1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,320 NARRATOR: Egypt, the richest source 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:10,320 of archaeological treasures on the planet. 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,800 MAN: Oh, whoa, look at that! 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:18,840 NARRATOR: Hidden beneath this desert landscape 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,040 lie the secrets of this ancient civilization. 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:23,960 [man speaking native language] 7 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,240 MAN: I never seen something like this. 8 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:29,640 NARRATOR: Now, for a full season of excavations, 9 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:33,000 our cameras have been given unprecedented access 10 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:38,480 to follow teams on the front line of archaeology. 11 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:42,040 WOMAN: This is the most critical moment. 12 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:43,920 NARRATOR: Revealing buried treasures. 13 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,400 WOMAN: Oh! MAN: We'’re lucky today. 14 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:51,320 MAN: Wow! Lots of mummies. WOMAN: The smell is horrible. 15 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:52,760 NARRATOR: And making discoveries 16 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,160 that could rewrite ancient history. 17 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,800 MAN: We'’ve never had the proof until now. 18 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,880 WOMAN: This is where it all started. 19 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,240 MAN: My goodness, I never expected this. 20 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:07,080 [clapping] 21 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:09,880 NARRATOR: This time, archaeologists unravel 22 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,160 the enigma of the Great Sphinx. 23 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:16,480 MAN: It'’s the most iconic statue anywhere in the world. 24 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:20,360 NARRATOR: John goes where no archaeologist has gone before. 25 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,040 JOHN WARD: I'’m gonna be the first man underneath this sphinx 26 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,280 in 3,500 years. 27 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:29,400 NARRATOR: Alejandro unearths evidence of a crocodile cult. 28 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:31,400 ALEJANDRO JIMEÉNEZ-SERRANO: It'’s a challenge to explain 29 00:01:31,400 --> 00:01:33,800 why the crocodiles were mummified. 30 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,080 NARRATOR: And Jared discovers a mummified dog. 31 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,360 JARED CABALLO PEREZ: It was a complete surprise 32 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:43,040 to find something that you don'’t really expect. 33 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,080 ♪ 34 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,160 ♪ 35 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,600 NARRATOR: The Great Sphinx of Giza, 36 00:01:55,600 --> 00:01:59,160 one of the most famous monuments in the world. 37 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,040 Egyptologists believe it was built 38 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,920 around the same time as the Giza pyramids, 39 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,720 4,500 years ago. 40 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:13,880 This colossal statue has an animal'’s body and a human face. 41 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:18,360 It'’s as enigmatic as it is iconic. 42 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:22,960 All over Egypt, archaeologists are attempting to unravel 43 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:27,080 the riddles of the Sphinx. 44 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:31,160 Egyptologist Dr. Chris Naunton is on a mission 45 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,640 to unlock its most controversial secret: 46 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:37,680 whose face is carved on it? 47 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:39,240 CHRIS NAUNTON: We can begin to sort of imagine 48 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,280 how this might have looked in ancient times, 49 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:42,960 and with that in mind, 50 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:48,520 we can perhaps begin to compare that face to known faces. 51 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,160 NARRATOR: Chris thinks the face was modeled 52 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,800 on an ancient pharaoh. 53 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:56,080 In the age of the pyramid builders, 54 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:58,200 the Sphinx had a delicate nose 55 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,440 and was painted in bright colors. 56 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,040 But whose face is this? 57 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:06,960 It could be King Khufu, who also built the Great Pyramid. 58 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:11,560 He had a square chin, like the Sphinx, but no one is sure. 59 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:16,040 The only image archaeologists have of Khufu is a tiny statue. 60 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:21,040 The Sphinx once had a beard, just like Khufu'’s son, Khafre. 61 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,000 When Khafre became pharaoh, 62 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:26,640 he built the pyramid directly behind the Sphinx. 63 00:03:26,640 --> 00:03:29,880 But the original beard was lost during antiquity 64 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,640 and another one added later. 65 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:34,360 The identity of the face 66 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:37,880 remains a secret yet to be revealed. 67 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,400 CHRIS: Trying to match faces in Egyptian imagery 68 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:43,240 is an inexact science. 69 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:47,520 It seems to be that it'’s a pharaoh of the fourth dynasty. 70 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:50,240 Khafre'’s perhaps the leading candidate. 71 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,800 NARRATOR: The usual role of an Egyptian sphinx 72 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,080 is to protect a sacred site. 73 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:58,480 If this is Khafre'’s sphinx, 74 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:02,440 it'’s perfectly positioned to guard his pyramid tomb. 75 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,280 Chris must investigate clues 76 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,360 to unravel more mysteries of the Great Sphinx. 77 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:16,880 400 miles south of Giza, in Gebel El-Silsila... 78 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:18,800 JOHN: Everybody here? 79 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,040 MARIA NILSSON: I believe so. We'’re late. 80 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:23,360 NARRATOR: Husband and wife archaeologists 81 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,600 John Ward and Maria Nilsson are on their way 82 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:28,800 to investigate a site 83 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,600 where the ancient Egyptians created sphinx statues. 84 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,720 But their commute along the River Nile is slow to start. 85 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,200 JOHN: The boat'’s not working. 86 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:48,480 MARIA: It'’s coming. 87 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,040 JOHN: Everybody send positive vibes. 88 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:54,600 MARIA: Ohh. Come on, Abdullah. 89 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,520 JOHN: By the time we get on site, 90 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,120 it will be at least 8 o'’clock, so that'’s another hour lost. 91 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:01,360 MAN: I knew it would happen. 92 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:02,720 [motor starts] MARIA: Yay! 93 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,400 [clapping] 94 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,080 JOHN: Ah, only 35 minutes late. 95 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:10,680 NARRATOR: Every minute counts 96 00:05:10,680 --> 00:05:14,720 when they only have a limited number of days for excavating. 97 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,680 Last season, Maria and John 98 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,880 found a sphinx statue at this site. 99 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:23,400 Unlike the Great Sphinx at Giza, 100 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,120 this statue has a ram'’s head. 101 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,960 It'’s called a criosphinx. 102 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:35,400 MARIA: Of course, what we see is a raw state of a sculpture, 103 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,200 but we got the head here, 104 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:40,320 so the ram'’s face, the ram'’s horn. 105 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,960 The area in front would most probably hold 106 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:49,040 the statue of the ruling king. 107 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,000 NARRATOR: The craftsmen would carve out 108 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,080 the sandstone criosphinx right here in the quarry, 109 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,560 before transporting it to a sacred site. 110 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,160 MARIA: Once it reached the main destination, 111 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,600 the artists would continue the process 112 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:09,480 of making it into its fine details and final dressing. 113 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,720 We have them guarding tombs or other monuments. 114 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:14,920 So in a simplified version, 115 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:19,400 you can say that each sphinx is a guard, it'’s a protector. 116 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:23,080 NARRATOR: Maria believes this sacred statue 117 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,840 was built for the Avenue of the Sphinxes, 118 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:29,600 a road between the temples of Luxor and Karnak, 119 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:32,040 lined with ram-headed sphinxes, 120 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:36,200 but for some unknown reason, it didn'’t make the journey. 121 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:38,440 It was never finished. 122 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,720 Now Maria wants to discover why. 123 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:43,600 MARIA: Why was it left here? 124 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,080 Why is this not sitting at the Avenue of Sphinxes 125 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,080 in modern day Luxor? 126 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,120 We'’re hoping that through this excavation, 127 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:52,960 we will be able to solve a little bit of the mystery 128 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,640 of the sphinxes and add to history in general. 129 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:00,000 NARRATOR: A large rock under the sphinx 130 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,360 brings the investigation to a halt. 131 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,440 JOHN: Watch your toes, guys, watch your toes. 132 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:09,800 [men yelling] 133 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,760 [all grunting] 134 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:20,320 MARIA: You guys are amazing! 135 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:22,640 [yelling] 136 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:27,960 [cheering] 137 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:31,520 NARRATOR: Now the rock is gone, 138 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,040 they can see there'’s a gap under the sphinx. 139 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,360 MARIA: Anyone who watched "Indiana Jones," 140 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,560 I'’m sure will understand the excitement for an archaeologist 141 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,240 when you suddenly see a hole. 142 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:46,000 NARRATOR: Despite the danger, 143 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:49,040 John wants to get under the sphinx. 144 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:52,120 JOHN: I'’m gonna be the first man underneath this sphinx 145 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,840 in 3,500 years. 146 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:03,240 NARRATOR: 40 miles south, near Aswan... 147 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:08,240 at the ancient necropolis of Qubbet el-Hawa, 148 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,520 Professor Alejandro Jiménez-Serrano 149 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,680 heads one of the largest foreign teams 150 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:15,960 working in Egypt today. 151 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:19,320 ALEJANDRO: During the last 11 years we have been excavating 152 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,400 this huge complex of tombs where the governors of 153 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,520 the 12th dynasty were buried. 154 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,600 NARRATOR: These burial chambers were built for the nobles 155 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:30,720 governing southern Egypt, 156 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,640 500 years after the Sphinx was built. 157 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,200 ALEJANDRO: We will see what we will find. 158 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,920 You never know what is going to happen today, 159 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:43,320 what we will find, or which surprise we will have. 160 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:48,600 NARRATOR: Close to a cliff side, 161 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:52,760 the team reports a skull emerging from the sand... 162 00:08:52,760 --> 00:08:55,840 followed by a second. 163 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,520 The huge jaws include some teeth two inches long. 164 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:04,720 RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ: At first, we can only see this head only, 165 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,680 and we was like, "Wow, a crocodile, a crocodile." 166 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:09,600 And then something appeared here, 167 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,720 and it was like, "Oh, my God, there are two crocodiles." 168 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,120 NARRATOR: The crocodiles are an especially lucky find 169 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,400 for Raquel Rodriguez. 170 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:19,640 It'’s her first-ever dig in Egypt. 171 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,800 RAQUEL: I asked, "Oh, this is something common?" 172 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,200 And it was like, no, no, no, this is the first crocodile 173 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:27,240 that we'’ve seen in 11 years. 174 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,840 So, I'’m very happy about it. 175 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:34,120 NARRATOR: The crocodiles may be close to the River Nile, 176 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:38,120 but this is not a natural nest. 177 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:44,160 The bones have black marks; the remains of skin and flesh. 178 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,960 They are so well preserved, 179 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,640 Alejandro thinks they must have been mummified. 180 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:52,640 ALEJANDRO: It'’s a challenge to explain 181 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,440 why the crocodiles were mummified. 182 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:59,160 NARRATOR: Mummified crocodiles are an unusual find 183 00:09:59,160 --> 00:10:01,080 and have only ever been unearthed 184 00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:04,280 at a small number of sites in Egypt. 185 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:08,960 They could be a sign of a rare form of animal worship. 186 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:12,920 As the team slowly unearths more skeletons, 187 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,400 they count 11 in total. 188 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:20,120 And they'’re deteriorating-- all except one. 189 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,360 ALEJANDRO: Unfortunately, they are not in a good a state 190 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:25,240 of preservation. 191 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:29,400 But this one, it is almost perfect. 192 00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:32,880 NARRATOR: The intact crocodile is extremely fragile. 193 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,320 They can'’t risk damaging it. 194 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,400 Before they attempt to move it, 195 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:41,040 they carefully extract the surrounding bone fragments. 196 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,040 In the midday sun, 197 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,600 the temperature is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 198 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,680 It'’s hot and smelly work. 199 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:50,880 RAQUEL: They say that it smells gross. 200 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,400 I'’m not smelling anything because I'’ve got a cold, 201 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,640 but they say it smells bad. 202 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,600 NARRATOR: Now the crocodile is exposed to the air and sun, 203 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,600 it'’s rotting fast. 204 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,720 Alejandro has to get it out of here. 205 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:10,800 NARRATOR: Raquel is working with the team 206 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:14,240 tasked with moving the crocodile out of the sun. 207 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:18,960 RAQUEL: It'’s scary, because it'’s been there for a lot of years, 208 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,000 and now you take it off and you take the sand 209 00:11:22,000 --> 00:11:23,840 and what'’s covering it away, 210 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:27,120 and the sun gets into it, the oxygen, everything, 211 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,680 so it'’s deteriorating at each second that pass. 212 00:11:30,680 --> 00:11:34,040 So you need to work fast, but not rush, 213 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:38,400 because things can go bad and you can destroy it completely. 214 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,800 So, it'’s a tense situation. 215 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,520 NARRATOR: They'’re finally ready to move the crocodile mummy. 216 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:51,360 The main challenge is moving the skeleton in one piece. 217 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,440 ALEJANDRO: We basically are following the same protocol 218 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,920 that we use with the human mummies. 219 00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,520 NARRATOR: The tail is not well connected to the body 220 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:02,360 and could easily break off. 221 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,560 ALEJANDRO: We are in a very delicate moment, 222 00:12:04,560 --> 00:12:08,440 because we want to put the mummy of the crocodile 223 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,200 on a wooden board 224 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,680 in order to move the mummy to the conservation lab. 225 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,440 I'’m quite nervous now. 226 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,120 MAN: Uno, dos, tres. 227 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:26,400 NARRATOR: 100 miles north, 228 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:30,320 on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor... 229 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:33,680 archaeologist Professor Miguel Molinero 230 00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:37,760 is returning to a 4,500-year-old necropolis 231 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:40,440 near the Valley of the Kings. 232 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,360 MIGUEL MOLINERO: My first season working in Egypt 233 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:45,720 was 32 years ago. 234 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:51,440 So it'’s like coming home every year, always fantastic. 235 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:56,400 NARRATOR: Miguel'’s team is from Tenerife, in Spain. 236 00:12:56,400 --> 00:13:00,000 Last season, they excavated a family tomb 237 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:03,320 at a site called South Asasif. 238 00:13:03,320 --> 00:13:05,920 They unearthed mummified remains, 239 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:10,080 but their dig permit ran out before they could investigate. 240 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,320 MIGUEL: It always happens. 241 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,480 The last day something new appears that is exciting, 242 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,640 but has to be kept there waiting for us for the next season, 243 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:21,040 and that'’s what happened last year. 244 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:24,240 NARRATOR: 26-year-old Jared Carballo Pérez 245 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,560 can'’t wait to continue their dig. 246 00:13:26,560 --> 00:13:29,280 JARED: Egypt is quite addictive in that sense, 247 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:31,800 and it'’s always nice to be back, to keep doing the work. 248 00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,680 NARRATOR: After an anxious year-long wait, 249 00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:39,920 today is their first day back on site. 250 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,680 MIGUEL: We had to leave it as it was found, 251 00:13:42,680 --> 00:13:45,680 because we did not have the time to take it out carefully. 252 00:13:45,680 --> 00:13:48,320 NARRATOR: The team covered the mummies 253 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,040 in an attempt to prevent deterioration. 254 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:53,680 MIGUEL: Now we are anxious 255 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:56,880 to see if the protection has worked. 256 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:01,320 We have been waiting one year to see what happens inside. 257 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,040 NARRATOR: There'’s a chance they may have deteriorated 258 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,320 over the past year. 259 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:12,480 JARED: So we have to be very careful. 260 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,880 MIGUEL: Oh, so, yeah. 261 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:16,440 Oh, perfect. 262 00:14:16,440 --> 00:14:18,480 They are well preserved. 263 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:20,880 Oh, yes. 264 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,040 NARRATOR: Now they can begin their investigation. 265 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,720 Two mummified human skeletons still intact, 266 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:31,720 and a third, much smaller mummy. 267 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,680 JARED: It was a complete surprise to find something 268 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:37,440 that you don'’t really expect. 269 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:39,920 NARRATOR: As they look closer, 270 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:43,280 they notice it'’s been embalmed in a very strange way. 271 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:45,560 There'’s just one layer of bandage around the head, 272 00:14:45,560 --> 00:14:47,680 instead of three, 273 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:51,240 and the limbs are wrapped together, not separately. 274 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:55,320 But it'’s the shape of the skull that'’s most surprising. 275 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:57,440 JARED: First, by the shape, 276 00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,520 we thought it was a baby that was abandoned, 277 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:04,000 but then we started seeing some features right there. 278 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,520 By the teeth and the shape of the bones, 279 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:09,640 we can know it'’s a mummified dog. 280 00:15:09,640 --> 00:15:15,000 NARRATOR: A mummified dog in a human tomb is highly unusual. 281 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,880 JARED: As far as we know, it'’s a very rare case, 282 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:21,520 because we have found a lot of dogs across Egypt, 283 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:25,960 but they are not next to the human bodies. 284 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,240 NARRATOR: The discovery may help shed light 285 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,560 on the significance of animals in ancient Egyptian belief. 286 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:37,480 The dog could be a religious offering to a particular god. 287 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,720 According to ancient Egyptian belief, 288 00:15:39,720 --> 00:15:43,640 dogs are associated with the god Anubis. 289 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:48,120 The jackal-headed Anubis was the god of mummification. 290 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,040 He weighed the heart of the dead against a feather. 291 00:15:56,320 --> 00:16:00,080 If the heart was lighter, the soul could enter heaven. 292 00:16:02,600 --> 00:16:06,240 But if it was heavier, they were eaten by Ammit, 293 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,520 the devourer of the dead. 294 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:14,760 Depictions of Anubis would often be present in tombs 295 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,240 to offer protection to the mummy. 296 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,280 This mummified dog could be an offering to Anubis, 297 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,280 but there'’s something that doesn'’t add up. 298 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:28,080 MIGUEL: When we started cleaning it, 299 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:30,480 we found something very unusual. 300 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:33,480 NARRATOR: They discover a perplexing clue 301 00:16:33,480 --> 00:16:36,200 in the alignment of the mummies. 302 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:46,200 NARRATOR: In Qubbet el-Hawa, archaeologists are racing 303 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,040 to save a rare mummified crocodile. 304 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,480 Their discovery may help demystify 305 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,880 the ancient Egyptian practice of animal worship. 306 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:59,840 Could it also help explain the purpose of animal statues, 307 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:02,640 like the Great Sphinx? 308 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:04,680 [chatter] 309 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,760 Raquel and the team carefully move the crocodile mummy 310 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:09,840 to the laboratory. 311 00:17:09,840 --> 00:17:12,200 ♪ 312 00:17:18,800 --> 00:17:23,120 ♪ 313 00:17:23,120 --> 00:17:26,160 RAQUEL: We made it. 314 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:31,440 We'’ve been working for three hours and a half now in the sun, 315 00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:35,440 and it all came out extremely, extremely well. 316 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:37,720 I wasn'’t expecting this success. 317 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:42,560 NARRATOR: The crocodile survives its journey intact 318 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,680 and can now be examined in more detail. 319 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:49,160 Alejandro is puzzled 320 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,920 as to why these mummified crocodiles are here. 321 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:55,320 ALEJANDRO: It'’s something that always happens in archaeology, 322 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,120 surprises that, well, it'’s a challenge to explain them. 323 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:01,240 NARRATOR: There could be a connection 324 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,040 with a mysterious cult 325 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:06,280 that worshipped an ancient god called Sobek. 326 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,120 ALEJANDRO: Sobek is always represented as a crocodile. 327 00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:12,560 It'’s an animal that was living on the banks of the Nile. 328 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:14,840 It'’s related with the fertility 329 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,160 that the river gave to ancient Egypt. 330 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:21,640 NARRATOR: Sobek was the crocodile god 331 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,520 who built the world and created the River Nile from his sweat. 332 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:28,160 Ancient Egyptians feared his power, 333 00:18:28,160 --> 00:18:32,960 but also revered him as a protector and a healer. 334 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:34,880 In some versions of the myth, 335 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:37,840 when the god Osiris was dismembered in a fight, 336 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,120 Sobek gathered up the body parts 337 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:43,160 and put the god back together. 338 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:47,120 Some wealthy Egyptians bred pet crocodiles 339 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:49,520 that they adorned with jewels 340 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,960 and fed with fine food and wine. 341 00:18:52,960 --> 00:18:54,880 When the crocodiles died, 342 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:59,120 they were mummified and buried as votive offerings to Sobek 343 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:01,600 to ensure protection in the after-life. 344 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,240 But the existence of a crocodile cult 345 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:10,840 at Qubbet el-Hawa is news to Alejandro. 346 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:12,680 ALEJANDRO: As far as we know, 347 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:17,760 there is no reference to the worship of crocodiles in Aswan. 348 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:21,160 NARRATOR: The discovery challenges the idea 349 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:23,640 that crocodile rituals only happened 350 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:26,400 in a small region of Egypt. 351 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:29,440 It'’s further evidence that the worship of animal gods 352 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:31,520 wasn'’t just practiced by pharaohs 353 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:33,760 building sphinx statues. 354 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:37,360 People all over Egypt were making offerings 355 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:41,160 to different animal gods in the form of mummies. 356 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,600 ALEJANDRO: The popularity of Sobek 357 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:46,240 was bigger than we thought before. 358 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:50,320 NARRATOR: Alejandro'’s team looks for further evidence 359 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:53,000 of a crocodile cult. 360 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,360 If these animal mummies were protecting a human burial, 361 00:19:56,360 --> 00:20:00,880 a tomb could be close by. 362 00:20:00,880 --> 00:20:06,080 [man speaking foreign language over walkie-talkie] 363 00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:08,360 [Alejandro speaks foreign language] 364 00:20:08,360 --> 00:20:11,600 ALEJANDRO: Two skulls have been discovered. 365 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:14,160 NARRATOR: Just yards from the crocodile burial, 366 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:18,720 Alejandro'’s team makes an intriguing discovery. 367 00:20:18,720 --> 00:20:21,200 ALEJANDRO: Yes! [chuckles] 368 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,320 NARRATOR: In the quarry at Gebel El-Silsila, 369 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:28,640 Maria and John are investigating 370 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:30,560 a ram-headed sphinx. 371 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,840 Like the Sphinx at Giza, 372 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,480 it could have been built to protect a religious site. 373 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:38,760 They'’re now looking for evidence 374 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:42,360 to explain why it was abandoned unfinished. 375 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:44,120 JOHN: I can'’t believe I'’m putting my head 376 00:20:44,120 --> 00:20:46,360 underneath this bloody sphinx. 377 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:49,440 She'’s actually sat on a stone. 378 00:20:49,440 --> 00:20:51,840 She'’s ready to lift. 379 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:57,920 They'’ve quarried underneath her to put a sledge in to lift her 380 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,040 to get her out of here. 381 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:02,280 NARRATOR: John'’s discovery shows 382 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,680 how the sphinx was ready to be moved. 383 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:06,760 So why did the ancient Egyptians 384 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:09,360 leave it here unfinished? 385 00:21:09,360 --> 00:21:13,320 Maria explores the surrounding area 386 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,360 for an explanation as to why the Egyptians gave up 387 00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:19,600 on the protective powers of this sphinx. 388 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,720 MARIA: Well, we'’re looking for more clues. 389 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:27,520 If they painted something, if they'’ve written something, 390 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:31,200 if they'’ve given us any form of clue. 391 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,520 Do you see a red mark there, painted? 392 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,000 NARRATOR: The red markings are on a nearby plinth, 393 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,120 but they'’re too faint to decipher. 394 00:21:43,120 --> 00:21:47,800 Maria needs to get photos for close-up analysis. 395 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,480 MARIA: I'’m gonna sneak carefully behind here 396 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,560 and try not to get the entire wall behind me, 397 00:21:53,560 --> 00:21:56,560 which is about four meters of spoil just packed up, 398 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,800 try not to collapse it on top of me. 399 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,040 So, wish me luck. 400 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:04,200 NARRATOR: Maria'’s mission is a dangerous one. 401 00:22:04,200 --> 00:22:07,440 Loose rocks are piled next to the stone. 402 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:11,880 If she'’s unlucky, one false step could trigger a landslide. 403 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:20,680 400 miles north, at the Great Sphinx... 404 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:23,480 the ancient Egyptians believed many animal gods 405 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:26,240 had divine powers to protect. 406 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:29,480 If it was King Khafre who commissioned the Sphinx, 407 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:33,480 he wanted to harness that power for himself. 408 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,360 CHRIS: The Great Sphinx is one of the great icons of Egypt. 409 00:22:37,360 --> 00:22:41,360 You could argue it'’s perhaps the most iconic statue 410 00:22:41,360 --> 00:22:46,280 anywhere in the world, but it remains an enigma. 411 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,600 NARRATOR: Chris searches for evidence of how it was built. 412 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:55,040 The ancient Egyptians carved the Sphinx from limestone, 413 00:22:55,040 --> 00:22:59,080 and it'’s a match with the surrounding bedrock. 414 00:22:59,080 --> 00:23:02,640 CHRIS: The Sphinx wasn'’t built in an empty space. 415 00:23:02,640 --> 00:23:05,320 It was cut out of solid bedrock. 416 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:08,600 So you have to try to imagine, where we'’re standing now, 417 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,880 until the ancient Egyptians came along, was solid bedrock. 418 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:16,040 NARRATOR: The Great Sphinx wasn'’t built with stone 419 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,560 from remote quarries. 420 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,880 It was carved out of the Giza landscape. 421 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,360 CHRIS: In order to create this sphinx, 422 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:26,840 the Egyptians first have to kind of free it 423 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:28,760 from the natural rock, 424 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,920 and they did that by creating a kind of quarry around it, 425 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:36,520 and they just left some of the living, natural rock 426 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:38,360 in the center, 427 00:23:38,360 --> 00:23:40,560 which they then cut into the shape of the sphinx. 428 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,360 NARRATOR: Chris has discovered how the Sphinx was built, 429 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:48,440 but he still wants to solve the mystery of its animal form. 430 00:23:54,320 --> 00:23:59,320 NARRATOR: The Great Sphinx is a human-lion hybrid. 431 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:02,520 CHRIS: Here, you get such a strong sense of the fact 432 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,040 that it'’s the body of the lion 433 00:24:05,040 --> 00:24:09,960 that conveys that kind of sense of strength and power. 434 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:13,600 From this angle in particular, the forelegs of the lion 435 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,720 and these massive paws are absolutely huge. 436 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:20,800 It'’s difficult to imagine a statue that has a human body 437 00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:25,160 having that same idea of strength and ferocity of a lion. 438 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,040 NARRATOR: Ancient Egyptians feared and revered lions 439 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:33,120 in equal measure. 440 00:24:33,120 --> 00:24:36,640 CHRIS: The lion is the embodiment of a goddess, 441 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:40,240 Sekhmet, who in a particular Egyptian myth 442 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:44,400 wreaks death and destruction on mankind. 443 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:46,520 NARRATOR: According to the myth, 444 00:24:46,520 --> 00:24:48,640 the sun god Ra was furious 445 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:51,280 humans were turning against him. 446 00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,680 He summoned his daughter, Sekhmet, 447 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,080 the lion-faced goddess of destruction, 448 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:58,560 to teach them a lesson. 449 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:00,880 Sekhmet went on a killing spree 450 00:25:00,880 --> 00:25:04,760 until the Nile ran red with blood. 451 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,760 Ra was worried his daughter would wipe out all humanity. 452 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:11,800 So he used a trick to stop her. 453 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:16,800 He poured 7,000 jugs of red-tinted beer onto Earth. 454 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:21,480 After Sekhmet drank it, she passed out for three days. 455 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,120 When she woke up, she had been transformed 456 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:27,240 into the benevolent god Hathor, 457 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:31,320 and humankind was saved. 458 00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:35,040 Egyptian gods, like the sun goddess Sekhmet, 459 00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,720 are often portrayed as humans with animal heads. 460 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:41,520 But the Sphinx is the other way around; 461 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,920 a human head on a lion'’s body. 462 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,920 Chris thinks whichever pharaoh built this statue, 463 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:51,200 he had ambitions to embody the power of the divine, 464 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,680 and present himself as a god. 465 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,200 CHRIS: The Egyptians looked all around them, 466 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,720 all around the natural world, for their inspiration, 467 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:01,160 and that'’s exactly what you'’ve got here. 468 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,000 This great, mighty, powerful animal, the lion, 469 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:09,040 as a kind of a symbol of the king and of kingship. 470 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:13,040 NARRATOR: The Sphinx wasn'’t just a spiritual guardian. 471 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,880 Its creator may have wanted to project himself 472 00:26:15,880 --> 00:26:18,720 as the protector of the Egyptian people. 473 00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:23,200 Or is there an even grander purpose for the Sphinx? 474 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,920 Chris explores the remains of an ancient temple 475 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,160 at the Sphinx'’s feet. 476 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,960 300 miles south in Luxor, 477 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:39,520 at a site built over 500 years after the Sphinx, 478 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,040 Miguel and Jared are faced with another riddle. 479 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,840 They'’ve discovered intriguing evidence of a different animal 480 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:50,880 also considered sacred by ancient Egyptians. 481 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,520 They'’re trying to understand why this mummified dog 482 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:58,920 was buried in a family tomb with two human mummies. 483 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:02,720 JARED: The dog, curiously, has been put on top of the legs 484 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:05,480 of these two individuals. 485 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:08,000 NARRATOR: According to Egyptian belief, 486 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:11,080 dogs are a living representation of Anubis, 487 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:13,640 the god of the after-life. 488 00:27:13,640 --> 00:27:17,640 This dog may be mummified as an offering to Anubis, 489 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:20,840 in the hope of his protection in the after-life. 490 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,240 But there'’s a problem. 491 00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:26,840 JARED: Normally animal mummies are buried and separated 492 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,480 from the human mummies. 493 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,200 NARRATOR: Miguel has another idea. 494 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:34,920 MIGUEL: He'’s buried on the feet of two mummies, 495 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,440 one female and one male. 496 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:40,000 So we think it was the owners of the dog 497 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:44,960 and they wanted to keep her company for the after-life. 498 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:49,760 JARED: It could be a pet instead of an offering to a god. 499 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,880 NARRATOR: If the mummified dog is a family pet, 500 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,240 it would be a rare discovery. 501 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:59,160 JARED: We know there were pets in the past in ancient Egypt. 502 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:00,800 It'’s not something as common 503 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:04,760 as it is as a concept in modern times. 504 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,360 NARRATOR: Miguel searches for further evidence 505 00:28:08,360 --> 00:28:10,400 to confirm the dog was a pet, 506 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,440 and discovers an intriguing inscription 507 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,520 identifying the owner of the tomb. 508 00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:20,840 At the man'’s feet is a pet dog. 509 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:24,280 MIGUEL: He is sitting on a chair with an offering table 510 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,160 in front of him and his dog, whose name is Heken, 511 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,160 below the chair. 512 00:28:29,160 --> 00:28:32,360 NARRATOR: Miguel and Jared believe the inscription is key 513 00:28:32,360 --> 00:28:37,040 to understanding the mystery of the mummified dog, Heken. 514 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:40,120 The people in this tomb wanted their beloved dog 515 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:44,960 buried with them to ensure it joined them in the after-life. 516 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,520 JARED: It was kind of touching to find. 517 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,200 As modern humans, it'’s something you can really relate 518 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,960 when you have a pet. 519 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:59,560 NARRATOR: 100 miles south near Aswan, 520 00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:03,840 Alejandro'’s team has found two human skulls just yards away 521 00:29:03,840 --> 00:29:07,920 from where they discovered 11 mummified crocodiles. 522 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,000 ALEJANDRO: Another skull. 523 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,400 So we have now three individuals. 524 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:16,280 NARRATOR: Alejandro wants to investigate 525 00:29:16,280 --> 00:29:18,360 the intriguing connection, 526 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,680 but he'’s under pressure to excavate first. 527 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:23,760 It'’s the hottest part of the day, 528 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:28,520 and the skulls could crack in the 90-degree heat. 529 00:29:28,520 --> 00:29:30,400 ALEJANDRO: We have always toilet paper, 530 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,320 but not only for natural reasons, 531 00:29:33,320 --> 00:29:36,320 but also for research. [laughs] 532 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:38,840 NARRATOR: They spray the toilet paper with water 533 00:29:38,840 --> 00:29:40,960 and apply it to the skulls. 534 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:42,600 It'’s an emergency measure 535 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:46,160 to keep them moist before they are excavated. 536 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:50,720 Alejandro looks for clues to explain why the skulls 537 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,760 are so close to the mummified crocodiles. 538 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,960 He discovers that one is the skull of a young boy, 539 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,560 and as the team excavates, 540 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:04,200 something fascinating emerges with it. 541 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,640 ALEJANDRO: The coffin is an empty timber 542 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:11,520 where they put the children inside. 543 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,840 NARRATOR: The social status of a person 544 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:15,880 was reflected in their burial. 545 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,560 The tree trunk coffin is convincing evidence 546 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,320 this boy was poor. 547 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:26,280 ALEJANDRO: This boy was, uh, had the honor to be buried here 548 00:30:26,280 --> 00:30:32,000 in Qubbet el-Hawa, but was not part of the elite. 549 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,560 NARRATOR: Only wealthy ancient Egyptians 550 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:36,920 could afford mummified crocodiles, 551 00:30:36,920 --> 00:30:40,160 a religious offering to the god Sobek. 552 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:43,760 It'’s a puzzle why this apparently poor boy 553 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:47,680 might be part of a crocodile cult. 554 00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:54,440 NARRATOR: Alejandro looks for answers 555 00:30:54,440 --> 00:30:56,760 to explain the boy'’s grave. 556 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:59,320 The team doesn'’t just unearth skulls, 557 00:30:59,320 --> 00:31:02,040 they uncover three skeletons. 558 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:04,320 And the bone structure of the second one 559 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:06,720 indicates it'’s a female. 560 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:10,000 It'’s buried with something interesting. 561 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,640 ALEJANDRO: During the excavation of individual number two, 562 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:16,800 it appeared this interesting amulet. 563 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,520 NARRATOR: The jewelry is in the shape of Bes, 564 00:31:19,520 --> 00:31:23,160 the god of childbirth, who was popular with Egypt'’s poor. 565 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:27,720 The female skeleton was also buried with something else. 566 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:30,160 ALEJANDRO: And beside this skeleton, 567 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:34,280 we have the burial of a baby. 568 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:37,000 NARRATOR: Infant mortality was tragically high 569 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:38,960 in ancient Egypt. 570 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:42,920 Only one child in two lived past adolescence. 571 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:47,840 ALEJANDRO: It'’s always sad when you find these kind of burials. 572 00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:49,880 [sighs] 573 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:53,280 NARRATOR: The skeletons are stacked on top of each other. 574 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:56,240 It'’s another clue this was a shared tomb 575 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:59,040 for a non-elite family. 576 00:31:59,040 --> 00:32:03,640 It could help explain why they were buried near crocodiles 577 00:32:03,640 --> 00:32:07,240 in a necropolis reserved for the rich. 578 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:10,360 ALEJANDRO: Sometimes it was very important for the people 579 00:32:10,360 --> 00:32:14,800 to be buried here beside their master. 580 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:17,480 NARRATOR: They could be favored servants. 581 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:22,320 ALEJANDRO: It'’s not the quality of the funerary equipment 582 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,080 that you might have. 583 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:25,840 In certain ways it'’s much better 584 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,360 to buried beside an important person, 585 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:30,560 because you can benefit from the offerings 586 00:32:30,560 --> 00:32:32,920 that he is going to receive. 587 00:32:32,920 --> 00:32:35,280 NARRATOR: If these servants were getting the protection 588 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:36,760 of the mummified crocodiles, 589 00:32:36,760 --> 00:32:40,160 their rich masters could be close by. 590 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:45,280 The hunt for a wealthy tomb filled with treasure is on. 591 00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:50,680 As the team searches the surrounding area, 592 00:32:50,680 --> 00:32:53,480 it'’s not long before they unearth 593 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,440 a mysterious gap in the rock. 594 00:32:56,440 --> 00:32:58,240 ALEJANDRO: It seems that it'’s another tomb. 595 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:00,480 MAN: Good, good. 596 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:06,040 NARRATOR: In the quarry at Gebel El-Silsila, 597 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,560 Maria is looking for clues to explain 598 00:33:09,560 --> 00:33:13,800 why a ram-headed sphinx was left abandoned. 599 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:17,480 MARIA: We got a series of symbols or text 600 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:21,720 that we still haven'’t been able to decode in a simple way. 601 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,920 It'’s very difficult to work there 602 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:27,200 because of the risk of this collapsing. 603 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:29,600 JOHN: Well, I wanted to go down there, but my... 604 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:31,720 MARIA: No, we can'’t. It'’s not safe. 605 00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:33,120 JOHN: I'’m frightened of this. 606 00:33:33,120 --> 00:33:34,600 MARIA: No, no, no, it'’s not safe. 607 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:37,600 JOHN: If this comes down. Go on. 608 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:43,800 NARRATOR: At a safer location, Maria uses computer software 609 00:33:43,800 --> 00:33:46,520 to enhance the colors of the ancient graffiti. 610 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:50,160 She begins to see something incredible. 611 00:33:50,160 --> 00:33:52,280 MARIA: It is amazing. 612 00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:54,520 We actually have a face here. 613 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:58,480 It'’s a long snout, so the eye is emphasized, 614 00:33:58,480 --> 00:34:00,480 and these, they'’re teeth. 615 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:02,520 We have a crocodile face. 616 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,080 NARRATOR: As Maria looks closer, 617 00:34:05,080 --> 00:34:07,400 she discovers it'’s not a crocodile, 618 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,320 but something even more intriguing. 619 00:34:10,320 --> 00:34:13,640 MARIA: It is indeed a line of the belly, 620 00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:18,120 and that tells me one thing: this is the hippopotamus body. 621 00:34:18,120 --> 00:34:22,320 NARRATOR: She identifies the enigmatic drawing. 622 00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:26,360 It'’s Taweret, the hippopotamus goddess. 623 00:34:26,360 --> 00:34:30,280 Taweret was the principal female deity at this quarry, 624 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:34,680 and was often cast in the role of protectress. 625 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:38,680 Egyptians prayed to Taweret to keep them safe from harm, 626 00:34:38,680 --> 00:34:42,000 and Maria believes a quarry worker drew this sketch. 627 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:45,960 MARIA: It'’s not a royal official stela 628 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:48,040 dedicated to this goddess. 629 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,440 This is a personal wish 630 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:53,680 to be safe-kept and protected from mishaps. 631 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:57,760 NARRATOR: The laborer asked Taweret for protection. 632 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:02,000 Work here was dangerous, and life expectancy short. 633 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:04,360 MARIA: They wanted to be safe. 634 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:06,760 This, for me, is like shaking the ancients 635 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:09,120 directly in their hands. 636 00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:12,360 Regardless of all the technologies that we have today 637 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:14,280 and how much the world has evolved, 638 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,480 we'’re still looking for safety. 639 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:19,840 We still want to be keeping our families safe and protected 640 00:35:19,840 --> 00:35:22,960 and to be able to see yet another day. 641 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:25,440 NARRATOR: Maria investigates further. 642 00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:27,640 She needs to date this inscription. 643 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:30,600 MARIA: This mentions the year 34, 644 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:33,160 the opening of this quarry. 645 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:35,160 So it gives us the clue 646 00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:38,960 it'’s the end of the reign of Amenhotep III. 647 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,600 NARRATOR: Amenhotep III ruled Egypt 648 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:45,520 during the New Kingdom era, over 3,000 years ago. 649 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:51,000 His son, Amenhotep IV, revolutionized Egypt. 650 00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:54,160 He banned the worship of multiple gods-- 651 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:57,280 all the animal deities, like Taweret the hippo, 652 00:35:57,280 --> 00:35:58,960 Sobek the crocodile, 653 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:02,080 and even the mighty Sekhmet, the lion. 654 00:36:02,080 --> 00:36:06,360 Amenhotep worshipped just one: the sun god Aten. 655 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:10,000 He declared himself the representative of Aten on Earth 656 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:13,040 and changed his name to Akhen-aten. 657 00:36:15,200 --> 00:36:18,200 Maria thinks the inscription is a clue 658 00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:20,880 to why the sphinx they found here in the quarry 659 00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:22,440 was abandoned. 660 00:36:22,440 --> 00:36:24,800 MARIA: We know that Akhen-aten broke off 661 00:36:24,800 --> 00:36:28,560 from the state religion, but still we have the production 662 00:36:28,560 --> 00:36:33,040 of these beasts at a time when he starts to get into power. 663 00:36:33,040 --> 00:36:36,040 Maybe it was that they were abandoned here on site 664 00:36:36,040 --> 00:36:38,640 because he came to power. 665 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:40,920 NARRATOR: Akhen-aten instructed the workers 666 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,280 to down tools on this sphinx. 667 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:48,080 MARIA: What we know is we had Amenhotep III here. 668 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:51,720 When Akhen-aten turned from Amenhotep IV to Akhen-aten, 669 00:36:51,720 --> 00:36:53,920 he destroyed everything. 670 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:56,040 This site wasn'’t used again. 671 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:02,880 NARRATOR: In Aswan, at Qubbet el-Hawa, 672 00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:06,480 before Alejandro'’s team can enter the tomb, 673 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:09,480 they must first excavate the entrance. 674 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:11,600 But it'’s perched dangerously close 675 00:37:11,600 --> 00:37:14,120 to the edge of a steep cliff. 676 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:16,880 The soft rock crumbles away. 677 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,920 An accident could easily happen. 678 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:24,320 ALEJANDRO: We need to take care of our every step that we make. 679 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:30,560 NARRATOR: Finally, they access the entrance, 680 00:37:30,560 --> 00:37:32,400 and there'’s a promising sign 681 00:37:32,400 --> 00:37:34,760 they'’re on the verge of a huge discovery. 682 00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:39,000 ALEJANDRO: We have just discovered that the tomb 683 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:44,720 is intact because the stones are sealing the door. 684 00:37:44,720 --> 00:37:48,880 NARRATOR: It means tomb robbers haven'’t beaten Alejandro to it. 685 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:50,920 ALEJANDRO: Fingers crossed 686 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:53,920 to know if we are going to be lucky. 687 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:03,760 NARRATOR: Alejandro explores the untouched tomb. 688 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:08,160 ALEJANDRO: Here there is something that is quite strange. 689 00:38:08,160 --> 00:38:12,320 NARRATOR: Two coffins lie inside, 690 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:14,880 but it'’s disappointing news. 691 00:38:14,880 --> 00:38:18,920 Termites have got in there first. 692 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:22,080 ALEJANDRO: We have these kind of days in the excavation. 693 00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:24,000 What a pity. 694 00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:25,840 NARRATOR: Termites are a problem 695 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:27,600 worse than tomb robbers. 696 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:30,000 They destroy coffins. 697 00:38:30,000 --> 00:38:32,960 Just before Alejandro gives up hope, 698 00:38:32,960 --> 00:38:35,600 he notices another chamber. 699 00:38:35,600 --> 00:38:37,520 ALEJANDRO: Oh, it'’s amazing! 700 00:38:38,880 --> 00:38:40,640 NARRATOR: And fortunately, 701 00:38:40,640 --> 00:38:43,960 the termites haven'’t destroyed what'’s inside. 702 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:45,840 ALEJANDRO: For the first time we are lucky 703 00:38:45,840 --> 00:38:48,880 and we discover without the problems of the termites. 704 00:38:50,640 --> 00:38:53,920 NARRATOR: Two ancient colored coffins. 705 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:56,800 ALEJANDRO: I never seen something like this. 706 00:38:56,800 --> 00:39:01,160 NARRATOR: It'’s a triumphant moment for the whole team. 707 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:03,200 The discovery of the wealthy tombs 708 00:39:03,200 --> 00:39:05,200 they'’ve been searching for. 709 00:39:05,200 --> 00:39:09,040 [singing] 710 00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:13,240 They could hold evidence of a crocodile cult 711 00:39:13,240 --> 00:39:17,240 and finally resolve the mystery of the mummified crocodiles. 712 00:39:19,920 --> 00:39:23,320 The colored coffins need weeks of restoration work 713 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:25,920 before they can be safely moved. 714 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:30,200 Until then, they seal the burial with an iron door, 715 00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:33,240 to keep the coffins safe from tomb robbers. 716 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:37,680 ALEJANDRO: Perfect. 717 00:39:37,680 --> 00:39:42,400 Now I can sleep more relaxed. [chuckles] 718 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:48,400 NARRATOR: It'’s a satisfying end to an amazing day. 719 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:52,480 ALEJANDRO: We did not expect to find anything important. 720 00:39:52,480 --> 00:39:55,160 However, we have found two amazing tombs, 721 00:39:55,160 --> 00:39:59,080 one with the coffins, and the other with the crocodiles. 722 00:39:59,080 --> 00:40:03,840 It has been one of the most intensive days of my life. 723 00:40:08,680 --> 00:40:12,280 NARRATOR: 400 miles north, on the Giza Plateau, 724 00:40:12,280 --> 00:40:16,440 Chris continues to explore the ancient Egyptians'’ reverence 725 00:40:16,440 --> 00:40:21,520 for animal gods and their role as divine guardians. 726 00:40:21,520 --> 00:40:24,520 At the paws of the Great Sphinx, 727 00:40:24,520 --> 00:40:26,640 he finds a tantalizing clue 728 00:40:26,640 --> 00:40:30,120 that could reveal the statue'’s true purpose. 729 00:40:30,120 --> 00:40:33,520 CHRIS: This, we think, is some kind of temple. 730 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:35,720 It'’s a building which sits 731 00:40:35,720 --> 00:40:37,760 right in front of the paws of the Sphinx. 732 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:40,120 It'’s built in the same way as well, 733 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:44,760 with these absolutely massive local limestone blocks. 734 00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:48,200 NARRATOR: The temple'’s limestone blocks 735 00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:50,320 are a match with the Sphinx. 736 00:40:50,320 --> 00:40:52,960 The Egyptians built it at the same time 737 00:40:52,960 --> 00:40:55,880 from the Sphinx'’s leftover stones. 738 00:40:57,600 --> 00:41:00,200 Chris steps back to the eastern corner. 739 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:04,200 From here, he notices something intriguing. 740 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:05,920 CHRIS: Where we'’re standing here, 741 00:41:05,920 --> 00:41:09,200 we'’re looking straight on at the face of the Sphinx, 742 00:41:09,200 --> 00:41:11,840 and, in fact, the Sphinx is aligned to the pyramid. 743 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:15,600 So its right shoulder is absolutely aligned 744 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:18,480 along the axis of the temple in front of it, 745 00:41:18,480 --> 00:41:21,800 and behind it, the corner of the pyramid. 746 00:41:21,800 --> 00:41:25,680 What'’s even more interesting is that at the two equinoxes, 747 00:41:25,680 --> 00:41:27,520 that is the exact point 748 00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:30,880 where you see the sun setting in the sky. 749 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:34,120 NARRATOR: The temple, the Sphinx and Khafre'’s pyramid 750 00:41:34,120 --> 00:41:38,360 could all be part of one master plan. 751 00:41:38,360 --> 00:41:40,800 During solar events 752 00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:44,720 their alignment reveals something extraordinary. 753 00:41:46,920 --> 00:41:50,240 When the sun sets on the equinox, 754 00:41:50,240 --> 00:41:53,160 it drops into the shoulder of the Sphinx 755 00:41:53,160 --> 00:41:57,160 and the south side of Khafre'’s pyramid. 756 00:41:57,160 --> 00:42:00,560 These two mighty monuments are symbols of the king, 757 00:42:00,560 --> 00:42:05,560 and as the sun sets, their shadows become one. 758 00:42:05,560 --> 00:42:07,360 On the summer solstice, 759 00:42:07,360 --> 00:42:10,440 the sun sinks between the two great pyramids, 760 00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:13,200 and looks like an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph 761 00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:16,840 that represents the cycle of divine rebirth. 762 00:42:19,520 --> 00:42:23,400 The architects who built the Sphinx pyramid temple complex 763 00:42:23,400 --> 00:42:27,360 had an in-depth knowledge of cosmology. 764 00:42:27,360 --> 00:42:29,840 They would have known that Sekhmet the lion 765 00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:32,120 is also a sun goddess. 766 00:42:32,120 --> 00:42:34,200 CHRIS: Perhaps this helps us to explain 767 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:35,920 the meaning of the Sphinx, 768 00:42:35,920 --> 00:42:38,560 and what the Egyptians were doing in a temple like this, 769 00:42:38,560 --> 00:42:40,160 what rituals they were performing. 770 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:42,560 If this is a solar deity, 771 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:44,640 then perhaps the worship in the temple 772 00:42:44,640 --> 00:42:48,960 was all connected with the sun and the setting sun. 773 00:42:48,960 --> 00:42:52,240 NARRATOR: The ancient Egyptians believed the rise and fall 774 00:42:52,240 --> 00:42:56,200 of the sun equated to human resurrection. 775 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,680 The Sphinx could have been central to a complex 776 00:42:59,680 --> 00:43:04,760 built by King Khafre to harness the spiritual power of the sun. 777 00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:09,640 Today, the Sphinx sits alone in the pyramids'’ shadow. 778 00:43:09,640 --> 00:43:12,960 But back in the time of the pharaoh Khafre, 779 00:43:12,960 --> 00:43:16,560 it was at the figurehead of a grand design, 780 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:20,720 a great temple complex with a huge causeway 781 00:43:20,720 --> 00:43:23,960 connecting the Sphinx to Khafre'’s pyramid... 782 00:43:23,960 --> 00:43:27,920 the pharaoh'’s final resting place. 783 00:43:27,920 --> 00:43:31,400 The temple complex stretched to the Nile, 784 00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:34,920 where there was a magnificent port. 785 00:43:34,920 --> 00:43:37,600 When Khafre died, it was here 786 00:43:37,600 --> 00:43:40,880 that the boat carrying his body would dock... 787 00:43:40,880 --> 00:43:44,120 before he was entombed in his giant pyramid 788 00:43:44,120 --> 00:43:47,080 to wait for his resurrection. 789 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:51,360 ♪ 790 00:43:51,360 --> 00:43:54,200 The Egyptian belief in the divine powers 791 00:43:54,200 --> 00:43:56,720 of their animal gods was so great, 792 00:43:56,720 --> 00:43:59,920 they built the Sphinx to be the protective figurehead 793 00:43:59,920 --> 00:44:03,200 in a resurrection machine designed to guarantee 794 00:44:03,200 --> 00:44:06,800 King Khafre'’s journey into the after-life. 795 00:44:06,800 --> 00:44:09,480 Captioned by Side Door Media Services