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[narrator]
A strange tomb is uncovered
in Egypt's Valley of the Kings.
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But while excavating
below the temple,
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a wooden coffin
was discovered largely intact.
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00:00:14,433 --> 00:00:17,900
But the most arresting aspect
of the mummy was its face.
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It was open mouth
as if screaming.
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So who was this person
and what happened to her?
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A team of archaeologists is
studying aerial footage in Iraq
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00:00:29,133 --> 00:00:30,667
when they make
a surprising discovery.
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The images showed evidence
of the subsurface remains
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of a huge complex
that had gone undiscovered
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00:00:36,734 --> 00:00:38,400
up until that point.
But what was this place?
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In the vast desert
of New Mexico,
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researchers unearthed
an ancient roadway.
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But this was no modern road.
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Its origins went back
roughly a thousand years.
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It was assumed the road
was somehow connected
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to the Pueblo settlements,
but its exact purpose
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and function was a mystery.
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Ancient lost cities...
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...forgotten treasures...
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...mysterious structures.
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As new technology uncovers
remarkable tales hidden beneath
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the deserts of the world,
the "Secrets in the Sand" will
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will finally be revealed.
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East of Egypt's Nile River,
the city of Luxor
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spreads across a dry flood
plain for 150 square miles.
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Like most of Egypt,
Luxor has a hot desert climate,
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making it clear and sunny
pretty much every day.
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It's so dry that a year can
pass without a single
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drop of rain.
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And yes, the Nile does provide
water for agriculture,
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but the surrounding geography
is as dry as a bone.
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You've got desert landscapes,
rolling sand dunes,
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rocky plateau,
and mountains.
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Today, the city is
a thriving center of commerce
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and industry, but Luxor is best
known as the former city
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of Thebes, capital
of Upper Egypt during the Middle
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and New Kingdom eras.
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Thebes first rose to prominence
in the 4th century BCE
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after the Peloponnesian War,
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when it became
a major military force.
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And it remained a powerful
capital for most
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of the following 500 years.
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Many of the ancient monuments
and temples can still be seen
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dotting the urban landscape
of Luxor.
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On the west bank
is the Theban Necropolis,
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featuring
the Valley of the Kings,
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an ancient burial ground
for Egyptian pharaohs, noblemen,
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and their families from the 18th
to the 20th Dynasty.
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A team of archaeologists
is excavating a tomb
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in the Valley of the Kings
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when they make
a surprising discovery.
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There's a long row
of connected mortuary temples
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in a valley called
Deir el-Bahari.
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That's an Arabic name
for a monastery.
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Below the temples
is a series of individual tombs,
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including one temple
for the site's architect,
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Senenmut,
along with his parents.
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But while excavating
below the temple,
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a wooden coffin was discovered,
largely intact.
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[Dr. Agbedor] The coffin
was opened to reveal a mummy,
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also intact, of an adult female.
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It was laying on its back
with extended legs and both arms
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were angled inward so the hands
were covering the pelvic area.
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But the most arresting aspect
of the mummy was its face.
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It was open mouth
as if screaming.
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So who was this person
and what happened to her?
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[Dr. Cantor]
The mummy was just
over five feet in length
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from heel to crown.
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Its reddish brown skin
was hard and thick and intact.
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Its fingernails and toenails
were also all accounted for,
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and while some of
the mummy's teeth were missing,
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those present were large,
white, and strong.
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Aside from the open mouth
scream position,
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the other notable feature
was a large, thick wig braided
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right into the mummy's
sparse hair
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on either side of the skull.
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The wig was composed
of dark human hair
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falling to the shoulders
as opposed to being bound,
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as was the tradition.
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So is it possible
the mummy's wig
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could be a clue to her identity
and her fate?
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The use of wigs
and hair extensions
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is an illustration
of the Egyptians' desire
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to attain physical beauty
through lavish accessories.
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[Dr. Riskin]
Wigs and extensions were
frequently used
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in Egyptian funerary rites,
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along with other symbols
of wealth and power,
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like precious amulets
and jewelry.
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But those were all also worn
by living Egyptians,
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men and women,
for the same reasons,
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to indicate
their socioeconomic status.
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Egyptians crafted
the wigs from human hair
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and supplemented them
with plant or flax fibers.
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It's believed that dark
or black hair was preferred
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as it represented
youthful beauty.
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And while a lot of effort
went into the aesthetics
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such as styling
with curls and braids,
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the wigs were also practical
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as they protected
shaven scalp from the sun
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and maintained hygiene
by reducing lice.
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The close examination
of the Screaming Woman's wig
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leads to a critical connection.
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The mummy's wig was cleaved
in two halves down the center,
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much like a middle part
of natural hair,
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and the braids were tapered
slightly at each end.
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It was an arrangement
that was very similar
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to that of another female mummy
buried nearby,
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the mother of the tomb's
designer and builder, Senenmut.
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Senenmut is best known today
for being the architect
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of the mortuary temple
of Queen Hatshepsut,
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a female pharaoh who ruled
for more than 20 years,
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starting in 1479 BCE.
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Her temple was
a stunning example
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of ancient Egyptian design,
with three levels of terraces
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all connected by ramps.
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As chief architect, Senenmut
would have had high status
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in Hatshepsut's court.
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And with that, he was
entitled to such privileges
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as securing a burial spot
for his parents
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among the royals
and other elites.
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However, while Senenmut's
own tomb was to be built
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under Queen Hatshepsut's
courtyard,
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along with his parents,
it was never completed.
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[Dr. Cantor]
Even more mysterious is
the fate of Senenmut himself.
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He left public life abruptly,
and we still don't know why.
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And his remains were never
interred in his elaborate
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but unfinished tomb.
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With so many open questions
surrounding Senenmut,
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we can't conclude
with any degree of certainty
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that the Screaming Woman
was a relative of the architect.
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Professor Sahar Saleem,
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whose forensic and historical
analysis of the Screaming Mummy
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revealed another clue.
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All of the vital organs,
including the brain
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of the Screaming Woman,
were still intact,
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and there was a complete absence
of incisions to the body.
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This was inconsistent
with the traditional
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Egyptian embalming process
for high status individuals,
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in which the body's viscera
was removed before burial.
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[Dr. Riskin] It's possible that
the people doing the embalming
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did a sloppy job,
maybe they were rushed,
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maybe they just didn't know
what they were doing,
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they were incompetent,
I don't know.
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That feels unlikely to me.
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I think a better explanation
is that the mummy,
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the Screaming Woman,
just wasn't a member
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of the royal family
or the elite class at all.
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That idea is supported
by the fact that aside
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from two scarab rings
on her left hand,
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there were practically
no jewels or ornaments
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or grave goods on the mummy
or surrounding the coffin.
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Also, her recumbent
body position,
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where both arms were inclined
toward her groin,
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was inconsistent
with other elite women's burials
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in the New Kingdom.
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Female members
of the royal family
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were typically buried
with the left arm flexed
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across the chest
and the right arm to the side.
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So is it possible that
the Screaming Woman
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was some kind of outlier,
a commoner buried
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among the elite of Egypt?
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A team of archaeologists
is excavating a tomb
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in the Valley of the Kings
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when they make
a surprising discovery,
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The Screaming Woman.
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The Egyptians believed
that it was critical
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to preserve the bodies
of their pharaohs and kings
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in order to ensure their
safe passage into the afterlife.
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This involved removing
vital organs,
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but also dehydrating
the body with salt,
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and then covering
the dried skin
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with a blend
of natural substances, oils,
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fats, and resins,
to prevent decay.
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Samples taken from the skin
of the Screaming Woman revealed
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she'd been embalmed with juniper
and frankincense resin.
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Not only were these
costly items,
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but they likely had
to be imported
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from neighboring countries.
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Hair fibers from the wig
had been dyed red with henna,
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a rare dye prepared
with the powdered leaves
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of the henna tree.
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Taken together, the expensive
imported embalming materials
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plus the well-preserved
condition
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of the Screaming Woman's body
indicate that her burial was
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consistent with those
of the pharaohs and elites
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that surrounded her.
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So maybe she was a member
of that elite class after all.
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Although rare,
the Screaming Woman
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isn't the only mummy in Egypt
to be discovered
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with its mouth open wide.
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During the 18th Dynasty,
Princess Ahmose-Meritamun became
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the great royal wife
of her younger brother,
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the Pharaoh Amenhotep I.
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As with the Screaming Woman,
Meritamun's remains
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were discovered
in a wooden coffin
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in the Deir el-Bahari section
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of the Theban Necropolis.
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Her face also an open mouth
death mask.
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A CT scan
of Meritamun's skeleton
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revealed the young queen
had suffered
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from sclerosis and arthritis,
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both of which can result
in bone curvatures
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and constrictions
of the body's joints.
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These findings indicate she may
have died of a heart attack,
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and her body was not found
before rigor mortis kicked in.
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And Meritamun's open mouth
was likely due to the natural
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postmortem muscle relaxation.
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So it's possible
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that the Screaming Woman's
open mouth
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was a direct result of a serious
health condition or disease.
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If that's the case,
is that what killed her?
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00:10:41,567 --> 00:10:43,166
A CT scan performed
on the mummy leads
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00:10:43,667 --> 00:10:44,467
to a breakthrough.
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00:10:45,500 --> 00:10:46,500
The opening and closing
of the mouth is controlled
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by a bunch of muscles around
the temporal mandibular joint.
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Ordinarily,
when those muscles relax,
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like when you're asleep
or after you die,
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the mouth opens a little bit,
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but this extreme gait,
this wide open mouth,
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suggests that the muscles
were firing.
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So did that happen
after death from rigor mortis,
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or is this something
that happened during death?
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To keep the mouth closed
for burial,
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Egyptian embalmers
typically wrap
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the deceased's mandible
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around the skull,
keeping it shut.
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But the Screaming Woman's mouth
was discovered
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in an unnaturally wide position,
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as if she had been crying out
in agony when she died.
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[scream]
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And there's
a biological phenomenon
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that supports this possibility,
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a rare event
called a cadaveric spasm,
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which causes muscles to freeze
in the position the person
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was in at the time of death,
not unlike rigor mortis.
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[Anthea]
Cadaveric spasms are
usually associated with brutal,
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violent deaths under extreme
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physical conditions
and emotions.
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So while the exact cause
of death can't be determined
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00:11:52,867 --> 00:11:54,567
for the Screaming Woman,
nor her identity,
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the expression on her face
certainly aligns
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with intense suffering and pain.
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The screaming mummy
remains a fascinating curiosity
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00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,600
and its discovery offers a true
time capsule for just one
246
00:12:08,467 --> 00:12:09,967
of the human mysteries
of ancient Egypt
247
00:12:10,533 --> 00:12:11,100
waiting to be solved.
248
00:12:25,166 --> 00:12:30,000
Roughly 185 miles southeast
of Baghdad lies Tello, Iraq,
249
00:12:30,834 --> 00:12:32,266
a city
in the Dhi Qar Governorate.
250
00:12:33,333 --> 00:12:35,166
The region is known
as the cradle of civilization
251
00:12:36,033 --> 00:12:37,066
because it was home
to the Sumerians,
252
00:12:37,934 --> 00:12:40,000
the oldest known culture
in Mesopotamia.
253
00:12:41,100 --> 00:12:42,867
They were responsible for a host
of human advancements,
254
00:12:43,767 --> 00:12:44,500
including the development
of cuneiform,
255
00:12:45,433 --> 00:12:46,767
one of the earliest known
writing systems
256
00:12:47,567 --> 00:12:48,667
that involved
engraving pictograms
257
00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:52,000
and symbols into clay
with a reed stylus.
258
00:12:52,767 --> 00:12:53,667
The Sumerians
were also pioneers
259
00:12:54,433 --> 00:12:56,100
in math, science,
architecture,
260
00:12:57,233 --> 00:12:59,100
and societal organization,
all of which helped to build
261
00:13:00,066 --> 00:13:02,100
the foundations
for future civilizations.
262
00:13:03,300 --> 00:13:05,000
Archaeological evidence tells
us that the Sumerians built
263
00:13:06,166 --> 00:13:08,867
about a dozen city-states
in the fourth millennium BCE.
264
00:13:09,867 --> 00:13:11,867
These urban centers
are the first known cities
265
00:13:12,367 --> 00:13:13,066
in world history.
266
00:13:14,233 --> 00:13:16,400
One of them, known as Girsu,
stood where the modern city
267
00:13:17,166 --> 00:13:19,500
of Tello in Iraq
is located today.
268
00:13:20,567 --> 00:13:24,300
At its peak, around 2500 BCE,
Girsu was the heart
269
00:13:24,934 --> 00:13:26,100
of the Lagash city-state.
270
00:13:27,133 --> 00:13:29,200
The walled city covered
an area around 600 acres,
271
00:13:30,233 --> 00:13:31,900
and some estimates
put the population at between
272
00:13:32,533 --> 00:13:33,900
15,000 and 20,000 people.
273
00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,066
Girsu was
first discovered in 1877
274
00:13:39,266 --> 00:13:42,266
by a French archaeologist,
and it was extensively excavated
275
00:13:42,834 --> 00:13:44,800
over the next 56 years.
276
00:13:45,967 --> 00:13:48,100
But political instability
and armed conflict in the area
277
00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:51,900
put a halt to any further
exploration in the 1930s,
278
00:13:53,100 --> 00:13:57,200
and Girsu was largely forgotten
about, but not by everyone.
279
00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:00,166
A team comprised of British
and Iraqi archaeologists
280
00:14:01,033 --> 00:14:02,667
are analyzing
drone footage of Girsu
281
00:14:03,567 --> 00:14:05,567
when they notice
something unexpected.
282
00:14:06,667 --> 00:14:08,367
The images showed evidence
of the subsurface remains
283
00:14:09,333 --> 00:14:11,100
of a huge complex
that had gone undiscovered
284
00:14:12,066 --> 00:14:13,600
up until that point.
So what was this place?
285
00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:19,367
Cuneiform tablets discovered
by the French excavations claim
286
00:14:20,500 --> 00:14:22,767
that Girsu was considered
a sacred city because it was
287
00:14:23,734 --> 00:14:25,900
said to be home
to the sanctuary of Ningirsu,
288
00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:29,667
the Sumerian god of war,
who was revered because he was
289
00:14:30,467 --> 00:14:32,166
believed to battle
mythical beasts,
290
00:14:33,100 --> 00:14:34,567
which ensured
the spring rains would come
291
00:14:35,500 --> 00:14:37,667
and provide water
for the irrigation-based
292
00:14:38,467 --> 00:14:40,166
agricultural systems
of the region.
293
00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,100
[Anthea]
But the French teams were
never able to locate this
294
00:14:43,934 --> 00:14:46,367
legendary temple
dedicated to Ningirsu,
295
00:14:47,233 --> 00:14:48,367
leaving some doubt
as to whether or not
296
00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:49,767
it even existed.
297
00:14:50,700 --> 00:14:52,400
So is it possible that
the complex detected
298
00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,400
by the drone images
is this elusive structure?
299
00:15:01,467 --> 00:15:04,867
In 2020, archaeologists
investigating an area
300
00:15:06,066 --> 00:15:09,567
of Girsu known as Uruku,
which means "The Sacred City "
301
00:15:10,500 --> 00:15:12,166
unearthed evidence
of ceremonial practices
302
00:15:12,734 --> 00:15:13,867
dedicated to Ningirsu.
303
00:15:15,367 --> 00:15:16,800
It was a huge find.
304
00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,900
Over 300 broken ceremonial
ceramic cups, bowls,
305
00:15:21,867 --> 00:15:24,667
jars, spouted vessels,
and many animal bones.
306
00:15:25,734 --> 00:15:27,967
One of the artifacts found
was a fragment of a vase
307
00:15:28,900 --> 00:15:31,066
with an inscription
dedicated to Ningirsu.
308
00:15:31,934 --> 00:15:34,000
The items were
in or near a ritual pit
309
00:15:35,100 --> 00:15:37,867
known as a "favissa"
that was around eight feet deep.
310
00:15:38,700 --> 00:15:40,166
The vessels found
were probably used
311
00:15:40,734 --> 00:15:41,867
in a ceremonial banquet
312
00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,400
before being ritually
thrown into the pit,
313
00:15:45,467 --> 00:15:47,667
while the bones were likely
the remains of animals
314
00:15:48,734 --> 00:15:51,266
that were either eaten
or killed during sacrifices.
315
00:15:52,367 --> 00:15:54,367
The area also had a thick layer
of ash, believed to be
316
00:15:55,166 --> 00:15:57,700
the remnants
of large ritual fires.
317
00:15:58,667 --> 00:16:01,200
The ceremonial ceramics,
the evidence of fire,
318
00:16:02,433 --> 00:16:04,266
and a favissa indicate that this
is where religious gatherings
319
00:16:05,433 --> 00:16:07,967
took place and where the people
of Girsu gathered to feast
320
00:16:08,667 --> 00:16:09,266
and pay respects to their gods.
321
00:16:10,700 --> 00:16:13,100
In 2024,
researchers discovered
322
00:16:14,133 --> 00:16:16,867
a cuneiform tablet
from the 15th century BCE
323
00:16:17,934 --> 00:16:19,967
at the Alalakh archaeological
site in Reyhanli,
324
00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:22,667
a southern Turkish city
near the border with Syria.
325
00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,367
At the time the tablet was
inscribed, Alalakh was
326
00:16:28,533 --> 00:16:30,567
the capital of the kingdom
of Mukish and the largest city
327
00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,000
in the region.
328
00:16:32,900 --> 00:16:34,567
It was occupied
by the Amorites, a culture
329
00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:35,900
from western Mesopotamia.
330
00:16:37,266 --> 00:16:40,200
The tablet itself is tiny,
measuring only
331
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:45,867
1.6 by 0.6 inches,
and weighing just 28 grams.
332
00:16:46,934 --> 00:16:48,367
It's written in Akkadian,
one of the oldest known
333
00:16:48,867 --> 00:16:50,100
Semitic languages,
334
00:16:51,333 --> 00:16:53,367
and it's one that's no longer
spoken anywhere in the world.
335
00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,867
Akkadian's cuneiform script
was made up of around 600 signs,
336
00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:00,767
some of which represented
full words, while some were
337
00:17:01,333 --> 00:17:01,867
just single syllables.
338
00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,100
When they translated
the tablet, it was discovered
339
00:17:07,300 --> 00:17:10,767
that it details the purchase
of chairs, tables, and stools
340
00:17:11,800 --> 00:17:14,300
by an unknown buyer,
basically an ancient receipt
341
00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:16,567
or bill of sale for furniture.
342
00:17:17,567 --> 00:17:19,400
While it may seem like
kind of a mundane item,
343
00:17:20,533 --> 00:17:23,166
it actually offers insights
into the economic systems
344
00:17:24,066 --> 00:17:26,200
of the region during
the Late Bronze Age.
345
00:17:27,433 --> 00:17:30,767
So maybe the tablets discovered
at Girsu tell a similar story,
346
00:17:31,900 --> 00:17:34,567
and the complex isn't a temple,
but rather a marketplace
347
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:36,667
for business transactions.
348
00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:39,100
[Anthea]
Sure enough, they unearth
the mud-brick walls
349
00:17:39,867 --> 00:17:41,266
that make up
the mystery complex,
350
00:17:42,066 --> 00:17:43,567
and the scope of it
is staggering.
351
00:17:44,266 --> 00:17:45,700
This was no simple structure.
352
00:17:46,567 --> 00:17:47,767
There are what looks
to be the remains
353
00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:51,667
of different buildings
and multiple rooms and chambers.
354
00:17:52,734 --> 00:17:54,467
But that still doesn't tell us
exactly what it was
355
00:17:55,133 --> 00:17:56,567
and what purpose it served.
356
00:17:57,633 --> 00:17:59,166
The cuneiform tablets
are analyzed in the hopes
357
00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:01,066
that they will provide
some answers,
358
00:18:02,133 --> 00:18:04,400
and the researchers
are stunned by the results.
359
00:18:05,066 --> 00:18:06,100
The tablets are essentially
360
00:18:07,133 --> 00:18:08,500
the government's administrative
archives of Girsu
361
00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:10,567
from when the city
was under the control
362
00:18:11,533 --> 00:18:15,300
of the Akkad dynasty,
from 2300 to 2150 BCE.
363
00:18:15,967 --> 00:18:17,467
This is an incredible find.
364
00:18:18,533 --> 00:18:21,100
It's the oldest physical
evidence of the first empire
365
00:18:21,633 --> 00:18:22,867
in recorded history.
366
00:18:23,867 --> 00:18:25,900
Girsu was one of the Sumerian
cities conquered
367
00:18:26,900 --> 00:18:31,066
by the Mesopotamian king
Sargon around 2300 BCE.
368
00:18:32,233 --> 00:18:35,000
Sargon developed a new form
of government by vanquishing
369
00:18:36,166 --> 00:18:38,400
all the Sumerian settlements
and creating what many call
370
00:18:39,100 --> 00:18:40,967
the first empire in the world.
371
00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:43,266
Until the discovery
of the tablets,
372
00:18:44,133 --> 00:18:45,900
information on this empire
was scarce.
373
00:18:46,834 --> 00:18:48,767
The only documented records
were fragments
374
00:18:49,467 --> 00:18:51,266
of royal inscriptions or copies
375
00:18:52,066 --> 00:18:54,166
of unreliable Akkadian
inscriptions
376
00:18:54,700 --> 00:18:56,300
recorded much later.
377
00:18:57,533 --> 00:18:59,967
The tablets could be called
the spreadsheets of the empire,
378
00:19:00,934 --> 00:19:02,467
and they reveal
a complicated bureaucracy,
379
00:19:03,133 --> 00:19:04,166
Deliveries and expenditures
380
00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:07,266
on everything from textiles
and precious stones,
381
00:19:08,033 --> 00:19:09,567
to fish
and domesticated animals,
382
00:19:10,100 --> 00:19:11,467
to flour and barley.
383
00:19:12,467 --> 00:19:14,000
Some of the tablets even have
maps of canals,
384
00:19:15,100 --> 00:19:17,266
architectural layouts
of buildings, and other plans.
385
00:19:18,367 --> 00:19:21,400
Believed to have been built
around 4,500 years ago,
386
00:19:22,467 --> 00:19:24,066
the Lord Palace of the Kings
was the centerpiece
387
00:19:24,734 --> 00:19:25,700
of the grand city of Girsu,
388
00:19:26,533 --> 00:19:28,367
but it had been lost
for centuries.
389
00:19:29,367 --> 00:19:31,166
The palace complex
would've been a central part
390
00:19:31,734 --> 00:19:32,600
of Sumerian city life,
391
00:19:33,567 --> 00:19:35,066
with the king
and his court residing there.
392
00:19:35,934 --> 00:19:36,900
It was also
an administrative center,
393
00:19:38,133 --> 00:19:41,166
a hub for governing the city
and its surrounding territories.
394
00:19:42,333 --> 00:19:45,100
Incredibly, other excavations
at Girsu finally uncovered
395
00:19:46,233 --> 00:19:49,600
the main temple dedicated
to Ningirsu, called E-ninnu,
396
00:19:50,700 --> 00:19:53,000
also known as the "Temple
of the White Thunderbird."
397
00:19:53,900 --> 00:19:55,767
It was located near
the palace complex,
398
00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,100
showing just how intertwined
religious and imperial life were
399
00:20:00,767 --> 00:20:01,367
during the Sumerian period.
400
00:20:03,667 --> 00:20:06,867
Before these excavations,
the existence of the palace
401
00:20:08,033 --> 00:20:09,367
and temple was only known
because of passing references
402
00:20:10,133 --> 00:20:11,166
made to them
that were discovered
403
00:20:11,867 --> 00:20:12,800
by the early French excavation.
404
00:20:13,934 --> 00:20:15,667
The Lord Palace of the King's
discovery sheds light
405
00:20:16,567 --> 00:20:18,500
on the history,
culture, and governance
406
00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:20,767
of the ancient Sumerian
civilization,
407
00:20:21,834 --> 00:20:23,367
and offers valuable insight
into the daily life
408
00:20:24,333 --> 00:20:26,066
of one of the oldest cities
on the planet.
409
00:20:37,266 --> 00:20:39,567
The Northwestern region
of Arabia extends
410
00:20:40,700 --> 00:20:43,266
tens of thousands of miles
between modern-day Jordan
411
00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:44,900
and into the ecoregion
of Iraq.
412
00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,967
This is a vast,
incredibly arid ecoregion
413
00:20:50,834 --> 00:20:52,567
with annual rainfall
generally between
414
00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,266
just two and eight inches.
415
00:20:55,266 --> 00:20:56,700
There are also extreme
temperature variations,
416
00:20:57,934 --> 00:21:00,367
with lows of just 35 degrees
in winter and highs reaching up
417
00:21:01,033 --> 00:21:02,266
above 100 degrees in summer.
418
00:21:04,567 --> 00:21:06,367
Plants like small shrubs
419
00:21:07,500 --> 00:21:10,200
and certain hardy desert flowers
do actually grow here,
420
00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:13,400
and the animal species
in the area include predators
421
00:21:14,300 --> 00:21:16,967
like foxes, caracals,
and honey badgers,
422
00:21:17,867 --> 00:21:19,900
as well as herds of ibexes
and antelopes.
423
00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:25,800
These animals graze alongside
domesticated herds of cattle,
424
00:21:26,967 --> 00:21:29,367
sheep, and goats who belong
to the nomadic pastoralists
425
00:21:30,066 --> 00:21:31,367
who live throughout the desert.
426
00:21:32,266 --> 00:21:34,300
In fact, despite
the inhospitable climate,
427
00:21:35,333 --> 00:21:37,000
the region has a rich history
of human presence
428
00:21:37,700 --> 00:21:39,867
dating back thousands of years.
429
00:21:40,900 --> 00:21:42,867
In Saudi Arabia,
a team working at the Al-Natah
430
00:21:43,900 --> 00:21:45,867
archaeological site notice
an unusual structure
431
00:21:46,667 --> 00:21:48,800
rising out
of the desert landscape.
432
00:21:49,967 --> 00:21:51,967
The outer reaches of the site
are marked by the remains
433
00:21:52,500 --> 00:21:53,900
of an enormous wall.
434
00:21:55,166 --> 00:21:57,367
In some places, there are only
a few piles of brick to tell us
435
00:21:58,633 --> 00:22:02,100
where it stood, and other parts
are covered in piles of rubble.
436
00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:05,000
Still, based on the existing
evidence, it's estimated
437
00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:08,800
to have once been
over nine miles long.
438
00:22:09,700 --> 00:22:10,266
The southern reaches
of the site show us
439
00:22:11,100 --> 00:22:12,800
how formidable
this wall really was.
440
00:22:13,667 --> 00:22:15,800
Here, the ruins
are up to 19 feet thick,
441
00:22:16,500 --> 00:22:17,667
and two large towers were added.
442
00:22:18,734 --> 00:22:20,266
A fortification this huge,
with defensive features
443
00:22:21,233 --> 00:22:23,166
like these, was likely
built for protection.
444
00:22:23,834 --> 00:22:25,100
The question is, from what?
445
00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:35,967
Excavations in the central
area of the Al-Natah site
446
00:22:37,100 --> 00:22:40,066
yield another discovery
that raises more questions.
447
00:22:40,934 --> 00:22:42,066
There's a group
of tall circular towers
448
00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:44,367
with high, stepped walls.
449
00:22:45,133 --> 00:22:46,367
The overall look
of these monuments
450
00:22:47,500 --> 00:22:49,367
is somewhat reminiscent
of the monumental-stepped tombs
451
00:22:49,934 --> 00:22:51,266
found in ancient Egypt.
452
00:22:52,066 --> 00:22:53,166
When the team
entered the towers,
453
00:22:54,266 --> 00:22:56,266
they discovered that
they contained burial chambers,
454
00:22:56,834 --> 00:22:58,266
just like the pyramids.
455
00:22:59,467 --> 00:23:01,667
These stepped tombs have been
deliberately built in groups
456
00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:04,300
to form an impressive
ancient necropolis,
457
00:23:05,233 --> 00:23:06,767
a term that comes
from the Greek "nekros,"
458
00:23:07,834 --> 00:23:09,700
meaning "dead person,"
and "polis," meaning "city".
459
00:23:11,767 --> 00:23:14,600
In both ancient Greece
and later in ancient Rome,
460
00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:17,900
necropolises would often line
the roads leading in and out
461
00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:20,467
of major cities,
dividing the living
462
00:23:20,900 --> 00:23:22,266
and the dead.
463
00:23:23,233 --> 00:23:24,400
We can see the same trend
in ancient Egypt,
464
00:23:25,533 --> 00:23:27,367
where huge necropolises
sit along the banks of the Nile,
465
00:23:28,533 --> 00:23:30,600
directly across from the cities
they were associated with.
466
00:23:31,467 --> 00:23:32,800
The Al-Natah necropolis
was built during
467
00:23:33,433 --> 00:23:35,200
the third millennium BCE.
468
00:23:36,233 --> 00:23:37,767
Most Greek and Egyptian
necropolises built around
469
00:23:38,934 --> 00:23:41,166
the same time are associated
with large cities that were
470
00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:43,867
home to thousands
of permanent residents.
471
00:23:44,633 --> 00:23:45,467
But things were
totally different
472
00:23:46,100 --> 00:23:46,867
on the Arabian Peninsula.
473
00:23:48,867 --> 00:23:52,567
Unlike ancient Rome,
Greece or Egypt, this region was
474
00:23:53,633 --> 00:23:55,867
dominated by nomadic
pastoralists who would travel
475
00:23:56,934 --> 00:23:58,900
across the peninsula
with herds of grazing animals.
476
00:24:00,166 --> 00:24:02,667
Thousands of years ago,
these groups developed
477
00:24:03,467 --> 00:24:04,767
their own unique
burial traditions,
478
00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,567
constructing elaborate funerary
avenues where their dead would
479
00:24:09,667 --> 00:24:12,567
be laid to rest under mounds
of stones called cairns.
480
00:24:13,633 --> 00:24:15,767
But the monumental tombs
at Al-Natah aren't anything
481
00:24:16,266 --> 00:24:17,467
like these graves.
482
00:24:19,767 --> 00:24:21,900
The enormous wall
and elaborate necropolis
483
00:24:22,734 --> 00:24:24,967
at Al-Natah aren't
at all consistent
484
00:24:25,533 --> 00:24:26,600
with nomadic traditions.
485
00:24:27,867 --> 00:24:31,166
Instead, both of these features
point to a sedentary population,
486
00:24:32,233 --> 00:24:34,066
raising the possibility that
a permanent settlement
487
00:24:34,567 --> 00:24:35,767
once existed here.
488
00:24:36,734 --> 00:24:38,567
Excavations
in the eastern part of Al-Natah
489
00:24:39,433 --> 00:24:40,900
turned up thousands
of pottery shards.
490
00:24:41,900 --> 00:24:43,300
Most of them were
from simple bowls and jars,
491
00:24:44,233 --> 00:24:45,767
some of which were once used
to store food.
492
00:24:46,934 --> 00:24:48,567
There were grinding stones,
too, all of which would have
493
00:24:49,533 --> 00:24:52,166
been crucial for cooking
during the Bronze Age.
494
00:24:53,100 --> 00:24:54,967
The pottery was associated
with the remains
495
00:24:55,533 --> 00:24:56,367
of ancient buildings.
496
00:24:57,533 --> 00:25:00,066
Up to 70 of them once stood
here, lining narrow streets
497
00:25:01,033 --> 00:25:03,000
that would have measured
only six feet across.
498
00:25:04,033 --> 00:25:06,200
The amount of domestic
kitchenware found tells us
499
00:25:07,300 --> 00:25:09,100
that these buildings were
likely homes that made up
500
00:25:09,667 --> 00:25:11,100
a residential quarter.
501
00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:14,266
[Dr. Leonard]
The existence of this
extraordinary walled settlement
502
00:25:15,266 --> 00:25:17,100
tells us there were
two competing ways of life
503
00:25:17,667 --> 00:25:19,000
being established here,
504
00:25:20,066 --> 00:25:22,266
a nomadic culture that traveled
through the desert,
505
00:25:22,900 --> 00:25:24,066
and a sedentary population
506
00:25:24,934 --> 00:25:27,266
that decided to lay down
permanent roots.
507
00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,266
History is filled
with examples of clashes
508
00:25:31,133 --> 00:25:32,200
between sedentary
and nomadic peoples,
509
00:25:32,900 --> 00:25:33,667
like during the Ming Dynasty,
510
00:25:34,734 --> 00:25:36,500
when the Great Wall of China
was massively expanded
511
00:25:37,533 --> 00:25:39,500
to keep northern Steppe nomads
from moving south.
512
00:25:40,533 --> 00:25:43,400
Based on the level
of fortification at Al-Natah,
513
00:25:44,467 --> 00:25:46,000
it could be that the town
also came into conflict
514
00:25:46,667 --> 00:25:47,800
with the surrounding nomads.
515
00:25:48,834 --> 00:25:49,867
But what could have caused
these tensions between
516
00:25:51,066 --> 00:25:53,100
the nomadic and the settled way
of life in the first place?
517
00:25:54,233 --> 00:25:57,467
A look back at ancient climate
patterns may shed light
518
00:25:58,567 --> 00:26:00,266
on the origins of these
extraordinary settlements.
519
00:26:01,166 --> 00:26:02,567
Humans have inhabited
the Arabian desert
520
00:26:03,133 --> 00:26:04,066
for thousands of years.
521
00:26:05,066 --> 00:26:06,967
For a long time,
the climate was relatively mild,
522
00:26:08,066 --> 00:26:10,300
and savanna-like grasslands
spread over huge areas.
523
00:26:11,467 --> 00:26:15,266
But roughly 6,000 years ago,
things changed dramatically.
524
00:26:15,867 --> 00:26:17,400
[Anthea]
Around 4000 BCE,
525
00:26:18,367 --> 00:26:20,000
a phenomenon known
as "rapid climate change"
526
00:26:20,934 --> 00:26:22,867
caused a massive decrease
in precipitation
527
00:26:23,433 --> 00:26:24,600
across the peninsula.
528
00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,000
The environment transformed
and left humans to figure out
529
00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:29,767
how best to adapt.
530
00:26:30,834 --> 00:26:32,867
Many continued to live
nomadically, but over time,
531
00:26:33,433 --> 00:26:34,266
others chose to settle.
532
00:26:35,700 --> 00:26:38,266
During the Bronze Age,
this region would have been
533
00:26:39,133 --> 00:26:41,166
greener than other areas
of the desert,
534
00:26:42,166 --> 00:26:43,767
and would have seemed
a natural place to build
535
00:26:44,266 --> 00:26:46,100
a permanent town.
536
00:26:46,633 --> 00:26:47,500
And it wasn't alone.
537
00:26:48,967 --> 00:26:52,667
Across Northwestern Arabia,
several other oases reveal
538
00:26:53,834 --> 00:26:56,000
intriguing similarities
to the settlement at Al-Natah.
539
00:26:57,467 --> 00:26:59,800
[Anthea] Qurayyah is
a huge archaeological site
540
00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:03,000
stretching over 750 acres.
541
00:27:03,934 --> 00:27:05,400
The area is marked
by a massive brick wall
542
00:27:06,300 --> 00:27:08,667
which once surrounded
the entire oasis.
543
00:27:09,667 --> 00:27:12,000
Over time, a residential area
also grew here,
544
00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:13,667
just like the one at Al-Natah.
545
00:27:15,266 --> 00:27:16,867
During the Bronze
and Iron Ages,
546
00:27:17,734 --> 00:27:18,867
these settlements appeared
around oases
547
00:27:19,533 --> 00:27:20,567
across Northwestern Arabia.
548
00:27:22,100 --> 00:27:23,867
Many of them were designed
similarly,
549
00:27:24,433 --> 00:27:24,867
with internal ramparts
550
00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:26,867
dividing the various sections
of the town,
551
00:27:27,867 --> 00:27:28,767
which were big enough
to accommodate hundreds
552
00:27:29,333 --> 00:27:29,867
of permanent residents.
553
00:27:31,400 --> 00:27:34,800
The people who lived inside
these walled oases built wells
554
00:27:35,834 --> 00:27:37,867
and intricate channels
to collect surface water.
555
00:27:38,834 --> 00:27:40,000
They used the water
to grow crops, orchards,
556
00:27:40,834 --> 00:27:41,700
and olive trees,
as well as to support
557
00:27:42,266 --> 00:27:43,367
local craft production.
558
00:27:44,367 --> 00:27:46,400
These fortified towns
flourished in large part
559
00:27:47,100 --> 00:27:48,467
due to their strategic location.
560
00:27:49,567 --> 00:27:52,300
Each town functioned as
one node in an entire network,
561
00:27:53,300 --> 00:27:54,967
right at the intersection
of the major powers
562
00:27:55,900 --> 00:27:58,166
of Egypt, the Levant,
and Southern Arabia.
563
00:27:58,967 --> 00:28:00,100
A comparison
of the walled oasis
564
00:28:01,333 --> 00:28:03,667
to other Bronze Age settlements
shows an intriguing trend.
565
00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:07,700
The oasis settlements
are thought to have supported
566
00:28:08,567 --> 00:28:10,100
a population of
a few hundred people,
567
00:28:11,233 --> 00:28:12,767
which makes them much smaller
than some of the cities
568
00:28:13,934 --> 00:28:16,467
growing around the same time,
like the Egyptian capital,
569
00:28:17,734 --> 00:28:19,567
Memphis, which would have been
home to thousands of residents.
570
00:28:21,266 --> 00:28:24,667
[Dr. Leonard]
Despite being relatively small
compared to major cities,
571
00:28:25,834 --> 00:28:27,266
these settlements represent
a huge shift in the history
572
00:28:28,166 --> 00:28:30,867
the Arabian Peninsula,
when slow urbanism
573
00:28:31,734 --> 00:28:32,367
radically changed
the desert landscape
574
00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,066
over the course
of hundreds of years.
575
00:28:36,133 --> 00:28:37,700
The settlement at Al-Natah
seems to have persisted
576
00:28:38,633 --> 00:28:39,367
for roughly a millennium
before the town was
577
00:28:39,934 --> 00:28:41,100
more or less abandoned.
578
00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:43,767
The reason why
is still a mystery.
579
00:28:45,500 --> 00:28:49,000
Today, Al-Natah provides us
with an invaluable glimpse
580
00:28:50,166 --> 00:28:52,367
into the past, where these
extraordinary walled oases
581
00:28:53,467 --> 00:28:55,600
formed a bridge between
the region's nomadic past
582
00:28:56,433 --> 00:28:59,200
and its increasingly
urban future.
583
00:29:09,767 --> 00:29:13,367
Nestled in a remote corner
of northwestern New Mexico,
584
00:29:14,400 --> 00:29:16,800
the Chaco Canyon carves
its way through 10 miles
585
00:29:17,367 --> 00:29:19,166
of ancient sandstone.
586
00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:23,667
With an elevation of 6,200 feet,
during the summer,
587
00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,467
Chaco Canyon is a sun-scorched
desert with temperatures
588
00:29:28,433 --> 00:29:31,900
frequently reaching
the mid-90s Fahrenheit.
589
00:29:32,900 --> 00:29:35,100
The winters are long
and can get bitterly cold.
590
00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:38,266
And on top of that,
the canyon only gets about
591
00:29:39,100 --> 00:29:40,467
two to five inches
of rain per month.
592
00:29:41,467 --> 00:29:43,100
Despite the harsh conditions,
there's evidence
593
00:29:44,367 --> 00:29:49,166
of human activity in the area
going back as early as 2900 BCE.
594
00:29:50,300 --> 00:29:53,066
These groups were largely
nomadic until around 200 AD,
595
00:29:53,967 --> 00:29:55,300
when the first farmers
settled and built
596
00:29:55,800 --> 00:29:57,467
small pit houses.
597
00:29:58,433 --> 00:30:01,867
Then, around 850 CE,
the Pueblo peoples began
598
00:30:02,900 --> 00:30:04,667
to build permanent homes
and ceremonial structures
599
00:30:05,767 --> 00:30:08,567
in the area, and that changed
the entire landscape.
600
00:30:09,467 --> 00:30:10,667
The Pueblo, who were
the native ancestors
601
00:30:11,667 --> 00:30:13,567
of the Hopi and Acoma
of today, among others,
602
00:30:14,567 --> 00:30:16,000
constructed massive
stone and mortar buildings
603
00:30:17,133 --> 00:30:19,567
called greathouses, which soared
to four or five stories
604
00:30:20,333 --> 00:30:21,867
and contained
hundreds of rooms.
605
00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:25,066
Construction on the greathouses
continued for 300 years,
606
00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:29,467
until about 1150, when the area
was abruptly abandoned.
607
00:30:30,667 --> 00:30:32,600
Today, the Chaco Canyon is one
of the most researched sites
608
00:30:33,166 --> 00:30:33,800
of the ancient Americas.
609
00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:36,400
The whole area is rich
with cultural artifacts
610
00:30:37,066 --> 00:30:38,400
from early Pueblo settlers,
611
00:30:39,633 --> 00:30:42,367
and the walls of the canyon
itself are embedded with fossils
612
00:30:43,300 --> 00:30:44,967
going back thousands of years
before that.
613
00:30:46,967 --> 00:30:50,667
50 miles south of the canyon,
a New Mexico gas company
614
00:30:51,934 --> 00:30:54,000
is collecting data for a future
pipeline, working in tandem
615
00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,567
with a team of archaeologists,
when they make
616
00:30:57,133 --> 00:30:58,367
an unusual discovery.
617
00:31:06,467 --> 00:31:10,100
50 miles south of
the Chaco canyon,
a New Mexico gas company
618
00:31:11,367 --> 00:31:13,800
is collecting data for a future
pipeline, working in tandem
619
00:31:14,800 --> 00:31:16,400
with a team of archaeologists,
when they make
620
00:31:16,967 --> 00:31:18,767
an unusual discovery.
621
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:21,867
They identified a long segment
of road extending
622
00:31:23,066 --> 00:31:27,367
from southeast to northwest
in a perfectly straight line.
623
00:31:28,533 --> 00:31:31,200
The road was excavated directly
into the sandstone bedrock
624
00:31:31,767 --> 00:31:33,667
for roughly 250 feet,
625
00:31:34,734 --> 00:31:36,667
at which point it entered
the valley flats below,
626
00:31:37,567 --> 00:31:40,300
where all visible traces
of it disappeared.
627
00:31:40,967 --> 00:31:42,667
But this was no modern road.
628
00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:46,500
Its origins went back
roughly 1,000 years.
629
00:31:47,900 --> 00:31:50,667
[Teddy] Based on a nearby
archaeological site featuring
630
00:31:51,633 --> 00:31:53,667
several Pueblo communities
to the southeast.
631
00:31:54,633 --> 00:31:56,266
It was assumed the road
was somehow connected
632
00:31:56,900 --> 00:31:58,300
to the Pueblo settlements.
633
00:31:59,367 --> 00:32:02,800
But its exact purpose
and function was a mystery.
634
00:32:03,700 --> 00:32:04,166
[Dr. Leonard]
Given that the greathouses
635
00:32:05,367 --> 00:32:07,100
required large amounts of heavy
raw materials to build them,
636
00:32:08,300 --> 00:32:10,266
is it possible the ancient road
was a former transport route
637
00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:12,166
for the construction
of Pueblo settlements?
638
00:32:13,133 --> 00:32:15,000
The design principle
behind the greathouses
639
00:32:15,934 --> 00:32:18,100
was a unique blend
of form and function.
640
00:32:18,900 --> 00:32:20,100
They were geometric
constructions
641
00:32:20,800 --> 00:32:22,567
made with careful craftsmanship,
642
00:32:23,433 --> 00:32:25,266
with walls of stone
and adobe plaster
643
00:32:25,900 --> 00:32:27,300
covered with timber roofs.
644
00:32:28,467 --> 00:32:30,567
Now, those wooden roofs are
long gone now, but the walls
645
00:32:31,734 --> 00:32:34,166
have done surprisingly well
through the passage of time.
646
00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,800
The houses were feats
of brilliant engineering,
647
00:32:38,700 --> 00:32:40,500
often including
water collection systems,
648
00:32:41,433 --> 00:32:43,400
storage units,
and sight lines that allowed
649
00:32:43,967 --> 00:32:45,166
for rapid communication.
650
00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:50,400
Entrances were generally
south or southeast-facing,
651
00:32:51,467 --> 00:32:53,800
which provided shade
from the summer sun and warmth
652
00:32:54,333 --> 00:32:55,467
from the winter sun.
653
00:32:56,600 --> 00:32:58,767
At the center of most complexes,
there was an open plaza,
654
00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,066
which was believed
to serve as a gathering space
655
00:33:02,900 --> 00:33:04,400
for communal
and religious purposes.
656
00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:07,900
One of the best known
greathouses
657
00:33:08,467 --> 00:33:09,767
was also the largest,
658
00:33:10,533 --> 00:33:12,367
located
at the Pueblo Bonito site,
659
00:33:13,066 --> 00:33:15,000
also within the Chaco Canyon.
660
00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:20,300
It was built in stages
between 850 and 1150 CE,
661
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:22,900
with stone wall materials
that had to be transported
662
00:33:23,333 --> 00:33:24,667
from off-site,
663
00:33:25,533 --> 00:33:27,567
and timber that came
from a wooded area
664
00:33:28,567 --> 00:33:30,066
of ponderosa pines
surrounding the settlement.
665
00:33:31,467 --> 00:33:33,300
[Dr. Leonard] In addition
to the building foundations,
666
00:33:34,567 --> 00:33:37,000
archaeologists at Pueblo Bonito
found traces of Mexican cacao
667
00:33:38,066 --> 00:33:40,066
and pottery shards imported
from Central America,
668
00:33:40,633 --> 00:33:42,367
over 1200 miles away,
669
00:33:43,533 --> 00:33:45,867
likely intended as offerings
for rituals and ceremonies.
670
00:33:46,767 --> 00:33:47,867
So it's possible
the newly discovered road
671
00:33:48,900 --> 00:33:50,300
was used both as a pathway
for building materials
672
00:33:50,867 --> 00:33:51,567
and as a trade route.
673
00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:55,900
But further examination
of the ancient road presents
674
00:33:56,367 --> 00:33:57,600
a bigger puzzle.
675
00:33:58,767 --> 00:34:00,200
It was lined on the north side
by a raised strip of land
676
00:34:01,166 --> 00:34:03,600
called a berm, created
from fist-sized clumps
677
00:34:04,166 --> 00:34:05,467
of sandstone and earth.
678
00:34:06,467 --> 00:34:07,867
It was determined
that the digging of the road
679
00:34:08,834 --> 00:34:09,667
into the sandstone,
along with the creation
680
00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:11,800
of the elevated berms,
would have required
681
00:34:12,834 --> 00:34:16,300
over 6,600 cubic feet
of bedrock to be removed.
682
00:34:17,667 --> 00:34:20,667
This would have demanded
a massive amount of labor,
683
00:34:21,533 --> 00:34:23,867
which indicated
the road's importance.
684
00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:28,600
But the most baffling aspect
of the road was its width.
685
00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:31,500
At over 20 feet across,
it exceeded
686
00:34:32,333 --> 00:34:34,266
all practical necessity
for a society
687
00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:39,000
with no wheeled vehicles
and no pack animals.
688
00:34:39,867 --> 00:34:41,767
Put simply, this road
was much bigger
689
00:34:42,867 --> 00:34:45,500
than it needed to be,
especially if its only purpose
690
00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:47,600
was the transportation of goods.
691
00:34:48,567 --> 00:34:51,567
So is it possible
it served another purpose?
692
00:34:52,567 --> 00:34:53,967
A deeper dive
into the spiritual traditions
693
00:34:55,166 --> 00:34:58,266
of the Pueblo peoples reveals
a compelling explanation.
694
00:34:59,700 --> 00:35:01,367
[Dr. Leonard]
Pueblo Native Americans
practiced the Kachina religion,
695
00:35:02,533 --> 00:35:04,567
a belief system that featured
hundreds of divine beings
696
00:35:05,567 --> 00:35:06,967
acting as intermediaries
between the human world,
697
00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:09,767
the gods, and the celestial
world of astronomy.
698
00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,967
The religion was also
at the center of civic life,
699
00:35:16,233 --> 00:35:19,000
as Pueblo villages were governed
by Kachina religious councils.
700
00:35:20,300 --> 00:35:22,100
[Dr. Riskin]
Spiritual practices
didn't just impact daily life.
701
00:35:23,166 --> 00:35:25,266
Many Pueblo buildings
and structures are believed
702
00:35:26,333 --> 00:35:28,567
to have been built
with archaeo-astronomy in mind,
703
00:35:29,633 --> 00:35:31,467
which means they were built
specifically to align
704
00:35:32,133 --> 00:35:33,600
with solar and lunar cycles.
705
00:35:34,500 --> 00:35:36,667
Entire villages were
specifically planned
706
00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:39,166
with consideration
of celestial alignments,
707
00:35:40,033 --> 00:35:42,266
like the sun's path
during a solstice,
708
00:35:42,834 --> 00:35:44,367
or during an equinox.
709
00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:48,166
One of the most famous examples
is the Sun Dagger,
710
00:35:49,233 --> 00:35:51,100
a Chaco Canyon discovery
that was originally created
711
00:35:52,233 --> 00:35:56,266
to focus the sunlight
onto an elaborate rock carving.
712
00:35:57,300 --> 00:36:00,100
Three large stone slabs
were set against the cliff
713
00:36:01,233 --> 00:36:04,500
to channel the sun's rays
onto two spiral petroglyphs,
714
00:36:05,266 --> 00:36:07,200
marking the solstices,
equinoxes,
715
00:36:08,233 --> 00:36:12,467
and the lunar standstills
of the 18.6-year cycle
716
00:36:12,867 --> 00:36:13,600
of the moon.
717
00:36:14,867 --> 00:36:17,667
It's believed these events
formed the basis
718
00:36:18,633 --> 00:36:21,100
of important Pueblo rituals
and ceremonies.
719
00:36:22,033 --> 00:36:23,900
Is it possible the ancient road
was created
720
00:36:24,600 --> 00:36:26,367
for a similar celestial purpose?
721
00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:37,700
A survey of the surrounding
area leads to a critical clue
722
00:36:38,800 --> 00:36:41,166
into the spiritual traditions
of the Pueblo peoples.
723
00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:44,300
A large crescent-shaped wall
of stacked stone was discovered
724
00:36:45,333 --> 00:36:47,467
on a flat section of earth
adjacent to the road.
725
00:36:48,166 --> 00:36:49,467
Measuring 35 feet east to west
726
00:36:50,266 --> 00:36:52,667
and 46 feet across
south to north,
727
00:36:53,433 --> 00:36:54,367
the round structure
was created
728
00:36:55,200 --> 00:36:56,667
from fist-sized chunks
of sandstone,
729
00:36:57,567 --> 00:36:59,000
connecting directly
to the ancient road.
730
00:37:00,567 --> 00:37:03,166
The structure was identified
as an "Herradura."
731
00:37:04,233 --> 00:37:05,667
That means horseshoe,
and we've seen those before.
732
00:37:06,767 --> 00:37:09,000
They're essentially
roadside shrines for the Pueblo,
733
00:37:10,233 --> 00:37:12,100
typically identified as such
by their shape and by the shards
734
00:37:13,233 --> 00:37:15,767
of pottery and ceramics
that are found in the vicinity.
735
00:37:16,834 --> 00:37:19,166
These are artifacts widely
interpreted as offerings
736
00:37:19,567 --> 00:37:21,367
to the gods.
737
00:37:22,533 --> 00:37:25,367
The discovery of the Herradura
roadside shrine definitely
738
00:37:26,333 --> 00:37:28,300
suggested the road
was connected to some kind
739
00:37:29,533 --> 00:37:32,300
of ritual and that the landscape
itself played an integral role
740
00:37:32,734 --> 00:37:33,867
in that ritual.
741
00:37:34,967 --> 00:37:37,166
However, up to that point,
all the research was based
742
00:37:37,967 --> 00:37:39,000
on data collected
at ground level,
743
00:37:39,800 --> 00:37:41,667
so any available
evidence was limited
744
00:37:42,700 --> 00:37:44,567
to the road's physical
properties and dimensions,
745
00:37:45,467 --> 00:37:46,467
what could only be seen
by the naked eye.
746
00:37:47,700 --> 00:37:50,166
But the use of cutting-edge
technology leads
747
00:37:50,700 --> 00:37:52,066
to a breakthrough.
748
00:37:53,166 --> 00:37:54,266
When the size and scale
of the investigation increased
749
00:37:54,967 --> 00:37:56,266
to include entire landscapes,
750
00:37:57,367 --> 00:37:58,700
a decision was made to use
an imaging process called
751
00:37:59,867 --> 00:38:03,100
"LiDAR," which stands for
"light detection and ranging."
752
00:38:04,266 --> 00:38:06,467
It's a remote-sensing tech
that creates digital 3D models
753
00:38:07,533 --> 00:38:08,867
of environments by measuring
the relative distance
754
00:38:09,900 --> 00:38:11,667
of objects to the earth
with pulsing laser light.
755
00:38:13,200 --> 00:38:15,000
[Dr. Riskin]
For the road south
of Chaco Canyon,
756
00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:17,567
a filter was applied
to the images
757
00:38:18,467 --> 00:38:19,767
that made it look
like light was coming
758
00:38:20,600 --> 00:38:21,667
from different angles
and altitudes.
759
00:38:22,934 --> 00:38:25,400
And what emerges from that is
this 3D picture of the landscape
760
00:38:26,467 --> 00:38:29,200
that exaggerates anomalies,
making things visible
761
00:38:30,133 --> 00:38:32,767
to the human eye
that normally would not be.
762
00:38:33,533 --> 00:38:35,166
The LiDAR images
deliver not one,
763
00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:38,100
but two surprising revelations.
764
00:38:39,066 --> 00:38:41,000
First, the data showed
that the ancient road
765
00:38:42,133 --> 00:38:45,000
extended for at least
another three and a half miles.
766
00:38:46,367 --> 00:38:48,567
It continued
in a straight line,
767
00:38:49,367 --> 00:38:50,700
regardless of where
the road led,
768
00:38:51,233 --> 00:38:52,567
over earthen ramps,
769
00:38:53,467 --> 00:38:55,667
descending into valleys,
even incorporating
770
00:38:56,633 --> 00:39:00,467
man-made staircases
cut right into the rock.
771
00:39:01,567 --> 00:39:03,567
Even more shocking,
the LiDAR revealed the presence
772
00:39:04,667 --> 00:39:07,500
of a second straight road,
parallel to the first one
773
00:39:08,367 --> 00:39:11,567
and about 115 feet
directly southwest.
774
00:39:12,433 --> 00:39:13,900
The second road
also displayed evidence
775
00:39:14,600 --> 00:39:16,567
of an Herradura roadside shrine,
776
00:39:17,467 --> 00:39:19,266
and it too was
uncharacteristically wide,
777
00:39:20,033 --> 00:39:21,266
measuring
almost 20 feet across.
778
00:39:23,667 --> 00:39:26,066
Initially, the two roads
appeared to run
779
00:39:26,834 --> 00:39:27,767
perfectly parallel
to each other.
780
00:39:28,934 --> 00:39:32,166
However, a closer look revealed
they slowly came together
781
00:39:32,834 --> 00:39:33,467
to a point in the distance.
782
00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,266
At the near end,
the widest space between
783
00:39:38,100 --> 00:39:40,066
the two roads
was roughly 120 feet.
784
00:39:41,033 --> 00:39:42,500
From that point,
the roads seemed to converge,
785
00:39:43,533 --> 00:39:45,100
measuring just 50 feet
across at its most narrow.
786
00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:49,667
An enormous amount of effort
went into the planning
787
00:39:50,333 --> 00:39:51,567
and building of both roads.
788
00:39:52,633 --> 00:39:55,867
So given the Pueblo
emphasis on sacred topography,
789
00:39:56,800 --> 00:39:58,467
plus the significance
of celestial events
790
00:39:58,967 --> 00:39:59,700
in their calendar,
791
00:40:00,500 --> 00:40:02,567
is it possible
that these two roads
792
00:40:03,700 --> 00:40:05,800
were pointing towards
an important spiritual landmark
793
00:40:06,233 --> 00:40:06,967
on the horizon?
794
00:40:09,100 --> 00:40:12,700
A survey of the surrounding
area provides the answer.
795
00:40:13,767 --> 00:40:16,567
From the perspective
of the first Herradura Shrine,
796
00:40:17,600 --> 00:40:21,100
as well as various points
along the second road,
797
00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:24,266
both roads form
a clear visual trajectory
798
00:40:24,900 --> 00:40:26,467
towards a single landmass
799
00:40:27,300 --> 00:40:30,066
directly southeast --
Mount Taylor.
800
00:40:31,467 --> 00:40:34,900
And Mount Taylor
is an eminently sacred mountain
801
00:40:35,700 --> 00:40:37,467
among contemporary
Pueblo and Diné
802
00:40:38,266 --> 00:40:40,166
living in northwestern
New Mexico.
803
00:40:41,367 --> 00:40:43,600
The survey also indicated that
both roads ran at an azimuth
804
00:40:44,700 --> 00:40:47,100
of approximately 120 degrees
and that the second road
805
00:40:48,200 --> 00:40:49,700
corresponded with the position
of the winter solstice
806
00:40:50,367 --> 00:40:51,667
at the original Gasco site.
807
00:40:53,033 --> 00:40:54,667
[Dr. Riskin]
As the shortest day of the year
and the longest night,
808
00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:58,100
winter solstice marks the point
at which the sun reaches
809
00:40:59,233 --> 00:41:01,567
the most southerly position
in the sky over the course
810
00:41:02,233 --> 00:41:03,867
of its entire annual cycle.
811
00:41:05,133 --> 00:41:07,400
Suspecting the sun would rise
over Mount Taylor in alignment
812
00:41:08,367 --> 00:41:09,867
with both roads during
the winter solstice,
813
00:41:10,900 --> 00:41:12,567
researchers returned
to the site on the morning
814
00:41:13,066 --> 00:41:14,367
of December 21st.
815
00:41:15,133 --> 00:41:17,467
As anticipated
and as if on cue,
816
00:41:18,433 --> 00:41:20,000
the sun rose dramatically
over the mountain
817
00:41:21,033 --> 00:41:23,000
in perfect alignment
with the two road corridors
818
00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:27,066
when is viewed
from the center of the roadbed.
819
00:41:28,033 --> 00:41:30,066
For the Pueblo peoples,
the awe-inspiring view
820
00:41:30,900 --> 00:41:32,667
of the sun rising
over Mount Taylor
821
00:41:33,633 --> 00:41:35,467
likely symbolized
the powerful relationship
822
00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:36,867
between the natural
823
00:41:37,834 --> 00:41:40,300
and spiritual worlds
and exemplifies the role
824
00:41:41,467 --> 00:41:43,867
the celestial calendar played
in guiding religious life.
825
00:41:45,700 --> 00:41:47,000
The ancient roads
826
00:41:47,934 --> 00:41:49,266
of the Chaco Canyon
reveal the Pueblo
827
00:41:50,300 --> 00:41:52,000
to have been masters
at imbuing urban planning
828
00:41:52,867 --> 00:41:54,400
with a deep connection
to the sacred
829
00:41:55,300 --> 00:41:56,967
and a keen understanding
of cosmology.