1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,166 [Josh Gates] Right now, 2 00:00:02,166 --> 00:00:05,166 the conclusion to my Expedition Unknown event 3 00:00:05,166 --> 00:00:07,266 into the back country of Cambodia. 4 00:00:07,266 --> 00:00:08,700 A lot that we still don't know, 5 00:00:08,700 --> 00:00:10,100 which is what makes this really exciting. 6 00:00:10,100 --> 00:00:13,367 In a looted and mysterious one-time capital, 7 00:00:13,367 --> 00:00:16,266 the search continues for precious relics 8 00:00:16,266 --> 00:00:18,867 that generations of thieves left behind. 9 00:00:18,867 --> 00:00:20,100 [Phin Phakdey speaking] 10 00:00:20,100 --> 00:00:22,467 -Got something? -[Phin speaking] 11 00:00:22,467 --> 00:00:23,600 [Josh laughs] 12 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:25,266 [Josh] And I'll come face to face 13 00:00:25,266 --> 00:00:27,533 with dangers lurking in the jungle... 14 00:00:27,533 --> 00:00:29,634 -Ooh, [bleep]! Back up, back up, back up. -[Phin] Scorpion. 15 00:00:29,634 --> 00:00:30,000 [Josh] ...before meeting a former soldier who took part in the heist of the century. 16 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,467 [Josh] ...before meeting a former soldier who took part in the heist of the century. 17 00:00:34,467 --> 00:00:35,266 So there may be 18 00:00:35,266 --> 00:00:37,634 priceless statues here underwater? 19 00:00:39,634 --> 00:00:42,166 [Josh on radio] 20 00:00:42,166 --> 00:00:46,500 Our discoveries are bringing us closer to solving a major mystery. 21 00:00:46,500 --> 00:00:48,533 Incredible. First time we're seeing this. 22 00:00:48,533 --> 00:00:52,700 Why did this miraculous city collapse into ruin? 23 00:00:52,700 --> 00:00:54,066 Do you think it's part of a pedestal? 24 00:00:54,066 --> 00:00:55,467 I recognize it. 25 00:00:55,467 --> 00:00:56,600 The one we saw in the museum. 26 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,467 It's an urgent rescue mission far off the grid. 27 00:00:59,467 --> 00:01:00,000 -Yes! -Look at this. 28 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:01,634 -Yes! -Look at this. 29 00:01:01,634 --> 00:01:04,700 And it all leads to something extraordinary. 30 00:01:04,700 --> 00:01:06,367 [Phin] Oh, I found something! 31 00:01:06,367 --> 00:01:09,800 This isn't just a statue, it is a masterpiece. 32 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:13,266 My name is Josh Gates. 33 00:01:13,266 --> 00:01:14,266 Hello! 34 00:01:14,266 --> 00:01:15,266 Explorer. 35 00:01:15,266 --> 00:01:16,000 Here goes nothing. 36 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:17,266 Adventurer. 37 00:01:17,266 --> 00:01:18,367 Whoo-hoo-hoo! 38 00:01:18,367 --> 00:01:19,533 Oh, it's a long way down. 39 00:01:19,533 --> 00:01:22,634 And a guy who ends up in some very strange situations. 40 00:01:23,500 --> 00:01:24,867 I'm alive, for now. 41 00:01:24,867 --> 00:01:26,634 With a degree in archaeology, 42 00:01:26,634 --> 00:01:29,066 and a passion for the unexplained, 43 00:01:29,066 --> 00:01:30,000 I travel to the ends of the Earth 44 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:30,967 I travel to the ends of the Earth 45 00:01:30,967 --> 00:01:34,000 investigating the greatest legends in history. 46 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:35,367 Ready to rock and roll. 47 00:01:35,367 --> 00:01:37,734 This is Expedition Unknown. 48 00:01:40,734 --> 00:01:42,166 A little more. 49 00:01:43,166 --> 00:01:44,266 I'm almost there. 50 00:01:44,266 --> 00:01:46,634 [men chattering in Cambodian] 51 00:01:46,634 --> 00:01:48,734 [Josh, in English] I'm deep in the jungles of Cambodia 52 00:01:48,734 --> 00:01:50,500 in the ruins of Koh Ker, 53 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:54,500 a mysterious capital which was built here and collapsed here 54 00:01:54,500 --> 00:01:57,266 for reasons we're still trying to understand. 55 00:01:57,266 --> 00:02:00,000 We've been excavating in front of one of its most substantial temples 56 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,166 We've been excavating in front of one of its most substantial temples 57 00:02:01,166 --> 00:02:03,867 and finding huge sandstone blocks. 58 00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:06,066 You can see here the depth of this sculpture. 59 00:02:06,066 --> 00:02:07,600 It's incredibly vivid. 60 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:09,867 We believe these are pieces of a pediment, 61 00:02:09,867 --> 00:02:14,367 a triangular structure that once sat above the temple's entrance. 62 00:02:14,367 --> 00:02:17,467 -Okay! Hey! -[all clapping] 63 00:02:17,467 --> 00:02:18,600 Nice job, man. 64 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:19,634 Amazing. 65 00:02:19,634 --> 00:02:21,467 It's beautiful. 66 00:02:21,467 --> 00:02:24,166 Just hours ago all of this was buried. 67 00:02:24,166 --> 00:02:27,867 Now, it stands for the first time in a thousand years, 68 00:02:27,867 --> 00:02:30,000 pieced back together like a stone puzzle. 69 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:30,233 pieced back together like a stone puzzle. 70 00:02:32,166 --> 00:02:33,333 [Phin] Okay. 71 00:02:34,266 --> 00:02:35,433 [Josh grunts] 72 00:02:36,867 --> 00:02:39,166 -[Josh] A-ha. -Good. 73 00:02:40,266 --> 00:02:41,166 Incredible. 74 00:02:42,100 --> 00:02:44,634 This temple is called Prasat Krachap. 75 00:02:44,634 --> 00:02:46,000 And the team here is being led 76 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,800 by Cambodian archeologist Phin Phakdey. 77 00:02:50,100 --> 00:02:54,600 This gives us a look at what these carvings looked like 78 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:55,867 -a thousand years ago. -[Phin] A thousand years. 79 00:02:55,867 --> 00:02:57,367 'Cause today, so many of them 80 00:02:57,367 --> 00:02:59,967 -are worn down by rain and the elements. -Mmm, yeah. 81 00:02:59,967 --> 00:03:00,000 -Yeah. -[Josh] But we see here... 82 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,467 -Yeah. -[Josh] But we see here... 83 00:03:01,467 --> 00:03:03,166 -[Phin] It's still safe, yeah. -...it's, you know, 84 00:03:03,166 --> 00:03:04,867 -how alive this is. -[Phin] Yeah. 85 00:03:04,867 --> 00:03:06,634 -Right, it's beautiful. -[Phin] Beautiful. 86 00:03:06,634 --> 00:03:08,533 -So, we have our god here. -Yeah. 87 00:03:08,533 --> 00:03:10,367 -Sitting cross-legged. -Sitting, yeah. 88 00:03:10,367 --> 00:03:11,634 [Josh] And holding what? 89 00:03:12,734 --> 00:03:14,367 -A lasso. Like a rope. -[Phin] Yeah. 90 00:03:14,367 --> 00:03:15,367 Yeah. 91 00:03:15,367 --> 00:03:16,467 [Josh] This is the figure 92 00:03:16,467 --> 00:03:17,867 of a Hindu god. 93 00:03:17,867 --> 00:03:19,367 And its presence reveals 94 00:03:19,367 --> 00:03:20,600 the religious devotion 95 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,467 of the enigmatic Khmer king 96 00:03:22,467 --> 00:03:25,166 who ordered this city's construction. 97 00:03:25,166 --> 00:03:30,000 The Khmer Empire ruled over most of Southeast Asia for 600 years, 98 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:30,533 The Khmer Empire ruled over most of Southeast Asia for 600 years, 99 00:03:30,533 --> 00:03:35,500 making it one of history's largest and most powerful civilizations. 100 00:03:35,500 --> 00:03:38,600 But in the 10th century, the king Jayavarman IV 101 00:03:38,600 --> 00:03:42,166 uprooted the capital from its established base in Angkor 102 00:03:42,166 --> 00:03:44,266 and moved it 80 miles away 103 00:03:44,266 --> 00:03:46,700 to this remote jungle location, 104 00:03:46,700 --> 00:03:51,867 building a massive city of palaces and temples called Koh Ker. 105 00:03:51,867 --> 00:03:53,867 Yet, only 20 years later, 106 00:03:53,867 --> 00:03:56,734 under the rule of Jayavarman's son, Harshavarman, 107 00:03:56,734 --> 00:03:59,166 the city mysteriously collapsed, 108 00:03:59,166 --> 00:04:00,000 and its secrets are only now being revealed. 109 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,433 and its secrets are only now being revealed. 110 00:04:03,734 --> 00:04:04,867 And so who is this? 111 00:04:04,867 --> 00:04:06,166 [Phin speaking] 112 00:04:06,166 --> 00:04:07,266 -Varuna? -[Phin] Yeah. 113 00:04:07,266 --> 00:04:08,867 So this is the god of the west. 114 00:04:08,867 --> 00:04:09,734 Uh, yeah. 115 00:04:09,734 --> 00:04:11,166 This is here because this entrance 116 00:04:11,166 --> 00:04:12,600 -faces to the west. -Yeah. 117 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,166 [Josh] In addition to being the god of the west, 118 00:04:15,166 --> 00:04:18,266 Varuna was also the god of water. 119 00:04:18,266 --> 00:04:21,867 In Koh Ker, a city without a substantial water source, 120 00:04:21,867 --> 00:04:23,367 Varuna was likely the god 121 00:04:23,367 --> 00:04:27,266 whose favor King Jayavarman and his son wanted most. 122 00:04:29,467 --> 00:04:30,000 What will happen to this piece? 123 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:30,800 What will happen to this piece? 124 00:04:37,634 --> 00:04:39,734 So you think eventually this will end up 125 00:04:39,734 --> 00:04:40,867 -back where it started. -Yeah. 126 00:04:40,867 --> 00:04:42,066 -Yeah. -That's perfect. 127 00:04:42,066 --> 00:04:43,166 That's exactly where it should go. 128 00:04:43,166 --> 00:04:44,734 So another piece, or I guess, 129 00:04:44,734 --> 00:04:46,166 -another three or four pieces... -Okay. 130 00:04:46,166 --> 00:04:48,266 -...of this huge puzzle. -Yeah. 131 00:04:48,266 --> 00:04:49,367 This is incredible. 132 00:04:49,367 --> 00:04:51,967 We are right now, and anyone watching this, 133 00:04:51,967 --> 00:04:54,367 the first people to see this in who knows how long. 134 00:04:54,367 --> 00:04:56,166 So what a gift to be able to see this. 135 00:04:56,166 --> 00:04:57,066 Yeah. 136 00:04:58,100 --> 00:04:59,367 [laughs] 137 00:04:59,367 --> 00:05:00,000 Somebody take a picture, please. 138 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:01,166 Somebody take a picture, please. 139 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:06,867 We don't celebrate for long. 140 00:05:06,867 --> 00:05:08,367 There's much more to do. 141 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:10,100 Along with the pediment, 142 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:11,367 we've already unearthed 143 00:05:11,367 --> 00:05:13,600 incredibly rare ancient inscriptions, 144 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:16,166 and a fragment of a lion statue 145 00:05:16,166 --> 00:05:18,734 that once guarded this temple. 146 00:05:18,734 --> 00:05:21,600 But there are other things underground here, 147 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,867 things that are potentially lethal. 148 00:05:23,867 --> 00:05:26,367 -Ooh, [bleep]! Back up, back up, back up! -[Phin] Scorpion. Yeah. 149 00:05:26,367 --> 00:05:27,600 -[Phin] Wow. -You okay? 150 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:30,000 This appears to be an Asian forest scorpion, 151 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:30,634 This appears to be an Asian forest scorpion, 152 00:05:30,634 --> 00:05:34,000 one of the more aggressive species that haunts my nightmares. 153 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,533 We don't want to take any chances with its venom, 154 00:05:36,533 --> 00:05:37,867 so we need to move it. 155 00:05:37,867 --> 00:05:39,000 But to do that, 156 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:40,700 I'll need to carefully grab 157 00:05:40,700 --> 00:05:42,734 the very thing he'll try to sting me with. 158 00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:49,533 In the ground. Look at him. 159 00:05:50,500 --> 00:05:52,166 [exhales] 160 00:05:52,166 --> 00:05:54,166 My least favorite animal in the world. 161 00:05:54,867 --> 00:05:56,700 Why? Who... Who designed this? 162 00:05:56,700 --> 00:06:00,000 Who made this armored, crazy cockroach with lobster claws 163 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,367 Who made this armored, crazy cockroach with lobster claws 164 00:06:01,367 --> 00:06:03,100 and a poison tail that swings over its head? 165 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:03,734 We don't need this. 166 00:06:03,734 --> 00:06:04,900 What do you do with it? 167 00:06:05,734 --> 00:06:06,867 All right, just... 168 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:08,367 That's not... Let's not be ridiculous. 169 00:06:08,367 --> 00:06:10,867 -Where should we put him? Outside the site? -Yeah. 170 00:06:10,867 --> 00:06:13,166 Okay. I'll be, uh, I'll be right back 171 00:06:15,700 --> 00:06:18,634 I rehome the scorpion a good distance away 172 00:06:18,634 --> 00:06:20,266 and get back to work, 173 00:06:20,266 --> 00:06:22,500 hoping to find remains of the statues 174 00:06:22,500 --> 00:06:24,867 for which Koh Ker is famous. 175 00:06:24,867 --> 00:06:28,066 The artists of Koh Ker produced the greatest sculptures 176 00:06:28,066 --> 00:06:30,000 in the history of their empire. 177 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:30,266 in the history of their empire. 178 00:06:30,266 --> 00:06:31,600 But in the 20th century, 179 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,734 many of these culturally priceless statues 180 00:06:34,734 --> 00:06:38,967 were systematically looted by gangs of desperate former soldiers, 181 00:06:38,967 --> 00:06:43,000 and sold to museums and collectors on the black market. 182 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,967 I first came to Cambodia to meet Brad Gordon, 183 00:06:45,967 --> 00:06:49,500 an American lawyer committed to locating this stolen art, 184 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:51,600 which includes this masterpiece 185 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:54,367 of the Hindu gods Skanda and Shiva. 186 00:06:54,367 --> 00:06:56,867 It was looted from this very temple, 187 00:06:56,867 --> 00:07:00,000 and once offered for sale for $25 million. 188 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,266 and once offered for sale for $25 million. 189 00:07:01,266 --> 00:07:02,867 Thanks to Brad and his team, 190 00:07:02,867 --> 00:07:06,867 it has recently been returned to Cambodia's National Museum. 191 00:07:06,867 --> 00:07:10,233 And it seems that there's more here to find. 192 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:11,700 What do we have? 193 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:12,800 [Phin speaking] 194 00:07:14,867 --> 00:07:16,500 Oh, here. You think this is the face? 195 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:17,533 [Phin speaking] 196 00:07:17,533 --> 00:07:18,634 Okay. That's the mouth? 197 00:07:18,634 --> 00:07:19,600 -Yeah. -That's the mouth. 198 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,367 [Phin speaking] 199 00:07:21,367 --> 00:07:22,867 [Josh] Ah, yes, yes, yes. 200 00:07:22,867 --> 00:07:24,700 There are the teeth. I see. 201 00:07:24,700 --> 00:07:26,600 So this is probably 202 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,367 guarding the entrance to the temple. 203 00:07:28,367 --> 00:07:30,000 [Phin] Yeah. 204 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:30,100 [Phin] Yeah. 205 00:07:30,100 --> 00:07:33,266 [Josh] If the lion fragment we dug up earlier was impressive, 206 00:07:33,266 --> 00:07:37,166 this nearly-intact lion statue is breathtaking. 207 00:07:37,166 --> 00:07:39,900 And for the team here, another first. 208 00:07:43,734 --> 00:07:44,867 [Josh] Never found this before. 209 00:07:44,867 --> 00:07:46,533 -Yeah. -[Josh] Uh-huh. 210 00:07:49,166 --> 00:07:50,166 -The heads were cut off. -Yeah. 211 00:07:50,166 --> 00:07:52,000 -[Phin] Don't know. -[Josh] Incredible. 212 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:53,467 -Yeah. -First time we're seeing this. 213 00:07:53,467 --> 00:07:55,266 Yeah. 214 00:07:55,266 --> 00:07:57,266 [Josh] The looters who raided this temple 215 00:07:57,266 --> 00:07:59,867 left statues behind in their haste. 216 00:07:59,867 --> 00:08:00,000 This lion was clearly one of them. 217 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:01,900 This lion was clearly one of them. 218 00:08:03,266 --> 00:08:06,800 The rest of the crew eagerly joins in to fully reveal it. 219 00:08:16,367 --> 00:08:18,634 The statue weighs hundreds of pounds, 220 00:08:18,634 --> 00:08:22,900 so we have to add an industrial strap to hoist it out of the ground. 221 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:25,533 [Phin] Come to my side. 222 00:08:27,700 --> 00:08:29,367 [Josh] Okay, ready? Here we go. 223 00:08:29,367 --> 00:08:30,000 Up! 224 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:30,166 Up! 225 00:08:40,367 --> 00:08:41,533 [speaking Cambodian] 226 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:44,900 [speaking English] 227 00:08:46,166 --> 00:08:47,600 [Josh] Once it's out of the ground, 228 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,000 steel bars can be threaded through the straps 229 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:51,166 for transport. 230 00:08:52,634 --> 00:08:54,467 -Yeah. -The plan is we're gonna just deadlift this. 231 00:08:54,467 --> 00:08:56,600 -Yeah, just like it. -That's the... Okay. 232 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:59,533 -One, two, three. -[all grunting] 233 00:09:04,266 --> 00:09:05,734 [Josh] This is horrible! 234 00:09:05,734 --> 00:09:07,367 [grunts] 235 00:09:07,367 --> 00:09:09,600 -All right! -[Phin] Now, you're turning! 236 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:10,700 Slow down now. 237 00:09:10,700 --> 00:09:12,734 [speaking Cambodian] 238 00:09:12,734 --> 00:09:13,867 [Phin, in English] Slowly. 239 00:09:13,867 --> 00:09:15,700 Put it there right on the stumps. 240 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:16,800 On the ground. 241 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:19,166 -Yeah. -Okay. 242 00:09:19,734 --> 00:09:21,600 Let's not do that again. 243 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:26,867 We set the statue down and get our first look at this guardian beast. 244 00:09:26,867 --> 00:09:28,634 First of all, how beautiful is this? 245 00:09:28,634 --> 00:09:30,000 -[Phin speaking] -[Josh] Stunning. 246 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:30,433 -[Phin speaking] -[Josh] Stunning. 247 00:09:32,467 --> 00:09:33,533 [Josh] Yeah? 248 00:09:37,266 --> 00:09:39,000 -That's right. They've been missing... -Yeah. 249 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,367 -...for centuries. -Yes. 250 00:09:40,367 --> 00:09:42,533 -And now, it's incredible. -[Phin speaking] 251 00:09:43,166 --> 00:09:43,900 Awesome. 252 00:09:44,467 --> 00:09:46,266 Incredible. 253 00:09:46,266 --> 00:09:49,867 The lions, the inscriptions, the pediment, 254 00:09:49,867 --> 00:09:54,734 all reminders of just how ornate and holy this city once was, 255 00:09:54,734 --> 00:09:57,367 which only deepens our central mystery, 256 00:09:57,367 --> 00:09:59,266 how did a place this sacred 257 00:09:59,266 --> 00:10:00,000 crumble in only two generations? 258 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,000 crumble in only two generations? 259 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:06,367 The answer may be in finding more of what was left behind. 260 00:10:06,367 --> 00:10:08,734 While the team continues their work here, 261 00:10:08,734 --> 00:10:10,266 I travel through the ruins 262 00:10:10,266 --> 00:10:13,700 to another of the capital's massive temple complexes, 263 00:10:13,700 --> 00:10:15,867 this one called Prasat Tam, 264 00:10:15,867 --> 00:10:18,533 to reconnect with lawyer Brad Gordon. 265 00:10:18,533 --> 00:10:20,533 Brad has major news to report 266 00:10:20,533 --> 00:10:23,333 on one of Koh Ker's most looted sites. 267 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,000 Wow! 268 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,100 Josh, welcome to Prasat Tam, 269 00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:30,000 the heart of the city of Koh Ker. 270 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:31,100 the heart of the city of Koh Ker. 271 00:10:31,100 --> 00:10:32,700 [Josh] This is stunning. 272 00:10:32,700 --> 00:10:34,700 I mean, the scale of it is unbelievable. 273 00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:36,367 This is another world. 274 00:10:36,367 --> 00:10:38,100 [Brad] Yeah, it's amazing. 275 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,600 And I'm not sure I should be standing here. 276 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,467 [Brad] Yeah, I would be a bit careful. 277 00:10:42,467 --> 00:10:43,600 [Josh] Here, it is disassembling, 278 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,600 and look how the jungle is reclaiming 279 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:47,266 this beautiful brick temple. 280 00:10:47,266 --> 00:10:48,634 This is outrageous. 281 00:10:49,367 --> 00:10:51,100 Brad has brought me to this complex 282 00:10:51,100 --> 00:10:53,500 to introduce me to a crucial witness, 283 00:10:53,500 --> 00:10:56,367 who he's recruited to help his cause, 284 00:10:56,367 --> 00:10:58,634 a former looter who was a member 285 00:10:58,634 --> 00:11:00,000 of Cambodia's most prolific smuggling ring. 286 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:01,600 of Cambodia's most prolific smuggling ring. 287 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,066 And the guy we're here to meet? 288 00:11:03,533 --> 00:11:04,900 He's just around the corner. 289 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,500 [Josh] It has taken Brad years to gain the confidence 290 00:11:08,500 --> 00:11:11,266 of the man codenamed "Blue Tiger." 291 00:11:11,266 --> 00:11:13,266 And he has only agreed to meet us 292 00:11:13,266 --> 00:11:15,000 if we grant him anonymity 293 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,867 and blur his face. 294 00:11:16,867 --> 00:11:19,600 Will this clandestine meeting be a dead end, 295 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:24,166 or will Blue Tiger be the key to finding Koh Ker's treasures? 296 00:11:28,734 --> 00:11:30,367 [Brad] Josh, this is Blue Tiger. 297 00:11:30,367 --> 00:11:33,000 [Josh] Very nice to meet you. Thank you for talking with us. 298 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:37,166 In the ruins of the ancient Cambodian capital known as Koh Ker, 299 00:11:37,166 --> 00:11:39,166 I'm meeting a former looter 300 00:11:39,166 --> 00:11:40,367 who once made his living 301 00:11:40,367 --> 00:11:44,634 stealing precious works of art from temples like these. 302 00:11:44,634 --> 00:11:48,367 Blue Tiger was born not so far away from Koh Ker. 303 00:11:48,367 --> 00:11:49,800 When he was a teenager, 304 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:51,867 he was a Khmer Rouge child soldier. 305 00:11:51,867 --> 00:11:53,900 [Josh] Among their more heinous sins, 306 00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:55,518 the communist regime of the Khmer Rouge 307 00:11:55,518 --> 00:11:56,166 the communist regime of the Khmer Rouge 308 00:11:56,166 --> 00:11:58,800 denied education to impoverished children 309 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,467 and forced them to serve as soldiers. 310 00:12:01,467 --> 00:12:03,100 After the fall of the regime, 311 00:12:03,100 --> 00:12:06,166 many turned to looting in organized gangs. 312 00:12:06,166 --> 00:12:08,467 It is estimated that they stole hundreds, 313 00:12:08,467 --> 00:12:11,533 or even thousands of sculptures from Koh Ker. 314 00:12:11,533 --> 00:12:14,333 Can you remember when you first came to this temple? 315 00:12:15,166 --> 00:12:17,100 [Blue Tiger] I came here with my grandfather 316 00:12:17,100 --> 00:12:22,367 when I was six or seven years old in 1963 or 1964. 317 00:12:22,367 --> 00:12:24,467 And when you were first here, 318 00:12:24,467 --> 00:12:25,518 what do you remember about this place? 319 00:12:25,518 --> 00:12:26,367 what do you remember about this place? 320 00:12:26,367 --> 00:12:27,533 What was here? 321 00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:32,166 [Blue Tiger] There were several statues on the pedestals 322 00:12:32,166 --> 00:12:34,166 along the walls of this room. 323 00:12:34,166 --> 00:12:36,867 There was a large god crouched here. 324 00:12:36,867 --> 00:12:40,467 [Josh] A sketch done in the late 19th century by a French explorer 325 00:12:40,467 --> 00:12:42,533 backs up Blue Tiger's account. 326 00:12:42,533 --> 00:12:44,600 Of the statues he depicted, 327 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:48,533 only one has been located in a collection in Thailand. 328 00:12:48,533 --> 00:12:50,100 The rest have been scattered 329 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:53,100 to the four corners of the globe. 330 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:55,518 And other statues at the site were taken as well, yes? 331 00:12:55,518 --> 00:12:57,100 And other statues at the site were taken as well, yes? 332 00:12:57,100 --> 00:13:00,100 [Blue Tiger] Yes, we did take other statues from the rest of the site. 333 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:03,066 Can you show us? 334 00:13:04,634 --> 00:13:09,734 Blue Tiger leads us outside to a colonnade of ancient fallen stone. 335 00:13:09,734 --> 00:13:12,867 The complex is surrounded by a silent moat, 336 00:13:12,867 --> 00:13:16,467 one of the few remaining features of a water-management system 337 00:13:16,467 --> 00:13:20,266 that once supplied this landlocked city with fresh water. 338 00:13:21,266 --> 00:13:22,533 What... What was here? 339 00:13:22,533 --> 00:13:25,518 [Blue Tiger speaking Cambodian] 340 00:13:25,518 --> 00:13:25,900 [Blue Tiger speaking Cambodian] 341 00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:29,166 [in English] In this temple behind us, there was a huge statue. 342 00:13:29,166 --> 00:13:31,367 Fifteen feet tall. 343 00:13:31,367 --> 00:13:34,533 Five heads, and 18 arms. 344 00:13:34,533 --> 00:13:36,634 And it was known as the "Dancing Shiva." 345 00:13:36,634 --> 00:13:37,900 A huge statue. 346 00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:39,734 And so what... What became of this? 347 00:13:39,734 --> 00:13:42,166 A number of years ago in the 1990s, 348 00:13:42,166 --> 00:13:44,533 a group of looters came and they blew it up. 349 00:13:44,533 --> 00:13:48,634 They blew it up, like exploded it? Why? 350 00:13:48,634 --> 00:13:50,867 [Blue Tiger, in English] There was a legend that the Dancing Shiva 351 00:13:50,867 --> 00:13:52,066 was filled with treasure. 352 00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:55,518 They thought there was gold underneath, 353 00:13:55,518 --> 00:13:55,634 They thought there was gold underneath, 354 00:13:56,100 --> 00:13:57,734 there were gems in the head, 355 00:13:58,367 --> 00:13:59,867 there was treasure inside. 356 00:14:00,367 --> 00:14:02,000 So they blew it up. 357 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:04,867 We think many of the pieces may still be in the moat. 358 00:14:04,867 --> 00:14:06,367 In the moat. 359 00:14:06,367 --> 00:14:08,367 Oh, it actually exploded out into the water? 360 00:14:08,367 --> 00:14:09,734 -[Brad] Yes. -Wow. 361 00:14:10,166 --> 00:14:11,734 Only about 30% 362 00:14:11,734 --> 00:14:15,634 of the seven-ton Dancing Shiva statue has been recovered, 363 00:14:15,634 --> 00:14:18,100 and is now being painstakingly reassembled 364 00:14:18,100 --> 00:14:22,166 piece by tiny piece in a conservation lab. 365 00:14:22,166 --> 00:14:24,166 And that's not the only thing in the water. 366 00:14:24,166 --> 00:14:25,518 What else went into the water? 367 00:14:25,518 --> 00:14:26,634 What else went into the water? 368 00:14:26,634 --> 00:14:29,867 [Blue Tiger] The Khmer Rouge toppled statues into the moat to hide them 369 00:14:29,867 --> 00:14:32,266 with the plan to smuggle them later. 370 00:14:32,266 --> 00:14:35,600 [Josh] The moat was once lined with dozens of statues, 371 00:14:35,600 --> 00:14:38,867 the pedestals to which still stand right behind us. 372 00:14:38,867 --> 00:14:42,467 There was also a carved railing in the form of a serpent deity 373 00:14:42,467 --> 00:14:46,266 known as a Naga that has been largely destroyed. 374 00:14:46,266 --> 00:14:49,533 So there may be priceless statues here underwater? 375 00:14:50,367 --> 00:14:51,634 [Blue Tiger] That's where they were tipped. 376 00:14:51,634 --> 00:14:53,000 They should still be hidden there. 377 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:54,100 Okay. 378 00:14:54,100 --> 00:14:55,518 So how do we recover those? 379 00:14:55,518 --> 00:14:55,800 So how do we recover those? 380 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,166 -That's the challenge. -[Josh] Okay. 381 00:14:59,367 --> 00:15:02,166 Blue Tiger has given us a new place to look 382 00:15:02,166 --> 00:15:04,800 for priceless statues that could tell us more 383 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,333 about the fate of King Jayavarman's capital city. 384 00:15:09,100 --> 00:15:10,900 And to search the murky depths, 385 00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:12,734 Brad has called in the best. 386 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,734 -Dave Phillips. -Josh Gates. 387 00:15:16,734 --> 00:15:18,166 -[Josh] How are you, man? -Great to see you. 388 00:15:18,166 --> 00:15:20,000 -We've gotta stop meeting like this. -Oh. 389 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:21,000 -[Josh] What's up? -[Dave] Hey. 390 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:23,166 [Josh] From frigid Northern Minnesota. 391 00:15:23,166 --> 00:15:25,066 To sweltering Northern Cambodia. 392 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,367 [Josh] Dave Phillips and I are old friends 393 00:15:28,367 --> 00:15:31,533 from my search for a stolen pair of ruby slippers. 394 00:15:31,533 --> 00:15:36,166 Now he's brought his talents and tools to Cambodia. 395 00:15:36,166 --> 00:15:38,000 So we've got a legit-looking ROV here. 396 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:39,900 [Dave] It is. Remotely operated vehicle. 397 00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:42,467 This one has a very high resolution camera 398 00:15:42,467 --> 00:15:44,634 as well as a multibeam sonar. 399 00:15:44,634 --> 00:15:46,266 [Josh] Which is probably pretty important in this visibility. 400 00:15:46,266 --> 00:15:48,734 Yeah, it's worth far more than the video. 401 00:15:48,734 --> 00:15:51,867 [Josh] The sonar allows the operator to virtually see 402 00:15:51,867 --> 00:15:54,100 in low visibility environments, 403 00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:55,518 and this VideoRay Defender ROV 404 00:15:55,518 --> 00:15:56,166 and this VideoRay Defender ROV 405 00:15:56,166 --> 00:15:58,867 also has seven independent thrusters 406 00:15:58,867 --> 00:16:00,266 to carefully maneuver. 407 00:16:00,266 --> 00:16:03,634 Okay, so, depth here in the moat we think is what? 408 00:16:03,634 --> 00:16:06,533 Anywhere from maybe five feet to 15 feet. 409 00:16:06,533 --> 00:16:08,533 This is a true unknown. 410 00:16:08,533 --> 00:16:10,367 Nobody knows what's in this moat. 411 00:16:10,367 --> 00:16:13,367 Yeah, nobody has ever used this kind of technology here. 412 00:16:13,367 --> 00:16:14,734 This is the first time today. 413 00:16:14,734 --> 00:16:16,166 -[Josh] Should we look underwater? -Let's go. 414 00:16:16,166 --> 00:16:17,433 -[Josh] Let's do it. Come on. -All right. 415 00:16:22,100 --> 00:16:23,266 Okay, it's going in. 416 00:16:27,634 --> 00:16:28,734 Okay, we're clear. 417 00:16:31,467 --> 00:16:32,233 Okay. 418 00:16:32,700 --> 00:16:34,533 -Going down. -Here we go. 419 00:16:37,367 --> 00:16:38,734 Passing three feet. 420 00:16:39,266 --> 00:16:41,166 And... 421 00:16:41,166 --> 00:16:42,467 [Dave] We're on the bottom. 422 00:16:42,467 --> 00:16:43,867 [Josh] Okay, that's six feet. 423 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:48,367 And let's push forward and see what's there. 424 00:16:48,367 --> 00:16:52,000 The items we're looking for, carved sandstone sculptures, 425 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,367 have no business in a water reservoir, 426 00:16:54,367 --> 00:16:55,518 so we should know them when we see them. 427 00:16:55,518 --> 00:16:56,634 so we should know them when we see them. 428 00:16:58,266 --> 00:17:00,634 Something's sort of squared off ahead of us there. You see that? 429 00:17:00,634 --> 00:17:02,333 [Dave] Yeah. Let's check it out. 430 00:17:04,867 --> 00:17:06,800 -[Josh] Ooh, there it is. -[Dave] Yup. Right there. 431 00:17:07,367 --> 00:17:09,000 -Look at that. -Yeah. 432 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,800 That's submerged stone, for sure. 433 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:11,634 No question, right? 434 00:17:11,634 --> 00:17:14,266 -No question. -[Josh] Yep. 435 00:17:14,266 --> 00:17:17,467 Okay, so we've got some scattered blocks down there. That's a good start. 436 00:17:17,467 --> 00:17:20,266 Question is whether there's any of this sandstone, 437 00:17:20,266 --> 00:17:23,100 any of this sculpture mixed in with that. 438 00:17:23,100 --> 00:17:25,518 The problem is even with the sonar that can guide us to these objects, 439 00:17:25,518 --> 00:17:25,867 The problem is even with the sonar that can guide us to these objects, 440 00:17:25,867 --> 00:17:28,100 when you get on top of them, it's just so murky. 441 00:17:28,100 --> 00:17:30,266 It's so hard to see what's really there. 442 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,467 -Well, I know another way. -No. 443 00:17:33,467 --> 00:17:37,000 -[Dave] Yes. Yep. Yup. Yes. -Dave. [shushing] 444 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:38,634 You're doing so good right now, don't... 445 00:17:39,100 --> 00:17:40,533 Don't go ruin this. 446 00:17:40,533 --> 00:17:43,867 -[Dave] Yeah. -We got some great 21st century tech here, 447 00:17:43,867 --> 00:17:45,000 that's really all we need. 448 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,600 You know, I know just the man for the job. 449 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,533 Yep, I do, too. Attorney Brad Gordon. 450 00:17:50,533 --> 00:17:52,266 Underwater lawyer. 451 00:17:52,266 --> 00:17:53,700 Brad, you ready to... 452 00:17:53,700 --> 00:17:55,518 -I can't even swim. -He can't even swim! 453 00:17:55,518 --> 00:17:56,533 -I can't even swim. -He can't even swim! 454 00:17:56,533 --> 00:17:57,634 [all laughing] 455 00:17:58,634 --> 00:18:00,900 [Josh] Looks like I'm going in there after all. 456 00:18:00,900 --> 00:18:02,867 So I gear up to dive. 457 00:18:02,867 --> 00:18:04,900 While the water may look calm, 458 00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:07,166 to me that just means it's hiding something. 459 00:18:07,166 --> 00:18:09,000 Good luck, Josh. 460 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:10,467 Okay. Thank you, sir. 461 00:18:10,467 --> 00:18:11,800 Be safe. 462 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:24,066 [Josh speaking on radio] 463 00:18:34,266 --> 00:18:35,333 How's it looking, Josh? 464 00:18:36,367 --> 00:18:37,433 [Josh speaking] 465 00:18:58,467 --> 00:19:00,467 [Dave on radio] Hey, Josh, be really careful. 466 00:19:00,467 --> 00:19:03,900 Um, there's supposed to be like water snakes around. 467 00:19:05,000 --> 00:19:06,500 [Josh speaking] 468 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,100 There have been recent sightings of blue crate snakes in the water. 469 00:19:12,100 --> 00:19:14,100 If one of them is in here with me today 470 00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:15,867 and decides to take a bite, 471 00:19:15,867 --> 00:19:20,100 I have about a seven in ten chance of dying before I get to a hospital. 472 00:19:20,100 --> 00:19:22,367 So let's find a statue fast 473 00:19:22,367 --> 00:19:24,066 and then get the hell out of here. 474 00:19:32,467 --> 00:19:33,634 [Josh speaking on radio] 475 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:44,000 Are you seeing any inscriptions or carvings? 476 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:45,433 [Josh speaking] 477 00:20:05,266 --> 00:20:08,166 [Dave on radio] All right. That sounds fantastic. 478 00:20:08,166 --> 00:20:10,266 Dave, can he bring it to the surface? 479 00:20:11,734 --> 00:20:14,066 Hey, Josh, can you bring that item up? 480 00:20:15,367 --> 00:20:16,533 [Josh speaking] 481 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:25,518 [Brad] Josh, what is it? 482 00:20:25,518 --> 00:20:26,634 [Brad] Josh, what is it? 483 00:20:26,634 --> 00:20:27,900 Looks like sandstone. 484 00:20:27,900 --> 00:20:30,000 [Josh] Well, could that be from a statue? 485 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:31,600 Maybe a statue along the moat 486 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:33,367 or maybe even the Dancing Shiva. 487 00:20:33,367 --> 00:20:35,100 -We'll have to check. -That could be a piece? 488 00:20:35,100 --> 00:20:36,066 [Brad] Yes. 489 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:38,800 Okay. Amazing. I'm gonna keep looking. 490 00:20:38,800 --> 00:20:39,867 -Okay. Keep going. -[Josh] Awesome. 491 00:20:43,700 --> 00:20:45,233 [Josh speaking on radio] 492 00:21:09,367 --> 00:21:11,166 Well, that is really cool. 493 00:21:11,166 --> 00:21:12,333 [Josh speaking] 494 00:21:16,266 --> 00:21:17,066 Okay, great. 495 00:21:31,166 --> 00:21:33,166 Wow, look at that design. 496 00:21:33,166 --> 00:21:34,500 [Josh speaking] 497 00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:37,066 [Brad] Yeah, it's curved. It looks like snake skin. 498 00:21:37,066 --> 00:21:39,634 [Josh] I'm in the Cambodian ruins of Koh Ker 499 00:21:39,634 --> 00:21:42,367 searching for the remnants of looted statues 500 00:21:42,367 --> 00:21:45,634 that once adorned this ancient capital. 501 00:21:45,634 --> 00:21:48,734 Now, in the moat of this holy temple complex, 502 00:21:48,734 --> 00:21:51,700 it looks like we found something remarkable. 503 00:21:51,700 --> 00:21:53,600 [Brad] It's got markings on it. 504 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:57,066 We'll have to bring it to the team and see where it came from. 505 00:21:57,066 --> 00:21:57,653 Maybe one of these statues along here. 506 00:21:57,653 --> 00:21:58,967 Maybe one of these statues along here. 507 00:21:58,967 --> 00:22:01,600 [Josh] But that's for sure, that's worked sandstone. 508 00:22:01,600 --> 00:22:02,867 -That's from something. -[Brad] Yeah. 509 00:22:02,867 --> 00:22:05,700 This is from something that was carved 1,000 years ago. 510 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:06,900 -How about that? -[Brad] Yeah. 511 00:22:07,367 --> 00:22:09,634 -Incredible. -Insane. 512 00:22:09,634 --> 00:22:12,066 The pattern on the second fragment I found 513 00:22:12,066 --> 00:22:15,734 suggests that it may be part of the carved Naga serpent 514 00:22:15,734 --> 00:22:17,867 that once encircled the moat. 515 00:22:17,867 --> 00:22:20,066 Most importantly, we have confirmed 516 00:22:20,066 --> 00:22:23,166 that there are fragments of sculpture in the water here 517 00:22:23,166 --> 00:22:26,500 and have given the team a whole new region in which to search. 518 00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:27,653 As for me, right now, I have one priority. 519 00:22:27,653 --> 00:22:29,734 As for me, right now, I have one priority. 520 00:22:29,734 --> 00:22:31,734 -Can I get out of this water now? -Yeah. Come on up. 521 00:22:31,734 --> 00:22:32,533 -[Josh] You sure? -Yeah. 522 00:22:32,533 --> 00:22:34,000 Dave, can I get out? 523 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,867 No. Stay in. 524 00:22:35,867 --> 00:22:37,634 He's the worst. He's the worst. 525 00:22:38,367 --> 00:22:40,266 Does anybody have any hand sanitizer? 526 00:22:40,266 --> 00:22:41,333 [sighs] Okay. 527 00:22:42,967 --> 00:22:45,734 Koh Ker continues to be a magnificent puzzle 528 00:22:45,734 --> 00:22:49,066 with pieces we're recovering one at a time, 529 00:22:49,066 --> 00:22:51,367 but the biggest question of all remains. 530 00:22:51,967 --> 00:22:53,634 What happened to it? 531 00:22:53,634 --> 00:22:56,734 How did Jayavarman's city of dreams fall 532 00:22:56,734 --> 00:22:57,653 only a few years after his son Harshavarman took control? 533 00:22:57,653 --> 00:23:00,867 only a few years after his son Harshavarman took control? 534 00:23:00,867 --> 00:23:04,734 The answer might be found with the king who took power after them 535 00:23:04,734 --> 00:23:07,433 and who moved the capital back to Angkor. 536 00:23:15,867 --> 00:23:17,000 Early the next morning, 537 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,467 I travel south to the one-time home 538 00:23:19,467 --> 00:23:22,266 of a million ancient Khmer people, 539 00:23:22,266 --> 00:23:26,066 to the city which Jayavarman spurned to build Koh Ker, 540 00:23:26,066 --> 00:23:27,653 and to where the capital would return soon after, 541 00:23:27,653 --> 00:23:29,100 and to where the capital would return soon after, 542 00:23:29,100 --> 00:23:31,533 eventually blossoming into this. 543 00:23:42,166 --> 00:23:43,734 If you don't know it by name, 544 00:23:43,734 --> 00:23:46,166 odds are you know it when you see it. 545 00:23:46,166 --> 00:23:47,634 Angkor Wat. 546 00:23:47,634 --> 00:23:49,166 Built in the 12th century, 547 00:23:49,166 --> 00:23:52,600 it is humankind's most impressive achievements. 548 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,734 It is the largest temple complex on the planet, 549 00:23:55,734 --> 00:23:57,467 and, along with King Kong, 550 00:23:57,467 --> 00:23:57,653 it is rightly billed as the Eighth Wonder of the world. 551 00:23:57,653 --> 00:24:00,634 it is rightly billed as the Eighth Wonder of the world. 552 00:24:05,734 --> 00:24:08,634 It is a maze of beauty set in stone. 553 00:24:10,634 --> 00:24:14,166 Concentric plazas, and shadowy corridors 554 00:24:14,166 --> 00:24:18,266 bordered by massive towers in the shape of lotus flowers. 555 00:24:18,266 --> 00:24:22,166 Everything you see here was created 200 years 556 00:24:22,166 --> 00:24:24,800 after the mysterious fall of Koh Ker. 557 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:27,653 So why did Jayavarman IV's dream city collapse? 558 00:24:27,653 --> 00:24:31,000 So why did Jayavarman IV's dream city collapse? 559 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,266 Well, the answer might be right around the corner. 560 00:24:38,166 --> 00:24:41,734 Nearby is the enigmatic pyramid of Baksei Chamkrong 561 00:24:41,734 --> 00:24:45,500 where I'm meeting Cambodia's deputy director of antiquities, 562 00:24:45,500 --> 00:24:46,734 Meas Sopheap. 563 00:24:48,634 --> 00:24:50,100 [both speaking Cambodian] 564 00:24:50,100 --> 00:24:50,967 [in English] How are you? 565 00:24:50,967 --> 00:24:52,233 I'm good and how about you? 566 00:24:52,233 --> 00:24:54,100 -I'm great. How could I not be? Look at this. -[Sopheap laughs] 567 00:24:54,100 --> 00:24:56,500 -[Josh] This is amazing. -[Sopheap] Amazing. 568 00:24:56,500 --> 00:24:57,653 [Josh] It's like something out of a movie. 569 00:24:57,653 --> 00:24:58,266 [Josh] It's like something out of a movie. 570 00:24:58,266 --> 00:24:59,634 -Isn't it? -[Sopheap] It is, it is. Yeah. 571 00:25:00,367 --> 00:25:01,900 [Sopheap speaking] 572 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:08,867 -Right. After Jayavarman IV and his son Harshavarman II... -Yeah. 573 00:25:08,867 --> 00:25:10,734 ...this guy comes along. He's the next king. 574 00:25:11,734 --> 00:25:14,533 And he moves the capital back here to Angkor? 575 00:25:17,266 --> 00:25:18,500 [Josh] So the big question then is 576 00:25:18,500 --> 00:25:20,266 how does he do that? How does he pull that off? 577 00:25:22,867 --> 00:25:25,266 -At the top? I was afraid you were going to say that. -[Sopheap laughs] 578 00:25:25,266 --> 00:25:26,500 -Are we going up? -Yes. 579 00:25:26,500 --> 00:25:27,653 -All right, let's do it. Come on. -[Sopheap] Yes. 580 00:25:27,653 --> 00:25:27,800 -All right, let's do it. Come on. -[Sopheap] Yes. 581 00:25:33,867 --> 00:25:36,266 [Josh] We clamber up what's left of the stairs 582 00:25:36,266 --> 00:25:39,100 which have crumbled to a nearly sheer face. 583 00:25:41,867 --> 00:25:43,166 Just don't look down. 584 00:25:43,166 --> 00:25:44,333 Don't look down. 585 00:25:45,867 --> 00:25:47,166 Oh, yeah, this is sketchy. 586 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:50,800 Almost there. 587 00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:54,333 Whew! 588 00:25:55,266 --> 00:25:57,467 -Yes! -Look at this. 589 00:25:57,467 --> 00:25:57,653 -[Sopheap] We did it. -[Josh] On top of the world. 590 00:25:57,653 --> 00:25:59,367 -[Sopheap] We did it. -[Josh] On top of the world. 591 00:25:59,367 --> 00:26:00,166 [Sopheap] Yes. 592 00:26:00,166 --> 00:26:01,634 [Josh] Okay, so, what do we have here? 593 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:04,600 [Josh] Look at this. 594 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,467 It's such a pretty script. 595 00:26:06,467 --> 00:26:07,533 Very beautiful. 596 00:26:09,367 --> 00:26:10,467 That's right. 597 00:26:12,166 --> 00:26:14,166 So what do we have in these inscriptions? 598 00:26:14,166 --> 00:26:15,433 In this inscription... 599 00:26:20,266 --> 00:26:22,600 So this royal list showing all the kings that came before him. 600 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,166 [Sopheap] All the kings. Yes. 601 00:26:24,166 --> 00:26:26,367 And so we find inscriptions like this 602 00:26:26,367 --> 00:26:27,653 -at many of the temples in Angkor, yes? -Yeah. Many, many. 603 00:26:27,653 --> 00:26:29,166 -at many of the temples in Angkor, yes? -Yeah. Many, many. 604 00:26:29,166 --> 00:26:31,266 And do the inscriptions tell us 605 00:26:31,266 --> 00:26:34,066 how he seized power from Koh Ker? 606 00:26:34,066 --> 00:26:36,367 Not exactly, but it gives some clues. 607 00:26:36,367 --> 00:26:38,100 Clues? What kind of clues? 608 00:26:42,066 --> 00:26:45,367 [Josh] Sopheap shows me translations of Khmer inscriptions 609 00:26:45,367 --> 00:26:47,166 that describe Rajendravarman 610 00:26:47,166 --> 00:26:49,700 as having a body as hard as a diamond 611 00:26:49,700 --> 00:26:52,533 and a sword stained with blood. 612 00:26:52,533 --> 00:26:55,066 It's a vivid portrait of a leader who appears 613 00:26:55,066 --> 00:26:57,653 to have used violence more than diplomacy. 614 00:26:57,653 --> 00:26:58,166 to have used violence more than diplomacy. 615 00:26:58,166 --> 00:27:03,634 It seems that King Jayavarman puts his cousin Rajendravarman in charge of the army, 616 00:27:03,634 --> 00:27:06,867 then when Jayavarman's son inherits the throne, 617 00:27:06,867 --> 00:27:08,600 perhaps Rajendravarman decides 618 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,500 he's better qualified to rule. 619 00:27:11,500 --> 00:27:13,166 -We've seen it a million times in history. -Yes. 620 00:27:13,166 --> 00:27:14,734 -Maybe this is the classic coup. -Yeah. 621 00:27:14,734 --> 00:27:18,000 Right, the military general, he has the support of the army, 622 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,867 -and he says, "You know what? I want to be king." -[Sopheap] Yes. 623 00:27:19,867 --> 00:27:22,600 The question then becomes how does he pull it off? 624 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,700 Right, even if he has the support of the army, 625 00:27:24,700 --> 00:27:26,066 how does he get it? 626 00:27:26,066 --> 00:27:27,653 You know, by all accounts, Koh Ker is a pretty powerful kingdom. 627 00:27:27,653 --> 00:27:29,100 You know, by all accounts, Koh Ker is a pretty powerful kingdom. 628 00:27:29,100 --> 00:27:29,900 Yes. 629 00:27:35,700 --> 00:27:36,800 -[Josh] Right. -[Sopheap] But... 630 00:27:44,066 --> 00:27:46,734 Right, maybe his father was the real powerhouse 631 00:27:46,734 --> 00:27:48,533 who built this empire out there, 632 00:27:48,533 --> 00:27:50,734 -and the son couldn't maintain it. -[Sopheap] Yeah. 633 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:56,233 Right. 634 00:28:00,967 --> 00:28:03,600 Something went wrong at the city, something made it weak, 635 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:05,500 and so he seized that opportunity. 636 00:28:05,500 --> 00:28:07,100 -[Sopheap] Yes. -But we don't know what that could be. 637 00:28:08,533 --> 00:28:11,100 -Okay. So we still have a mystery here. -[Sopheap] Yes. 638 00:28:14,500 --> 00:28:16,867 [Josh] It now seems likely that the capital of Koh Ker 639 00:28:16,867 --> 00:28:20,066 was conquered by Rajendravarman II, 640 00:28:20,066 --> 00:28:23,500 but we still need to unlock how such a powerful city 641 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:25,734 was left so vulnerable. 642 00:28:25,734 --> 00:28:27,653 I get back on the bike and return to Koh Ker 643 00:28:27,653 --> 00:28:28,600 I get back on the bike and return to Koh Ker 644 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:29,867 to meet an expert 645 00:28:29,867 --> 00:28:32,900 who believes she and her team may have found the answer. 646 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:35,266 -Hello. -[Sarah] Hey, Josh. 647 00:28:35,266 --> 00:28:36,867 [Josh] How are you? 648 00:28:36,867 --> 00:28:39,266 -I'm guessing you're Sarah. -I'm Sarah, nice to meet you. 649 00:28:39,266 --> 00:28:40,266 Nice to meet you as well. 650 00:28:40,266 --> 00:28:41,467 -[Sarah] So you made it. -I made it. 651 00:28:41,467 --> 00:28:44,700 All right. So tell me how you fit into this puzzle out here, 652 00:28:44,700 --> 00:28:46,100 this excavation, what do you do? 653 00:28:46,100 --> 00:28:47,266 Yeah. I'm an archeologist. 654 00:28:47,266 --> 00:28:48,867 I specialize in remote sensing. 655 00:28:48,867 --> 00:28:51,634 [Josh] And remote sensing is psychic viewing, right? That's where you... 656 00:28:51,634 --> 00:28:54,100 -[laughs] Not quite, not quite. -No, it's not. No. 657 00:28:54,100 --> 00:28:57,266 Remote sensing is like things like ground penetrating radar, 658 00:28:57,266 --> 00:28:57,653 -lidar technology... -Yeah, yeah. 659 00:28:57,653 --> 00:28:58,500 -lidar technology... -Yeah, yeah. 660 00:28:58,500 --> 00:28:59,967 -...laser scanning, right? Things like that. -Yeah. 661 00:28:59,967 --> 00:29:02,000 -All the fun goodies. -Exactly. 662 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:05,367 [Josh] Lidar uses laser pulses fired from above 663 00:29:05,367 --> 00:29:08,166 to see beneath canopies of vegetation, 664 00:29:08,166 --> 00:29:11,066 allowing us to find long-hidden structures. 665 00:29:12,166 --> 00:29:15,266 And has this sort of technology been used out here in the past? 666 00:29:15,266 --> 00:29:19,367 No, this site's been pretty much off limits until very recently. 667 00:29:19,367 --> 00:29:21,867 All the research that we're doing is really cutting edge. 668 00:29:21,867 --> 00:29:22,967 It's new and exciting. 669 00:29:22,967 --> 00:29:24,634 We're kind of starting from scratch in many ways. 670 00:29:24,634 --> 00:29:27,367 Can remote sensing, can things like lidar, 671 00:29:27,367 --> 00:29:27,653 help explain the collapse of this place? 672 00:29:27,653 --> 00:29:29,266 help explain the collapse of this place? 673 00:29:29,266 --> 00:29:30,734 -Do you want to take a look? -Yeah, can you show me? 674 00:29:30,734 --> 00:29:32,467 -Absolutely. Let's go. -All right. On foot? 675 00:29:32,467 --> 00:29:34,266 -No, we got to take the bikes. -[whispers] Yes! 676 00:29:34,266 --> 00:29:35,634 Let's do it. 677 00:29:41,367 --> 00:29:45,367 To see if Sarah's lidar scan has struck archeological pay dirt, 678 00:29:45,367 --> 00:29:48,367 we ride through the back roads of Koh Ker, 679 00:29:48,367 --> 00:29:52,100 marveling at its seemingly endless collection of ruins. 680 00:29:55,734 --> 00:29:57,653 The place is incredible. There's just stuff everywhere. 681 00:29:57,653 --> 00:29:58,333 The place is incredible. There's just stuff everywhere. 682 00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:04,734 Sarah leads me through the city to a wide open area 683 00:30:04,734 --> 00:30:07,066 that today looks like swamp land, 684 00:30:07,066 --> 00:30:09,500 but scans show otherwise. 685 00:30:09,500 --> 00:30:12,500 In Koh Ker's prime, this was the Rohal, 686 00:30:12,500 --> 00:30:16,367 the largest manmade reservoir in the Khmer empire. 687 00:30:16,367 --> 00:30:18,000 This mile-long expanse 688 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:21,367 was responsible for Koh Ker's very existence. 689 00:30:21,367 --> 00:30:22,634 Without fresh water, 690 00:30:22,634 --> 00:30:26,367 Jayavarman's dream city simply couldn't survive. 691 00:30:26,367 --> 00:30:27,653 So where did all that water come from? 692 00:30:27,653 --> 00:30:29,266 So where did all that water come from? 693 00:30:30,100 --> 00:30:31,367 Okay, where are we headed? 694 00:30:31,367 --> 00:30:33,634 Just up the road. We're almost there. 695 00:30:39,166 --> 00:30:40,100 [Josh] Here? 696 00:30:40,100 --> 00:30:41,100 [Sarah] Yeah, right over here. 697 00:30:44,867 --> 00:30:45,900 What do we have here? 698 00:30:46,500 --> 00:30:47,900 This is a dam. 699 00:30:48,734 --> 00:30:50,500 -[Josh] This is a dam? -[Sarah] A dam. 700 00:30:50,500 --> 00:30:52,100 Oh, yeah, these blocks here. 701 00:30:52,100 --> 00:30:53,166 -Wow. -That's right. 702 00:30:53,166 --> 00:30:54,600 This is the spillway 703 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:56,900 of a dam that stretches to the north. 704 00:30:58,166 --> 00:31:01,500 [Josh] Today it looks like an overgrown wall in the jungle, 705 00:31:01,500 --> 00:31:03,634 but Sarah's lidar sees more. 706 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,367 A massive four mile-long dam 707 00:31:07,367 --> 00:31:10,967 that stretched from Koh Ker to a river in the jungle. 708 00:31:10,967 --> 00:31:12,367 The dam blocked the river 709 00:31:12,367 --> 00:31:14,166 and channeled it into reservoirs 710 00:31:14,166 --> 00:31:17,533 that supplied the city with life-giving water. 711 00:31:17,533 --> 00:31:19,367 So 1,000 years ago, if you were arriving here, 712 00:31:19,367 --> 00:31:20,734 you would've looked out and seen this? 713 00:31:20,734 --> 00:31:21,967 Exactly. 714 00:31:21,967 --> 00:31:25,266 So the entry to Koh Ker was through this road. 715 00:31:25,266 --> 00:31:26,734 So you'd be walking along this road. 716 00:31:26,734 --> 00:31:27,653 To your right would have been the largest 717 00:31:27,653 --> 00:31:28,166 To your right would have been the largest 718 00:31:28,166 --> 00:31:30,266 manmade body of water they've ever seen, 719 00:31:30,266 --> 00:31:32,066 -and then straight ahead... -[Josh] Right. 720 00:31:32,066 --> 00:31:33,367 [Sarah] ...is the pyramid of Koh Ker. 721 00:31:33,367 --> 00:31:35,500 Incredible. It must have been breathtaking. 722 00:31:35,500 --> 00:31:37,500 [Sarah] It would have been a beautiful view. 723 00:31:37,500 --> 00:31:39,166 [Josh] It is an engineering feat 724 00:31:39,166 --> 00:31:41,700 of empire-making proportions. 725 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:44,867 But in this spot, the stone blocks seem to end, 726 00:31:44,867 --> 00:31:47,900 as though there's a gap in the dam's retaining wall. 727 00:31:48,533 --> 00:31:49,867 [Sarah] So where we're standing, 728 00:31:49,867 --> 00:31:52,166 we're at the side of a large, stone spillway, 729 00:31:52,166 --> 00:31:54,367 which would have stretched all the way over there. 730 00:31:54,367 --> 00:31:56,266 [Josh] So excess water would come over that spillway. 731 00:31:56,266 --> 00:31:57,266 [Sarah] Exactly, yeah. 732 00:31:57,266 --> 00:31:57,653 Am I missing something, though? 733 00:31:57,653 --> 00:31:58,500 Am I missing something, though? 734 00:31:58,500 --> 00:32:01,500 I don't see a huge stone structure here. Like, where is it? 735 00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:03,867 Well, that's where the lidar data becomes interesting. 736 00:32:03,867 --> 00:32:06,066 As you can see, it's just, it's gone. 737 00:32:06,066 --> 00:32:09,867 [Josh] The reason may finally explain the fall of Koh Ker. 738 00:32:09,867 --> 00:32:13,734 An epic disaster that brought down a capital. 739 00:32:13,734 --> 00:32:15,266 We're talking about a dam failure? 740 00:32:15,266 --> 00:32:16,367 Dam failure, yep. 741 00:32:17,166 --> 00:32:18,367 [Josh] Wow! 742 00:32:24,166 --> 00:32:26,867 We know there was some kind of huge event that happened here 743 00:32:26,867 --> 00:32:29,000 that completely blasted out this spillway. 744 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:31,166 [Josh] Archeologist Sarah Klassen 745 00:32:31,166 --> 00:32:33,166 has brought me to an ancient dam, 746 00:32:33,166 --> 00:32:35,467 to explain how the city of Koh Ker 747 00:32:35,467 --> 00:32:37,166 went from a glittering capital 748 00:32:37,166 --> 00:32:38,367 to ruins. 749 00:32:38,367 --> 00:32:39,867 We're talking about a dam failure? 750 00:32:39,867 --> 00:32:41,066 Dam failure, yep. 751 00:32:41,867 --> 00:32:42,867 [Sarah] So at some point, 752 00:32:42,867 --> 00:32:45,000 this spillway just completely failed. 753 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:46,533 Blasted open. 754 00:32:46,533 --> 00:32:48,266 We've actually found spillway blocks, 755 00:32:48,266 --> 00:32:50,605 like, huge laterite spillway blocks, 756 00:32:50,605 --> 00:32:50,634 like, huge laterite spillway blocks, 757 00:32:50,634 --> 00:32:52,367 hundreds of feet downstream from here. 758 00:32:52,367 --> 00:32:53,867 -Just, like, out in the jungle? -[Sarah] Yeah. 759 00:32:53,867 --> 00:32:56,367 That were carried down when the spillway failed. 760 00:32:56,367 --> 00:32:59,266 So what would the immediate effect have been of the failure? 761 00:32:59,266 --> 00:33:00,634 Catastrophic. 762 00:33:00,634 --> 00:33:03,100 It's not only a source of water for drinking. 763 00:33:03,100 --> 00:33:07,467 It's used for agriculture, for fish, for protein. 764 00:33:07,467 --> 00:33:10,367 There are a lot reasons why you need to have a large source of water. 765 00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:11,867 Right, it's food and drink. 766 00:33:11,867 --> 00:33:13,100 -It's life, right? -[Sarah] Exactly. 767 00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:16,166 And this is a remote city out here in the jungle 768 00:33:16,166 --> 00:33:17,700 trying to support how many people? 769 00:33:17,700 --> 00:33:19,734 Tens of thousands of people, we think. 770 00:33:19,734 --> 00:33:20,605 Right. And if you lose, in an instant, 771 00:33:20,605 --> 00:33:21,600 Right. And if you lose, in an instant, 772 00:33:21,600 --> 00:33:24,634 your ability to feed people, to give people water, 773 00:33:25,266 --> 00:33:27,367 -it's over. Right? -Exactly. 774 00:33:27,367 --> 00:33:28,900 [Josh] We learned back at Angkor 775 00:33:28,900 --> 00:33:31,367 that Koh Ker may have been weakened somehow, 776 00:33:31,367 --> 00:33:34,100 leaving it vulnerable to assault. 777 00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:36,000 And we've seen that this next king, 778 00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:37,900 Rajendravarman, he comes in. 779 00:33:37,900 --> 00:33:39,467 He seems to come out of nowhere, 780 00:33:39,467 --> 00:33:42,634 and take control, and move the capital back to Angkor. 781 00:33:42,634 --> 00:33:46,266 It's possible that he seized on this moment of weakness, 782 00:33:46,266 --> 00:33:48,000 and came in, and took the throne back. 783 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:48,900 Look at that. 784 00:33:48,900 --> 00:33:50,605 Twenty-first century technology, 785 00:33:50,605 --> 00:33:50,634 Twenty-first century technology, 786 00:33:50,634 --> 00:33:52,100 thousand-year-old mystery. 787 00:33:52,100 --> 00:33:54,166 -Here we go. -Incredible. 788 00:33:54,166 --> 00:33:55,467 [Josh] Thanks to Sarah's work, 789 00:33:55,467 --> 00:33:57,800 and the power of cutting-edge technology, 790 00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:00,600 one mystery about Koh Ker may be solved. 791 00:34:00,600 --> 00:34:03,367 But we're also here to investigate a crime. 792 00:34:03,367 --> 00:34:07,100 The wholesale theft of the city's statues. 793 00:34:07,100 --> 00:34:09,867 Brad Gordon and the Cambodian archeological team 794 00:34:09,867 --> 00:34:13,000 are back at the Prasat Krachap temple complex, 795 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:16,100 to excavate where gangs of looters stole priceless art, 796 00:34:16,100 --> 00:34:19,634 and to discover if any treasures were left behind. 797 00:34:20,467 --> 00:34:20,605 [Josh] Phakdey! 798 00:34:20,605 --> 00:34:21,800 [Josh] Phakdey! 799 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:23,166 [Josh] Hello again! 800 00:34:23,734 --> 00:34:25,000 How you doing? 801 00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:26,867 -[Josh] Back in another pit? -Yeah. 802 00:34:26,867 --> 00:34:28,166 And where are we now? 803 00:34:32,700 --> 00:34:34,734 [Josh] We've gone deeper inside the temple 804 00:34:34,734 --> 00:34:37,367 from where we found the pediment earlier. 805 00:34:37,367 --> 00:34:40,600 Former looters have told Brad that this is the location 806 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,266 where they stole dozens of statues. 807 00:34:43,266 --> 00:34:46,533 Among them is the magnificent Skanda and Shiva, 808 00:34:46,533 --> 00:34:48,166 now in the National Museum. 809 00:34:48,166 --> 00:34:50,605 That masterpiece, the crown jewel of Koh Ker, 810 00:34:50,605 --> 00:34:51,533 That masterpiece, the crown jewel of Koh Ker, 811 00:34:51,533 --> 00:34:54,433 was taken from some place very close by. 812 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:57,166 So where are you digging? 813 00:34:58,700 --> 00:35:00,433 [chuckles] Let's go. 814 00:35:06,367 --> 00:35:08,266 [Josh] We scrape into the hard earth, 815 00:35:08,266 --> 00:35:10,100 working through dense tree roots 816 00:35:10,100 --> 00:35:13,066 that have grown over and through the buildings here. 817 00:35:16,467 --> 00:35:20,333 Archeologist Thach Phanith is the first to hit paydirt. 818 00:35:22,367 --> 00:35:24,066 -[Josh] Got something? Sandstone? -[Phanith] Yeah. 819 00:35:27,166 --> 00:35:28,967 -[Josh] Statue? -[Phanith speaking] 820 00:35:29,867 --> 00:35:31,533 -A foot from a statue? -[Phanith] Yeah. 821 00:35:32,867 --> 00:35:34,233 [Josh] Look at that, it is. It's small. 822 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:36,100 [Phanith speaking] 823 00:35:36,100 --> 00:35:37,367 -It's a foot? -Yeah! 824 00:35:37,367 --> 00:35:39,266 -You're sure? -Yeah! 825 00:35:39,266 --> 00:35:41,100 -[Josh] That's a foot from a statue? -[Phanith] Yeah! 826 00:35:41,100 --> 00:35:43,266 [laughs] This is unbelievable. 827 00:35:43,266 --> 00:35:45,800 Okay, let's see if we can reveal a bit more of it. 828 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:48,533 [Josh] We carefully brush away more dirt from the foot 829 00:35:48,533 --> 00:35:49,734 to get a better look. 830 00:35:51,166 --> 00:35:52,166 [Josh] Very small. 831 00:35:53,166 --> 00:35:55,100 When I see this foot, it reminds me of a story 832 00:35:55,100 --> 00:35:56,634 we heard from the former looters. 833 00:35:57,100 --> 00:35:58,867 Uh, that they took out 834 00:35:59,734 --> 00:36:01,700 a father and son statue from here, 835 00:36:01,700 --> 00:36:04,467 and the father maybe is Jayavarman IV, 836 00:36:04,467 --> 00:36:06,533 and the son could be Harshavarman II. 837 00:36:06,533 --> 00:36:08,367 That statue's never been recovered. 838 00:36:08,367 --> 00:36:10,533 [Josh] While the foot of a missing statue 839 00:36:10,533 --> 00:36:12,100 might not seem important, 840 00:36:12,100 --> 00:36:14,734 to Brad, this is forensic gold. 841 00:36:14,734 --> 00:36:18,867 If the stolen statue surfaces in a museum or private collection, 842 00:36:18,867 --> 00:36:20,605 the foot will interlock, 843 00:36:20,605 --> 00:36:20,634 the foot will interlock, 844 00:36:20,634 --> 00:36:22,367 providing critical evidence 845 00:36:22,367 --> 00:36:24,967 to repatriate the statue to Cambodia. 846 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:27,367 [Josh] You have a pin? 847 00:36:27,367 --> 00:36:29,367 -From a statue? -Yeah. 848 00:36:29,367 --> 00:36:30,900 [Josh] Phanith brings over a block 849 00:36:30,900 --> 00:36:34,100 that they found nearby, known as a pin. 850 00:36:34,100 --> 00:36:36,734 [Josh] So these pins basically go into the ground 851 00:36:36,734 --> 00:36:38,467 to stabilize the pedestal? 852 00:36:38,467 --> 00:36:40,533 -Yeah. Yeah. -[Josh] Under the statue. 853 00:36:40,533 --> 00:36:41,634 Could this be with this? 854 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:44,867 [Josh] If they were paired at antiquity, 855 00:36:44,867 --> 00:36:47,100 the statue and pin should slot together 856 00:36:47,100 --> 00:36:48,533 like an ancient Lego. 857 00:36:50,467 --> 00:36:50,605 [Josh] And the other side? 858 00:36:50,605 --> 00:36:51,266 [Josh] And the other side? 859 00:36:52,367 --> 00:36:54,367 [Josh] Phanith gently adjusts the foot 860 00:36:54,367 --> 00:36:55,967 to see if it's a match. 861 00:36:57,000 --> 00:36:59,000 -[Phanith] Ooh, that! -[Josh] That fits? 862 00:36:59,000 --> 00:36:59,900 [Phin] Yeah. 863 00:36:59,900 --> 00:37:02,100 -That locks in there? -[Phanith] Yeah. 864 00:37:02,100 --> 00:37:03,600 -[Josh] This goes together? -Yeah! 865 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:05,867 -And we see...[laughs] -[Phanith speaking] 866 00:37:05,867 --> 00:37:06,900 [Josh] This is unbelievable! 867 00:37:06,900 --> 00:37:08,166 And we can see here, 868 00:37:08,166 --> 00:37:09,734 there would have been another foot here. 869 00:37:10,100 --> 00:37:11,533 That's really amazing. 870 00:37:13,467 --> 00:37:17,066 [Josh] We rush to check our immediate vicinity for more fragments. 871 00:37:29,900 --> 00:37:31,233 -[Josh] Another piece? -Yeah. 872 00:37:31,700 --> 00:37:32,900 [Josh] More sandstone? 873 00:37:32,900 --> 00:37:34,734 [Phanith speaking] 874 00:37:34,734 --> 00:37:37,266 [Josh] We hurry the new piece over to the pin, 875 00:37:37,266 --> 00:37:39,433 to see if it's part of the same statue. 876 00:37:40,700 --> 00:37:42,734 [Phanith] Maybe it should be. 877 00:37:43,266 --> 00:37:45,266 Yeah? That, maybe... 878 00:37:45,266 --> 00:37:47,333 [Josh] Does it go, or is it from another statue? 879 00:37:48,467 --> 00:37:49,867 -[Phanith] There! -[Josh] Huh? 880 00:37:49,867 --> 00:37:50,605 That fit! 881 00:37:50,605 --> 00:37:51,634 That fit! 882 00:37:51,634 --> 00:37:53,266 -[all exclaiming] -Right there! 883 00:37:53,266 --> 00:37:54,100 That's it! 884 00:37:54,100 --> 00:37:55,867 -We found two! -That fits! 885 00:37:55,867 --> 00:37:59,100 [Josh] Unbelievable! That's awesome. 886 00:37:59,100 --> 00:38:01,066 -[Phanith speaking] -Come on! 887 00:38:02,266 --> 00:38:03,333 Look at that! 888 00:38:04,367 --> 00:38:06,266 [Josh] This is incredible. 889 00:38:06,266 --> 00:38:09,100 Both pieces lock into the pin seamlessly. 890 00:38:09,100 --> 00:38:12,266 We're now rebuilding a destroyed masterwork 891 00:38:12,266 --> 00:38:13,367 from the feet up. 892 00:38:13,367 --> 00:38:16,467 We see so many statues in museums 893 00:38:16,467 --> 00:38:18,734 missing their feet, missing their arms. 894 00:38:18,734 --> 00:38:20,605 It's not until you see the other part 895 00:38:20,605 --> 00:38:21,100 It's not until you see the other part 896 00:38:21,100 --> 00:38:22,166 that you realize 897 00:38:22,166 --> 00:38:23,634 the violence that's been done here, right? 898 00:38:23,634 --> 00:38:25,533 That this was this beautiful thing 899 00:38:25,533 --> 00:38:27,967 that has literally been hacked off at the ankles. 900 00:38:28,867 --> 00:38:31,100 You know, the public, when they go to museums, 901 00:38:31,100 --> 00:38:32,367 they should think about this. 902 00:38:32,367 --> 00:38:33,900 -[Josh] Totally. -[Brad] They should think about this image. 903 00:38:33,900 --> 00:38:36,266 Yeah, that those beautiful statues we see, 904 00:38:36,266 --> 00:38:38,533 -they belong right here. -[Brad] Yes. 905 00:38:38,533 --> 00:38:40,266 [Josh] Brad suspects that somewhere, 906 00:38:40,266 --> 00:38:42,734 in a museum or private collection, 907 00:38:42,734 --> 00:38:44,000 is a broken statue, 908 00:38:44,000 --> 00:38:46,467 whose feet we have just recovered. 909 00:38:46,467 --> 00:38:49,333 And now, for some archeological police work. 910 00:38:50,266 --> 00:38:50,605 Scanning the find with an Artec Leo. 911 00:38:50,605 --> 00:38:52,634 Scanning the find with an Artec Leo. 912 00:38:52,634 --> 00:38:56,266 This device takes millions of laser-accurate measurements 913 00:38:56,266 --> 00:38:57,600 and stitches them together, 914 00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:00,100 to form a three-dimensional image. 915 00:39:00,100 --> 00:39:02,266 Think of it as a virtual fingerprint, 916 00:39:02,266 --> 00:39:04,367 or in this case, footprint, 917 00:39:04,367 --> 00:39:06,634 that can one day match to a priceless work 918 00:39:06,634 --> 00:39:08,634 and bring it home to Cambodia. 919 00:39:11,634 --> 00:39:13,266 Once the scan is finished, 920 00:39:13,266 --> 00:39:14,867 we get back to digging. 921 00:39:19,900 --> 00:39:20,605 Oh! 922 00:39:20,605 --> 00:39:20,700 Oh! 923 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,433 [Josh] Found something? Oh, sandstone! 924 00:39:26,467 --> 00:39:27,634 [Josh] It's got a little lip. 925 00:39:28,867 --> 00:39:29,734 Yeah. 926 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:33,867 You think it's part of a pedestal? 927 00:39:33,867 --> 00:39:35,600 -[Phin] Yeah. -[Josh] Because it's so fine? 928 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:36,867 [Phin speaking] 929 00:39:36,867 --> 00:39:38,900 There's no other pieces to it, though, which is frustrating. 930 00:39:38,900 --> 00:39:40,700 [Brad] Josh, you might think I'm crazy, 931 00:39:40,700 --> 00:39:43,800 but I would bet you that's Skanda and Shiva's pedestal. 932 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:47,333 The one we saw in the museum? 933 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:50,367 [Josh] Okay, hold the phone. 934 00:39:50,367 --> 00:39:50,605 Brad thinks this was part of the Skanda and Shiva. 935 00:39:50,605 --> 00:39:53,533 Brad thinks this was part of the Skanda and Shiva. 936 00:39:53,533 --> 00:39:56,100 The stolen statue that was put on the black market 937 00:39:56,100 --> 00:40:00,000 for $25 million by art dealer Douglas Latchford, 938 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:01,467 before it was recovered 939 00:40:01,467 --> 00:40:03,467 and brought to the National Museum. 940 00:40:03,467 --> 00:40:06,000 Unquestionably, the greatest piece of art 941 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:08,634 ever found from Koh Ker. 942 00:40:08,634 --> 00:40:11,266 The pedestal is very smooth, and has no flower design. 943 00:40:11,266 --> 00:40:12,533 Looks just like that. 944 00:40:12,533 --> 00:40:14,367 It's also in the perfect location 945 00:40:14,367 --> 00:40:17,467 in terms of what we heard from the looters about bringing, 946 00:40:17,467 --> 00:40:19,533 uh, Skanda and Shiva out of the chamber. 947 00:40:19,533 --> 00:40:20,605 Right, that statue was found here. 948 00:40:20,605 --> 00:40:22,000 Right, that statue was found here. 949 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:23,066 [Brad] Right behind you. 950 00:40:23,367 --> 00:40:24,166 [Josh] Right. 951 00:40:25,266 --> 00:40:26,900 -[Brad] Wow. -Yeah. 952 00:40:26,900 --> 00:40:30,266 I've been looking at photos for years of that statue. 953 00:40:30,266 --> 00:40:31,100 I recognize it. 954 00:40:31,100 --> 00:40:32,867 You think that's from that statue? 955 00:40:32,867 --> 00:40:34,533 That's Skanda and Shiva. 956 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:41,734 [Josh] Casual roadside dining in Cambodia 957 00:40:41,734 --> 00:40:44,000 is not for the faint of heart. 958 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:45,166 Or stomach. 959 00:40:45,166 --> 00:40:47,266 Oh, boy. Spiders! 960 00:40:47,266 --> 00:40:49,867 I noticed you haven't... you haven't sold many. 961 00:40:49,867 --> 00:40:52,533 Pretty much anything that crawls here is edible. 962 00:40:52,533 --> 00:40:56,066 And all of it is deep-fried, and for sale, right here. 963 00:40:56,967 --> 00:40:58,166 You've got your frogs, 964 00:40:58,166 --> 00:40:59,266 cockroaches, 965 00:40:59,266 --> 00:41:01,367 and of course, tarantulas. 966 00:41:01,367 --> 00:41:03,967 Oh, boy. Yeah, look at that. 967 00:41:03,967 --> 00:41:05,734 That's a big tarantula right there. 968 00:41:05,734 --> 00:41:07,334 What was once a matter of survival is now a delicacy. 969 00:41:07,334 --> 00:41:08,867 What was once a matter of survival is now a delicacy. 970 00:41:08,867 --> 00:41:10,100 Though you are supposed to enjoy these 971 00:41:10,100 --> 00:41:11,867 with an ice-cold beer or a rice wine, 972 00:41:11,867 --> 00:41:13,533 and since I'm driving the bike, 973 00:41:13,533 --> 00:41:14,867 I can't really drink and drive. 974 00:41:14,867 --> 00:41:15,967 -So, it's-- -[crew member] Quit stalling! 975 00:41:15,967 --> 00:41:17,166 I'm not stalling! 976 00:41:17,533 --> 00:41:18,367 [sighs] Here we go. 977 00:41:22,367 --> 00:41:24,367 They're pretty good. 978 00:41:24,367 --> 00:41:26,233 -[crew member] Eat the abdomen! -Everybody's fired. 979 00:41:30,500 --> 00:41:32,367 That's tougher. 980 00:41:32,367 --> 00:41:33,600 Not the worst spider I've had. 981 00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:35,266 All right. Time to hit the road. Let's go. 982 00:41:40,266 --> 00:41:41,600 [Josh] Okay. 983 00:41:55,467 --> 00:41:57,734 -So this would be like this? This is the pedestal? -[Brad] Yes. 984 00:41:57,734 --> 00:42:00,734 [Brad] Digging in Cambodia's city of Koh Ker, 985 00:42:00,734 --> 00:42:03,367 we may have just made a historic discovery. 986 00:42:03,367 --> 00:42:05,734 A possible fragment of the iconic 987 00:42:05,734 --> 00:42:07,561 Skanda and Shiva statue, 988 00:42:07,561 --> 00:42:07,634 Skanda and Shiva statue, 989 00:42:07,634 --> 00:42:09,867 which was stolen from this temple, 990 00:42:09,867 --> 00:42:11,266 smuggled out of the country, 991 00:42:11,266 --> 00:42:15,000 and held for $25 million on the black market. 992 00:42:15,734 --> 00:42:17,467 If this is part of that sculpture, 993 00:42:17,467 --> 00:42:19,266 it would be the largest missing piece of it. 994 00:42:19,266 --> 00:42:21,467 -The rest of it is almost entirely there. -Yes, yes. 995 00:42:21,467 --> 00:42:23,800 -[Josh] Okay. -Back to Phnom Penh. 996 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:25,867 Back to Phnom Penh. 997 00:42:25,867 --> 00:42:28,266 [Josh] If there's even a chance that we have a piece 998 00:42:28,266 --> 00:42:29,867 of the Skanda and Shiva, 999 00:42:29,867 --> 00:42:31,433 there's no time to waste. 1000 00:42:36,467 --> 00:42:37,561 So we rush back to the National Museum in Phnom Penh 1001 00:42:37,561 --> 00:42:39,800 So we rush back to the National Museum in Phnom Penh 1002 00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:41,533 to assess the find. 1003 00:42:44,634 --> 00:42:46,533 Okay. Moment of truth. 1004 00:42:48,367 --> 00:42:52,467 [Josh] The Skanda and Shiva waits in the restoration lab with Chea Socheat, 1005 00:42:52,467 --> 00:42:55,266 the head of conservation at the museum. 1006 00:42:55,266 --> 00:42:57,533 Now, it's time to see if our fragment 1007 00:42:57,533 --> 00:43:00,900 was once part of this iconic statue. 1008 00:43:00,900 --> 00:43:02,367 [Josh] We have brought you a present. 1009 00:43:02,367 --> 00:43:03,166 Ah. 1010 00:43:03,166 --> 00:43:05,533 Which we hope is a part of this. 1011 00:43:06,367 --> 00:43:07,561 [Chea] Okay. Yes, I will try. 1012 00:43:07,561 --> 00:43:08,734 [Chea] Okay. Yes, I will try. 1013 00:43:16,100 --> 00:43:18,533 [Josh] So, let's see what we've got. 1014 00:43:18,533 --> 00:43:21,533 So this banding does look almost exactly like this. 1015 00:43:21,533 --> 00:43:23,367 [Josh] We attempt to match the piece 1016 00:43:23,367 --> 00:43:26,533 to some damaged stone in the front of the pedestal. 1017 00:43:26,533 --> 00:43:27,800 Or here? 1018 00:43:29,266 --> 00:43:30,467 -[Josh] No? -[Chea] No. 1019 00:43:30,467 --> 00:43:33,367 I want to try another part. 1020 00:43:33,367 --> 00:43:34,734 -[Josh] In the back? -Yes. 1021 00:43:37,533 --> 00:43:37,561 Right. Oh, okay. This is more damaged here. 1022 00:43:37,561 --> 00:43:40,066 Right. Oh, okay. This is more damaged here. 1023 00:43:40,900 --> 00:43:42,967 -[Brad] So Josh, look at this. -[Chea] Yeah. 1024 00:43:42,967 --> 00:43:44,467 -This band here is identical. -[Josh] Right. 1025 00:43:44,467 --> 00:43:46,800 -[Chea] This... -[Josh] It is, it's almost the same depth 1026 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:49,166 -from the top of the pedestal, right? -[Chea] Yes. 1027 00:43:49,166 --> 00:43:52,000 -Corner maybe? -[Chea] No, because... 1028 00:43:52,000 --> 00:43:53,967 -[Josh] Oh, it's too wide here... -[Chea] Yes. 1029 00:43:55,867 --> 00:43:57,900 [Josh] Let's see if we move down the line, if it fits in. 1030 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:03,266 -[Josh] No? -[Chea] No. 1031 00:44:07,166 --> 00:44:07,561 No... 1032 00:44:07,561 --> 00:44:08,166 No... 1033 00:44:12,100 --> 00:44:13,100 [soft thump] 1034 00:44:13,100 --> 00:44:15,066 -[Josh] Ha! It fits! -[Brad] Wow! Look at that! 1035 00:44:15,066 --> 00:44:16,634 -[Brad] Perfect match. -[Chea] Yes, great. 1036 00:44:16,634 --> 00:44:19,734 Just interlocked into place! Did you hear that? 1037 00:44:19,734 --> 00:44:21,967 -That's exactly where it fits! Look at that! -[Chea] Yes. 1038 00:44:21,967 --> 00:44:23,634 [Josh] It is absolutely perfect. 1039 00:44:23,634 --> 00:44:24,634 You can see... 1040 00:44:25,467 --> 00:44:27,734 exactly where it chipped off, right here. 1041 00:44:28,634 --> 00:44:30,734 -That is insane. -[Brad] No gap. 1042 00:44:30,734 --> 00:44:32,367 -[Brad] Perfect. -A perfect fit! 1043 00:44:32,367 --> 00:44:35,967 -[Brad] Congratulations. -Congratulations! Congratulations! 1044 00:44:35,967 --> 00:44:37,561 [Josh] Just being in the presence of this statue again, 1045 00:44:37,561 --> 00:44:37,634 [Josh] Just being in the presence of this statue again, 1046 00:44:37,634 --> 00:44:40,467 I'm reminded what a spectacular piece of art this is. 1047 00:44:40,467 --> 00:44:44,166 It's like we found a corner of a Picasso painting, 1048 00:44:44,166 --> 00:44:47,066 and walked into one of the greatest museums in the world, 1049 00:44:47,066 --> 00:44:49,266 -and fitted it perfectly. -[Josh] Right. 1050 00:44:49,266 --> 00:44:50,533 That's the thing I keep thinking, 1051 00:44:50,533 --> 00:44:52,634 is that this isn't just a statue. 1052 00:44:52,634 --> 00:44:54,100 It is a masterpiece. 1053 00:44:54,100 --> 00:44:55,367 Yeah, absolutely. 1054 00:44:55,367 --> 00:44:56,967 [Josh] This will be reattached? 1055 00:44:56,967 --> 00:44:58,467 Yes, absolutely. 1056 00:44:58,467 --> 00:45:00,533 And this will eventually go on display to the public? 1057 00:45:00,533 --> 00:45:02,166 [Brad] Yes, this will go on display. 1058 00:45:02,166 --> 00:45:04,533 I look forward to coming back and seeing it in the museum. 1059 00:45:04,533 --> 00:45:06,634 -Thank you, Josh. -Thank you, Brad. All the best. 1060 00:45:06,634 --> 00:45:07,561 [speaking Cambodian] 1061 00:45:07,561 --> 00:45:07,900 [speaking Cambodian] 1062 00:45:08,867 --> 00:45:11,266 [Josh, in English] This is an incredible win. 1063 00:45:11,266 --> 00:45:15,533 One which brings this statue closer to full restoration. 1064 00:45:15,533 --> 00:45:18,533 And while we celebrate, we get more good news. 1065 00:45:18,533 --> 00:45:20,166 The inscription we unearthed 1066 00:45:20,166 --> 00:45:23,734 in Prasat Krachap's entry has been translated. 1067 00:45:23,734 --> 00:45:27,533 It turns out to be a list of 17 people. 1068 00:45:27,533 --> 00:45:29,800 A list that helps us better understand 1069 00:45:29,800 --> 00:45:33,166 the population of Koh Ker 1,000 years ago. 1070 00:45:35,100 --> 00:45:37,561 For Cambodians, both then and now, 1071 00:45:37,561 --> 00:45:37,634 For Cambodians, both then and now, 1072 00:45:37,634 --> 00:45:40,166 the Koh Ker statues possess spirits, 1073 00:45:40,166 --> 00:45:43,533 and we've just helped to heal the Skanda and Shiva. 1074 00:45:43,533 --> 00:45:46,066 To honor the mending of this national treasure, 1075 00:45:46,066 --> 00:45:47,867 a group of Buddhist monks 1076 00:45:47,867 --> 00:45:49,867 has invited me and the museum team 1077 00:45:49,867 --> 00:45:53,634 to participate in a ceremony of thanks and prayer. 1078 00:46:25,634 --> 00:46:27,967 [Josh] Koh Ker has been in ruins for centuries, 1079 00:46:27,967 --> 00:46:31,467 but despite the ravages of both time and crime, 1080 00:46:31,467 --> 00:46:33,533 it feels to me that at its heart, 1081 00:46:33,533 --> 00:46:36,967 this place is very much alive. 1082 00:46:36,967 --> 00:46:37,561 The remarkable finds here prove that the city was born 1083 00:46:37,561 --> 00:46:40,166 The remarkable finds here prove that the city was born 1084 00:46:40,166 --> 00:46:42,967 from the boundless ambition of a king 1085 00:46:42,967 --> 00:46:45,000 who needed to make his own mark. 1086 00:46:45,467 --> 00:46:47,367 And what a mark it was. 1087 00:46:48,066 --> 00:46:50,266 He inspired massive monuments, 1088 00:46:50,266 --> 00:46:54,166 and created a center of great art and beauty. 1089 00:46:54,166 --> 00:46:57,467 High-tech scans have revealed that the fall of his capital 1090 00:46:57,467 --> 00:47:00,967 may well have been the result of a one-two punch. 1091 00:47:00,967 --> 00:47:03,100 The catastrophic failure of a dam 1092 00:47:03,100 --> 00:47:05,166 which robbed the city of water, 1093 00:47:05,166 --> 00:47:07,561 coupled with clues carved in stone 1094 00:47:07,561 --> 00:47:07,634 coupled with clues carved in stone 1095 00:47:07,634 --> 00:47:09,166 that an ambitious relative 1096 00:47:09,166 --> 00:47:11,800 seized his moment to take control. 1097 00:47:14,066 --> 00:47:16,734 Today, proud Cambodians are rediscovering 1098 00:47:16,734 --> 00:47:19,734 this ancient heritage one block at a time. 1099 00:47:19,734 --> 00:47:24,166 And former thieves are guiding us to new places to look, 1100 00:47:24,166 --> 00:47:26,734 below both water and soil. 1101 00:47:27,467 --> 00:47:30,266 And a tireless advocate seeks justice 1102 00:47:30,266 --> 00:47:33,734 by bringing looted artefacts back to where they belong. 1103 00:47:34,367 --> 00:47:36,533 In fact, not long after our dig 1104 00:47:36,533 --> 00:47:37,561 came a major announcement. 1105 00:47:37,561 --> 00:47:38,533 came a major announcement. 1106 00:47:38,533 --> 00:47:41,533 Brad and his team have negotiated the return 1107 00:47:41,533 --> 00:47:43,467 of art dealer Douglas Latchford's 1108 00:47:43,467 --> 00:47:46,433 entire collection of Cambodian art. 1109 00:47:47,100 --> 00:47:48,467 A brilliant victory 1110 00:47:48,467 --> 00:47:51,467 in the fight to restore Koh Ker to glory, 1111 00:47:51,467 --> 00:47:54,533 and to inspire all those who make the effort 1112 00:47:54,533 --> 00:47:57,166 to reach this once-forgotten capital.