Secrets Unlocked

The legend of El Dorado has fascinated explorers since the days of the Spanish Conquistadors and sparked what may be the bloodiest gold rush in history. The mythical lost city of gold was inspired by an opulent ancient Colombian tribe, and while the culture has disappeared, an invaluable relic of theirs--a small golden raft statue--lives on. Host Adam Mastrelli tracks a team of metal experts and archaeologists as they study this artifact in hopes of unlocking the secrets of this fabled city and discovering the truth of a vanished civilization.

Blackbeard's ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, was once the most feared vessel ever to sail the high seas. In May 1718, she sank off the North Carolina coast, bringing an end to her six-month reign of terror. Now, nautical archaeologists, historians, and scientists are studying the remains of a wreckage believed to be the infamous flagship. Host Adam Mastrelli tracks their quest to answer a 300-year-old question: Was Queen Anne's Revenge the victim of an accident...or sabotage committed by Blackbeard himself?

The Tower of Babel is one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible, an apocalyptic tale of the construction of a mighty stairway to heaven that was destroyed by the wrath of God. Now, an incredible discovery suggests that this immense structure wasn't simply a work of fiction, but existed in the legendary city of Babylon. Host Adam Mastrelli examines the mysteries of this lost wonder of the ancient world, the legendary King Nebuchadnezzar II who built it, and his prisoners of war, who may have inspired the biblical tale.

How did such an important work of art end up shattered and discarded in a muddy hole in a Cairo suburb? Until recently, the Egyptian pharaoh, known as Psamtik I, was just a footnote in history. That all changed when archaeologists stumbled upon the remnants of a massive statue made in his honor in a Cairo suburb. Host Adam Mastrelli shows how this remarkable find has led to the rediscovery of a game-changing ruler, who rescued his crumbling country from vicious invaders and brought a new golden era to ancient Egypt. It's a discovery that has restored the great legacy of a forgotten pharaoh.