Season 1

2013 · 6 episodes

Episodes

1The Turin ShroudThe Shroud of Turin. Is it the burial cloth of Jesus Christ? A work of art? Or the greatest prank ever pulled? The Vatican itself refuses to take an official position on its authenticity, and with limited access to the cloth for testing, there's seemingly no way for scientists to end the debate. Or is there? Join four experts as they explore four radically different theories, using groundbreaking research and archeological expertise. Their one goal: to decode a treasure that has been revered, rejected, and argued about for more than 600 years.
2The SphinxIt stands as tall as a six-story building and is the length of a jumbo jet. Egypt's Great Sphinx is the biggest single stone statue in existence, and the mysteries surrounding it are equally sizable. When was the monument built, and why? Was it an act of devotion or part of a much larger plan? Join a team of international investigators as they attempt to shed new light on these age-old questions, using the latest research and techniques in order to solve the complex riddle of the Sphinx once and for all.
3Golden Raft of El DoradoA ten-inch golden statue discovered in a cave near Bogota may be the key to the greatest treasure never found: El Dorado. For centuries, rumors of a "Lost City of Gold" attracted explorers and fortune hunters to the Colombian Andes in search of riches. Now, after 500 years of futility and bloodshed, investigators try to finish the job, using the found statue, a beautiful model of a golden raft, as their guide. See legend and fact collide as we apply forensic techniques and decipher ancient documents to uncover the truth behind the myth.
4Richard III RevealedMost kings of England get a grand tomb when they die, but not Richard III. His body vanished after being killed in battle, leaving just his terrible reputation behind. But 500 years later, he may have finally been found. Follow this remarkable story, from the historic excavation of a city parking lot, to the battery of tests that followed. From skeletal analysis to CT scans to DNA profiling, watch scientists unlock this skeleton's secrets, confirm its true identity, and perhaps even clear the name of one of history's most reviled kings.
5A Viking Map?The Vinland Map was allegedly created 50 years before Christopher Columbus set sail, but amazingly, it features the coast of North America. If it's authentic, it threatens to rewrite history as we know it. Join the investigation as our experts look for clues in the fabric of the map. They'll test the theory that the document is based on Viking maps created centuries before Columbus was born, and they'll name a 1930s scholar who may have faked the whole thing.
6Gospel of Jesus's Wife"Jesus said to them, my wife." These six words caused international debate when they were recently discovered on an ancient piece of papyrus thought to be a lost passage from the Bible. If proven to be authentic, the artifact, which insinuates that Jesus was married, serves to rewrite one of the most famous parables of religious history. So what's the inside story of this startling discovery? Join Dr. Karen King, Harvard professor, as she explores its origins and controversial implications.