyphic text, 87 00:06:30,666 --> 00:06:35,360 being hauled by, and the hieroglyphs are even repeated here. 88 00:06:35,395 --> 00:06:37,707 [speaking Ancient Egyptian]. 89 00:06:37,742 --> 00:06:40,400 the Netherwordly Gods. 90 00:06:42,298 --> 00:06:47,234 NARRATOR: The images on these walls reveal Seti the First's map through the afterlife. 91 00:06:50,755 --> 00:06:54,414 The ancient Egyptians believed immorality could be achieved 92 00:06:54,448 --> 00:06:57,209 by following the Sun God, Ra, 93 00:06:57,244 --> 00:07:00,212 who was born in the East every day, 94 00:07:00,247 --> 00:07:04,216 and died every night and entered the underworld. 95 00:07:05,390 --> 00:07:08,980 If Seti's soul could successfully navigate the treacherous underworld 96 00:07:09,014 --> 00:07:15,365 with the Sun God, he too would be reborn again every morning in an eternal cycle. 97 00:07:16,677 --> 00:07:20,094 So, his tomb contained all the tools and detailed 98 00:07:20,129 --> 00:07:23,477 instructions for the perilous journey. 99 00:07:33,142 --> 00:07:35,938 COLLEEN: We have arguably one of the best examples 100 00:07:35,972 --> 00:07:39,976 of transitioning into the afterlife. 101 00:07:41,219 --> 00:07:45,119 NARRATOR: Hidden in the inscriptions, Colleen finds evidence that it's not only 102 00:07:45,154 --> 00:07:49,261 Pharaohs who can make this journey into the Netherworld. 103 00:07:49,296 --> 00:07:51,781 COLLEEN: Here people from the North East of Egypt, 104 00:07:51,816 --> 00:07:55,785 Nubians from the South Libyans from the West. 105 00:07:55,820 --> 00:07:58,685 Apparently, no matter where you came from, 106 00:07:58,719 --> 00:08:01,377 you could enjoy the same blessed afterlife 107 00:08:01,411 --> 00:08:04,173 as even the Pharaoh of Egypt. 108 00:08:04,207 --> 00:08:07,901 NARRATOR: But to find out how Seti would transition into the afterlife, 109 00:08:07,935 --> 00:08:10,179 the Darnell's will need to decode 110 00:08:10,213 --> 00:08:14,355 the inscriptions inside the burial chamber itself. 111 00:08:17,738 --> 00:08:21,811 140 miles south of the Valley of the Kings in Aswan, 112 00:08:24,434 --> 00:08:26,367 a Spanish archaeological team 113 00:08:26,402 --> 00:08:30,130 is excavating another ancient necropolis. 114 00:08:31,925 --> 00:08:36,930 Qubbet El-Hawa was a burial site for elite members of society. 115 00:08:38,483 --> 00:08:43,937 These 4,500 year-old tombs offer vital clues into burial rituals, 116 00:08:44,489 --> 00:08:49,080 and how the ancient Egyptians prepared for the afterlife. 117 00:08:50,046 --> 00:08:53,705 It's the team's tenth season working here, 118 00:08:53,740 --> 00:08:56,743 but Egyptologist Martina Bardñová 119 00:08:56,777 --> 00:09:00,194 is still getting used to the 5:00 AM starts. 120 00:09:00,954 --> 00:09:05,752 MARTINA: I go to bed about midnight or 1:00 AM and now I have to switch. 121 00:09:06,822 --> 00:09:10,584 It's another kind of jet lag about it, the working jetlag. 122 00:09:11,723 --> 00:09:14,554 You are here because you love the job, so that's it. 123 00:09:14,588 --> 00:09:16,763 You wake up. 124 00:09:24,633 --> 00:09:28,568 NARRATOR: This season, Martina is focusing on a new tomb. 125 00:09:34,746 --> 00:09:38,439 NARRATOR: She hopes this shaft might lead to a burial chamber. 126 00:09:53,869 --> 00:09:58,321 NARRATOR: Termites are only found near a food source, usually wood. 127 00:09:58,632 --> 00:10:03,223 So, these insects are a sign there may be something behind the rock wall. 128 00:10:09,056 --> 00:10:14,268 Across the hill, Martina's Mission Director, Professor Alejandro Jimenez-Serrano, 129 00:10:14,683 --> 00:10:16,823 is taking a break. 130 00:10:18,548 --> 00:10:20,792 ALEJANDRO: It probably is one of the best moments of the day. 131 00:10:33,633 --> 00:10:35,393 ALEJANDRO: Bingo! 132 00:10:37,395 --> 00:10:39,949 It seems that we have, uh, another intact chamber, uh, where Martina is digging. 133 00:10:43,470 --> 00:10:45,645 Let's go! 134 00:10:48,993 --> 00:10:52,652 NARRATOR: Robbers have ransacked Egyptian tombs for millennia, 135 00:10:52,686 --> 00:10:54,619 so finding an untouched tomb 136 00:10:54,654 --> 00:10:57,622 would be an exceptional discovery for the team. 137 00:10:59,555 --> 00:11:03,421 [speaking Arabic]. 138 00:11:06,389 --> 00:11:10,083 ALEJANDRO: Ah-ha-ah-ho. Can I step on here? 139 00:11:10,117 --> 00:11:12,672 MARTINA: Yes, you can. This is okay. 140 00:11:26,996 --> 00:11:29,619 NARRATOR: If this is an intact chamber, 141 00:11:29,654 --> 00:11:33,175 it could contain mummies and burial offerings. 142 00:11:33,209 --> 00:11:38,732 ALEJANDRO: Nobody in the last 4,000 years has seen what is behind this wall. 143 00:11:47,016 --> 00:11:49,743 NARRATOR: Alejandro now faces a challenge: 144 00:11:49,778 --> 00:11:53,609 He can't risk smashing open the wall to the burial chamber, 145 00:11:53,643 --> 00:11:57,578 there may be precious artifacts behind it. 146 00:11:57,613 --> 00:12:00,133 ALEJANDRO: Tell Jose to bring the computer and the camera. 147 00:12:00,167 --> 00:12:03,101 NARRATOR: But he does have a plan! 148 00:12:06,726 --> 00:12:11,731 ALEJANDRO: This big drill we use to inspect before opening any inter-chamber 149 00:12:12,041 --> 00:12:14,941 because we do not know what we are going to find. 150 00:12:15,527 --> 00:12:19,393 NARRATOR: He thinks it's about 16 inches thick. 151 00:12:24,571 --> 00:12:27,436 ALEJANDRO: It seems easy but it's not. 152 00:12:30,197 --> 00:12:31,405 Uh, Jose. 153 00:13:24,562 --> 00:13:25,908 MARTINA: Yeah. 154 00:13:27,530 --> 00:13:29,429 NARRATOR: Alejandro can't see how far this chamber extends, 155 00:13:30,085 --> 00:13:33,640 there could be tons more debris to remove. 156 00:13:38,231 --> 00:13:40,164 In the Valley of the Kings, 157 00:13:40,198 --> 00:13:43,167 Swiss Egyptologist Professor Susanne Bickel 158 00:13:43,201 --> 00:13:46,446 is returning for her tenth dig season. 159 00:13:46,860 --> 00:13:49,345 Today, the team is reopening a tomb 160 00:13:49,380 --> 00:13:54,005 last excavated in the 1970s, tomb number 61. 161 00:13:54,592 --> 00:13:58,320 SUSANNE: There's a certain excitement, a certain expectation. 162 00:13:59,390 --> 00:14:02,600 NARRATOR: Susanne hopes to find the original owner of the tomb. 163 00:14:03,256 --> 00:14:06,362 It could shed new light on how ancient engineers 164 00:14:06,397 --> 00:14:10,194 tried to propel the dead into the underworld. 165 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,613 SUSANNE: Oh, this one is not very good. 166 00:14:16,717 --> 00:14:21,412 Extremely small, and clearly not finished. 167 00:14:22,344 --> 00:14:26,382 It is just in the middle of being prepared. 168 00:14:26,417 --> 00:14:30,317 Now why did they not finish it? 169 00:14:35,564 --> 00:14:39,602 As long as you don't touch it, it doesn't move by its own. 170 00:14:39,637 --> 00:14:44,193 But erm, err, oops, oh it does. 171 00:14:46,264 --> 00:14:50,648 But I think getting out would be a good thing. 172 00:14:50,682 --> 00:14:54,238 The whole package will come down. 173 00:14:54,721 --> 00:14:57,724 It's really bad. 174 00:14:59,174 --> 00:15:02,073 NARRATOR: The team must now try to make the tomb safe, 175 00:15:02,108 --> 00:15:05,007 before they continue excavations. 176 00:15:08,355 --> 00:15:12,635 Professor Bickel has excavated 11 tombs across the Valley. 177 00:15:13,015 --> 00:15:17,261 In the onsite lab, her team is documenting and analyzing their finds, 178 00:15:17,502 --> 00:15:20,367 including human remains. 179 00:15:20,402 --> 00:15:24,164 SALIMA: Now that's great. That's a fabulous one. 180 00:15:24,199 --> 00:15:27,547 NARRATOR: Professor Salima Ikram, from the American University in Cairo, 181 00:15:27,581 --> 00:15:30,826 is an expert in mummification. 182 00:15:30,860 --> 00:15:33,587 She's investigating how Egyptians prepared for 183 00:15:33,622 --> 00:15:36,936 the afterlife by performing this technique. 184 00:15:37,419 --> 00:15:40,698 SALIMA: There are certain things that we already know about mummification from 185 00:15:40,732 --> 00:15:43,804 different periods, but of course it's a learning process. 186 00:15:48,085 --> 00:15:49,362 1, 2... 187 00:15:49,396 --> 00:15:50,777 WOMAN: Yeah. 188 00:15:50,811 --> 00:15:52,606 SALIMA: And see over here how this goes under. 189 00:15:52,641 --> 00:15:57,232 I think they wrapped the toes separately and then they put 190 00:15:57,577 --> 00:16:00,511 a bigger piece of textile on it, 191 00:16:00,545 --> 00:16:02,271 and then they wrapped it together. 192 00:16:02,306 --> 00:16:03,997 WOMAN: Yeah. 193 00:16:04,032 --> 00:16:06,586 NARRATOR: These body parts provide vital new evidence 194 00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:10,521 on how mummification techniques evolved over time. 195 00:16:11,039 --> 00:16:13,765 SALIMA: The embalmers didn't always stick to hard and fast rules 196 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:17,597 because sometimes things would be trendy for a while, 197 00:16:17,631 --> 00:16:19,806 they'd die out, then they'd come back. 198 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,809 You would get different styles of mummification. 199 00:16:24,052 --> 00:16:27,020 NARRATOR: The ancient Egyptians believed that after death, 200 00:16:27,055 --> 00:16:29,989 the soul needed to return to the body. 201 00:16:30,230 --> 00:16:32,163 But if the corpse decayed, 202 00:16:32,198 --> 00:16:36,616 it would become unrecognizable and the soul would be lost for eternity. 203 00:16:36,650 --> 00:16:40,516 So, the embalmers mummified the elite of Egypt. 204 00:16:40,551 --> 00:16:44,762 They ritually washed the deceased, then removed internal organs, 205 00:16:45,004 --> 00:16:49,008 and used bundles of salt to dry out the corpse. 206 00:16:49,836 --> 00:16:54,151 They removed the brain through the nose, but they left the heart in place, 207 00:16:54,185 --> 00:16:58,017 where they believed the soul would live on. 208 00:16:58,396 --> 00:17:02,780 Finally, they wrapped the mummy in linen, and coated it in resins, 209 00:17:02,814 --> 00:17:07,267 to ensure its features would remain recognizable for eternity. 210 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:13,618 SALIMA: So, this is an excellent example of mummification 211 00:17:14,378 --> 00:17:18,382 where you can see that this leg looks, 212 00:17:18,416 --> 00:17:21,212 you know like a living fat leg and that's because 213 00:17:21,247 --> 00:17:24,871 they made cuts into the flesh and then stuffed it. 214 00:17:26,010 --> 00:17:29,255 They were making a statue of yourself, 215 00:17:29,289 --> 00:17:32,016 so after you're dead and you were being disembodied, 216 00:17:32,051 --> 00:17:34,605 you're all hollow cheeked and sunken, 217 00:17:34,639 --> 00:17:37,263 and this gives you your full body back and 218 00:17:37,297 --> 00:17:41,301 to make you in a more permanent and more statue-like better way. 219 00:17:46,444 --> 00:17:50,655 NARRATOR: After a day of excavation, Tomb 61 is now clear of rubble. 220 00:17:52,692 --> 00:17:57,904 It's safe for Egyptologist Elina to examine it up close. 221 00:17:58,801 --> 00:18:01,528 ELINA: I think they started and then they realized no, 222 00:18:01,563 --> 00:18:04,255 it's not safe to put any coffins in. 223 00:18:04,497 --> 00:18:09,018 And so, they haven't done, and they went away and looked maybe for another place. 224 00:18:14,265 --> 00:18:18,545 NARRATOR: Tombs needed to last for eternity in the afterlife. 225 00:18:18,580 --> 00:18:23,171 In some parts of the Valley, the fine-grained limestone was the perfect material, 226 00:18:25,552 --> 00:18:29,384 but flaky limestone like this is unstable. 227 00:18:30,005 --> 00:18:34,320 As sophisticated engineers, ancient tomb builders would have soon realized 228 00:18:34,354 --> 00:18:37,392 the site was unsuitable. 229 00:18:38,807 --> 00:18:41,534 With their excavation of the tomb complete, 230 00:18:41,568 --> 00:18:45,986 the Swiss team packs up and moves on to another site in the Valley. 231 00:18:50,094 --> 00:18:54,995 In Aswan, Martina's spent two days digging out this shaft, 232 00:18:55,444 --> 00:18:59,241 in the hope of finding an intact burial chamber. 233 00:19:02,451 --> 00:19:04,143 MAN: I've got down... 234 00:19:04,177 --> 00:19:06,283 MARTINA: No, no, no because its small, you are big. 235 00:19:10,079 --> 00:19:14,256 NARRATOR: Beyond the rocky debris, something catches Martina's eye. 236 00:19:35,277 --> 00:19:38,073 NARRATOR: What Martina first thought was a corridor, 237 00:19:38,107 --> 00:19:40,627 is actually the burial chamber. 238 00:20:11,417 --> 00:20:13,073 ALEJANDRO: This is the burial chamber. 239 00:20:13,108 --> 00:20:14,834 MARTINA: Yes its... 240 00:20:14,868 --> 00:20:17,354 ALEJANDRO: So, we have to proceed in a different way with much care. 241 00:20:17,388 --> 00:20:20,080 Congratulations! 242 00:20:21,668 --> 00:20:25,051 It's a very nice discovery because you have not documented any kind of err, 243 00:20:25,085 --> 00:20:26,949 burial like this. 244 00:20:26,984 --> 00:20:29,849 MARTINA: And he's not eaten by termites. 245 00:20:33,232 --> 00:20:36,165 NARRATOR: The coffin is extremely fragile. 246 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:39,721 Moving the rocks surrounding it could make it collapse, 247 00:20:39,755 --> 00:20:43,242 but it's the only way to see if there's a body inside. 248 00:20:43,932 --> 00:20:46,417 MARTINA: Okay, let's continue. 249 00:20:51,802 --> 00:20:56,289 NARRATOR: North of Qubbet el-Hawa is the necropolis of Qurna. 250 00:20:57,014 --> 00:21:01,052 It dates from 1500 BC. 251 00:21:01,087 --> 00:21:03,641 There are over 300 tombs here, 252 00:21:03,676 --> 00:21:07,542 the resting place of high-ranking ancient Egyptian officials. 253 00:21:08,577 --> 00:21:13,893 Egyptologist, Laurent Bavay has been excavating this tomb for the last eight years. 254 00:21:16,033 --> 00:21:19,001 At the bottom of a 60 foot deep shaft, 255 00:21:19,036 --> 00:21:21,763 he's made a remarkable discovery: 256 00:21:21,797 --> 00:21:27,044 A rare document called a papyrus, vital for the deceased in the underworld. 257 00:21:27,631 --> 00:21:32,049 LAURENT: Some of the fragments of this papyrus have been found in the room here. 258 00:21:34,293 --> 00:21:37,986 Other fragments have been found along the wall in the first room. 259 00:21:38,814 --> 00:21:42,059 The papyrus sat next to the body of the deceased in the coffin. 260 00:21:44,579 --> 00:21:48,859 NARRATOR: The tomb is now empty, and Laurent is piecing together the fragments, 261 00:21:48,893 --> 00:21:52,828 so he can analyze this mysterious text. 262 00:21:54,140 --> 00:21:57,454 LAURENT: We have here one of the, of the most interesting and exciting discoveries. 263 00:21:57,488 --> 00:22:01,320 A papyrus that is actually a book of the dead. 264 00:22:03,080 --> 00:22:07,256 NARRATOR: The Book of the Dead is an ancient travel guide through the underworld. 265 00:22:08,085 --> 00:22:10,777 LAURENT: This is the document that is placed in the coffin 266 00:22:10,812 --> 00:22:14,333 next to the mummy to be ready for use, 267 00:22:14,816 --> 00:22:19,890 like a GPS for a car, it will lead you through the way to your destination. 268 00:22:21,305 --> 00:22:27,207 NARRATOR: The images in this 3,500 year-old Book of the Dead depict crucial spells. 269 00:22:28,381 --> 00:22:31,488 These helped the deceased pass tests and challenges 270 00:22:31,522 --> 00:22:35,077 on their journey through the underworld. 271 00:22:35,906 --> 00:22:39,944 In life, ancient Egyptians could buy chapters of the book, 272 00:22:39,979 --> 00:22:43,707 to make up their own personal copies. 273 00:22:44,052 --> 00:22:47,745 LAURENT: There were workshops producing books of the dead, 274 00:22:47,780 --> 00:22:51,784 and then leaving in the column of text, 275 00:22:51,818 --> 00:22:56,098 they were leaving a blank, where the person would complete his name. 276 00:22:56,996 --> 00:23:01,552 this example is written for a woman, the title and name, Renena, 277 00:23:01,863 --> 00:23:06,246 mentioned here which in itself is very exceptional. 278 00:23:06,281 --> 00:23:10,354 She must have had a very important role in this, in this family. 279 00:23:11,459 --> 00:23:14,427 You never know what you will discover, 280 00:23:14,462 --> 00:23:18,293 and this makes the thrill of the work here in the field. 281 00:23:19,432 --> 00:23:23,436 NARRATOR: For Laurent, the most exciting phase is just beginning as 282 00:23:23,471 --> 00:23:26,750 his team prepares to analyze the text 283 00:23:26,784 --> 00:23:29,408 and publish their findings. 284 00:23:32,238 --> 00:23:35,655 In Aswan, at a cemetery for the rich and powerful, 285 00:23:35,690 --> 00:23:39,728 Martina is preparing to open her newly-discovered coffin. 286 00:23:42,041 --> 00:23:44,906 MARTINA: Well now I will take this, and I will see. 287 00:23:45,665 --> 00:23:49,220 We've pulled part of the coffin on the floor and so on, 288 00:23:49,255 --> 00:23:52,603 we don't want to break or whatever. 289 00:23:53,397 --> 00:23:56,987 NARRATOR: But first, Martina has to get to the tomb. 290 00:23:57,366 --> 00:24:00,784 A Saharan sandstorm is blowing in from the South, 291 00:24:00,818 --> 00:24:03,407 these can last up to five days. 292 00:24:16,903 --> 00:24:21,460 NARRATOR: The windspeed is picking up, so Martina makes the call to leave now. 293 00:24:42,619 --> 00:24:45,898 NARRATOR: As the sandstorm reaches gale-force, 294 00:24:45,932 --> 00:24:50,350 even the 600 foot journey to the burial shaft is a battle. 295 00:24:52,732 --> 00:24:54,734 MARTINA: Ouch! 296 00:24:57,530 --> 00:24:59,808 Oh no! 297 00:25:04,951 --> 00:25:08,196 ALEJANDRO: We are in a very risky moment because 298 00:25:08,230 --> 00:25:11,682 we have to extract the human remains 299 00:25:11,717 --> 00:25:13,926 and we want to continue. 300 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,274 NARRATOR: In the shelter of the tomb, the team can now 301 00:25:17,308 --> 00:25:20,519 carefully remove the lid of the terracotta coffin. 302 00:25:21,002 --> 00:25:23,211 MARTINA: It's very heavy. 303 00:25:23,245 --> 00:25:25,316 Oh my God! 304 00:25:25,351 --> 00:25:27,146 Careful, ay. 305 00:25:27,180 --> 00:25:28,561 [speaking Arabic]. 306 00:25:28,596 --> 00:25:31,184 Careful. 307 00:25:31,219 --> 00:25:36,880 NARRATOR: This is the first time anyone has seen inside the coffin for 4000 years. 308 00:25:37,639 --> 00:25:39,814 MARTINA: Careful. Oh my God! 309 00:25:51,653 --> 00:25:53,621 A very ugly Mummy. 310 00:25:53,655 --> 00:25:58,039 Well it's not mummy, it looks that it was simply put, but not well bandaged. 311 00:26:01,283 --> 00:26:04,459 NARRATOR: The terracotta coffin contains no mummy, 312 00:26:04,493 --> 00:26:08,636 but a skeleton shrouded in black material. 313 00:26:12,812 --> 00:26:17,472 As the sandstorm blows over, the team removes a single pot, 314 00:26:18,059 --> 00:26:20,820 the only object discovered with the body. 315 00:26:27,931 --> 00:26:32,694 NARRATOR: The team will now analyze the pot, to identify its contents. 316 00:26:32,936 --> 00:26:35,490 It may reveal crucial information about this 317 00:26:35,524 --> 00:26:39,252 person's preparations for the afterlife. 318 00:26:39,287 --> 00:26:41,841 ALEJANDRO: It's amazing. 319 00:26:42,670 --> 00:26:47,122 NARRATOR: This body's tattered remains suggest it was not fully mummified. 320 00:26:48,779 --> 00:26:54,060 So why in this necropolis for the rich and powerful, is there such a modest burial? 321 00:27:18,844 --> 00:27:22,882 NARRATOR: Just outside the Valley of the Kings, in Dra' Abu El-Naga, 322 00:27:25,505 --> 00:27:28,888 American Egyptologist Suzanne Onstine 323 00:27:28,923 --> 00:27:32,064 hopes studying mummification methods will reveal how the 324 00:27:32,098 --> 00:27:36,655 physical body would play a vital role in the afterlife. 325 00:27:38,208 --> 00:27:40,451 SUZANNE: Every day when I come into the tomb, 326 00:27:40,486 --> 00:27:44,697 I'm reminded of my responsibility for it so that we can 327 00:27:44,732 --> 00:27:49,219 consolidate and preserve what's there for future generations. 328 00:27:51,635 --> 00:27:56,398 NARRATOR: So far, Suzanne has found the remains of over 200 bodies here. 329 00:27:57,158 --> 00:27:59,436 SUZANNE: When a man named Paneshy and his wife Tarenu 330 00:27:59,470 --> 00:28:02,646 built the tomb they intended it just for them. 331 00:28:02,681 --> 00:28:07,202 But what we found is that about 1000 years of other people used the tomb 332 00:28:07,237 --> 00:28:10,481 for their place of burial as well. 333 00:28:10,861 --> 00:28:14,589 NARRATOR: Suzanne spots something remarkable in the body parts: 334 00:28:16,556 --> 00:28:20,560 They've been skewered with wooden dowels. 335 00:28:21,803 --> 00:28:24,530 SUZANNE: The stick has been inserted into the spinal column in order 336 00:28:24,564 --> 00:28:28,568 to help them to stand up straight in the afterlife. 337 00:28:28,603 --> 00:28:32,641 Arthritis would have been a problem, so the afterlife they wanted to be free of that, 338 00:28:32,952 --> 00:28:36,991 and this is how they address that situation. 339 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:43,929 NARRATOR: But it wasn't only corrective surgery that was performed after death. 340 00:28:45,068 --> 00:28:48,036 SUZANNE: This is a false limb. 341 00:28:48,071 --> 00:28:50,901 These are prosthetics for the afterlife. 342 00:28:51,143 --> 00:28:57,149 What they've done is they've mummified a bundle of sticks in order to replace an arm. 343 00:28:59,082 --> 00:29:02,879 In the afterlife you wanna be whole and complete, that's the whole point of mummification, 344 00:29:02,913 --> 00:29:07,746 is so that your body can be recognized by your soul and so that it's free of ailments. 345 00:29:09,057 --> 00:29:14,131 This is a really good example of how far they're willing to take this practice. 346 00:29:15,650 --> 00:29:20,034 Perhaps this person had a congenital birth defect and was missing an arm, 347 00:29:20,068 --> 00:29:23,140 but for the afterlife he has one. 348 00:29:24,590 --> 00:29:29,215 NARRATOR: Suzanne's discovery reveals the lengths that the ancient Egyptian's went to for 349 00:29:29,250 --> 00:29:32,805 an improved life after death. 350 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:36,809 SUZANNE: You know that the embalmer talked to the family and the family said, you know, 351 00:29:36,844 --> 00:29:40,399 'Dad had some really bad arthritis, could we do something 352 00:29:40,433 --> 00:29:43,436 to help him out in the afterlife?' 353 00:29:43,471 --> 00:29:47,095 They're taking care of their loved ones. 354 00:29:51,790 --> 00:29:53,653 MAN: Oh... SUZANNE: That fits. 355 00:29:53,688 --> 00:29:54,827 [speaking Arabic]. 356 00:29:54,862 --> 00:29:56,173 SUZANNE: Very nice. 357 00:29:56,208 --> 00:29:58,244 [speaking Arabic]. 358 00:29:58,279 --> 00:30:01,661 NARRATOR: Suzanne has found another burial ritual that aided the deceased. 359 00:30:02,801 --> 00:30:06,839 The tombs were filled with objects that would come to life in the underworld, 360 00:30:07,288 --> 00:30:10,878 magical servants called Shabti's. 361 00:30:13,121 --> 00:30:16,366 SUZANNE: When you go to the afterlife you want it to be easy and beautiful, 362 00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,679 but if there's work to be done, someone has to do it and that's this guy, 363 00:30:19,714 --> 00:30:21,854 the Shabti figure. 364 00:30:21,889 --> 00:30:27,618 It was the custom to include about 365 of these figures, and all of these figures then 365 00:30:27,653 --> 00:30:31,243 would have been part of a regular burial assemblage. 366 00:30:33,555 --> 00:30:37,766 NARRATOR: Shabtis would often be inscribed with the name of the departed. 367 00:30:38,491 --> 00:30:42,530 This made them the eternal servants of the deceased. 368 00:30:44,463 --> 00:30:48,881 SUZANNE: They also have working implements for doing the agricultural labor. 369 00:30:49,882 --> 00:30:53,782 So, this guy is ready to go to work at a moment's notice in the afterlife. 370 00:30:54,059 --> 00:30:58,926 NARRATOR: But almost every one of the Shabti figurines has been smashed to pieces, 371 00:30:59,443 --> 00:31:02,688 along with the mummies themselves. 372 00:31:02,722 --> 00:31:06,761 This can only mean one thing, grave robbers. 373 00:31:16,460 --> 00:31:22,639 NARRATOR: In Aswan, Martina is investigating the burial of an unknown ancient Egyptian. 374 00:31:24,123 --> 00:31:29,957 The grave is small and unadorned, highly unusual for burials on this site. 375 00:31:34,962 --> 00:31:39,656 She's hoping a forensic analysis of the skeleton will reveal more information. 376 00:31:41,934 --> 00:31:46,111 [speaking Spanish]. 377 00:31:46,145 --> 00:31:51,323 MARTINA: So right now, the work, taking off the bandages, registering what's there. 378 00:31:53,359 --> 00:31:54,567 MARTINA: Yeah. 379 00:31:56,466 --> 00:31:57,916 MARTINA: Can you tell me the age? 380 00:32:01,954 --> 00:32:03,922 MARTINA: Wow. 381 00:32:03,956 --> 00:32:07,960 The average age or life expectance was about 25, 382 00:32:08,512 --> 00:32:12,827 and because far more many women died during the childbirth. 383 00:32:13,932 --> 00:32:16,520 When you have someone who's over 70 it's... 384 00:32:16,555 --> 00:32:19,592 I don't want to say a surprise, but it's nice to know and it's nice to get 385 00:32:19,627 --> 00:32:22,699 finally someone who was really old. 386 00:32:35,574 --> 00:32:39,129 NARRATOR: This woman lived an exceptionally long life, 387 00:32:39,164 --> 00:32:43,237 but it's a mystery why she's not been properly mummified. 388 00:32:43,616 --> 00:32:46,792 They carefully remove the bones, so experts in the lab 389 00:32:46,826 --> 00:32:49,312 can continue to analyze the skeleton. 390 00:33:02,290 --> 00:33:07,123 NARRATOR: Now the team must find more clues to figure out why in a cemetery for the 391 00:33:07,157 --> 00:33:11,023 rich, this lady had such a simple burial. 392 00:33:20,722 --> 00:33:25,313 Back at base, it's a rare opportunity to relax. 393 00:33:30,525 --> 00:33:33,597 For Alejandro, it's a chance to call home. 394 00:33:46,127 --> 00:33:50,476 NARRATOR: Each year, Alejandro spends four months away from home. 395 00:33:52,892 --> 00:33:58,415 ALEJANDRO: You miss home, obviously but I have the privilege, err, 396 00:33:58,450 --> 00:34:02,178 to work in something that many millions would like to, 397 00:34:02,592 --> 00:34:05,457 to work, and I'm not going to complain, 398 00:34:05,491 --> 00:34:08,736 but at the same time it's hard. 399 00:34:10,703 --> 00:34:16,399 I missed the birth of my eldest daughter and this is something that my wife will 400 00:34:16,433 --> 00:34:19,712 not forgive me, and I will not forgive myself. 401 00:34:33,795 --> 00:34:37,075 NARRATOR: Just outside the Valley of the Kings, 402 00:34:37,109 --> 00:34:39,939 Suzanne and her team are cataloging a collection of 403 00:34:39,974 --> 00:34:44,151 mummies that have been ripped apart by ancient looters. 404 00:34:47,671 --> 00:34:51,192 SUZANNE: There would have been probably up to 200 individuals who were buried here in 405 00:34:51,227 --> 00:34:57,198 coffins and very nicely laid out and cared for by their families, err, 406 00:34:57,233 --> 00:35:00,857 and in the, the looting process this was all dismantled. 407 00:35:02,203 --> 00:35:06,069 NARRATOR: Ancient Egyptians believed that to enter the afterlife, the body must 408 00:35:06,104 --> 00:35:10,798 survive whole, but for tomb robbers nothing was sacred. 409 00:35:11,695 --> 00:35:15,251 SUZANNE: The looting process is really, really devastating. 410 00:35:15,561 --> 00:35:20,670 Bodies were destroyed, ripped apart, unwrapped and left higgledy-piggledy 411 00:35:20,704 --> 00:35:23,431 everywhere in the tomb. 412 00:35:23,466 --> 00:35:27,435 NARRATOR: These tomb raiders were hunting for something very precious. 413 00:35:28,609 --> 00:35:31,681 The ancient Egyptians believed magical amulets could help 414 00:35:31,715 --> 00:35:35,581 the deceased's soul reach the afterlife. 415 00:35:36,617 --> 00:35:39,551 One of these was shaped like a Scarab beetle, 416 00:35:39,585 --> 00:35:43,727 vital for surviving the trials of the underworld. 417 00:35:44,625 --> 00:35:48,353 Here, the God Anubis would test the dead's worthiness, 418 00:35:48,387 --> 00:35:52,253 weighing their heart against a feather. 419 00:35:53,116 --> 00:35:58,328 If the heart was heavier, it was evidence of an evil life, and would be devoured by a 420 00:35:58,363 --> 00:36:02,263 crocodile-headed monster, trapping the soul forever. 421 00:36:03,575 --> 00:36:06,440 But the scarab amulet could help. 422 00:36:06,474 --> 00:36:09,443 If priests placed it inside the mummified body, 423 00:36:09,477 --> 00:36:13,688 it would ensure success in the heart-weighing trial. 424 00:36:14,310 --> 00:36:16,933 SUZANNE: In trying to protect the body for the resurrection, 425 00:36:16,967 --> 00:36:19,556 they would have put all these magical symbols inside. 426 00:36:19,591 --> 00:36:24,009 NARRATOR: But for robbers, this made the mummies highly-profitable targets. 427 00:36:24,389 --> 00:36:28,876 SUZANNE: They know exactly what should be inside, and they went right for it. 428 00:36:37,850 --> 00:36:42,648 NARRATOR: Suzanne has evidence of an especially gruesome looting attack. 429 00:36:42,683 --> 00:36:46,445 SUZANNE: This individual demonstrates the looting process in a very personal 430 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:52,486 way, and you can see it's the torso of an individual just with part of the leg attached, 431 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:55,351 and there's no bandages left on him. 432 00:36:55,972 --> 00:37:00,597 This jagged side is where someone put their fist through in order to get into the 433 00:37:00,632 --> 00:37:04,256 cavity and take out any amulets. 434 00:37:04,291 --> 00:37:09,399 NARRATOR: This poor soul may no longer have protection in the afterlife, but for Suzanne 435 00:37:09,434 --> 00:37:13,023 the looting has created a unique opportunity. 436 00:37:13,058 --> 00:37:16,406 SUZANNE: While its devastating, the amount of information that we can get 437 00:37:16,441 --> 00:37:21,169 from bodies that are already unwrapped is far greater than if they are wrapped because it 438 00:37:21,204 --> 00:37:25,381 allows us to have a really good chance at visual examination. 439 00:37:26,140 --> 00:37:29,971 NARRATOR: Her remarkable discovery of corrective surgery after death, and 440 00:37:30,006 --> 00:37:34,493 mummified prosthetic limbs, is one of the biggest of its kind. 441 00:37:35,114 --> 00:37:41,189 It reveals new levels of obsession with living a better life after death. 442 00:37:45,884 --> 00:37:48,162 In the Valley of the Kings, 443 00:37:48,196 --> 00:37:50,923 deep within the tomb of Seti the First, 444 00:37:50,958 --> 00:37:55,065 experts in ancient inscription, John and Colleen Darnell, 445 00:37:55,100 --> 00:37:58,690 are examining the elaborate hieroglyphs. 446 00:37:59,346 --> 00:38:03,971 They want to find out how Pharaoh Seti planned to reach the afterlife. 447 00:38:04,282 --> 00:38:07,112 JOHN: This is a great text here. 448 00:38:07,146 --> 00:38:10,978 NARRATOR: Each text plays a specific role on the journey. 449 00:38:11,668 --> 00:38:18,088 [Reading ancient Egyptian]. 450 00:38:18,848 --> 00:38:20,953 COLLEEN: Yeah that's great. 451 00:38:20,988 --> 00:38:25,268 JOHN: Yeah, then those who are in this gate scream when they hear the door slam shut. 452 00:38:27,857 --> 00:38:31,412 NARRATOR: They've found one of the most important texts for safe passage through the 453 00:38:31,447 --> 00:38:35,347 netherworld, called the "Book of Gates." 454 00:38:36,003 --> 00:38:39,317 JOHN: This is one of the gates in the Book of Gates, 455 00:38:39,351 --> 00:38:41,249 and this shows something of how 456 00:38:41,284 --> 00:38:43,976 Egyptian religious texts really often work. 457 00:38:44,011 --> 00:38:48,015 Absolutely crucial for literally navigating the netherworld. 458 00:38:50,189 --> 00:38:55,367 NARRATOR: The images of the afterlife texts reveal just how treacherous 459 00:38:55,402 --> 00:38:59,337 Seti's voyage through the underworld could be. 460 00:39:00,545 --> 00:39:05,446 The journey was split into 12 gates, representing the 12 hours of the night. 461 00:39:06,344 --> 00:39:10,244 Each held a challenge the dead must overcome. 462 00:39:11,038 --> 00:39:15,387 The Pharaoh's soul used spells and passwords inscribed on the walls, 463 00:39:15,422 --> 00:39:18,770 to continue his journey. 464 00:39:20,219 --> 00:39:25,017 Without the right guidance, Seti's soul could be cast into a sea of fire, 465 00:39:25,052 --> 00:39:28,918 to endure an eternity of torment. 466 00:39:33,371 --> 00:39:37,375 COLLEEN: Everything that these texts are talking about is 467 00:39:37,409 --> 00:39:40,895 ensuring the eternal existence of the King. 468 00:39:41,827 --> 00:39:46,280 NARRATOR: They've now made it to the most sacred of all the chambers in the tomb, 469 00:39:46,314 --> 00:39:50,215 where the Pharaoh's body was finally laid to rest. 470 00:39:50,491 --> 00:39:55,393 JOHN: So here we're in the sarcophagus room in the tomb of Seti the First. 471 00:39:55,807 --> 00:39:58,879 We're in the final major architectural element of the tomb. 472 00:40:00,087 --> 00:40:03,470 This, for the ancient Egyptians is the equivalent for the soul 473 00:40:03,504 --> 00:40:08,647 of sort of a spacecraft, it gets you out of the terrestrial realm and 474 00:40:08,889 --> 00:40:12,893 puts you beyond into this other reality. 475 00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:19,209 NARRATOR: Pharaoh Seti the First, built his tomb deep underground, 476 00:40:19,244 --> 00:40:23,110 so his soul could traverse the netherworld. 477 00:40:24,974 --> 00:40:28,184 Religious texts carved on the walls of the tomb, 478 00:40:28,218 --> 00:40:30,911 ensured the King had the passwords he needed 479 00:40:30,945 --> 00:40:34,293 to travel into the afterlife. 480 00:40:34,742 --> 00:40:39,402 Inside the burial chamber, a giant stone sarcophagus. 481 00:40:40,990 --> 00:40:46,305 This was inscribed with the Book of Gates, and held Seti's mummy and amulets. 482 00:40:49,723 --> 00:40:53,485 These gave him the guidance needed to pass through the gates, 483 00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:56,764 and achieve immortality. 484 00:41:04,185 --> 00:41:07,499 JOHN: For the Egyptians you have to know all of this information but then you have 485 00:41:07,534 --> 00:41:12,193 to use it, you have to say the spells, you don't just read the book, you enact it. 486 00:41:12,884 --> 00:41:15,887 And you don't just have the amulet, you use it in the right way, 487 00:41:15,921 --> 00:41:19,338 to get the dead King into the afterlife. 488 00:41:19,373 --> 00:41:21,789 COLLEEN: And the text and the scenes and the hieroglyphs 489 00:41:21,824 --> 00:41:25,103 all make this tomb a resurrection machine. 490 00:41:25,655 --> 00:41:28,693 JOHN: The ancient Egyptians would love the fact that modern people were so 491 00:41:28,727 --> 00:41:32,524 interested in what they did and what they thought. 492 00:41:32,559 --> 00:41:35,734 They really believed that the memory of the dead, 493 00:41:35,769 --> 00:41:40,428 thinking about the dead would improve the future existence of the soul. 494 00:41:42,361 --> 00:41:45,537 NARRATOR: As a Pharaoh, Egyptians spared no expense 495 00:41:45,572 --> 00:41:49,507 to grant Seti safe passage to the afterlife. 496 00:41:50,059 --> 00:41:54,684 But even ordinary Egyptians made sure they were prepared. 497 00:41:57,791 --> 00:42:01,139 In Aswan, Martina and the team have finished analyzing 498 00:42:01,173 --> 00:42:05,453 the contents of the pot discovered with the elderly lady. 499 00:42:05,488 --> 00:42:09,803 MARTINA: We found little stone chips, and fragmented insects and that's all. 500 00:42:11,839 --> 00:42:15,429 NARRATOR: The insect remains indicate it could have contained food, 501 00:42:15,463 --> 00:42:18,363 as an offering to the deceased. 502 00:42:18,397 --> 00:42:21,884 MARTINA: The offerings were usually placed near the head. 503 00:42:21,918 --> 00:42:27,786 It can provide the deceased with the liquids for its use in the afterlife. 504 00:42:29,063 --> 00:42:34,103 NARRATOR: The remains of bone and fabric show this person was only partially mummified. 505 00:42:36,415 --> 00:42:39,108 Alejandro has a theory about why, 506 00:42:39,142 --> 00:42:43,353 in a graveyard for the rich, there was such a modest burial. 507 00:42:44,838 --> 00:42:46,702 ALEJANDRO: Royal tombs are... 508 00:42:46,736 --> 00:42:50,671 in the Valley of the Kings are fully decorated with rich and great goods. 509 00:42:51,223 --> 00:42:57,298 But the absence in this burial seems to indicate that this person did not belong to a 510 00:42:57,333 --> 00:43:01,199 high position in the, in this society. 511 00:43:01,233 --> 00:43:06,342 She might be a person who worked for important people and perhaps her position was 512 00:43:06,376 --> 00:43:10,967 to continue assisting those people after the death. 513 00:43:12,279 --> 00:43:15,489 NARRATOR: This elderly lady may have been a servant or a nurse 514 00:43:15,523 --> 00:43:19,320 for one of the powerful families buried here. 515 00:43:19,666 --> 00:43:22,358 ALEJANDRO: We are working to understand the past. 516 00:43:22,392 --> 00:43:26,396 The discovery of the intact chamber, it's always a moment to remember. 517 00:43:28,398 --> 00:43:32,264 But now we have to study all the material that we have, 518 00:43:32,299 --> 00:43:35,371 and this is exciting, at least for me. 519 00:43:38,546 --> 00:43:42,585 NARRATOR: Rich or poor, ancient Egyptians did everything they could 520 00:43:42,620 --> 00:43:45,692 to prepare for the afterlife. 521 00:43:46,002 --> 00:43:49,937 The relics, rituals and remains they left behind 522 00:43:49,972 --> 00:43:52,699 are now giving archaeologists 523 00:43:52,733 --> 00:43:56,219 an insight into this extraordinary society, 524 00:43:58,221 --> 00:44:02,674 unraveling the mysteries of the afterlife to this day. 525 00:44:07,506 --> 00:44:08,715 Captioned by Cotter Captioning Services.