1
00:00:01,166 --> 00:00:03,767
A team of geologists
conducting an aerial survey
2
00:00:04,433 --> 00:00:05,467
over the vast Libyan desert
3
00:00:06,133 --> 00:00:08,100
make a surprising discovery.
4
00:00:09,033 --> 00:00:10,867
[Teddy]
It's an airplane
from World War II,
5
00:00:11,700 --> 00:00:15,467
an American B-24D
Liberator bomber.
6
00:00:16,233 --> 00:00:17,667
[Dr. Amma]
So what plane is this,
7
00:00:18,233 --> 00:00:19,166
and how did it end up
8
00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:21,800
in the middle
of the Libyan desert?
9
00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,066
A team of archaeologists
conducting a survey in Turkey
10
00:00:26,934 --> 00:00:28,200
reveal intricate
carvings and symbols
11
00:00:28,934 --> 00:00:29,900
at the Göbekli Tepe Pillars.
12
00:00:30,867 --> 00:00:32,266
[Anthea]
In addition
to images of wild birds,
13
00:00:32,834 --> 00:00:34,400
snakes, and scorpions,
14
00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,200
there are several rows
of a V shape
15
00:00:38,367 --> 00:00:40,867
carved into one of the pillars
of the largest enclosure.
16
00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:42,567
What does that mean?
17
00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:44,066
And how does that connect
18
00:00:44,934 --> 00:00:46,467
with the megalith's
intended purpose?
19
00:00:47,667 --> 00:00:49,667
Archaeologists
are excavating a site
20
00:00:50,533 --> 00:00:51,867
near the Temple Mount
in Jerusalem
21
00:00:52,767 --> 00:00:54,367
when they uncover
a strange structure.
22
00:00:55,300 --> 00:00:57,300
[Dr. Amma]
They unearthed
a walled complex
23
00:00:58,033 --> 00:00:59,367
carved right
into the rock face
24
00:01:00,433 --> 00:01:03,800
that spanned an area
of over 2,000 square feet.
25
00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:06,400
[Teddy]
What exactly was this place?
26
00:01:07,333 --> 00:01:09,300
And how is it connected
to the Temple Mount?
27
00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:11,800
Ancient lost cities.
28
00:01:12,567 --> 00:01:14,900
Forgotten treasures.
29
00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:17,100
Mysterious structures.
30
00:01:18,100 --> 00:01:20,867
As new technology
uncovers remarkable tales
31
00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:23,400
hidden beneath
the deserts of the world,
32
00:01:24,033 --> 00:01:25,400
the "Secrets in the Sand"
33
00:01:26,033 --> 00:01:28,567
will finally be revealed.
34
00:01:41,367 --> 00:01:44,367
Dominated by actively
shifting sand dunes
35
00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:48,367
that reach heights of 350 feet,
36
00:01:49,500 --> 00:01:53,166
the Calanshio Sand Sea covers
over 23,000 square miles
37
00:01:53,834 --> 00:01:55,100
of desert in eastern Libya.
38
00:01:56,266 --> 00:01:59,967
A sand sea, or erg,
as it's known in Arabic,
39
00:02:01,166 --> 00:02:05,066
is an area consisting of,
at least, 20% windblown sand
40
00:02:06,333 --> 00:02:09,800
and receiving no more than six
inches of annual precipitation.
41
00:02:10,667 --> 00:02:12,467
So the resulting climate
in active ergs,
42
00:02:13,433 --> 00:02:16,767
like the Calanshio,
is dry, hot, and windy,
43
00:02:17,500 --> 00:02:19,166
making this part
of eastern Libya
44
00:02:20,100 --> 00:02:22,066
particularly
treacherous and inhospitable.
45
00:02:24,166 --> 00:02:25,467
[Dr. Dan]
While the intense sandstorms
46
00:02:26,433 --> 00:02:27,967
create significant
challenges for settlement,
47
00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:29,700
underneath all that sand,
48
00:02:30,500 --> 00:02:32,500
Libya holds massive
oil reserves.
49
00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:36,100
Drilling for oil was first
authorized in 1955,
50
00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:38,400
and in recent years,
that country has been producing
51
00:02:39,100 --> 00:02:40,567
over a million barrels per day,
52
00:02:41,567 --> 00:02:44,467
creating billions of dollars
in annual revenue.
53
00:02:49,867 --> 00:02:52,700
Geologists prospecting
for an oil company
54
00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:55,066
are flying over eastern Libya,
55
00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:59,100
when they spy something
unusual on the ground below.
56
00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:01,166
[Anthea]
They were conducting
a survey of an area
57
00:03:02,033 --> 00:03:03,667
that included
the Calanshio Sand Sea,
58
00:03:04,700 --> 00:03:06,266
and they spotted something
that, from the plane,
59
00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:09,166
looked like a huge damaged
vehicle of some kind,
60
00:03:09,734 --> 00:03:11,200
half-buried in the sand.
61
00:03:12,900 --> 00:03:15,000
The geologists
alert the authorities,
62
00:03:16,100 --> 00:03:18,567
and a ground crew
is dispatched to investigate.
63
00:03:20,367 --> 00:03:24,266
What they find astounds them.
64
00:03:25,233 --> 00:03:27,367
[Teddy]
It's an airplane
from World War II.
65
00:03:28,967 --> 00:03:33,266
An American B-24D
Liberator bomber.
66
00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:38,166
These planes measured roughly
65 feet long and 18 feet high,
67
00:03:38,967 --> 00:03:41,367
had a high cruise speed,
long range,
68
00:03:42,233 --> 00:03:44,066
and the ability to carry
a heavy payload.
69
00:03:47,100 --> 00:03:49,567
But in comparison
with its contemporaries,
70
00:03:50,266 --> 00:03:52,000
the B-24 was difficult to fly
71
00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,066
and had poor
low-speed performance.
72
00:03:55,934 --> 00:03:58,700
Despite this,
at around 18,500 units,
73
00:03:59,500 --> 00:04:01,166
it held the record
for the world's
74
00:04:01,734 --> 00:04:03,767
most produced bomber.
75
00:04:04,734 --> 00:04:06,867
[Dr. Amma]
On first inspection,
it was clear
76
00:04:07,633 --> 00:04:09,600
the plane had not been
shot down.
77
00:04:10,567 --> 00:04:13,100
It appears to have made
a controlled descent,
78
00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:17,400
then skidded across a flat
stretch of sand and gravel
79
00:04:18,233 --> 00:04:22,600
for over 2,000 feet
when it landed.
80
00:04:23,767 --> 00:04:26,867
The stress of the crash broke
the main body of the plane
81
00:04:27,433 --> 00:04:28,467
just behind the wings.
82
00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:30,900
But aside from that,
it was largely intact,
83
00:04:31,533 --> 00:04:33,066
including the propellers.
84
00:04:33,567 --> 00:04:34,100
How did it end up
85
00:04:34,934 --> 00:04:36,800
in the middle
of the Libyan desert?
86
00:04:39,266 --> 00:04:41,166
Searching for answers,
87
00:04:42,133 --> 00:04:43,467
the team examines
the bomber's wreckage.
88
00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,867
[Teddy]
Eerily, the plane's interior
contained the crew's belongings,
89
00:04:50,767 --> 00:04:53,567
rations, even flasks
of water and coffee.
90
00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:55,367
The dry desert conditions
91
00:04:56,066 --> 00:04:57,367
had preserved almost everything
92
00:04:58,166 --> 00:04:59,667
from the aircraft's
last mission.
93
00:05:01,166 --> 00:05:03,800
[Dr. Dan]
All of the plane's
50 caliber machine guns
94
00:05:04,433 --> 00:05:05,567
and ammo were still there.
95
00:05:06,567 --> 00:05:07,400
One of the machine guns
was even still working.
96
00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:09,700
The bomber's radio,
also working.
97
00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:13,467
But although the airplane's
engines did not work anymore,
98
00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:16,967
it was clear from analysis
that the engine was running
99
00:05:17,533 --> 00:05:18,800
when the plane crashed.
100
00:05:20,166 --> 00:05:22,400
The rear escape
hatch doors were open,
101
00:05:23,166 --> 00:05:24,266
and all of the plane's
parachutes
102
00:05:25,066 --> 00:05:26,100
and life preservers
were missing.
103
00:05:27,233 --> 00:05:29,667
All these findings support
a mostly functional airplane
104
00:05:30,233 --> 00:05:31,200
abandoned by its crew,
105
00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,567
rather than a terrible crash
with all on board.
106
00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,867
[Dr. Amma]
We know that during
World War II,
107
00:05:40,767 --> 00:05:43,266
there was an Allied base
in Suluq, Libya.
108
00:05:43,934 --> 00:05:45,266
So it's reasonable to assume
109
00:05:46,033 --> 00:05:48,166
that this plane
originated there.
110
00:05:48,867 --> 00:05:49,800
But that still doesn't tell us
111
00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:52,367
the identity
of the mystery wreck.
112
00:05:55,100 --> 00:05:59,100
Military records show
that on April 4th, 1943,
113
00:06:00,066 --> 00:06:02,500
25 American Air Force
bomber planes
114
00:06:03,266 --> 00:06:04,367
took off
from the base at Suluq.
115
00:06:06,467 --> 00:06:09,000
Their mission was
a high-altitude attack
116
00:06:09,967 --> 00:06:11,800
on the Axis-held port
of Naples, Italy.
117
00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,867
By 1943, the fate
of North Africa
118
00:06:18,867 --> 00:06:20,567
had become critical
to the outcome of the war,
119
00:06:21,367 --> 00:06:23,100
as control of the region
meant access
120
00:06:23,767 --> 00:06:24,700
to Mediterranean Sea routes
121
00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,567
and a launch pad for invasions
into Southern Europe.
122
00:06:31,567 --> 00:06:35,467
[Dr. Dan]
At 2:50 PM, the bomb group
took off for Italy.
123
00:06:36,533 --> 00:06:38,900
Unfortunately, sandstorms
created poor visibility,
124
00:06:39,767 --> 00:06:41,367
so all the planes
aborted the mission
125
00:06:42,467 --> 00:06:44,667
and returned safely
to the base at Suluq that night.
126
00:06:45,367 --> 00:06:47,266
That is, all of them but one.
127
00:06:48,166 --> 00:06:49,900
The lone exception
was the Lady Be Good.
128
00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,066
[Anthea]
The Lady Be Good carried on
129
00:06:53,900 --> 00:06:54,867
until she was
almost at her target,
130
00:06:55,633 --> 00:06:56,500
at which point,
she turned around
131
00:06:57,066 --> 00:06:57,700
and headed home alone.
132
00:06:58,500 --> 00:07:00,166
And that was
the last known detail
133
00:07:00,834 --> 00:07:02,800
about the plane's movements.
134
00:07:03,700 --> 00:07:04,767
But the assumption was
that it went down
135
00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:06,667
somewhere over
the Mediterranean Sea.
136
00:07:09,166 --> 00:07:11,000
[Dr. Dan]
For several years
following the war,
137
00:07:12,033 --> 00:07:13,567
neither the plane
nor its crew had been located,
138
00:07:14,600 --> 00:07:16,266
making it one of the most
famous lost airplanes
139
00:07:16,700 --> 00:07:17,767
of World War II.
140
00:07:18,333 --> 00:07:19,467
So the big question is,
141
00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:23,667
is the aircraft in the desert,
the wreck of the Lady Be Good?
142
00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,800
A full inspection
of the crash site
143
00:07:29,533 --> 00:07:31,600
reveals the plane's identity.
144
00:07:32,567 --> 00:07:34,400
But the mystery
of its fate only deepens.
145
00:07:35,033 --> 00:07:37,000
They found the flight logs
146
00:07:37,867 --> 00:07:39,166
and two notebooks
containing the names
147
00:07:39,967 --> 00:07:41,300
of each of the nine
crew members.
148
00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:43,200
And the interior of the plane
149
00:07:44,300 --> 00:07:46,867
also contained identifying
marks of the Lady Be Good.
150
00:07:48,467 --> 00:07:52,567
So without a doubt, this was
the famous missing airplane.
151
00:07:53,133 --> 00:07:54,567
Discovered, recovered,
152
00:07:55,700 --> 00:07:58,000
and parts of it in remarkably
good working condition.
153
00:07:59,500 --> 00:08:02,467
[Anthea]
We know that the rear escape
hatch doors were open
154
00:08:03,633 --> 00:08:05,467
and all of the life preservers
and parachutes were gone.
155
00:08:06,467 --> 00:08:08,066
So it's safe to assume
that the crew bailed out
156
00:08:08,867 --> 00:08:09,800
of the Lady Be Good
at some point
157
00:08:10,300 --> 00:08:11,467
before the crash.
158
00:08:11,834 --> 00:08:12,700
But where?
159
00:08:13,367 --> 00:08:14,500
And where are their bodies?
160
00:08:17,100 --> 00:08:22,100
An international search team
is assembled and dispatched.
161
00:08:22,734 --> 00:08:23,567
During the initial search,
162
00:08:24,433 --> 00:08:26,166
several items
were found in the sand,
163
00:08:26,934 --> 00:08:28,700
confirming
the crew had survived
164
00:08:29,333 --> 00:08:30,500
their jump from the plane.
165
00:08:31,367 --> 00:08:33,700
Improvised arrowheads
had been created
166
00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,567
from used parachutes
all pointing north.
167
00:08:38,734 --> 00:08:41,166
A pair of servicemen's rubber
boots were also discovered
168
00:08:42,066 --> 00:08:45,000
almost 20 miles north
of the crash site.
169
00:08:45,934 --> 00:08:48,600
It was believed
the crew placed these items
170
00:08:49,166 --> 00:08:50,400
as directional markers
171
00:08:51,100 --> 00:08:52,767
to lead air and sea rescue teams
172
00:08:53,266 --> 00:08:54,266
to their location.
173
00:08:54,967 --> 00:08:57,367
But despite months of searching,
174
00:08:57,934 --> 00:09:00,667
no remains were found.
175
00:09:01,100 --> 00:09:02,100
A year later,
176
00:09:03,066 --> 00:09:05,166
oil surveyors discovered
the first five bodies
177
00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:06,700
of the Lady Be Good crew.
178
00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:10,700
They were on a plateau
under the Sand Sea,
179
00:09:11,667 --> 00:09:14,300
along with equipment,
canteens, flashlights,
180
00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,667
pieces of parachute,
and flight jackets.
181
00:09:18,300 --> 00:09:21,000
They had trekked 85 miles
182
00:09:22,100 --> 00:09:25,200
before finally succumbing
to the brutal desert heat.
183
00:09:28,100 --> 00:09:29,667
[Anthea]
Three more bodies
were eventually recovered
184
00:09:30,567 --> 00:09:32,467
at various distances
from the first five,
185
00:09:33,467 --> 00:09:34,967
indicating they had
the strength to continue,
186
00:09:35,734 --> 00:09:37,266
but ultimately,
they too collapsed
187
00:09:37,967 --> 00:09:39,900
from dehydration and exposure.
188
00:09:40,734 --> 00:09:41,567
The remains
of the ninth crew member
189
00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,000
have still not been found.
190
00:09:44,934 --> 00:09:46,467
Tragically,
if the airmen had walked south
191
00:09:47,433 --> 00:09:49,400
instead of north
after their parachute escape,
192
00:09:50,300 --> 00:09:51,567
they would have
arrived at the plane wreck
193
00:09:52,500 --> 00:09:54,767
with a working radio
and plenty of rations.
194
00:09:56,300 --> 00:09:58,967
[Teddy]
The Lady Be Good
crashed hundreds of miles
195
00:09:59,667 --> 00:10:00,767
from its intended flight path
196
00:10:01,767 --> 00:10:04,066
and over 400 miles
from the Mediterranean Sea,
197
00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:06,867
where it was believed
to have disappeared.
198
00:10:07,633 --> 00:10:09,166
So, what went
so horribly wrong?
199
00:10:10,500 --> 00:10:13,767
Is it possible the rookie crew
couldn't handle a bomber
200
00:10:14,800 --> 00:10:16,900
with a reputation for being
challenging to fly?
201
00:10:27,867 --> 00:10:31,767
A reexamination of the Lady Be
Good's missing-in-action report
202
00:10:32,633 --> 00:10:35,467
sheds light on
a possible explanation.
203
00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:36,867
The official version
204
00:10:37,834 --> 00:10:40,567
essentially places
the blame on the navigator
205
00:10:41,633 --> 00:10:45,600
who was serving as a navigator
for the first time.
206
00:10:46,033 --> 00:10:47,066
In the report,
207
00:10:48,133 --> 00:10:50,667
it states he misinterpreted
a directional reading
208
00:10:51,533 --> 00:10:53,300
sent from an Allied
airbase in Benina,
209
00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:56,467
resulting in the plane
going off course.
210
00:10:57,800 --> 00:10:59,867
[Dr. Dan]
A more recent study
points to failure
211
00:11:00,734 --> 00:11:02,400
by an airbase operator
in Benghazi
212
00:11:03,467 --> 00:11:05,367
to respond to the Lady Be Good's
radio calls for help
213
00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,567
because he mistakenly believed
that the airplane was German.
214
00:11:12,367 --> 00:11:14,567
[Anthea]
Both scenarios
highlight the possibility
215
00:11:15,266 --> 00:11:16,667
that human error was a factor.
216
00:11:18,867 --> 00:11:22,166
And while it was the maiden
mission for all nine on board,
217
00:11:23,100 --> 00:11:24,367
they were highly-trained
expert servicemen.
218
00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,367
And it's almost impossible
to state definitively
219
00:11:27,934 --> 00:11:28,700
if their rookie status
220
00:11:29,667 --> 00:11:30,800
played a role
in the plane's disappearance.
221
00:11:32,867 --> 00:11:35,767
So is it possible
that poor flying conditions
222
00:11:36,400 --> 00:11:37,367
contributed to the crash?
223
00:11:39,567 --> 00:11:42,000
The last known contact
between the Lady Be Good
224
00:11:42,667 --> 00:11:43,767
and the home base in Suluq
225
00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:46,667
provides a critical clue.
226
00:11:47,367 --> 00:11:48,667
All 25 bombers from the mission
227
00:11:49,367 --> 00:11:50,567
turned back towards the base,
228
00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:53,266
because of high winds
and poor visibility.
229
00:11:54,867 --> 00:11:58,367
The Lady Be Good
was the last to do so,
230
00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:00,200
and as she was making
her way back,
231
00:12:01,333 --> 00:12:03,767
the crew radioed the base
for navigational assistance.
232
00:12:05,266 --> 00:12:09,100
The base responded by firing
flares into the night sky,
233
00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:11,967
but they were likely
unseen by the pilot,
234
00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,700
who kept flying
and overshot the base.
235
00:12:16,767 --> 00:12:19,967
They continued south for two
hours, deep into the desert,
236
00:12:20,834 --> 00:12:22,567
until the Lady Be Good
ran out of fuel.
237
00:12:23,433 --> 00:12:24,767
At this point,
the crew decided to bail
238
00:12:25,834 --> 00:12:27,967
and let the empty plane glide
for another 16 miles
239
00:12:29,133 --> 00:12:31,567
until it skidded to a relatively
gentle crash in the sand.
240
00:12:33,467 --> 00:12:35,467
[Dr. Amma]
It's likely the crew believed
241
00:12:36,300 --> 00:12:37,467
they were over
the Mediterranean Sea
242
00:12:37,967 --> 00:12:38,900
when they jumped,
243
00:12:39,967 --> 00:12:42,300
because they took
their life preservers with them.
244
00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:43,767
Once they landed,
245
00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:45,266
they began to walk north,
246
00:12:45,967 --> 00:12:47,367
perhaps heading into the wind,
247
00:12:47,900 --> 00:12:48,500
believing once again
248
00:12:49,300 --> 00:12:50,600
they were close
to the Mediterranean
249
00:12:51,133 --> 00:12:52,600
and possibly safety.
250
00:12:53,734 --> 00:12:57,900
Unfortunately, they were over
400 miles from the sea.
251
00:12:59,767 --> 00:13:02,467
Now, recovered parts
of the Lady Be Good
252
00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,500
have been sent
to various military museums
253
00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:06,867
for commemoration.
254
00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:09,800
And while the story
has a tragic ending
255
00:13:10,333 --> 00:13:11,066
for those involved,
256
00:13:12,266 --> 00:13:14,000
it is also a story of courage,
257
00:13:14,467 --> 00:13:15,400
perseverance,
258
00:13:16,100 --> 00:13:17,567
and the human will to survive
259
00:13:18,367 --> 00:13:19,900
the harshest
conditions on Earth.
260
00:13:33,567 --> 00:13:36,266
60 Miles north
of the Syrian border,
261
00:13:36,834 --> 00:13:38,166
Turkey's Harran Plain
262
00:13:38,834 --> 00:13:40,467
spreads for 580 square miles
263
00:13:41,100 --> 00:13:41,900
between the upper reaches
264
00:13:42,767 --> 00:13:45,066
of the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers.
265
00:13:45,767 --> 00:13:46,967
Like most of southeastern Turkey
266
00:13:47,867 --> 00:13:49,100
and what used
to be called Mesopotamia,
267
00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,400
the Harran Plain is
characterized by dry conditions
268
00:13:52,967 --> 00:13:53,667
with large fluctuations
269
00:13:54,567 --> 00:13:56,266
between the hot days
and the cool nights.
270
00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:58,867
The region rarely gets
271
00:13:59,734 --> 00:14:01,967
more than 15 inches
of rain per year.
272
00:14:03,066 --> 00:14:05,166
The terrain is mostly made up
of limestone plateaus
273
00:14:06,100 --> 00:14:08,700
with occasional patches
of grassland steps.
274
00:14:10,500 --> 00:14:12,467
Evidence of human
activity in the area
275
00:14:13,400 --> 00:14:15,000
dates to the pre-pottery
Neolithic period,
276
00:14:15,667 --> 00:14:18,467
roughly 9,500 to 8,000 BCE,
277
00:14:19,333 --> 00:14:20,367
a time when tribes
of hunter-gatherers
278
00:14:21,533 --> 00:14:24,066
were beginning to transition
towards settled communities.
279
00:14:24,734 --> 00:14:25,567
By the third millennium BCE,
280
00:14:26,533 --> 00:14:28,100
the plain emerged as
an important trade hub,
281
00:14:29,233 --> 00:14:31,066
connecting the Tigris River
to the Mediterranean Sea.
282
00:14:33,100 --> 00:14:35,767
[Teddy]
The region is best known
for an archaeological site
283
00:14:36,433 --> 00:14:38,000
called the Göbekli Tepe,
284
00:14:38,900 --> 00:14:41,700
which means
"Potbelly Hill" in Turkish.
285
00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:43,867
Built roughly 12,000 years ago,
286
00:14:44,533 --> 00:14:45,800
the Göbekli Tepe features
287
00:14:46,667 --> 00:14:48,800
four massive circular
stone monuments
288
00:14:49,500 --> 00:14:50,700
that sit at the crest of a hill
289
00:14:51,266 --> 00:14:52,300
overlooking the plain.
290
00:14:53,867 --> 00:14:55,600
The pillars of the site
are among
291
00:14:56,266 --> 00:14:57,500
the earliest known examples
292
00:14:58,133 --> 00:14:59,266
of megalithic structures,
293
00:14:59,834 --> 00:15:01,066
and their circular shape
294
00:15:01,633 --> 00:15:03,066
has led Göbekli Tepe
295
00:15:03,967 --> 00:15:07,000
to being called
the World's First Temple.
296
00:15:08,033 --> 00:15:09,767
A team of archaeologists
is surveying a section
297
00:15:10,467 --> 00:15:11,266
of the Göbekli Tepe Pillars
298
00:15:12,367 --> 00:15:14,266
containing intricate carvings
and strange symbols
299
00:15:15,100 --> 00:15:17,367
when they make
a curious discovery.
300
00:15:18,333 --> 00:15:19,700
[Anthea]
In addition to images
of wild birds,
301
00:15:20,266 --> 00:15:21,400
snakes, and scorpions,
302
00:15:21,967 --> 00:15:22,667
which were interpreted
303
00:15:23,467 --> 00:15:25,166
to be mythological
representations,
304
00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,100
there are
several rows of a V-shape
305
00:15:29,266 --> 00:15:31,066
carved into one of the pillars
of the largest enclosure,
306
00:15:31,767 --> 00:15:33,367
which is known as Enclosure D.
307
00:15:34,767 --> 00:15:37,100
Elsewhere, that same V symbol
308
00:15:37,900 --> 00:15:39,000
appears to be worn
around the neck
309
00:15:39,667 --> 00:15:41,467
of a large bird-like beast.
310
00:15:43,467 --> 00:15:47,300
On other pillars,
there are circles, or discs,
311
00:15:48,033 --> 00:15:49,000
carved right below the placement
312
00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:50,567
of the horizontal slab
of the rock,
313
00:15:51,633 --> 00:15:53,900
kind of like where the two lines
of the T intersect.
314
00:15:54,467 --> 00:15:56,100
Now, inside the disc,
315
00:15:57,066 --> 00:15:59,367
at its center, is a second,
smaller circle,
316
00:16:00,233 --> 00:16:02,000
so it sort of looks
like a donut.
317
00:16:02,533 --> 00:16:03,700
What does that mean?
318
00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:05,166
And how does that
319
00:16:06,166 --> 00:16:07,867
connect with the megalith's
intended purpose?
320
00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,000
A survey of the world's
notable megalithic structures
321
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:15,000
offers a critical clue.
322
00:16:16,333 --> 00:16:19,700
One of the most famous
examples of a man-made megalith
323
00:16:20,467 --> 00:16:21,967
is Egypt's Great Pyramid
of Giza,
324
00:16:23,033 --> 00:16:25,967
the largest and oldest
of the Giza pyramid complex.
325
00:16:27,367 --> 00:16:30,800
Constructed for the pharaoh
Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty,
326
00:16:31,900 --> 00:16:35,400
it was completed around
the early 25th century BCE,
327
00:16:36,266 --> 00:16:37,867
as a mortuary temple
to honor the king.
328
00:16:39,367 --> 00:16:41,266
[Anthea]
The Great Pyramids were central
329
00:16:42,333 --> 00:16:44,300
to the Egyptians' many
elaborate funerary rituals,
330
00:16:45,367 --> 00:16:48,967
all intended to prepare
the king for the afterlife.
331
00:16:50,100 --> 00:16:51,867
But they were also created
to honor their various gods
332
00:16:52,900 --> 00:16:54,667
that held the highest position
in divine society,
333
00:16:56,967 --> 00:16:58,867
including the solar deity Ra,
334
00:17:00,066 --> 00:17:01,767
who was usually credited
with the creation of the world
335
00:17:02,734 --> 00:17:04,400
and was connected
with the life-giving power
336
00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:06,066
of the sun.
337
00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:09,567
[Dr. Alison]
In northeast Scotland,
338
00:17:10,567 --> 00:17:12,367
many stone circles
and other megalithic remains
339
00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:13,567
from the Bronze Age
340
00:17:14,467 --> 00:17:15,567
have been discovered
near Aberdeenshire.
341
00:17:17,266 --> 00:17:19,367
They often featured
recumbent stone circles
342
00:17:20,567 --> 00:17:23,000
with one large stone on its side
flanked by upright stones,
343
00:17:23,700 --> 00:17:24,367
and are believed to be monuments
344
00:17:25,233 --> 00:17:26,467
created to honor
astronomical phenomena,
345
00:17:27,300 --> 00:17:28,767
such as the solstice
and the equinox.
346
00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:32,367
So given these megaliths'
associations
347
00:17:33,367 --> 00:17:35,467
with the power and pathway
of the sun and moon,
348
00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:37,100
is it possible the markings
on the pillars
349
00:17:37,934 --> 00:17:39,500
of Göbekli Tepe
were also connected
350
00:17:40,266 --> 00:17:41,967
to the solar
and lunar calendars?
351
00:17:51,166 --> 00:17:53,166
A team of archaeologists
is surveying
352
00:17:53,967 --> 00:17:55,100
a section of the
Gobekli Tepe pillars
353
00:17:56,166 --> 00:17:58,467
containing intricate carvings
and strange symbols
354
00:17:59,266 --> 00:18:01,867
when they make
a curious discovery.
355
00:18:02,967 --> 00:18:05,166
A deeper exploration
of the pillars' circular shapes
356
00:18:05,867 --> 00:18:07,400
points to a potential answer.
357
00:18:09,367 --> 00:18:11,166
Solar disks and lunar crescents
358
00:18:12,100 --> 00:18:13,367
are frequently
depicted in ancient cultures
359
00:18:14,367 --> 00:18:15,667
all around the world,
because the sun and moon
360
00:18:16,500 --> 00:18:19,266
are often viewed
as religious deities.
361
00:18:20,066 --> 00:18:21,800
Maybe the Göbekli Tepe
disk shapes
362
00:18:22,433 --> 00:18:24,266
represent the sun and moon
363
00:18:25,033 --> 00:18:26,367
with one circle
inside the other.
364
00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:31,066
One of the most significant
archaeological finds
365
00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:32,100
in the past century
366
00:18:32,667 --> 00:18:33,667
was the Nebra Sky Disk,
367
00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:35,600
discovered buried
in Mittelberg Hill
368
00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:38,166
near the German town of Nebra.
369
00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:39,700
The bronze disk,
370
00:18:40,834 --> 00:18:42,166
12 inches in diameter
and weighing nearly five pounds,
371
00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:45,467
is a beautiful depiction
of the sun, crescent moon,
372
00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,166
and a cluster of
seven stars, believed to be
373
00:18:48,834 --> 00:18:49,600
the constellation Pleiades.
374
00:18:51,066 --> 00:18:53,767
Radiocarbon dating puts
the item's origin
375
00:18:54,533 --> 00:18:58,266
as being from
1500 to 1700 BCE,
376
00:18:59,266 --> 00:19:01,200
consistent with the early
European Bronze Age,
377
00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:03,967
making the disk
the oldest depiction
378
00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:05,667
of astronomical phenomenon
379
00:19:06,467 --> 00:19:07,767
known from anywhere
in the world.
380
00:19:10,867 --> 00:19:13,166
[Dr. Dan]
The enclosed area
surrounding Mittelberg Hill
381
00:19:14,133 --> 00:19:16,567
was originally settled
in the Neolithic era.
382
00:19:17,567 --> 00:19:18,700
If you're standing
in the enclosure's entrance,
383
00:19:19,667 --> 00:19:22,100
the sun set perfectly
every summer solstice
384
00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:25,400
right behind the highest peak
of the Harz Mountains,
385
00:19:26,033 --> 00:19:27,500
50 miles to the northwest.
386
00:19:28,300 --> 00:19:29,667
It's believed
that the Nebra disk
387
00:19:30,533 --> 00:19:31,767
was created to record
and commemorate
388
00:19:32,300 --> 00:19:34,667
that specific event.
389
00:19:35,166 --> 00:19:36,767
So, is it possible
390
00:19:37,367 --> 00:19:38,467
that the Göbekli Tepe
391
00:19:39,467 --> 00:19:41,567
also contained information
about a single event
392
00:19:42,266 --> 00:19:43,567
in the astronomical calendar,
393
00:19:44,467 --> 00:19:46,700
coded and carved
into those stone pillars?
394
00:19:49,767 --> 00:19:52,367
A re-examination
of the V-shaped carvings
395
00:19:52,967 --> 00:19:54,567
leads to a breakthrough.
396
00:19:55,834 --> 00:19:57,367
[Dr. Alison]
One of the marked pillars
was found to have 365
397
00:19:58,066 --> 00:19:59,667
of the V-shapes carved into it.
398
00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:02,266
And from this,
it was interpreted as each V
399
00:20:02,834 --> 00:20:05,166
representing one day.
400
00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,767
It was then possible to count
a solar calendar of 365 days,
401
00:20:10,467 --> 00:20:11,700
consisting of 12 lunar months
402
00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,300
and 11 extra epagomenal days,
403
00:20:15,367 --> 00:20:16,867
the days added to a calendar
to make it synchronize
404
00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:18,066
with the solar year,
405
00:20:18,967 --> 00:20:20,300
like our leap year day
of February 29th.
406
00:20:22,467 --> 00:20:24,367
[Anthea]
A separate day appeared as a V
407
00:20:25,266 --> 00:20:26,767
worn around the neck
of a bird-like beast
408
00:20:27,700 --> 00:20:29,767
in the shape
of the solstice constellation.
409
00:20:30,467 --> 00:20:31,700
It was believed the isolated V
410
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,600
was a representation
of the actual solstice recorded
411
00:20:36,433 --> 00:20:39,300
right onto
the Göbekli Tepe pillar.
412
00:20:40,633 --> 00:20:42,200
[Dr. Dan]
If this were the case,
the implications would be huge.
413
00:20:43,033 --> 00:20:44,867
Up to this point,
the Nebra Sky Disk
414
00:20:45,767 --> 00:20:47,266
was considered
the oldest known depiction
415
00:20:47,967 --> 00:20:49,066
of solar and lunar phenomena.
416
00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:51,567
But the Göbekli Tepe was created
417
00:20:52,300 --> 00:20:55,100
thousands of years
before that.
418
00:20:56,133 --> 00:20:57,767
Based on the analysis
of the double circle disk
419
00:20:58,200 --> 00:20:59,066
and the V-shape,
420
00:21:00,133 --> 00:21:01,667
it seems entirely possible
that those who built
421
00:21:02,166 --> 00:21:02,667
the Göbekli Tepe
422
00:21:03,300 --> 00:21:04,166
had astronomical knowledge
423
00:21:04,967 --> 00:21:05,700
that included
a clear observation
424
00:21:06,333 --> 00:21:07,166
of the course of the sun,
425
00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:09,467
including the single
event solstice.
426
00:21:10,533 --> 00:21:12,667
So why was this information
so important to them?
427
00:21:13,567 --> 00:21:14,867
And what did they do
with this knowledge?
428
00:21:17,467 --> 00:21:20,967
A deeper dive into the known
history of Göbekli Tepe
429
00:21:21,567 --> 00:21:23,767
reveals a critical clue.
430
00:21:24,700 --> 00:21:26,467
[Teddy]
Until the site's
discovery in 1994,
431
00:21:27,233 --> 00:21:28,567
archaeologists
generally believed
432
00:21:29,266 --> 00:21:30,800
that humans only began building
433
00:21:31,734 --> 00:21:34,066
organized societies
and complex structures
434
00:21:34,900 --> 00:21:36,467
after the emergence
of agriculture.
435
00:21:37,233 --> 00:21:38,400
And it was only
after those events
436
00:21:39,133 --> 00:21:41,066
that complex
religions emerged.
437
00:21:42,767 --> 00:21:45,767
And while this fertile crescent
region of Mesopotamia
438
00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:48,100
was considered
one of the birthplaces
439
00:21:48,667 --> 00:21:49,600
of organized farming,
440
00:21:50,700 --> 00:21:55,066
Göbekli Tepe was built
by a pre-agricultural society.
441
00:21:55,734 --> 00:21:56,600
This pushes back the origins
442
00:21:57,367 --> 00:21:58,200
of the first
megalithic structure
443
00:21:59,300 --> 00:22:01,300
to the late Paleolithic era
of the hunter-gatherer.
444
00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:05,800
Amazingly,
the builders of Göbekli Tepe
445
00:22:06,567 --> 00:22:08,166
were organized
and settled enough
446
00:22:09,033 --> 00:22:10,000
to accomplish
its temple-like creation
447
00:22:10,700 --> 00:22:12,500
without the use of pack animals
448
00:22:13,066 --> 00:22:14,166
or specialized tools.
449
00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:19,467
They also had a spiritual life
that likely included rituals
450
00:22:20,433 --> 00:22:21,800
to celebrate the summer
or winter solstice.
451
00:22:23,100 --> 00:22:25,300
But there was another
practical explanation
452
00:22:26,133 --> 00:22:28,400
for the significance
of the solstice.
453
00:22:29,266 --> 00:22:30,667
As Mesopotamian societies
transitioned
454
00:22:31,734 --> 00:22:33,967
from hunter-gatherers
to early Neolithic farmers,
455
00:22:35,033 --> 00:22:37,567
it became far more important
to pay close attention
456
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:39,000
to the seasons.
457
00:22:40,100 --> 00:22:42,667
For societies dependent
on agriculture for their food,
458
00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:46,000
knowing when to plant
and when to harvest
459
00:22:46,767 --> 00:22:49,066
becomes a matter
of life and death.
460
00:22:51,667 --> 00:22:52,800
[Dr. Alison]
So the picture that emerges
461
00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:54,700
is of a community
coming together
462
00:22:55,767 --> 00:22:58,066
to celebrate and honor
the changing of the seasons,
463
00:22:58,900 --> 00:22:59,400
whether that's
an abundance of food,
464
00:23:00,266 --> 00:23:02,066
a drought,
or colder temperatures.
465
00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,800
Over 30 years
after its discovery,
466
00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:11,467
the Göbekli Tepe continues
to fascinate and educate,
467
00:23:12,166 --> 00:23:13,667
and it no doubt still contains
468
00:23:14,667 --> 00:23:17,367
a multitude of secrets
waiting to be revealed.
469
00:23:30,867 --> 00:23:33,266
Stretching across
the vast rock plateau
470
00:23:34,233 --> 00:23:36,100
between the Dead Sea
and the Mediterranean,
471
00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:40,166
Jerusalem is one of the oldest
cities in the world.
472
00:23:42,467 --> 00:23:46,166
Jerusalem sits in the foothills
of the Judean Mountains
473
00:23:47,033 --> 00:23:48,800
at an elevation
of nearly 3,000 feet.
474
00:23:49,867 --> 00:23:52,367
Its Mediterranean climate
is characterized by hot,
475
00:23:53,166 --> 00:23:55,667
dry summers
and mild, wet winters.
476
00:23:56,467 --> 00:23:58,100
The three major
Abrahamic religions,
477
00:23:58,834 --> 00:24:01,000
Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam,
478
00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:04,100
all consider Jerusalem
a holy city.
479
00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:05,500
So throughout its long history,
480
00:24:06,467 --> 00:24:08,767
it's been a popular
pilgrimage destination.
481
00:24:09,600 --> 00:24:10,967
But Jerusalem has
also been a center
482
00:24:11,834 --> 00:24:12,900
for religious
and political conflict.
483
00:24:13,900 --> 00:24:15,667
Governed by multiple
dynasties over the years,
484
00:24:16,767 --> 00:24:18,767
the city has been attacked,
besieged, and conquered
485
00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:20,266
over 100 times.
486
00:24:24,467 --> 00:24:26,100
[Dr. Anthony]
According to the Hebrew Bible,
487
00:24:27,133 --> 00:24:29,000
King David conquered
Jerusalem from the Jebusites
488
00:24:29,767 --> 00:24:31,166
and established it
as the capital
489
00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:32,567
of the Kingdom of Israel.
490
00:24:34,100 --> 00:24:35,667
David's son, King Solomon,
491
00:24:36,667 --> 00:24:37,467
commissioned the building
of the First Temple
492
00:24:38,033 --> 00:24:39,700
in the 10th century BCE.
493
00:24:40,900 --> 00:24:42,600
The First Temple
is said to have stood
494
00:24:43,133 --> 00:24:43,900
on the Temple Mount,
495
00:24:44,700 --> 00:24:45,967
where the later
Second Temple stood,
496
00:24:46,667 --> 00:24:48,200
a sacred area of Old Jerusalem
497
00:24:48,900 --> 00:24:50,467
surrounded by fortified walls.
498
00:24:54,367 --> 00:24:56,867
A team of archaeologists
is excavating a site
499
00:24:57,367 --> 00:24:58,300
near Temple Mount,
500
00:24:59,166 --> 00:25:01,266
when they make
a surprising discovery.
501
00:25:02,266 --> 00:25:04,467
[Dr. Amma]
On the eastern slope
of the Mount,
502
00:25:05,734 --> 00:25:09,467
they unearthed a walled complex
carved right into the rock face
503
00:25:10,467 --> 00:25:14,000
that spanned an area
of over 2,000 square feet.
504
00:25:15,300 --> 00:25:16,800
The complex was uncovered
505
00:25:17,633 --> 00:25:19,100
but divided into
a series of chambers
506
00:25:19,867 --> 00:25:21,700
ranging in size
from 20 by 10 feet
507
00:25:22,133 --> 00:25:24,667
to 8 by 6 feet.
508
00:25:25,834 --> 00:25:27,667
[Teddy]
The first chamber opened
onto all the other ones,
509
00:25:28,700 --> 00:25:31,467
which indicated it was
the center of the complex.
510
00:25:32,166 --> 00:25:33,800
So what exactly was this place?
511
00:25:34,734 --> 00:25:36,767
And how is it connected
to the Temple Mount?
512
00:25:45,100 --> 00:25:47,467
This wasn't the first time
that archaeologists
513
00:25:48,400 --> 00:25:51,667
had stumbled
on the mysterious chambers.
514
00:25:52,266 --> 00:25:52,967
[Dr. Anthony]
In 1909,
515
00:25:53,867 --> 00:25:55,667
a British adventurer
named Montagu Parker
516
00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:56,900
embarked on a search
517
00:25:57,700 --> 00:25:58,600
for the elusive
Ark of the Covenant,
518
00:25:59,266 --> 00:26:00,100
which was alleged to contain
519
00:26:00,934 --> 00:26:02,100
the original
Ten Commandment tablets
520
00:26:02,767 --> 00:26:03,900
along with other treasures.
521
00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:05,166
When word got out
522
00:26:06,066 --> 00:26:07,166
that a team
of foreign treasure hunters
523
00:26:08,233 --> 00:26:09,200
was digging into one
of the world's most sensitive
524
00:26:09,767 --> 00:26:10,767
and sacred landmarks,
525
00:26:11,433 --> 00:26:12,467
it caused a massive outcry,
526
00:26:13,100 --> 00:26:15,266
and the dig was abandoned.
527
00:26:16,133 --> 00:26:17,000
[Dr. Amma]
But during his excavations,
528
00:26:18,066 --> 00:26:20,266
Parker uncovered three
of the Temple Mount chambers
529
00:26:21,100 --> 00:26:23,867
and concluded
that they were tombs.
530
00:26:24,433 --> 00:26:25,600
According to tradition,
531
00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:28,100
the Jews wouldn't
bury their dead
532
00:26:28,667 --> 00:26:30,200
inside the city walls,
533
00:26:31,133 --> 00:26:33,367
so Jerusalem was
surrounded by buried tombs,
534
00:26:34,567 --> 00:26:36,967
which were primarily intended
for high-ranking officials,
535
00:26:37,633 --> 00:26:39,867
priests, and their families.
536
00:26:40,767 --> 00:26:43,066
So is it possible
that Parker was right?
537
00:26:44,233 --> 00:26:47,166
Is the Temple Mount discovery
a series of ancient tombs
538
00:26:48,066 --> 00:26:50,367
for powerful priests
and rulers of Judea?
539
00:26:52,867 --> 00:26:54,867
As the excavation continues,
540
00:26:55,767 --> 00:26:57,567
each one of the chambers
reveals a clue.
541
00:26:58,900 --> 00:27:01,300
[Dr. Anthony]
In the center
of one of the rooms,
542
00:27:02,533 --> 00:27:04,166
there's a circular depression
cut right into the rock floor,
543
00:27:05,066 --> 00:27:07,467
two feet in diameter
and two inches deep.
544
00:27:08,567 --> 00:27:11,000
Inside that circle,
a second smaller one was carved,
545
00:27:12,033 --> 00:27:14,500
only a foot in diameter
and less than a foot deep.
546
00:27:15,500 --> 00:27:17,367
These were the marks
of an ancient olive press.
547
00:27:19,367 --> 00:27:22,000
[Dr. Amma]
Another room has a single
rectangular depression
548
00:27:22,500 --> 00:27:23,667
cut into the rock,
549
00:27:24,834 --> 00:27:28,400
measuring 16 by 18 inches
and roughly eight inches deep.
550
00:27:30,066 --> 00:27:33,300
It appears to have been
occupied by a wine press.
551
00:27:34,166 --> 00:27:35,667
The surrounding floor
was likely used
552
00:27:36,233 --> 00:27:37,567
to tread on the grapes
553
00:27:38,567 --> 00:27:40,800
and the sunken rectangular
used as a reservoir
554
00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:43,400
to collect
the pre-fermented wine.
555
00:27:45,367 --> 00:27:46,467
The third room contained
556
00:27:47,266 --> 00:27:50,100
the most intriguing
installation.
557
00:27:51,033 --> 00:27:52,967
Standing upright
in the northwestern corner,
558
00:27:53,900 --> 00:27:55,800
there was a flat,
thin slab of limestone,
559
00:27:56,633 --> 00:27:58,467
measuring roughly
three feet across,
560
00:27:59,166 --> 00:28:00,767
sitting atop a raised platform
561
00:28:01,834 --> 00:28:04,867
and supported on three sides
by small field stones.
562
00:28:08,567 --> 00:28:10,667
Archaeological records
and the Bible
563
00:28:11,567 --> 00:28:13,166
offer many examples
of stones erected
564
00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:14,767
by the ancient Israelites.
565
00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:17,567
They're called, Matzevah.
566
00:28:18,467 --> 00:28:20,000
and are referred to
in the Hebrew Bible
567
00:28:20,667 --> 00:28:22,567
as sacred stones or pillars,
568
00:28:23,367 --> 00:28:24,600
typically associated
with religious
569
00:28:25,266 --> 00:28:28,100
or commemorative practices.
570
00:28:29,166 --> 00:28:32,467
Variants of the Matzevah
appear in the Bible 34 times
571
00:28:33,133 --> 00:28:34,600
usually in a positive light,
572
00:28:35,700 --> 00:28:39,000
such as when Moses set up
12 Matzevah at Mount Sinai
573
00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,300
to ratify the covenant
between God and Israel.
574
00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,000
[Teddy]
So given the presence
of the Matzevah at the site
575
00:28:47,734 --> 00:28:49,100
and the wine and olive presses,
576
00:28:50,333 --> 00:28:53,000
which were used by many ancient
cultures in ceremonial rituals
577
00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:55,867
to give thanks
for the earth's abundance,
578
00:28:56,433 --> 00:28:57,400
all signs point to it
579
00:28:58,266 --> 00:28:59,867
being a place
of ceremony and worship,
580
00:29:00,500 --> 00:29:01,700
possibly even a shrine,
581
00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:03,500
not a burial site.
582
00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:06,567
Further excavation of the site
583
00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,867
reveals more rooms
and more clues.
584
00:29:11,734 --> 00:29:13,066
The complex
has eight rooms in total,
585
00:29:14,133 --> 00:29:17,000
each intended for some
form of ritualized worship.
586
00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:19,867
One room contains
a rock cut rectangular basin
587
00:29:20,567 --> 00:29:22,667
measuring 10 by 16 inches across
588
00:29:23,166 --> 00:29:24,867
and 8 inches deep.
589
00:29:25,667 --> 00:29:26,667
It's connected
to a raised platform
590
00:29:27,500 --> 00:29:28,667
and a shallow channel
on the floor,
591
00:29:29,367 --> 00:29:30,800
likely used to drain liquids.
592
00:29:31,767 --> 00:29:33,066
It's believed
the installation was an altar
593
00:29:33,900 --> 00:29:36,467
possibly used
for animal sacrifice.
594
00:29:37,533 --> 00:29:39,200
Another room was filled
with a thick layer of earth
595
00:29:40,233 --> 00:29:42,367
containing various artifacts
typically associated
596
00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:43,700
with spiritual offerings.
597
00:29:44,834 --> 00:29:47,166
These included shards
of pottery and ceramic vessels,
598
00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:50,367
figurines, beads,
and animal bones.
599
00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,066
It appears to have been
a storage space
600
00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:55,900
known as a favissa,
601
00:29:56,533 --> 00:29:57,166
and the various artifacts
602
00:29:58,100 --> 00:29:58,767
had been collected
from different sections
603
00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:00,066
of the complex
604
00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,600
and put together
in one location.
605
00:30:04,500 --> 00:30:06,867
[Teddy]
Interestingly,
the opening to the favissa
606
00:30:07,734 --> 00:30:09,800
was covered over
by a large stone wall,
607
00:30:10,800 --> 00:30:13,266
created after the items
were placed in the room,
608
00:30:13,800 --> 00:30:15,367
as if to seal it up.
609
00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:16,667
The question is,
610
00:30:17,633 --> 00:30:19,066
why would someone
have blocked the entrance?
611
00:30:20,967 --> 00:30:22,800
The artifacts
from the storage room
612
00:30:23,700 --> 00:30:25,400
were all dated
to the second Iron Age,
613
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:30,367
roughly 950 to 586 BCE.
614
00:30:31,467 --> 00:30:33,867
The era corresponds
with the first temple period,
615
00:30:35,066 --> 00:30:37,266
which includes the emergence,
growth, and eventual fall
616
00:30:38,133 --> 00:30:40,467
of the kingdoms
of Israel and Judah.
617
00:30:41,600 --> 00:30:43,867
Key events from the period
may provide some answers.
618
00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:47,767
One of the most
significant changes
619
00:30:48,667 --> 00:30:49,867
in the religious life
of ancient Israel
620
00:30:51,033 --> 00:30:53,200
occurred during the reign
of the Judahite king Hezekiah
621
00:30:53,867 --> 00:30:56,667
in the late 8th century BCE.
622
00:30:57,367 --> 00:30:58,467
According to the Hebrew Bible,
623
00:30:59,166 --> 00:31:00,166
Hezekiah sought to centralize
624
00:31:01,233 --> 00:31:03,000
all worship at the temple
of Solomon in Jerusalem.
625
00:31:03,867 --> 00:31:05,467
So he abolished
many of the ritual sites
626
00:31:06,166 --> 00:31:07,100
scattered across the kingdom,
627
00:31:08,066 --> 00:31:10,266
hoping to put an end
to the worship of idols.
628
00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:14,400
In this context, there's
a potential explanation
629
00:31:15,033 --> 00:31:16,266
for the favissa of Room 5
630
00:31:17,333 --> 00:31:19,100
having its entrance blocked
by a large stone wall.
631
00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:20,867
It's possible that the complex
632
00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:23,367
was one of Israel's
ancient ritual sites,
633
00:31:24,433 --> 00:31:26,567
abolished by King Hezekiah
as part of his reforms,
634
00:31:27,433 --> 00:31:28,800
and that an effort
was made to protect
635
00:31:29,500 --> 00:31:31,567
or hide the evidence of its use.
636
00:31:33,467 --> 00:31:35,166
Samples are taken
from the site
637
00:31:35,767 --> 00:31:37,066
for radiocarbon testing.
638
00:31:38,266 --> 00:31:39,700
Sure enough, it was determined
639
00:31:40,467 --> 00:31:41,767
that the complex
fell out of use
640
00:31:42,333 --> 00:31:43,667
in the 8th century BCE,
641
00:31:44,433 --> 00:31:46,467
coinciding
with Hezekiah's reign.
642
00:31:47,533 --> 00:31:49,867
But beyond that, without proven
documented records,
643
00:31:50,433 --> 00:31:51,500
it's difficult to verify
644
00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:55,300
if the king ordered the site
to be destroyed or sealed up.
645
00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,066
[Anthea]
It's also possible the site
simply went out of use
646
00:32:00,767 --> 00:32:01,967
after the Babylonian conquest,
647
00:32:03,033 --> 00:32:04,667
which resulted in the fall
of the Kingdom of Judah
648
00:32:05,066 --> 00:32:06,667
in 587 BCE.
649
00:32:09,266 --> 00:32:12,266
The discovery of the mysterious
shrine near Temple Mount
650
00:32:13,000 --> 00:32:14,166
offers compelling new insight
651
00:32:15,100 --> 00:32:16,667
into the changing
beliefs and practices
652
00:32:17,300 --> 00:32:18,367
of the ancient Israelites.
653
00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,000
Who knows how many
others like it are out there,
654
00:32:23,667 --> 00:32:25,266
lost to the sands of time.
655
00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,367
Tucked into the farthest
reaches of northwestern Iraq
656
00:32:46,967 --> 00:32:49,367
lies southern Kurdistan.
657
00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:50,767
It is one of four regions
658
00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:53,500
that together form
Greater Kurdistan,
659
00:32:54,367 --> 00:32:56,166
a region extending
across West Asia.
660
00:32:57,867 --> 00:32:59,700
[Dr. Anthony]
Kurdistan is enormous.
661
00:33:00,266 --> 00:33:01,467
Generally defined
662
00:33:02,700 --> 00:33:04,767
as the region traditionally
inhabited by the Kurdish people,
663
00:33:05,867 --> 00:33:07,800
it stretches across large parts
of modern-day Turkey,
664
00:33:08,233 --> 00:33:10,667
Iran, and Iraq.
665
00:33:11,667 --> 00:33:12,700
In Iraq, the movement
for Kurdish independence
666
00:33:13,266 --> 00:33:14,567
has made major strides,
667
00:33:15,800 --> 00:33:17,166
including the establishment
of the Kurdish Autonomous Region
668
00:33:18,033 --> 00:33:19,400
with its own
parliamentary government.
669
00:33:21,367 --> 00:33:22,900
[Dr. Alison]
Most of Iraqi Kurdistan
670
00:33:23,700 --> 00:33:24,767
is dominated
by enormous mountains,
671
00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:26,266
like the Zagros.
672
00:33:26,967 --> 00:33:27,900
Because of its high altitude,
673
00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:30,567
the region is generally cooler
than the rest of Iraq,
674
00:33:31,633 --> 00:33:32,600
and the network of rivers
running through the area
675
00:33:33,300 --> 00:33:35,700
means it's incredibly fertile.
676
00:33:36,266 --> 00:33:37,000
But as you move south,
677
00:33:37,834 --> 00:33:38,767
the landscape
changes dramatically.
678
00:33:41,166 --> 00:33:44,000
Just over six miles
from the town of Kalar,
679
00:33:45,233 --> 00:33:48,166
at a site called Shakhi Kora
in southern Iraqi Kurdistan,
680
00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:50,700
archaeologists
uncover a surprise.
681
00:33:53,266 --> 00:33:55,100
They found
the remains of a series
682
00:33:55,767 --> 00:33:57,667
of large ancient buildings.
683
00:33:59,467 --> 00:34:02,400
One contained
the remains of several rooms
684
00:34:03,166 --> 00:34:05,467
divided by thick
mud-brick walls.
685
00:34:06,033 --> 00:34:06,967
And inside the rooms,
686
00:34:07,834 --> 00:34:09,900
they made an even
stranger discovery.
687
00:34:11,066 --> 00:34:14,300
On the mud floor were stacks
and stacks of upturned bowls
688
00:34:14,934 --> 00:34:16,867
neatly arranged in pairs.
689
00:34:18,467 --> 00:34:20,100
When you look
at the bowls, it's clear
690
00:34:21,066 --> 00:34:22,200
that they weren't
ornamental or decorative.
691
00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:24,767
They were purely functional,
692
00:34:25,834 --> 00:34:27,900
hastily and roughly made
for everyday informal use.
693
00:34:29,266 --> 00:34:32,600
You can think of it like
your family's everyday dishware,
694
00:34:33,133 --> 00:34:34,400
not the fine china.
695
00:34:35,033 --> 00:34:36,166
But it raises a question.
696
00:34:36,967 --> 00:34:38,800
Why were so many
of them found here?
697
00:34:41,567 --> 00:34:45,467
Just over 200 miles south
of Shakhi Kora,
698
00:34:46,333 --> 00:34:47,600
archaeologists
digging in the ruins
699
00:34:48,300 --> 00:34:49,900
of the ancient city of Lagash
700
00:34:50,834 --> 00:34:52,867
discovered a seemingly
similar structure.
701
00:34:54,233 --> 00:34:57,000
[Dr. Alison]
Lagash was founded
over 5,000 years ago
702
00:34:57,967 --> 00:34:59,200
and was once one
of the most important cities
703
00:34:59,700 --> 00:35:00,300
in ancient Sumer.
704
00:35:01,467 --> 00:35:03,700
Over the years,
thousands of artifacts,
705
00:35:04,500 --> 00:35:05,367
including early
cuneiform tablets,
706
00:35:06,166 --> 00:35:07,266
have been
recovered from the city,
707
00:35:08,166 --> 00:35:09,266
giving us unprecedented
insight into life
708
00:35:09,834 --> 00:35:11,900
in ancient Mesopotamia.
709
00:35:13,133 --> 00:35:14,767
[Dr. Dan]
Given how well documented
the site at Lagash is,
710
00:35:15,333 --> 00:35:16,600
it came as a total shock
711
00:35:17,300 --> 00:35:18,066
when a recent excavation found
712
00:35:19,166 --> 00:35:20,800
that there was this previously
undiscovered building.
713
00:35:21,700 --> 00:35:22,367
And it wasn't even
that deep underground.
714
00:35:23,266 --> 00:35:25,400
It was just...19 inches
below the surface.
715
00:35:27,300 --> 00:35:30,600
[Dr. Amma]
Inside the structure,
they found dozens of bowls,
716
00:35:31,533 --> 00:35:33,266
and after analyzing them,
it was revealed
717
00:35:34,166 --> 00:35:35,600
that they had once been
used to hold fish
718
00:35:36,166 --> 00:35:37,166
and other meat dishes.
719
00:35:39,967 --> 00:35:43,066
Other vessels showed
evidence that at one point,
720
00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:44,800
they contained beer,
721
00:35:45,700 --> 00:35:48,900
a popular drink among
ancient Sumerians.
722
00:35:49,467 --> 00:35:50,266
This evidence tells us
723
00:35:51,033 --> 00:35:53,266
that this wasn't
just any building.
724
00:35:53,834 --> 00:35:54,467
These are the remains
725
00:35:55,266 --> 00:35:58,767
of the world's
oldest known tavern.
726
00:36:00,066 --> 00:36:03,467
Could the ruins at Shakhi Kora
have served a similar purpose?
727
00:36:04,166 --> 00:36:05,867
Is it also an ancient tavern?
728
00:36:08,667 --> 00:36:10,367
In the search for answers,
729
00:36:11,467 --> 00:36:13,667
the team begins testing ten
of the ancient bowls
730
00:36:14,233 --> 00:36:15,567
using several methods,
731
00:36:16,233 --> 00:36:17,667
including gas chromatography
732
00:36:18,233 --> 00:36:19,700
and mass spectrometry.
733
00:36:21,266 --> 00:36:24,367
Gas chromatography
and mass spectrometry
734
00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:26,567
are techniques that,
in combination,
735
00:36:27,133 --> 00:36:28,166
can isolate and analyze
736
00:36:29,066 --> 00:36:30,767
individual chemicals
in various products,
737
00:36:31,266 --> 00:36:32,066
including in food.
738
00:36:33,867 --> 00:36:35,166
In this case, the results show
739
00:36:35,967 --> 00:36:36,800
that the bowls
found at Shakhi Kora
740
00:36:37,800 --> 00:36:39,667
were once used to hold
a whole range of dishes,
741
00:36:40,500 --> 00:36:41,767
including seed
and dairy-based foods,
742
00:36:42,700 --> 00:36:45,100
as well as meat dishes
like stew and broth.
743
00:36:45,800 --> 00:36:46,367
Given that piece of evidence,
744
00:36:47,333 --> 00:36:48,700
it's tempting to just
jump to the conclusion
745
00:36:49,266 --> 00:36:50,367
that this was a tavern.
746
00:36:51,300 --> 00:36:52,867
But there are
a few important differences
747
00:36:53,767 --> 00:36:55,266
between the Lagash
and Shakhi Kora site,
748
00:36:56,266 --> 00:36:57,767
and the biggest one
is also the most obvious,
749
00:36:58,166 --> 00:36:59,567
the seating.
750
00:37:00,734 --> 00:37:04,066
The Lagash Tavern had tons
of seats, indoors and out.
751
00:37:04,967 --> 00:37:06,767
The Shakhi Kora ruins
have none at all.
752
00:37:07,333 --> 00:37:09,066
That is a massive clue.
753
00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:15,567
On closer inspection,
another key difference emerges.
754
00:37:16,734 --> 00:37:18,800
The complex at Shakhi Kora
seems to have been much larger
755
00:37:19,367 --> 00:37:20,266
than the Lagash Tavern.
756
00:37:21,467 --> 00:37:22,767
So the question is,
757
00:37:23,734 --> 00:37:25,567
what need did
this ancient settlement have,
758
00:37:26,300 --> 00:37:27,667
for such
a large-scale operation?
759
00:37:28,700 --> 00:37:30,867
What was the function
of this enormous complex?
760
00:37:41,767 --> 00:37:43,300
The secret of Shakhi Kora
761
00:37:44,166 --> 00:37:45,600
may lie in the engraved
inscription
762
00:37:46,633 --> 00:37:49,367
of a single clay tablet
dating back millennia.
763
00:37:50,367 --> 00:37:51,200
[Dr. Anthony]
This tablet was found in an area
764
00:37:52,100 --> 00:37:53,467
that was one
of the world's first cities,
765
00:37:53,867 --> 00:37:54,700
called Uruk,
766
00:37:55,533 --> 00:37:56,600
which would have
stood about 200 miles
767
00:37:57,367 --> 00:37:58,567
from the Shakhi Kora
settlement.
768
00:37:59,734 --> 00:38:01,867
It's one of the earliest known
examples of human writing,
769
00:38:02,633 --> 00:38:04,700
dating back
roughly 5,300 years,
770
00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:08,367
and it tells an amazing story.
771
00:38:09,433 --> 00:38:11,266
On it, we can see
a human head eating from a bowl,
772
00:38:12,133 --> 00:38:13,867
which is interpreted
as meaning ration.
773
00:38:14,767 --> 00:38:16,100
It's followed by the symbol
of a vessel,
774
00:38:16,667 --> 00:38:18,500
which signifies beer.
775
00:38:20,166 --> 00:38:22,700
There are also scratches
across the cuneiform tablet
776
00:38:23,834 --> 00:38:26,967
that seem to indicate how many
beers a person has had,
777
00:38:27,967 --> 00:38:30,400
most likely in return for some
kind of payment,
778
00:38:30,834 --> 00:38:31,700
maybe as labor.
779
00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:33,066
So this is pretty incredible.
780
00:38:33,633 --> 00:38:34,667
What we're looking at
781
00:38:35,100 --> 00:38:36,000
is a bar tab.
782
00:38:38,567 --> 00:38:42,000
[Dr. Alison]
Mesopotamian officials working
in Uruk thousands of years ago
783
00:38:42,967 --> 00:38:44,166
depended on these
cuneiform writing systems
784
00:38:45,166 --> 00:38:46,467
to keep track
of their administrative duties,
785
00:38:47,533 --> 00:38:49,300
making sure they knew
what was traded and to whom.
786
00:38:50,700 --> 00:38:52,600
Knowing that these
bartering systems existed
787
00:38:53,700 --> 00:38:55,400
in southern Mesopotamia
during the early Bronze Age
788
00:38:56,500 --> 00:38:59,567
casts a whole new light
on the complex at Shakhi Kora.
789
00:39:00,967 --> 00:39:03,467
Could this site have been used
for a similar purpose?
790
00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:06,467
And if so, who was
responsible for running
791
00:39:07,033 --> 00:39:08,600
this enormous operation?
792
00:39:11,000 --> 00:39:13,467
The team builds
a chronology of the food hall,
793
00:39:14,133 --> 00:39:15,100
using the ceramic remnants
794
00:39:16,100 --> 00:39:17,900
to retrace the ancient
building's development.
795
00:39:19,467 --> 00:39:22,467
The ceramic vessels
here span several centuries,
796
00:39:23,567 --> 00:39:25,667
and this is in keeping
with the buildings themselves.
797
00:39:26,667 --> 00:39:28,100
They appear to have
been rebuilt and remodeled
798
00:39:28,633 --> 00:39:29,500
over and over again,
799
00:39:30,333 --> 00:39:31,400
though their function
never changed.
800
00:39:33,100 --> 00:39:36,200
With each rebuild, the complex
became more elaborate,
801
00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:37,767
and in its final phase,
802
00:39:38,467 --> 00:39:39,600
even featured monumental pillars
803
00:39:40,667 --> 00:39:43,367
and a sophisticated
subterranean drainage system.
804
00:39:44,767 --> 00:39:46,867
When we arrange the pottery
from the ruins
805
00:39:47,467 --> 00:39:48,567
in chronological order,
806
00:39:49,266 --> 00:39:50,867
an intriguing pattern emerges.
807
00:39:52,033 --> 00:39:53,800
The earlier pieces are often
shaped like large flowerpots
808
00:39:54,467 --> 00:39:56,200
or bowls with beveled rims.
809
00:39:56,567 --> 00:39:57,767
Over time,
810
00:39:58,900 --> 00:40:00,467
we see the quantity of
these beveled-rim bowls increase
811
00:40:01,533 --> 00:40:04,367
eventually overtaking
the older flowerpot styles.
812
00:40:05,467 --> 00:40:07,000
Other forms of pottery also
appear as time goes on,
813
00:40:07,934 --> 00:40:09,767
like rounded jars
and vessels with spouts,
814
00:40:10,700 --> 00:40:11,967
which are both commonly
associated with Uruk
815
00:40:12,767 --> 00:40:13,800
and southern
Mesopotamian culture.
816
00:40:15,700 --> 00:40:17,266
The shift in pottery styles
817
00:40:18,266 --> 00:40:19,800
points to a significant
social transformation,
818
00:40:20,367 --> 00:40:21,800
where the local culture
819
00:40:22,734 --> 00:40:24,900
was slowly being
replaced by Uruk practices.
820
00:40:25,967 --> 00:40:28,000
If this site really was
a food-distribution center,
821
00:40:29,200 --> 00:40:31,967
it was almost certainly overseen
by outsiders from the south
822
00:40:32,834 --> 00:40:33,467
where these kinds
of bartering systems
823
00:40:34,166 --> 00:40:35,400
had already been established.
824
00:40:36,233 --> 00:40:38,100
And that means
that what we're seeing
825
00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:40,100
might be one
of the earliest experiments
826
00:40:40,934 --> 00:40:42,767
with centralized
government ever found
827
00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:44,367
from ancient Mesopotamia.
828
00:40:47,100 --> 00:40:49,166
This experiment
seems to have worked,
829
00:40:49,700 --> 00:40:50,700
at least for a time.
830
00:40:51,533 --> 00:40:53,266
But then things
changed dramatically.
831
00:40:54,400 --> 00:40:56,767
Sometime in the late 4th
to the early 3rd millennia BCE,
832
00:40:57,934 --> 00:41:00,367
the monumental structures
at Shakhi Kora were abandoned.
833
00:41:03,200 --> 00:41:04,967
There were no signs of violence,
834
00:41:05,500 --> 00:41:06,700
no evidence of war.
835
00:41:07,200 --> 00:41:08,400
So what happened?
836
00:41:10,266 --> 00:41:12,266
[Dr. Anthony]
We can't be sure
why this experiment
837
00:41:13,066 --> 00:41:14,667
with centralized
government failed,
838
00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:16,700
but it could be
that the people living here
839
00:41:17,133 --> 00:41:18,667
just had enough.
840
00:41:19,867 --> 00:41:23,100
It may have been a question
of food, housing, or politics.
841
00:41:23,600 --> 00:41:24,367
But the upshot was
842
00:41:25,300 --> 00:41:26,567
that the institution
that fed local workers
843
00:41:27,233 --> 00:41:28,867
for centuries was abandoned.
844
00:41:29,967 --> 00:41:31,867
People returned to smaller,
self-sufficient villages
845
00:41:32,967 --> 00:41:35,166
essentially protesting
the urbanization of their land
846
00:41:35,734 --> 00:41:36,967
and their way of life.
847
00:41:39,266 --> 00:41:40,600
Today,
848
00:41:41,633 --> 00:41:43,400
the remains of the vast
institutional food hall
849
00:41:43,834 --> 00:41:45,000
at Shakhi Kora
850
00:41:45,533 --> 00:41:46,567
stand as a monument
851
00:41:47,667 --> 00:41:49,567
to some of the earliest forms
of centralized rule,
852
00:41:50,567 --> 00:41:53,567
a system that,
despite centuries of success,
853
00:41:54,467 --> 00:41:56,567
ultimately proved
too fragile to last.