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00:00:01,467 --> 00:00:02,467
[Brent] There was
a secret city
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built by the Maya
known as Sac Balam
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00:00:05,567 --> 00:00:06,634
or the White Jaguar.
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00:00:08,166 --> 00:00:10,700
The Spaniards spent
a hundred and twenty years
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00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:13,467
looking for this city
deep in the jungle.
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There is a myth from the Maya,
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some white jaguars
will come from the sky
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to eat all humanity.
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Talking about the apocalypse?
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00:00:25,100 --> 00:00:27,200
You gotta admit,
it's a great name for a city
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if you're trying
to keep people out.
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This is like a proper Goonies
treasure map.
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So, right here
should be the lost ruins
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of the last Maya city
in Mexico.
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Careful.
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That board's not great.
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Machetes at the ready,
here we go.
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There's not even
a hint of a trail here.
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Now, it's just jungle.
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[man speaking Spanish]
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-[Josh] Structures.
-[Brent] Hey.
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[Josh] Structure.
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-Oh, my word.
-[Brent] Wow.
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These are stones.
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This is not natural.
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-Oh, look at this.
-This is a tomb.
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[Josh] This is incredible.
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It's alive.
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These are most likely
foundations for houses.
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Definitely.
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[Josh] I really think
we are in Sac Balam right now.
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This is incredible.
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[dramatic music playing]
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Buenos dias
from the state of Chiapas
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in Southern Mexico.
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These lands were once
the dominion of the Maya.
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Over the course
of nearly 4,000 years,
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they created a vast network
of city states
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that rivaled anything else
in the new world.
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That is,
until the Spanish arrived.
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Driven by a lust
for gold and glory,
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the conquistadors overwhelmed
the indigenous people.
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And by the early 16th century,
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the Maya here in Mexico
had fallen,
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except for one city.
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A small band of Maya
fled into the jungle
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where they built
a secret refuge
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guarded by watchtowers
and fierce warriors.
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A place to live
as their ancestors had
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called Sac Balam
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or the City
of the White Jaguar.
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For over a century,
they remained free
and hidden.
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The location of Sac Balam
bedeviled the Spanish,
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who hunted
for it relentlessly.
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The Maya who lived there
were feared by the Spanish
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as fierce warriors,
but also as phantoms,
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who would disappear
deeper into the jungle
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whenever the Spanish
got close.
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But eventually,
the conquistadors
found and subdued
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the last independent
Maya city in Mexico.
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Its people
were forcibly displaced
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and Sac Balam was abandoned
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and lost to the jungle
and time,
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falling off of maps
and into legend.
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People have been
looking for it ever since.
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And now, one archaeologist
is convinced he can find it.
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In 2019, he led a mission
into the interior,
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but was rebuffed
by the jungle.
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Now, using
a long-forgotten map
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00:03:02,567 --> 00:03:05,000
and aerial
laser mapping technology,
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he believes
he can finally pinpoint
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the city's exact location.
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Sac Balam
remains an unfinished chapter
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in the saga
of Maya civilization.
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And finding it
would be a major discovery.
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So, what are we waiting for?
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The City
of the White Jaguar awaits.
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[Josh] My name is Josh Gates.
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Hello.
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[Josh] Explorer.
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Here goes nothing.
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[Josh] Adventurer.
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[exclaims]
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Oh, this one right now.
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[Josh] And a guy
who ends up in some
very strange situations.
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I'm alive, for now.
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[Josh] With a degree
in archaeology
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and a passion
for the unexplained,
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I travel
to the ends of the Earth,
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investigating the greatest
legends in history.
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Ready to rock and roll.
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[Josh] This is
Expedition Unknown.
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In every direction,
a sea of green.
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This untamed rainforest
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00:04:01,767 --> 00:04:04,000
is known
as the Lacandon Jungle,
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which spreads out across
nearly four and a half
million acres
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of Mexico and Guatemala.
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To find my first clue
to the location
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of the lost City
of the White Jaguar,
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I'm traveling to here,
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00:04:15,667 --> 00:04:19,367
another Maya city
once lost but now found.
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This is Bonampak.
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[dramatic music playing]
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[Josh] A once bustling
metropolis lorded over
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by a huge acropolis that looms
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150 feet above
the open plaza below.
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I'm here to meet
an archaeologist
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who's been searching
for the lost city
of Sac Balam
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for nearly a decade.
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Dr. Woodfill, I presume?
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It is indeed.
Nice to meet you, Josh.
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A little warm
around these parts.
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And it's only going to get
hotter, unfortunately.
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But an absolutely
incredible sight.
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This is one of my favorite
Maya cities.
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Awesome.
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And this is a very impressive
monument here.
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This is actually
one of the largest stele,
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kind of these
standing stone monuments
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in the entire Maya world.
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And I'm guessing
this is our king
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or our lord here of the city?
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[Brent] This is the greatest
and last king of the city,
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Chan Muwan II.
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[Josh] So, our king here
is ruling roughly when?
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At the end of the 8th century.
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So, this is hundreds of years,
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like 700 years
before the so-called
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lost city of Sac Balam
that we're interested in.
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Yeah.
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So, what is Sac Balam
in simple terms?
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Sac Balam is the very end
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of unconquered
Maya civilization.
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And the particular Maya
that are at Sac Balam are who?
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So, they are a group of Maya
called the Lacandon.
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They were a Maya group
who splintered off
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to live deep in the jungles.
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They spoke a language
that was actually
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the direct descendant
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of the language you see
on this text.
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[Josh] Okay.
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So, how do we go from height
of the civilization here
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to this lost city
of Sac Balam?
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So, to really understand
how the Maya got to Sac Balam,
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you have to look
and understand
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the rises and falls
of the Maya over time.
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[Josh] For those of you asleep
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00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,567
in high school history class,
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00:06:06,567 --> 00:06:10,266
the Maya civilization rose
more than 4,000 years ago
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and flourished
throughout Central America
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all the way
into the 16th century,
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erecting advanced city states
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with populations
in the hundreds of thousands
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and making seriously badass
achievements in astronomy,
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art, mathematics,
and written language.
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They were also warriors
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who were not
to be messed with.
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And their powerful ritualistic
faith in their gods
and divine kings
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led to an extended era
of prosperity.
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It was toward
the end of this time
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in what's known
as the Late Classic Period
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when Bonampak's impressive
acropolis was erected.
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Look at the scale of this.
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[Brent] It's insane.
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And you never feel smaller
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00:06:48,867 --> 00:06:50,266
than climbing
stairs like this.
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[Brent] There is no way
to go up here
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00:06:51,767 --> 00:06:53,567
with any sort
of dignity remaining.
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Any foreign dignitary
is already humiliated
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before they actually
get to who they're going
to meet with.
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I mean, it's like
you're climbing a mountain.
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[Brent] The word
that the Maya used
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00:07:02,567 --> 00:07:04,200
for temples
at least was Witz...
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Uh-huh.
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...which literally
means mountain.
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[Josh] Uh-huh.
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[Josh] At the top of the rise
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is a three-chambered temple.
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And what archaeologists
discovered inside
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is what makes Bonampak
a truly historic site.
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Oh, my word.
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Huh.
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Are you kidding me?
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This is original.
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00:07:22,500 --> 00:07:23,867
Original paint,
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00:07:23,867 --> 00:07:26,266
original murals
from centuries ago?
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[Brent] Yeah. This was
actually done around AD 790.
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[Josh] These are perhaps
the finest Maya murals
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that survive today
and the most complete view
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00:07:36,166 --> 00:07:38,767
of late
Classic Maya civilization.
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The elites depicted
as a kind of paradise
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where the people
live in harmony
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with the land and their gods.
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The murals in this room
show a celebration.
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Bonampak's crown prince
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being presented
as the heir to the throne.
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This looks like
a huge party, right?
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00:07:54,567 --> 00:07:56,100
We've got this huge procession
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with people blowing horns
and instruments.
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I mean, you can feel
this life and wealth
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00:08:01,567 --> 00:08:03,467
and celebration in this room.
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00:08:03,467 --> 00:08:05,800
And what about our young heir
here to the throne?
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00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:07,767
Is he going to take power?
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00:08:07,767 --> 00:08:09,767
[Brent] No.
He will not accede the throne
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00:08:09,767 --> 00:08:13,166
because there is no throne
for him to accede to.
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00:08:13,166 --> 00:08:14,300
Wow.
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00:08:15,500 --> 00:08:18,500
[Brent] Within a decade
or two, the city
has collapsed.
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00:08:18,500 --> 00:08:19,867
The city is a ghost town.
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00:08:19,867 --> 00:08:22,166
In the next room,
I can show you why.
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[Josh] In the second chamber,
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00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,667
things are decidedly darker.
212
00:08:26,667 --> 00:08:29,166
Gone are the scenes
of peace and harmony,
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00:08:29,166 --> 00:08:31,166
replaced with images
of the Maya
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00:08:31,166 --> 00:08:33,100
at war with each other.
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00:08:33,100 --> 00:08:36,000
You can see all of these
successful warriors
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00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:37,867
-from Bonampak...
-[Josh] Yeah.
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00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:40,934
[Brent] ...flanking the king
and presenting the captives.
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00:08:43,367 --> 00:08:46,367
You can see some of them
have been tortured.
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00:08:46,367 --> 00:08:47,967
That man right there,
220
00:08:47,967 --> 00:08:49,967
he's bleeding
from his fingertips
221
00:08:49,967 --> 00:08:51,967
because his fingernails
have been pulled out.
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00:08:51,967 --> 00:08:53,000
[Josh] Uh-huh.
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00:08:53,000 --> 00:08:54,100
This is war.
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00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:55,700
There are many
proposed reasons
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00:08:55,700 --> 00:08:57,266
for the collapse that follows,
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00:08:57,266 --> 00:08:59,600
including competition
for resources,
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00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,867
drought, and foreign invasion.
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00:09:01,867 --> 00:09:04,066
But it is clear
that the centers of power
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00:09:04,066 --> 00:09:06,100
fail to adapt and collaborate.
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00:09:06,100 --> 00:09:08,700
And by the 8th century,
the Maya abandoned
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00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:11,100
hard to defend cities
like Bonampak
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00:09:11,100 --> 00:09:14,000
in favor of smaller
communities in the jungle,
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00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,000
which is how most Maya
are living
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00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,867
when the Spanish arrived
in the early 16th century
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00:09:18,867 --> 00:09:21,934
led by conquistador,
Hernan Cortes.
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00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,467
So, Cortes is sort of
first man in, but he...
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00:09:26,467 --> 00:09:28,400
He's not really
obsessed with the Maya.
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00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:29,867
He... He's on
a collision course
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00:09:29,867 --> 00:09:31,266
with the Aztecs
in Mexico City.
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00:09:31,266 --> 00:09:33,100
Yeah, that's where
a lot of the gold was.
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00:09:33,100 --> 00:09:34,767
Right. So,
who are the conquistadors
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00:09:34,767 --> 00:09:36,867
that start
to take down the Maya?
243
00:09:36,867 --> 00:09:39,467
[Brent] There was Cortes'
right-hand man, Alvarado.
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00:09:39,467 --> 00:09:40,600
[Josh] Mm-hmm.
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00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:41,867
[Brent] There was
Montejo the Elder.
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00:09:41,867 --> 00:09:43,700
[Josh] To their
so-called new world,
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00:09:43,700 --> 00:09:47,000
the Spanish brought steel,
muskets, cannons,
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00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,200
and, of course, disease.
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Much of the indigenous
population here
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00:09:51,367 --> 00:09:53,100
was killed by smallpox,
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00:09:53,100 --> 00:09:56,000
and this, along with Spain's
advanced weapons
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00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,066
and divisions
within the Maya world,
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00:09:58,066 --> 00:10:01,500
allowed the Europeans
to conquer
this great civilization
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00:10:01,500 --> 00:10:05,166
in only a century,
but not without a fight.
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00:10:05,166 --> 00:10:07,100
This... So, this is where
Sac Balam comes in.
256
00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:10,100
The Lacandon Maya
ended up packing up shop
257
00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:12,066
and moving
deep into the jungle.
258
00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:14,266
[Josh] By the mid-17th century
259
00:10:14,266 --> 00:10:19,166
the Spanish have conquered
every Maya city in Mexico,
save one.
260
00:10:19,166 --> 00:10:23,166
A jungle stronghold
that continues
to defy foreign rule,
261
00:10:23,166 --> 00:10:24,700
with dozens of watchtowers
262
00:10:24,700 --> 00:10:28,300
protecting over a hundred
wood and thatch structures
263
00:10:28,300 --> 00:10:30,900
including three
massive communal buildings.
264
00:10:30,900 --> 00:10:32,767
And the Spanish don't know
where this place is
265
00:10:32,767 --> 00:10:34,867
and I imagine
this drives them nuts.
266
00:10:34,867 --> 00:10:37,500
Oh, yeah.
The Spaniards spent
a hundred and twenty years
267
00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:39,667
-looking for this city.
-Wow.
268
00:10:39,667 --> 00:10:40,867
[Brent] The people
who live there
269
00:10:40,867 --> 00:10:42,467
had become kind of boogeymen
270
00:10:42,467 --> 00:10:44,600
-who terrified the Spaniards.
-[Josh] Mm-hmm.
271
00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:46,900
Right. Because they were
so elusive?
272
00:10:46,900 --> 00:10:49,000
[Brent] They were elusive
and anytime
273
00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:50,800
there was an encounter
was a violent one.
274
00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:51,967
[Josh] Right.
275
00:10:51,967 --> 00:10:53,767
[Brent] They were kind of
pioneers of guerrilla warfare.
276
00:10:53,767 --> 00:10:56,467
And it kept them safe
and hidden for decades.
277
00:10:56,467 --> 00:10:58,767
But the Spanish
eventually find Sac Balam.
278
00:10:58,767 --> 00:11:01,967
The Spaniards
find Sac Balam in 1695
279
00:11:01,967 --> 00:11:03,667
after the founding of Harvard.
280
00:11:03,667 --> 00:11:05,900
Right. It's that late.
281
00:11:05,900 --> 00:11:07,900
Conquistador
Nicolas de Valenzuela
282
00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:10,867
is the man who finds
and conquers the city,
283
00:11:10,867 --> 00:11:14,166
quickly and brutally
bringing it under his control.
284
00:11:14,166 --> 00:11:16,367
The Spanish maintain it
for a decade
285
00:11:16,367 --> 00:11:18,166
before abandoning it
to history,
286
00:11:18,166 --> 00:11:21,767
where it has stayed
utterly missing
for centuries.
287
00:11:21,767 --> 00:11:26,100
Finding it today would reveal
the final secrets
of the free Maya people,
288
00:11:26,100 --> 00:11:29,934
a historical and cultural
treasure beyond value.
289
00:11:30,367 --> 00:11:31,800
Can Sac Balam be found?
290
00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:32,867
I think so.
291
00:11:32,867 --> 00:11:33,700
Can you find it?
292
00:11:33,700 --> 00:11:35,367
I hope so.
293
00:11:35,367 --> 00:11:37,000
The confidence
was fading a little.
294
00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:37,967
Okay.
295
00:11:37,967 --> 00:11:39,467
There's a reason for that.
296
00:11:39,467 --> 00:11:42,000
Brent has gone looking
for Sac Balam before.
297
00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,266
In 2019, he went
into the jungle to find it,
298
00:11:45,266 --> 00:11:48,600
only to be stopped short by
the impenetrable wilderness.
299
00:11:48,600 --> 00:11:50,867
But now,
he has new information
300
00:11:50,867 --> 00:11:52,700
and a new approach.
301
00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:53,567
How are you gonna find it?
302
00:11:53,567 --> 00:11:56,266
So, I have a colleague
who's been using
303
00:11:56,266 --> 00:11:59,967
Spanish colonial texts
and cutting-edge technology
304
00:11:59,967 --> 00:12:02,367
to try to really narrow down
305
00:12:02,367 --> 00:12:04,100
where the site
could be located.
306
00:12:04,100 --> 00:12:06,066
-[Josh] Okay.
-And we have a few good leads.
307
00:12:06,066 --> 00:12:07,000
All right.
Well, that's a start.
308
00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:07,767
[Brent] Yeah.
309
00:12:07,767 --> 00:12:08,900
I'd love for you
to meet this guy.
310
00:12:08,900 --> 00:12:10,467
-[Josh] Should we do it?
-Let's go.
311
00:12:10,467 --> 00:12:13,567
To Sac Balam.
312
00:12:13,567 --> 00:12:16,033
[dramatic music playing]
313
00:12:18,767 --> 00:12:20,000
[Josh] To meet
Brent's colleague,
314
00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:22,100
we leave Bonampak
and head north,
315
00:12:22,100 --> 00:12:24,266
deeper into Chiapas.
316
00:12:24,266 --> 00:12:25,767
I've been to Mexico before,
317
00:12:25,767 --> 00:12:28,166
but I've never been
to this Mexico.
318
00:12:28,166 --> 00:12:31,567
In 1994, the socialist
Zapatista uprising
319
00:12:31,567 --> 00:12:33,367
rocked the region
with violence,
320
00:12:33,367 --> 00:12:35,600
and it hasn't really
stopped since.
321
00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,066
Today, the Zapatistas,
the Mexican government,
322
00:12:38,066 --> 00:12:40,467
and let's not forget,
the cartels,
323
00:12:40,467 --> 00:12:43,066
all operate
along this border zone.
324
00:12:43,066 --> 00:12:45,166
And the roads
through here are...
325
00:12:45,166 --> 00:12:46,100
Fine.
326
00:12:46,100 --> 00:12:46,900
It's not what I've read.
327
00:12:46,900 --> 00:12:48,400
I've read
that we are basically
328
00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:50,100
in the middle
of narco territory here.
329
00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:51,467
Yeah, sure.
330
00:12:51,467 --> 00:12:52,367
-But it's fine.
-[Brent] It's fine.
331
00:12:52,367 --> 00:12:53,667
[Josh] It's fine, right.
332
00:12:53,667 --> 00:12:54,867
[Brent] Nothing's
happened yet.
333
00:12:54,867 --> 00:12:55,867
Nothing's happened yet.
334
00:12:55,867 --> 00:12:57,867
Oh, boy.
335
00:12:57,867 --> 00:13:00,767
Brent and I drive as
inconspicuously as possible
336
00:13:00,767 --> 00:13:03,767
to the shores
of nearby Lago Izabal.
337
00:13:03,767 --> 00:13:05,400
Running out
of road here, Brent.
338
00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:06,367
[Brent] Here...
339
00:13:06,367 --> 00:13:08,667
[Josh] We are here.
This is it. This is it.
340
00:13:08,667 --> 00:13:10,100
Where his colleague
is waiting,
341
00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:11,667
an archaeologist with Mexico's
342
00:13:11,667 --> 00:13:14,600
National Institute
of Anthropology and History,
343
00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:16,033
Josuhe Lozada.
344
00:13:17,066 --> 00:13:18,367
[Brent] Josuhe.
345
00:13:18,367 --> 00:13:19,867
-Hey. Good to see you, Brent.
-[Brent speaking
other language]
346
00:13:19,867 --> 00:13:21,166
[Brent] Good to see you, man.
347
00:13:21,166 --> 00:13:23,567
So, Josh, this is Josuhe,
the guy I was telling...
348
00:13:23,567 --> 00:13:24,767
-Nice to meet you, Josh.
-you about.
349
00:13:24,767 --> 00:13:26,000
Hola. Mucho gusto.
350
00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:28,200
[Brent] He's been working in
this area for about 15 years,
351
00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:31,467
and he has been looking
for Sac Balam for the last 10.
352
00:13:31,467 --> 00:13:33,000
So, you've been looking
for 10 years?
353
00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:34,066
For 10 years.
354
00:13:34,066 --> 00:13:35,266
Has it driven you crazy yet?
355
00:13:35,266 --> 00:13:36,400
I think so.
356
00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:37,266
[laughter]
357
00:13:37,266 --> 00:13:38,000
Okay.
358
00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:39,166
He has something very special.
359
00:13:39,166 --> 00:13:40,166
Okay. What's that?
360
00:13:40,166 --> 00:13:42,166
He may have a map
to the lost city.
361
00:13:42,166 --> 00:13:43,166
You have a map?
362
00:13:43,166 --> 00:13:43,967
[Josuhe] A map.
363
00:13:43,967 --> 00:13:45,600
-Can we see?
-Yes. Yes, of course.
364
00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:46,467
-Please, here.
-Let me get it.
365
00:13:46,467 --> 00:13:47,467
Come on.
366
00:13:47,467 --> 00:13:48,800
[Josh] Is it possible
that Josuhe and Brent
367
00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,066
have figured out a path
368
00:13:50,066 --> 00:13:52,400
that leads
to the fabled lost city?
369
00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:53,600
This is the map.
370
00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,400
[Josh] Look at this map.
371
00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:57,667
[dramatic music playing]
372
00:14:01,767 --> 00:14:04,100
[Josh] This is like
a proper Goonies treasure map.
373
00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:05,400
Where did this come from?
374
00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:07,567
[Josuhe] It's in the Archive
of the Indies
in Seville, Spain.
375
00:14:07,567 --> 00:14:09,567
[Josh] Archaeologist,
Brent Woodfill,
376
00:14:09,567 --> 00:14:12,600
is attempting to locate
the City of the White Jaguar,
377
00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:13,767
Sac Balam,
378
00:14:13,767 --> 00:14:16,467
the last settlement
of free Maya in Mexico
379
00:14:16,467 --> 00:14:18,266
before the conquest.
380
00:14:18,266 --> 00:14:21,300
Sac Balam has been missing
for 300 years,
381
00:14:21,300 --> 00:14:24,100
but now, Brent's colleague,
Josuhe Lozada,
382
00:14:24,100 --> 00:14:25,400
is showing us a map
383
00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:29,100
that could finally put
the lost settlement
within reach.
384
00:14:29,100 --> 00:14:30,066
Who made this map?
385
00:14:30,867 --> 00:14:34,200
So, this is a friar
named Diego de Rivas,
386
00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,967
who was actually stationed
in Sac Balam
387
00:14:36,967 --> 00:14:40,000
after it was conquered
by the Spaniards.
388
00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:42,567
[Josh] Like Spanish priests
all over the Americas,
389
00:14:42,567 --> 00:14:44,166
de Rivas was sent to Sac Balam
390
00:14:44,166 --> 00:14:47,467
to convert the indigenous
people to Catholicism.
391
00:14:47,467 --> 00:14:50,367
When he was later reassigned,
he drew this map
392
00:14:50,367 --> 00:14:52,667
to depict the route
from Sac Balam
393
00:14:52,667 --> 00:14:56,000
to another settlement
in a lake
in neighboring Guatemala.
394
00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,400
So, we have this literal
hand-drawn map here
on the right,
395
00:14:58,400 --> 00:14:59,867
and then
a lot of writing on the left.
396
00:14:59,867 --> 00:15:00,767
What is this?
397
00:15:00,767 --> 00:15:02,567
[Josuhe] This is a key
of all the places
398
00:15:02,567 --> 00:15:04,000
that he marks on the map.
399
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,567
[Josh] So, it's a literal key,
so it's A, B, C, D, E, F,
400
00:15:06,567 --> 00:15:08,367
-and these are all
locations on the map?
-[Josuhe] Yeah.
401
00:15:08,367 --> 00:15:10,567
These are all locations
he was eventually
402
00:15:10,567 --> 00:15:12,867
going to put on the map
had he actually finished it.
403
00:15:12,867 --> 00:15:14,266
The map's unfinished?
404
00:15:14,266 --> 00:15:17,767
This is quite literally
a map to a lost city.
405
00:15:17,767 --> 00:15:20,000
But there is one big catch.
406
00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:23,266
Does he bother to mark
the location of Sac Balam?
407
00:15:23,266 --> 00:15:24,467
Does he... Does he do that?
408
00:15:24,467 --> 00:15:25,867
No.
409
00:15:25,867 --> 00:15:27,100
What?
410
00:15:27,100 --> 00:15:29,700
It's in the key,
under letter D.
411
00:15:29,700 --> 00:15:34,000
So, Pueblo de Nuestra Senora
de los Dolores.
412
00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:35,667
So, this is the name
of Sac Balam,
413
00:15:35,667 --> 00:15:36,767
the Spanish renamed it?
414
00:15:36,767 --> 00:15:37,667
-Yes.
-Yes.
415
00:15:37,667 --> 00:15:39,066
-But there's no D over here?
-[Brent] No.
416
00:15:39,500 --> 00:15:40,266
No.
417
00:15:40,266 --> 00:15:41,233
Perfect. Okay.
418
00:15:41,233 --> 00:15:44,367
So, looking at this map,
what do we know for sure?
419
00:15:44,367 --> 00:15:49,500
For sure, this is the place
where he ended the journey.
420
00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:50,967
-So, we have this labeled?
-[Josuhe] Right.
421
00:15:50,967 --> 00:15:52,800
-That's the finish line?
That's where he's gone?
-[Josuhe] Yeah. Yeah.
422
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:53,867
-It's the finish line.
-Okay. So, that's a lot.
423
00:15:53,867 --> 00:15:55,867
I mean, that gives us
a geographical pole
424
00:15:55,867 --> 00:15:56,900
in the ground here.
425
00:15:56,900 --> 00:15:58,000
-[Brent] Yes.
-That's right.
426
00:15:58,000 --> 00:15:58,767
Right?
427
00:15:58,767 --> 00:16:00,066
Okay. What else do we know?
428
00:16:00,066 --> 00:16:01,800
[Josuhe] We have
some directions.
429
00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:02,867
Here is the north.
430
00:16:02,867 --> 00:16:03,700
Norte.
431
00:16:03,700 --> 00:16:04,800
Here's the south.
432
00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:05,900
[Josh] Sur. Okay.
433
00:16:05,900 --> 00:16:07,166
So, we've got our end point
434
00:16:07,166 --> 00:16:09,066
and we've got
cardinal directions.
435
00:16:09,066 --> 00:16:09,867
-[Josuhe] Mmm-hmm.
-And what else?
436
00:16:09,867 --> 00:16:10,600
What is this symbol?
437
00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:11,567
[Josuhe] Mmm-hmm.
438
00:16:11,567 --> 00:16:13,867
So, the key is actually
a really important
439
00:16:13,867 --> 00:16:15,567
salt production zone
440
00:16:15,567 --> 00:16:18,367
that the Maya were using
and the Spaniards took over.
441
00:16:18,367 --> 00:16:21,166
[Josh] Okay. And we see
that on here, Salinas.
442
00:16:21,166 --> 00:16:23,266
And so, do we know
where this location is today?
443
00:16:23,266 --> 00:16:26,800
Well, I've actually
been working there
for 12 years, so...
444
00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:27,867
So, we better know
where it is?
445
00:16:27,867 --> 00:16:28,767
-[Brent] Yeah.
-Okay.
446
00:16:28,767 --> 00:16:30,667
So, this is another real
geographical pin
447
00:16:30,667 --> 00:16:31,667
that we can put in this map?
448
00:16:31,667 --> 00:16:33,867
So, how do we figure out
where Sac Balam was?
449
00:16:33,867 --> 00:16:36,066
Josh, there are two roads
450
00:16:36,066 --> 00:16:38,967
that might be the key
to figuring out where it is.
451
00:16:38,967 --> 00:16:40,100
Okay.
452
00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:42,300
[Brent] The first
is labeled O right here.
453
00:16:42,300 --> 00:16:46,667
O is the road from Sac Balam
to the salt works.
454
00:16:46,667 --> 00:16:47,967
[Josh] Oh, that's huge.
455
00:16:47,967 --> 00:16:49,800
So, that means
you follow this dotted line,
456
00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:51,567
and somewhere out here
should be Sac Balam?
457
00:16:51,567 --> 00:16:52,567
[Brent] Exactly.
458
00:16:52,567 --> 00:16:53,700
And then, also, this road
459
00:16:53,700 --> 00:16:57,000
that would lead from a town
in Guatemala to Sac Balam,
460
00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:58,367
but the road never got built.
461
00:16:58,367 --> 00:17:00,900
[Josh] A planned Spanish
road from the Guatemalan town
462
00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:03,200
of Ixtatán to Sac Balam,
463
00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:05,467
along with the road
from the salt works,
464
00:17:05,467 --> 00:17:09,867
offers us two paths that lead
to a critical intersection.
465
00:17:09,867 --> 00:17:10,767
-May I?
-Yeah.
466
00:17:10,767 --> 00:17:11,667
Yeah, of course.
467
00:17:11,667 --> 00:17:13,600
[Josh] X marks the spot.
468
00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,100
Now, we just need to find X,
469
00:17:16,100 --> 00:17:20,100
the lost city of Sac Balam
should be there.
470
00:17:20,100 --> 00:17:21,900
So, how do we figure out
where that X is?
471
00:17:21,900 --> 00:17:24,967
The way to figure out
is to look in these lines.
472
00:17:24,967 --> 00:17:25,967
-[Josh] These?
-[Josuhe] Yes.
473
00:17:25,967 --> 00:17:27,400
[Josh] Are these rivers?
They look like rivers.
474
00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:28,367
[Josuhe speaking]
475
00:17:28,367 --> 00:17:30,300
-We can identify the rivers...
-[Josh] Okay.
476
00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:33,100
to figure out
the distance to Sac Balam.
477
00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:34,367
I want to show you this map.
478
00:17:34,367 --> 00:17:35,800
Oh, a much better map.
479
00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:37,967
[Josuhe speaking]
480
00:17:40,900 --> 00:17:43,066
[Josh] Okay. So, what is one
with all the twists in it?
481
00:17:43,066 --> 00:17:45,767
[Josuhe speaking]
482
00:17:45,767 --> 00:17:47,867
[Josh] Yeah.
You can totally see that.
483
00:17:47,867 --> 00:17:50,367
[Josh] The many undulations
of the Lacantun River
484
00:17:50,367 --> 00:17:54,266
align with the twists seen
on Don Diego's crude map.
485
00:17:54,266 --> 00:17:55,867
And then,
the one that goes across?
486
00:17:55,867 --> 00:17:58,867
This is the Usumacinta River.
487
00:17:58,867 --> 00:18:01,000
[Josh] Don Diego's account
was that he arrived
488
00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,000
at the intersection
of the two rivers
489
00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,567
after five days
on the Lacantun,
490
00:18:05,567 --> 00:18:07,266
and continuing
to work backward,
491
00:18:07,266 --> 00:18:08,600
he arrived at the river
492
00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,800
after four days
of walking from Sac Balam.
493
00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:13,100
And is that
what this big circle is?
494
00:18:13,100 --> 00:18:14,400
[Josuhe] Yes.
495
00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,100
[Josh] This is
a four-day walk?
496
00:18:16,100 --> 00:18:17,300
[Josuhe] Yes, that's right.
497
00:18:17,300 --> 00:18:19,767
[Josh] The diameter
represents a four-day walk
498
00:18:19,767 --> 00:18:23,200
in any direction to this part
of the Lacantun River.
499
00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:24,667
But Don Diego wrote
500
00:18:24,667 --> 00:18:26,266
that he trekked from the west,
501
00:18:26,266 --> 00:18:28,667
which means that Josuhe
has narrowed down
502
00:18:28,667 --> 00:18:30,367
the location of Sac Balam
503
00:18:30,367 --> 00:18:32,767
to an incredibly
tight search zone.
504
00:18:32,767 --> 00:18:36,900
So, somewhere in this red arc
is Sac Balam?
505
00:18:36,900 --> 00:18:40,266
This is extraordinary,
because it really now,
for the first time...
506
00:18:40,266 --> 00:18:42,266
-[Josuhe] Yeah.
-...is offering
an actual target.
507
00:18:42,266 --> 00:18:43,000
[Brent] Yeah.
508
00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,500
It still isn't
a silver bullet,
509
00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:48,867
but it takes it down
for about 1,500 square miles
510
00:18:48,867 --> 00:18:51,000
to about a hundred and fifty.
511
00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,900
Wow. That's a huge
jump though.
512
00:18:52,900 --> 00:18:54,000
Yeah.
513
00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:55,767
So, is there any way
to get into this target zone?
514
00:18:55,767 --> 00:18:58,867
[Brent] Yeah.
We can come in from the west
515
00:18:58,867 --> 00:19:00,367
where there are actually
several roads
516
00:19:00,367 --> 00:19:02,300
and established communities.
517
00:19:02,300 --> 00:19:03,767
It doesn't get us
all the way there,
518
00:19:03,767 --> 00:19:05,266
but it'll get us close.
519
00:19:05,266 --> 00:19:07,266
So, we've got
awesome new data here,
520
00:19:07,266 --> 00:19:08,767
we've got a probable area...
521
00:19:08,767 --> 00:19:09,600
[Brent] Mmm-hmm.
522
00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:11,367
now we need a real X.
523
00:19:11,367 --> 00:19:12,634
Yes.
524
00:19:12,634 --> 00:19:16,166
[Josh] Fortunately,
that X may already
have revealed itself.
525
00:19:16,166 --> 00:19:19,767
Brent and Josuhe have been
contacted by a park ranger
526
00:19:19,767 --> 00:19:23,300
who recently came across
stones inside the target zone
527
00:19:23,300 --> 00:19:26,000
that he believes
are manmade ruins.
528
00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:27,867
These could be a major break,
529
00:19:27,867 --> 00:19:30,800
but meeting him
will be a journey in itself.
530
00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:32,600
We need to travel 120 miles
531
00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:34,667
through narco
traffic territory
532
00:19:34,667 --> 00:19:36,100
to the ranger's outpost
533
00:19:36,100 --> 00:19:39,800
on the edge of Montes Azules
Biosphere Reserve.
534
00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,900
But if this lead pans out,
535
00:19:41,900 --> 00:19:45,367
we might be able to locate
the fabled lost city.
536
00:19:46,467 --> 00:19:47,600
Josuhe.
537
00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:48,600
Yeah.
538
00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,033
Why did they call Sac Balam
the White Jaguar?
539
00:20:02,900 --> 00:20:04,600
Talking about the apocalypse?
540
00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:05,567
That's right.
541
00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:07,567
Okay.
542
00:20:07,567 --> 00:20:10,000
I mean, you got to admit,
it's a great name for a city
543
00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:11,567
if you're trying
to keep people out.
544
00:20:11,567 --> 00:20:13,567
Right. The city
at the end of the world.
545
00:20:14,300 --> 00:20:15,634
Wow.
546
00:20:16,567 --> 00:20:18,800
[Josh] Two hours later,
we enter the park.
547
00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,000
The ranger's station
sits along a river
548
00:20:21,000 --> 00:20:22,867
further inside the reserve.
549
00:20:22,867 --> 00:20:24,066
And naturally,
550
00:20:24,066 --> 00:20:25,533
the hike begins
with a challenge.
551
00:20:27,767 --> 00:20:29,800
Okay. Well, that looks safe.
552
00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,700
[dramatic music playing]
553
00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:35,166
Maximum capacity, four people?
554
00:20:35,166 --> 00:20:37,266
What size people?
555
00:20:37,266 --> 00:20:38,567
-I...
-What kind of people?
556
00:20:38,567 --> 00:20:40,667
I'm assuming not us.
557
00:20:40,667 --> 00:20:43,266
We're at least four and a half
people right here I feel like.
558
00:20:43,266 --> 00:20:44,700
[laughs] Okay.
559
00:20:44,700 --> 00:20:46,867
What's the worst
that could happen?
560
00:20:46,867 --> 00:20:48,400
We could fall to our deaths,
561
00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:50,000
I think, is the worst
that could happen.
562
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:51,166
After you.
563
00:20:51,166 --> 00:20:52,400
So generous of you.
564
00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:53,367
[Brent laughs]
565
00:20:56,500 --> 00:20:58,266
Immediately, it's sketchy.
566
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:03,400
It's... This is fine.
567
00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:04,634
These boards look great.
568
00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:08,767
Careful.
569
00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:10,000
That board's not great.
570
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,233
[dramatic music playing]
571
00:21:14,567 --> 00:21:15,367
[Josh] Okay.
572
00:21:15,367 --> 00:21:16,533
Okay.
573
00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:20,433
[dramatic music playing]
574
00:21:24,467 --> 00:21:25,433
Okay.
575
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,367
And we're alive.
576
00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,000
[Josh] Safely across,
we walk up river
577
00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,166
and into another world.
578
00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:37,734
Look at this place.
579
00:21:38,066 --> 00:21:39,367
Woo.
580
00:21:39,367 --> 00:21:40,266
Wow!
581
00:21:40,266 --> 00:21:42,000
[Josh] Finally,
we descend down
582
00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,600
to meet the man
who may have found
583
00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:45,767
the X on Don Diego's map,
584
00:21:45,767 --> 00:21:49,066
naturalist and ranger,
Efrain Guzman Gomez.
585
00:21:49,867 --> 00:21:51,467
[Josuhe] Efrain. Como estas.
586
00:21:51,467 --> 00:21:52,867
-Hola. Josh.
-[speaking Spanish]
587
00:21:52,867 --> 00:21:54,400
-[Josuhe] This is Josh.
-Hola. Josh.
588
00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:56,667
-Efrain, this is...
-Brent. Mucho gusto.
589
00:21:56,667 --> 00:21:58,100
Very nice to meet you.
590
00:21:58,100 --> 00:22:01,000
So, I understand that you saw
something out in the jungle?
591
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:02,200
What did he see?
592
00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:06,834
[speaking Spanish]
593
00:22:08,767 --> 00:22:11,300
There are structures
made of shaped stone.
594
00:22:11,300 --> 00:22:13,467
Okay. Ancient structures,
old structures?
595
00:22:13,467 --> 00:22:14,467
Uh-huh.
596
00:22:14,467 --> 00:22:15,367
-[Josuhe speaking Spanish]
-[speaking Spanish]
597
00:22:15,367 --> 00:22:17,367
[in Spanish]
598
00:22:17,367 --> 00:22:20,200
I only saw a few,
but it looked manmade.
599
00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,400
About how far is this site
from right here?
600
00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,700
We're talking more or less
15 kilometers.
601
00:22:26,700 --> 00:22:28,567
Oh, 15 kilometers.
602
00:22:28,567 --> 00:22:30,667
Fifteen kilometers as the crow
flies through the jungle?
603
00:22:30,667 --> 00:22:31,467
[Brent] Yeah.
604
00:22:31,467 --> 00:22:32,867
That's a long way.
605
00:22:32,867 --> 00:22:34,166
-Yeah.
-Okay.
606
00:22:34,166 --> 00:22:35,767
Can you take us there?
607
00:22:35,767 --> 00:22:37,066
[speaking Spanish]
608
00:22:37,066 --> 00:22:38,767
-In the boat?
-[speaking Spanish]
609
00:22:38,767 --> 00:22:39,600
The whole way?
610
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:41,266
[Brent laughs]
611
00:22:41,266 --> 00:22:42,266
I'm not even gonna ask.
612
00:22:42,266 --> 00:22:43,467
[dramatic music playing]
613
00:22:43,467 --> 00:22:45,967
[Josh] We can cut
some of the distance
614
00:22:45,967 --> 00:22:48,500
to Efrain's find
by traveling upriver.
615
00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:49,767
He's leading us to his site
616
00:22:49,767 --> 00:22:52,266
where we'll camp
while we investigate.
617
00:22:52,266 --> 00:22:54,000
We steam against the current
618
00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:56,967
as millions of gallons
of jade-colored water
619
00:22:56,967 --> 00:22:59,700
flow from the faraway
highlands of Mexico.
620
00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:03,066
[dramatic music playing]
621
00:23:03,066 --> 00:23:05,166
[Josh] But while the views
are stunning,
622
00:23:05,166 --> 00:23:08,266
it's not lost on any of us
that with each passing mile,
623
00:23:08,266 --> 00:23:12,000
the safety of civilization
recedes further behind us.
624
00:23:12,000 --> 00:23:15,367
Luckily we do have directions.
625
00:23:15,367 --> 00:23:17,567
So, hypothetically,
where are we on this map?
626
00:23:17,567 --> 00:23:20,400
We are way up this river.
627
00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:22,266
[Josh] So,
this is the Lacantun River?
628
00:23:22,266 --> 00:23:23,667
[Josuhe] Yes,
the Lacantun River.
629
00:23:23,667 --> 00:23:25,367
And we're what,
in like a tributary of that?
630
00:23:25,367 --> 00:23:26,500
Yeah. We're in one
of the tributaries.
631
00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:28,100
It's called the Jatate.
632
00:23:28,100 --> 00:23:29,567
The Jatate River?
633
00:23:29,567 --> 00:23:30,667
-[both] Yeah.
-[Josh] Okay.
634
00:23:30,667 --> 00:23:32,867
[Josh] We're moving
along the same river system
635
00:23:32,867 --> 00:23:34,367
as Don Diego's map,
636
00:23:34,367 --> 00:23:38,000
in the direction
of the projected location
of Sac Balam.
637
00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:40,166
So, we're in a tributary
of this river,
638
00:23:40,166 --> 00:23:41,467
and we're headed upstream?
639
00:23:41,467 --> 00:23:42,400
Yes.
640
00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:43,900
So, ultimately,
this is getting us closer
641
00:23:43,900 --> 00:23:45,667
to your
investigation zone, yes?
642
00:23:45,667 --> 00:23:47,567
-Yes, in that point.
-[Josh] Okay.
643
00:23:47,567 --> 00:23:49,367
And after that, we're on foot?
644
00:23:49,367 --> 00:23:50,567
-Yeah, we're gonna walk.
-[speaking Spanish]
645
00:23:50,567 --> 00:23:51,900
[speaking Spanish]
646
00:23:51,900 --> 00:23:53,200
[Josh] And then, we go
straight to the X, right?
647
00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:54,066
[Brent] Yeah.
648
00:23:54,066 --> 00:23:55,767
It's just that simple.
649
00:23:55,767 --> 00:23:57,166
-Why hadn't I thought
of that before?
-So simple.
650
00:23:57,166 --> 00:23:58,867
Should be home by dinner,
I would think.
651
00:24:00,367 --> 00:24:03,266
[Josh] To find Sac Balam,
we have Don Diego's map
652
00:24:03,266 --> 00:24:04,900
and Efrain's memory.
653
00:24:04,900 --> 00:24:06,800
But we also have other clues.
654
00:24:06,800 --> 00:24:09,700
In detailed writings,
Nicolas de Valenzuela,
655
00:24:09,700 --> 00:24:11,867
the Spaniard
who conquered Sac Balam,
656
00:24:11,867 --> 00:24:14,667
described a number
of distinguishing features
657
00:24:14,667 --> 00:24:17,066
to help us identify the city.
658
00:24:17,066 --> 00:24:19,567
He wrote that Sac Balam
is in the northern part
659
00:24:19,567 --> 00:24:23,667
of a long narrow valley
surrounded by high ridges.
660
00:24:23,667 --> 00:24:26,166
Three large wood
and thatch structures
661
00:24:26,166 --> 00:24:28,767
were set on platforms
atop mounds
662
00:24:28,767 --> 00:24:31,867
with a hundred smaller house
mounds nearby.
663
00:24:31,867 --> 00:24:34,667
All helpful
if we can find them.
664
00:24:34,667 --> 00:24:37,867
[suspenseful music playing]
665
00:24:39,867 --> 00:24:41,100
[speaking Spanish] This is us.
666
00:24:41,100 --> 00:24:42,967
-[Josuhe] Yes.
-[Brent] All right.
667
00:24:42,967 --> 00:24:44,233
[Josh] Okay.
668
00:24:47,266 --> 00:24:49,367
[speaking Spanish]
669
00:24:49,367 --> 00:24:51,133
I don't wanna lose this.
670
00:24:53,667 --> 00:24:55,967
All right. We're on foot.
Here we go.
671
00:24:55,967 --> 00:24:59,066
[suspenseful music playing]
672
00:25:07,266 --> 00:25:08,667
[Josh sighs]
673
00:25:08,667 --> 00:25:10,800
This is brutal.
674
00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:12,900
[Josh] Deep in the jungles
of Southern Mexico,
675
00:25:12,900 --> 00:25:14,800
we're following a local ranger
676
00:25:14,800 --> 00:25:16,967
named Efrain Guzman Gomez
677
00:25:16,967 --> 00:25:19,367
on an expedition
to find the lost city
678
00:25:19,367 --> 00:25:21,500
of Sac Balam,
which was conquered
679
00:25:21,500 --> 00:25:24,767
by Spanish conquistador,
Nicolas de Valenzuela.
680
00:25:24,767 --> 00:25:27,266
Finding the ruins
would mean locating
681
00:25:27,266 --> 00:25:31,767
the last free Maya city
in Pre-Columbian Mexico.
682
00:25:31,767 --> 00:25:34,900
Okay. So, we'll see how far
away these structures are
683
00:25:34,900 --> 00:25:36,000
that Efrain's taking us to.
684
00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:36,867
Yeah.
685
00:25:36,867 --> 00:25:38,367
But in terms
of the historical sources,
686
00:25:38,367 --> 00:25:40,867
does Valenzuela tell us
how far the hike is
687
00:25:40,867 --> 00:25:42,300
from the river to Sac Balam?
688
00:25:42,300 --> 00:25:45,467
He says that the river
is about a league
and a half from Sac Balam.
689
00:25:45,467 --> 00:25:47,266
A league and a half.
690
00:25:47,266 --> 00:25:48,567
Is this Jules Verne?
What the hell?
691
00:25:48,567 --> 00:25:49,634
How far is a league?
692
00:25:51,367 --> 00:25:52,500
-[Josh] 3 miles?
-[Josuhe] Yeah.
693
00:25:52,500 --> 00:25:54,467
So, we've got a four
and a half mile trek here?
694
00:25:54,467 --> 00:25:58,166
That's also assuming
that we parked our boat
695
00:25:58,166 --> 00:25:59,900
right at the closest spot.
696
00:25:59,900 --> 00:26:03,900
And just so I know,
what's gonna kill me
in this jungle?
697
00:26:03,900 --> 00:26:06,100
Okay. So, we've got lots
of venomous snakes.
698
00:26:06,100 --> 00:26:07,567
Uh-huh. Fer-de-lances,
things like that?
699
00:26:07,567 --> 00:26:09,500
[Brent] Oh, yeah.
Fer-de-lance, corals,
700
00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:10,867
-some pit vipers.
-Mmm-hmm.
701
00:26:10,867 --> 00:26:13,867
[Brent] Also jaguars
and panthers.
702
00:26:13,867 --> 00:26:15,000
Okay. Great.
703
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,367
A lot of jaguars.
704
00:26:16,367 --> 00:26:17,467
There's a lot of jaguars?
705
00:26:17,467 --> 00:26:19,667
I mean, this is the City
of the White Jaguar.
706
00:26:19,667 --> 00:26:20,867
[Josh] Sure. Fair enough.
707
00:26:20,867 --> 00:26:23,000
At least we're out
of narco territory, yes?
708
00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:26,166
Huh. So, there are clandestine
airstrips all over this park.
709
00:26:26,166 --> 00:26:27,634
-In the national park?
-[Brent] Oh, yeah.
710
00:26:28,166 --> 00:26:30,500
Okay. I'm sorry I asked.
711
00:26:30,500 --> 00:26:34,066
Also tropical diseases,
uh, killer bees.
712
00:26:34,066 --> 00:26:35,300
[Josh] Enough, Brent.
713
00:26:35,300 --> 00:26:38,000
[Brent laughs]
Angry packs of peccary pigs.
714
00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:38,967
[Josh] Good Lord.
715
00:26:38,967 --> 00:26:42,066
[suspenseful music playing]
716
00:26:51,266 --> 00:26:53,300
Hiking here
is super challenging.
717
00:26:53,300 --> 00:26:54,800
Not just because the trail
is so uneven,
718
00:26:54,800 --> 00:26:57,467
but because there are trees
here you definitely
719
00:26:57,467 --> 00:26:59,667
do not want to touch.
720
00:27:01,266 --> 00:27:02,834
Very painful.
721
00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:20,767
-Hey, Josh.
-Yeah?
722
00:27:20,767 --> 00:27:22,800
You might wanna roll
your sleeves down.
723
00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:24,100
Why is that?
724
00:27:24,100 --> 00:27:27,467
These are plants
that I call tears of sadness.
725
00:27:27,467 --> 00:27:28,767
Does that mean
they're poisonous?
726
00:27:28,767 --> 00:27:29,634
Oh, yeah.
727
00:27:29,634 --> 00:27:31,333
I mean, you're
gonna be itching for weeks.
728
00:27:33,467 --> 00:27:35,567
[Josh] We navigate
past the sadness,
729
00:27:35,567 --> 00:27:37,000
and then move up a slope
730
00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:38,667
covered in nonpoisonous plants
731
00:27:38,667 --> 00:27:41,233
that instead are just trying
to strangle us.
732
00:27:42,500 --> 00:27:46,000
We swing away for hours,
but the foliage is so thick
733
00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,800
that we're making
a slow progress.
734
00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:52,433
I mean, there's not even
a hint of a trail in here.
735
00:27:52,867 --> 00:27:55,767
Now, it's just jungle.
736
00:27:58,900 --> 00:28:01,066
[Josh] Eventually, though,
the vines thin out
737
00:28:01,066 --> 00:28:04,166
to let us pass and we emerge
into a clearing
738
00:28:04,166 --> 00:28:06,867
that causes Brent
to stop in his tracks.
739
00:28:08,700 --> 00:28:11,834
[Brent] Josh, take a look
at this valley.
740
00:28:12,800 --> 00:28:14,767
Remember I told you
that de Valenzuela
741
00:28:14,767 --> 00:28:18,400
said that Sac Balam
was in a long narrow valley
742
00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:20,367
in the northern part
surrounded by ridges.
743
00:28:20,367 --> 00:28:21,166
Right.
744
00:28:21,166 --> 00:28:22,900
He even describes
a nice breeze.
745
00:28:22,900 --> 00:28:24,367
Which we can feel right now.
746
00:28:24,367 --> 00:28:27,800
And we are
at the very northern edge
of this valley right now.
747
00:28:27,800 --> 00:28:28,767
-[Brent] Yeah.
-[Josh] Right?
748
00:28:28,767 --> 00:28:30,667
And we're about
how far from the river?
749
00:28:30,667 --> 00:28:31,800
[Brent] Still over a league.
750
00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,000
[Josh] So, this valley matches
that description to a T?
751
00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:36,400
To a T.
752
00:28:36,400 --> 00:28:38,200
So, if this
is the right location,
753
00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,500
then somewhere up there
754
00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:42,600
underneath all
that jungle canopy,
755
00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:44,066
there might be a lost city.
756
00:28:44,066 --> 00:28:46,867
We might be
on the outskirts right now.
757
00:28:46,867 --> 00:28:49,867
Okay. Well, now,
we just got to find it.
758
00:28:49,867 --> 00:28:51,300
-All right. Let's--
-[Josh] All right.
759
00:28:51,300 --> 00:28:52,867
Machetes at the ready,
here we go.
760
00:28:52,867 --> 00:28:54,300
All right.
761
00:28:54,300 --> 00:28:57,867
[suspenseful music playing]
762
00:28:57,867 --> 00:29:00,767
[Josh] Efrain leads us
even further toward the area
763
00:29:00,767 --> 00:29:04,467
where he saw evidence
of manmade structures.
764
00:29:04,467 --> 00:29:07,800
But if Sac Balam is here,
it's well camouflaged,
765
00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:09,667
and so is the wildlife.
766
00:29:09,667 --> 00:29:11,100
In the jungle,
you gotta be careful
767
00:29:11,100 --> 00:29:15,667
what you touch because
even the sticks are alive.
768
00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:21,133
There you go.
769
00:29:21,867 --> 00:29:23,967
Blend back into the jungle.
770
00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:31,834
[Josh] We continue deeper
into the humid rainforest
771
00:29:32,367 --> 00:29:33,433
and deeper...
772
00:29:35,100 --> 00:29:37,266
and deeper.
773
00:29:37,266 --> 00:29:40,166
And just as I'm about
to lay down and expire,
774
00:29:40,166 --> 00:29:42,834
I hear words
that are music to my ears.
775
00:29:43,867 --> 00:29:45,600
[Efrain speaking Spanish]
776
00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:46,700
-[Josh] Structures?
-[Brent] Hey.
777
00:29:46,700 --> 00:29:48,200
[Josh] Structure. Hey.
778
00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:49,767
Oh, look at this!
779
00:29:49,767 --> 00:29:51,500
-Oh, my word.
-[Brent] Wow.
780
00:29:51,500 --> 00:29:53,266
[Josh] Wow. We got stones.
Look at this.
781
00:29:53,266 --> 00:29:54,000
[Josuhe] Yes.
782
00:29:54,000 --> 00:29:55,100
[Josh] Amazing.
783
00:29:55,100 --> 00:29:56,367
This is not natural.
784
00:29:56,367 --> 00:29:58,066
Look at how squared off
that is.
785
00:29:58,066 --> 00:29:59,667
[Brent] Look at how this line
extends all the way
down there.
786
00:29:59,667 --> 00:30:00,767
Y'all, it gives us more
right there.
787
00:30:00,767 --> 00:30:01,500
-[Brent] Yeah.
-[Josuhe] Yeah.
788
00:30:01,500 --> 00:30:02,567
[Josh] This is a platform.
789
00:30:02,567 --> 00:30:03,867
-We're on a platform.
-Yeah.
790
00:30:03,867 --> 00:30:04,867
[Josuhe] On a platform.
791
00:30:04,867 --> 00:30:08,100
Hey. Amazing.
792
00:30:08,100 --> 00:30:09,767
This is a platform.
793
00:30:09,767 --> 00:30:12,200
[Josh] To conquer
the unforgiving
jungle terrain,
794
00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,567
the Maya had
to create level ground.
795
00:30:14,567 --> 00:30:17,367
Stone platforms like this
were the foundations
796
00:30:17,367 --> 00:30:19,500
for single
and multifamily homes
797
00:30:19,500 --> 00:30:21,166
made of wood and thatch.
798
00:30:21,166 --> 00:30:23,867
Valenzuela, when he wrote
his report,
799
00:30:23,867 --> 00:30:25,166
he actually said
that there were about
800
00:30:25,166 --> 00:30:27,867
a hundred small house
mounds just like this.
801
00:30:27,867 --> 00:30:29,166
This might be one of them.
802
00:30:30,166 --> 00:30:31,367
Should we try
and clear this off?
803
00:30:31,367 --> 00:30:32,600
-Let's do it.
-Yeah.
804
00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:33,667
-Okay. Let's see
what else is under here, guys.
-All right.
805
00:30:33,667 --> 00:30:36,467
[suspenseful music playing]
806
00:30:38,667 --> 00:30:40,400
These pieces are big.
Look at this.
807
00:30:40,400 --> 00:30:41,767
Yeah. Yeah.
808
00:30:43,900 --> 00:30:47,400
[Josh] These shaped stones
are all over this area.
809
00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:48,967
More stone here.
810
00:30:48,967 --> 00:30:51,467
[Josh] The ground
is full of beautiful,
811
00:30:51,467 --> 00:30:53,367
manmade right angles.
812
00:30:53,367 --> 00:30:55,533
[Josh] It's just
perfectly square.
813
00:30:58,967 --> 00:31:00,900
Look at this,
more stone under here.
814
00:31:00,900 --> 00:31:02,900
-[Brent] Wow.
-[Josh] You could just see
stone peeking out
815
00:31:02,900 --> 00:31:04,467
everywhere on
the jungle floor.
816
00:31:04,467 --> 00:31:05,567
There's a lot more here.
817
00:31:05,567 --> 00:31:06,867
[Brent] Yeah, for sure.
818
00:31:06,867 --> 00:31:08,900
[Josh] The structures
that these stones supported
819
00:31:08,900 --> 00:31:10,767
for now are a mystery.
820
00:31:10,767 --> 00:31:12,700
But the good news
is that where there's one
821
00:31:12,700 --> 00:31:15,567
building platform,
there should be more.
822
00:31:20,266 --> 00:31:23,567
We ascend further
up the hill at the end
of the narrow valley
823
00:31:23,567 --> 00:31:26,934
and soon see something
that shouldn't be here.
824
00:31:30,567 --> 00:31:31,767
Hey, stone, right there.
825
00:31:31,767 --> 00:31:33,000
[Josuhe] Yes.
826
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:34,266
-[Josh] Is that manmade?
-[Josuhe] Let's see.
827
00:31:37,867 --> 00:31:39,100
[Josh] Look at that.
828
00:31:39,100 --> 00:31:40,667
-[Josuhe] Wow.
-[Brent] Oh, yeah,
these are some cut stones
829
00:31:40,667 --> 00:31:42,100
-or the--
-[Josh] That's a cut stone
for sure.
830
00:31:42,100 --> 00:31:42,967
[Brent] Oh, yeah.
831
00:31:42,967 --> 00:31:44,266
There's a natural outcrop
down here,
832
00:31:44,266 --> 00:31:46,100
but these are definitely
cut stone.
833
00:31:46,100 --> 00:31:47,200
[Josh] So, what is this?
834
00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,100
We're on a huge slope here.
835
00:31:49,100 --> 00:31:50,367
This is a watchtower.
836
00:31:50,367 --> 00:31:51,867
-[Josh] This is a watchtower?
-Yes.
837
00:31:51,867 --> 00:31:54,567
[Josh] At Sac Balam,
watchtowers like this
838
00:31:54,567 --> 00:31:56,667
might have ringed
the entire city,
839
00:31:56,667 --> 00:31:59,367
which may have also
helped to keep them hidden.
840
00:31:59,367 --> 00:32:01,800
The presence
of a defensive structure here
841
00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:03,367
may be a sign that we're close
842
00:32:03,367 --> 00:32:05,066
to an important settlement.
843
00:32:05,066 --> 00:32:06,400
[Brent] You can see
through the trees.
844
00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,967
We've got a great view
of a huge chunk
845
00:32:08,967 --> 00:32:09,867
-of the valley here.
-[Josh] Right.
846
00:32:09,867 --> 00:32:11,767
We're almost at the edge
of this ridge here
847
00:32:11,767 --> 00:32:13,100
and you can see
everything here.
848
00:32:13,100 --> 00:32:15,266
Would there have been
multiple watchtowers here?
849
00:32:15,266 --> 00:32:16,400
Yes, of course.
850
00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:19,367
The Mayas put fire
to communicate
851
00:32:19,367 --> 00:32:21,000
with another areas.
852
00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:22,100
Like Lord of the Rings?
853
00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:23,367
-Yeah.
-Right?
854
00:32:23,367 --> 00:32:24,667
If somebody sees
something in one watchtower,
855
00:32:24,667 --> 00:32:26,100
-they light a signal...
-[Josuhe] Yes.
856
00:32:26,100 --> 00:32:27,367
...somebody else
lights a signal,
857
00:32:27,367 --> 00:32:29,467
and that's how you alert
the perimeter?
858
00:32:29,467 --> 00:32:31,900
Yeah, we're looking for
Sac Balam and we found Gondor.
859
00:32:31,900 --> 00:32:33,467
-[laughs]
-That's right.
860
00:32:33,467 --> 00:32:34,700
That's incredible though.
861
00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:37,100
The people of Sac Balam
managed to evade the Spanish
862
00:32:37,100 --> 00:32:38,500
for over a hundred years.
863
00:32:38,500 --> 00:32:40,266
They pulled out all the stops.
864
00:32:40,266 --> 00:32:42,967
Coming up with any defensive
measures they could think of.
865
00:32:42,967 --> 00:32:44,567
So, this would make sense.
866
00:32:44,567 --> 00:32:46,066
All right. Let's keep moving.
Come on.
867
00:32:46,066 --> 00:32:48,433
-[Brent] All right.
-[Josh] It's getting
better and better.
868
00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:51,166
[Josh] We trudge
further uphill
869
00:32:51,166 --> 00:32:53,233
to see
if there's more to find.
870
00:33:03,266 --> 00:33:04,867
This looks like
more stone here.
871
00:33:04,867 --> 00:33:06,000
-[Josuhe] Something here.
-[Brent] Yeah, it's--
872
00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:06,767
[Josh] Yeah, for sure.
873
00:33:06,767 --> 00:33:08,700
-Something here.
-That's deep.
874
00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:10,800
Is it natural or...
875
00:33:10,800 --> 00:33:12,100
[Josh] I don't think so.
876
00:33:12,100 --> 00:33:13,767
-Oh, look at this.
-[Josuhe] This is a tomb.
877
00:33:13,767 --> 00:33:15,300
[Josh] This is incredible.
878
00:33:15,300 --> 00:33:16,867
-This is a tomb.
-[Josuhe] Yeah, yes.
879
00:33:21,500 --> 00:33:25,000
[suspenseful music playing]
880
00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:26,000
There's something here.
881
00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:27,000
-[Brent] Yeah, it is.
-[Josh] Yeah, for sure.
882
00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:28,767
-Oh, look at this.
-[Josuhe] This is a tomb.
883
00:33:28,767 --> 00:33:30,266
-[Brent] Yeah, yes.
-[Josh] This is a tomb.
884
00:33:30,266 --> 00:33:31,467
-Wow.
-Wow.
885
00:33:31,467 --> 00:33:34,567
This is all stone-lined here
and it's just scalloped out.
886
00:33:34,567 --> 00:33:36,300
-This is looted.
-Definitely.
887
00:33:36,300 --> 00:33:37,667
-[Josuhe] Yes.
-[Josh] Tomb for sure?
888
00:33:37,667 --> 00:33:38,767
Tomb.
889
00:33:38,767 --> 00:33:41,166
[Josh] On a trek with
archeologists Brent Woodfill
890
00:33:41,166 --> 00:33:44,066
and Josuhe Lozada,
we're hunting for the ruins
891
00:33:44,066 --> 00:33:45,967
of the City
of the White Jaguar,
892
00:33:45,967 --> 00:33:47,600
Sac Balam.
893
00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,000
We found a tomb that may once
have held
894
00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,967
precious Maya offerings
or ceremonial jewelry.
895
00:33:53,967 --> 00:33:55,500
We're not the first ones here.
896
00:33:55,500 --> 00:33:56,967
[Brent] Unfortunately not.
897
00:33:56,967 --> 00:33:58,467
Archeologists really
never are.
898
00:33:58,467 --> 00:34:00,667
-Right.
-[Brent] These
are living landscapes.
899
00:34:00,667 --> 00:34:02,800
People come here and hunt
and pass through
900
00:34:02,800 --> 00:34:04,100
and have for hundreds
of years.
901
00:34:04,100 --> 00:34:07,400
[Josh] A stone-lined
Maya tomb, even a looted one,
902
00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,166
is a remarkable find
and one that leads us
903
00:34:10,166 --> 00:34:13,400
to start considering
other possibilities.
904
00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:16,700
At this point, there's a lot
of architecture out here.
905
00:34:16,700 --> 00:34:20,767
There is no question
that there is a community
of people out here.
906
00:34:20,767 --> 00:34:21,867
No question at all.
907
00:34:21,867 --> 00:34:24,767
So, in terms of
our Sac Balam checklist here,
908
00:34:24,767 --> 00:34:26,867
we now have a lot
going for us, right?
909
00:34:26,867 --> 00:34:28,800
Everything we've seen so far
910
00:34:28,800 --> 00:34:31,200
fits the bill 100%.
911
00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:32,467
So, now, what?
912
00:34:32,467 --> 00:34:34,767
So, now, I think it's time
to call in some help.
913
00:34:34,767 --> 00:34:36,266
You're feeling
that good about it?
914
00:34:36,266 --> 00:34:38,967
I'm feeling better and better
about the fact that this
could be the place.
915
00:34:38,967 --> 00:34:40,567
-And you?
-Absolutely.
916
00:34:40,567 --> 00:34:41,867
-[Josh] You are?
-Yes.
917
00:34:41,867 --> 00:34:45,066
So, I already have
a team doing work over
in San Cristobal.
918
00:34:45,066 --> 00:34:46,567
They have a LiDAR scanner.
919
00:34:46,567 --> 00:34:48,800
There's also
a great archeologist
920
00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:50,767
who specializes
in this time period.
921
00:34:50,767 --> 00:34:53,500
Some of Efraim's guys
could bring them out tomorrow.
922
00:34:53,500 --> 00:34:54,600
That'd be amazing.
923
00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:56,300
And as for us,
what's our move?
924
00:34:56,300 --> 00:35:00,367
We need to find some flat
ground to camp for tonight.
925
00:35:00,367 --> 00:35:01,767
-Flat ground?
-Yeah.
926
00:35:01,767 --> 00:35:03,066
I haven't seen that
in a while.
927
00:35:03,066 --> 00:35:04,634
-[Brent] Yeah. Good luck.
-[Josh] Good luck.
928
00:35:06,166 --> 00:35:08,700
[Josh] We fan out to find
a level campsite,
929
00:35:08,700 --> 00:35:10,367
feeling like
we're on the verge
930
00:35:10,367 --> 00:35:12,834
of completing Don Diego's map.
931
00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:15,767
But with any wood
and thatch structures
932
00:35:15,767 --> 00:35:17,266
long since decayed,
933
00:35:17,266 --> 00:35:19,100
Brent and Josuhe can't be sure
934
00:35:19,100 --> 00:35:22,900
until an aerial LiDAR
scan confirms the extent
of the settlement
935
00:35:22,900 --> 00:35:25,734
by looking
for more stone platforms.
936
00:35:31,266 --> 00:35:32,767
[Efrain speaking Spanish]
937
00:35:32,767 --> 00:35:34,567
-Oh.
-This is pretty flat.
938
00:35:34,567 --> 00:35:35,700
It's a good place to camp.
939
00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:37,100
-Is this our spot?
-This is our spot.
940
00:35:37,100 --> 00:35:38,934
-Okay. Let's do it.
-Cool.
941
00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:41,467
[Josh] After we find
a clearing,
942
00:35:41,467 --> 00:35:43,300
Brent calls
in our GPS position
943
00:35:43,300 --> 00:35:46,367
with a SAT phone so
his LiDAR team can find us.
944
00:35:46,367 --> 00:35:49,266
And we set up camp
for a night in the jungle.
945
00:35:49,266 --> 00:35:52,033
[suspenseful music playing]
946
00:35:57,266 --> 00:36:00,100
All right. Home sweet home.
947
00:36:00,100 --> 00:36:03,233
[suspenseful music playing]
948
00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:06,166
[Josh] All right.
949
00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:07,533
Time to sleep.
950
00:36:11,600 --> 00:36:14,734
[birds chirping]
951
00:36:19,500 --> 00:36:21,567
Hmm.
952
00:36:21,567 --> 00:36:23,266
Just another beautiful...
953
00:36:23,266 --> 00:36:24,734
[screams]
954
00:36:25,567 --> 00:36:28,100
[Josh] Needless to say,
I do not sleep in.
955
00:36:28,100 --> 00:36:31,066
Instead, we explore
around the campsite
956
00:36:31,066 --> 00:36:33,900
and by early afternoon,
we hear a welcome sound.
957
00:36:33,900 --> 00:36:35,066
Other humans.
958
00:36:37,266 --> 00:36:38,300
We got voices.
959
00:36:38,300 --> 00:36:39,867
[Josh] Brent and Josuhe's
LiDAR team
960
00:36:39,867 --> 00:36:43,100
has been hiking since
before dawn to get here.
961
00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:44,600
-Hey, how's it going, Nick?
-Good to see you again, Brent.
962
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:46,600
-Hey, man, I'm Josh.
-Hi, Josh. Nice to meet you.
963
00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:48,266
Yeah. So, this is the rest
of the team
964
00:36:48,266 --> 00:36:49,567
that was over
in San Cristobal.
965
00:36:49,567 --> 00:36:52,100
This is Nick and his crew
from Juniper Unmanned.
966
00:36:52,100 --> 00:36:53,800
You guys are here to do
the aerial scanning, yeah?
967
00:36:53,800 --> 00:36:54,867
-Yes.
-[Josh] Great.
968
00:36:54,867 --> 00:36:56,100
-That's correct.
-And these
are the archeologists
969
00:36:56,100 --> 00:36:57,166
working with me.
970
00:36:57,166 --> 00:36:58,800
This is Yuko and Ruben.
971
00:36:58,800 --> 00:37:00,100
Nice to meet both of you.
972
00:37:00,100 --> 00:37:01,667
So, now that we're all here,
what's the plan?
973
00:37:01,667 --> 00:37:05,000
Yuko and Ruben are going to
start digging some test pits.
974
00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,166
-[Josh] Okay.
-Just small little pits,
seeing if we can hit anything
975
00:37:08,166 --> 00:37:10,667
so we get an idea of dates
and times and people.
976
00:37:10,667 --> 00:37:12,667
-Got it.
-And the LiDAR folks
977
00:37:12,667 --> 00:37:14,233
are gonna start doing
their thing.
978
00:37:15,567 --> 00:37:18,867
[Josh] While the archeologists
begin excavating in this area,
979
00:37:18,867 --> 00:37:21,767
I walk to a small clearing
with the LiDAR team
980
00:37:21,767 --> 00:37:24,667
as they set up
to scan the valley.
981
00:37:24,667 --> 00:37:27,066
All right. So, talk to me.
Obviously, this is a drone.
982
00:37:27,066 --> 00:37:27,967
What is this bad boy?
983
00:37:27,967 --> 00:37:30,266
This is
a multirotor hexacopter
984
00:37:30,266 --> 00:37:31,767
made to carry heavy payloads.
985
00:37:31,767 --> 00:37:33,300
And in this case,
the heavy payload
986
00:37:33,300 --> 00:37:35,300
is this black
and yellow unit here.
987
00:37:35,300 --> 00:37:36,667
-That's LiDAR?
-Yes, sir.
988
00:37:36,667 --> 00:37:37,700
-That's the LiDAR unit.
-Okay.
989
00:37:37,700 --> 00:37:40,667
And LiDAR is obviously magic.
990
00:37:40,667 --> 00:37:41,800
[chuckles] Yeah.
991
00:37:41,800 --> 00:37:43,867
So, LiDAR stands for
light detection and ranging.
992
00:37:43,867 --> 00:37:46,834
-Or magic.
-Magic. Yeah. [laughs]
993
00:37:48,367 --> 00:37:51,166
[Josh] Aerial LiDAR sends
millions of laser pulses
994
00:37:51,166 --> 00:37:52,000
to the ground.
995
00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:53,367
It's alive.
996
00:37:53,367 --> 00:37:56,300
[Josh] And measures
the distance to fractions
of a millimeter,
997
00:37:56,300 --> 00:37:59,000
allowing scientists
to digitally peel away
998
00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:02,300
layers of foliage that have
been growing for centuries.
999
00:38:02,300 --> 00:38:05,467
Foliage that may be obscuring
ancient structures,
1000
00:38:05,467 --> 00:38:08,166
rendering them invisible
to the naked eye.
1001
00:38:08,166 --> 00:38:10,266
In our case,
we're hoping the LiDAR
1002
00:38:10,266 --> 00:38:12,867
can show us the full extent
of this settlement
1003
00:38:12,867 --> 00:38:15,567
and if it's large enough
to be Sac Balam.
1004
00:38:15,567 --> 00:38:17,000
So, what do
we wanna see more of?
1005
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:17,967
Everything.
1006
00:38:17,967 --> 00:38:20,166
It's really hard
to see anything here,
1007
00:38:20,166 --> 00:38:22,467
-as I'm sure you've seen
from walking around.
-Yes.
1008
00:38:22,467 --> 00:38:24,467
What we know
from de Valenzuela
1009
00:38:24,467 --> 00:38:27,467
is that he talked
about three larger mounds
1010
00:38:27,467 --> 00:38:28,800
in the center of the site
1011
00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:30,266
where there
are communal architecture.
1012
00:38:30,266 --> 00:38:31,567
[Josh] Got it.
1013
00:38:31,567 --> 00:38:32,767
[Brent] But they're all made
of wood and the thatch roofs.
1014
00:38:32,767 --> 00:38:33,800
[Josh] Right.
1015
00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:35,967
So, all we're really gonna
see is probably
1016
00:38:35,967 --> 00:38:37,567
structures about this high.
1017
00:38:37,567 --> 00:38:39,266
-Mmm-hmm.
-Maybe some a little
bit higher,
1018
00:38:39,266 --> 00:38:40,667
-maybe some even lower.
-Right.
1019
00:38:40,667 --> 00:38:42,800
But those are really hard
to find.
1020
00:38:42,800 --> 00:38:45,100
We can walk right
next to a mound
1021
00:38:45,100 --> 00:38:46,567
and not even know it's there.
1022
00:38:46,567 --> 00:38:47,433
Right.
1023
00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:49,967
[Josh] With our
air game covered,
1024
00:38:49,967 --> 00:38:52,367
it's time to see what else
is on the ground.
1025
00:38:52,367 --> 00:38:54,667
And it so happens
that Yuko and Ruben
1026
00:38:54,667 --> 00:38:57,266
are making discoveries
in the test pits.
1027
00:38:57,266 --> 00:38:58,800
[Josh] Look at this. Huh.
1028
00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:01,000
[Yuko] So,
this is flat limestone.
1029
00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:03,266
It's really nicely cut
and shaped.
1030
00:39:03,266 --> 00:39:04,166
[Josh] This is crazy.
1031
00:39:04,166 --> 00:39:06,100
This looks
like a modern floor tile.
1032
00:39:06,100 --> 00:39:08,166
So, no question,
this is a cut piece, right?
1033
00:39:08,166 --> 00:39:09,266
[Yuko] Mmm-hmm.
1034
00:39:09,266 --> 00:39:11,367
So, this was primarily
used for what, floor surfaces?
1035
00:39:11,367 --> 00:39:13,767
Floor surfaces
and also the wall facade.
1036
00:39:13,767 --> 00:39:15,767
-[Josh] Oh, this is like
a facing stone?
-[Yuko] Facing stone.
1037
00:39:15,767 --> 00:39:17,166
So, should we go
a little deeper?
See what's there?
1038
00:39:17,166 --> 00:39:18,767
Yeah, I'd like to see
the edge of the stone.
1039
00:39:18,767 --> 00:39:20,800
Okay. Great. Let's dig.
1040
00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:22,967
[Josh] Quarried limestone
was quite literally
1041
00:39:22,967 --> 00:39:26,367
the building block
with which the Maya
created their cities.
1042
00:39:26,367 --> 00:39:30,333
To find it here is to see
the Maya's hands at work.
1043
00:39:31,066 --> 00:39:32,000
Look at this.
1044
00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:35,000
Ooh, is that pottery?
Look at this.
1045
00:39:35,000 --> 00:39:37,867
We've seen all this evidence
of stone working up here,
1046
00:39:37,867 --> 00:39:39,266
but now, we've got pottery.
1047
00:39:39,266 --> 00:39:40,800
So, Yuko, you're the expert.
1048
00:39:40,800 --> 00:39:42,000
What can you tell us
about that?
1049
00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:43,600
Looks like it had red
slip on it.
1050
00:39:43,600 --> 00:39:45,667
Okay. Red slip is like
the coating
1051
00:39:45,667 --> 00:39:46,867
-or the surface decoration.
-Yeah, surface cording.
1052
00:39:46,867 --> 00:39:50,000
-[Josh] Okay.
-[Yuko] Got
the orange paste color.
1053
00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:52,967
And there's some
calcite temper.
1054
00:39:52,967 --> 00:39:54,967
So, dating-wise,
we think this is from when?
1055
00:39:54,967 --> 00:39:55,967
In the Postclassic period.
1056
00:39:55,967 --> 00:39:57,433
-You think it's Postclassic?
-Mmm-hmm.
1057
00:39:57,433 --> 00:40:00,767
So, this is what they would've
been making at Sac Balam
up until that period?
1058
00:40:00,767 --> 00:40:02,066
[Brent] Yeah, they haven't
been conquered yet.
1059
00:40:02,066 --> 00:40:03,967
So, they're still
in the Postclassic.
1060
00:40:03,967 --> 00:40:05,567
Awesome. Okay.
Let's see if there's more.
1061
00:40:05,567 --> 00:40:09,066
[intense music playing]
1062
00:40:12,800 --> 00:40:15,166
[Josh] We've got limestone.
We've got pottery.
1063
00:40:15,166 --> 00:40:18,533
And soon enough, we have
something even more special.
1064
00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:20,000
[Brent] Hey, what's that?
1065
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:21,867
[Yuko] Oh, hey. Yeah.
1066
00:40:21,867 --> 00:40:23,000
[Josh] Obsidian.
1067
00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:24,000
Obsidian.
1068
00:40:24,000 --> 00:40:25,867
It's a very, very tiny blade.
1069
00:40:25,867 --> 00:40:28,567
We're really far away
from any obsidian source.
1070
00:40:28,567 --> 00:40:30,867
So, this was
a very precious commodity.
1071
00:40:30,867 --> 00:40:33,867
So, obsidian really
is like the steel
of Mesoamerica, right?
1072
00:40:33,867 --> 00:40:37,066
I mean, this is what
you're making your
cutting implements out of.
1073
00:40:37,066 --> 00:40:40,200
[Josh] Obsidian is a type
of brittle volcanic glass
1074
00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:41,900
that was crafted
by Mesoamericans
1075
00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:45,667
into both household tools
and lethal weapons.
1076
00:40:45,667 --> 00:40:48,100
Its presence here
far from the volcanoes
1077
00:40:48,100 --> 00:40:50,166
to the South may bolster
the idea
1078
00:40:50,166 --> 00:40:52,767
that this place was a haven
for fleeing Maya.
1079
00:40:53,867 --> 00:40:55,000
[Josh] You look at
this and you think,
1080
00:40:55,000 --> 00:40:55,767
"Oh, this is nothing.
1081
00:40:55,767 --> 00:40:56,767
This is just a tiny thing."
1082
00:40:56,767 --> 00:41:00,300
But this really
is a razor sharp implement.
1083
00:41:00,300 --> 00:41:02,567
[Brent] Oh, yeah.
Be careful with it.
1084
00:41:02,567 --> 00:41:04,166
That is incredible.
1085
00:41:04,166 --> 00:41:07,467
So, from a mine
somewhere in Guatemala
1086
00:41:07,467 --> 00:41:08,767
to the middle of
the jungle in Mexico.
1087
00:41:08,767 --> 00:41:10,367
-Yeah.
-[Josh] Wow.
1088
00:41:10,367 --> 00:41:14,166
That's a little piece
of a Maya knife right there.
1089
00:41:14,166 --> 00:41:15,567
I'm becoming
more and more convinced
1090
00:41:15,567 --> 00:41:16,967
that this is the place.
1091
00:41:16,967 --> 00:41:20,266
Yeah, we have a lot of good
circumstantial evidence
at this point.
1092
00:41:20,266 --> 00:41:22,166
It's all gonna come down
to the LiDAR.
1093
00:41:22,166 --> 00:41:23,967
That's the only way
we're gonna see this place
1094
00:41:23,967 --> 00:41:25,600
-in its entirety.
-Yeah.
1095
00:41:25,600 --> 00:41:28,734
[dramatic music playing]
1096
00:41:37,200 --> 00:41:38,767
Beautiful. Awesome.
1097
00:41:38,767 --> 00:41:39,900
-Nice work, man.
-Thank you.
1098
00:41:39,900 --> 00:41:41,300
-Yeah.
-[Josh] Good flying.
1099
00:41:41,300 --> 00:41:43,200
[Josh] The LiDAR drone
touches down,
1100
00:41:43,200 --> 00:41:46,000
and then we gather around
a nearby computer
1101
00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:47,800
to analyze its results.
1102
00:41:47,800 --> 00:41:51,367
Okay. So, do we have data?
1103
00:41:51,367 --> 00:41:53,066
Yes, we have lots of data.
1104
00:41:53,066 --> 00:41:54,266
Do we have good data?
1105
00:41:54,266 --> 00:41:56,166
-Yeah, it's great.
-I like great.
1106
00:41:56,166 --> 00:41:58,367
-Let's take a look at it.
What do we got?
-[Nicholas] Fantastic.
1107
00:41:59,967 --> 00:42:01,767
All right. So, what
we're looking at right here
1108
00:42:01,767 --> 00:42:04,867
is about two square kilometers
of this valley.
1109
00:42:04,867 --> 00:42:07,266
Brent is literally
smiling ear to ear already.
1110
00:42:07,266 --> 00:42:09,867
It would take us months
to machete through all that.
1111
00:42:09,867 --> 00:42:12,767
And how much data are
we looking at here visualized?
1112
00:42:12,767 --> 00:42:15,200
Around 500 million points
covering the entire valley.
1113
00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:17,567
-Five hundred millions? Wow.
-Wow.
1114
00:42:17,567 --> 00:42:20,000
-The half-a-billion
data points.
-[Nicholas] Yeah.
1115
00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:21,266
We have our canopy here
1116
00:42:21,266 --> 00:42:22,834
and now, I'm gonna strip
that away.
1117
00:42:24,667 --> 00:42:26,433
-Look at this.
-[Josuhe] Wow, wow.
1118
00:42:32,266 --> 00:42:35,166
[Josh] After a long day
of trekking
in the Mexican jungle,
1119
00:42:35,166 --> 00:42:38,767
we gather around the campfire
hoping to relax.
1120
00:42:38,767 --> 00:42:40,200
Well, first of all, cheers.
1121
00:42:40,200 --> 00:42:42,567
-Cheers.
-I have to say,
even though I'm exhausted,
1122
00:42:43,100 --> 00:42:44,200
I feel thrilled
1123
00:42:44,200 --> 00:42:45,967
because of where
we might be sitting.
1124
00:42:45,967 --> 00:42:47,867
If this is Sac Balam,
1125
00:42:47,867 --> 00:42:49,667
then just over 300 years ago,
1126
00:42:49,667 --> 00:42:52,900
there would have been
hundreds of Maya people
1127
00:42:52,900 --> 00:42:54,500
right in these jungles,
right here.
1128
00:42:54,500 --> 00:42:56,266
If this is
where we think it is,
1129
00:42:56,266 --> 00:42:58,266
this is one
of the last holdouts
1130
00:42:58,266 --> 00:43:01,567
of free indigenous people
anywhere in the Americas.
1131
00:43:01,567 --> 00:43:03,533
[monkey howling]
1132
00:43:05,800 --> 00:43:06,900
Howler monkey?
1133
00:43:06,900 --> 00:43:08,266
-Yeah.
-Yes.
1134
00:43:08,266 --> 00:43:09,667
Or King Kong just got out.
1135
00:43:09,667 --> 00:43:10,967
[laughter]
1136
00:43:10,967 --> 00:43:12,467
Howler monkeys
are like this big, right?
1137
00:43:12,467 --> 00:43:13,867
-Oh, yeah. They're tiny.
-They're tiny.
1138
00:43:13,867 --> 00:43:15,000
They're buff,
but they're tiny.
1139
00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:16,066
But they sound like that.
1140
00:43:16,066 --> 00:43:18,266
Yeah, I heard
that they actually have bones
1141
00:43:18,266 --> 00:43:20,066
in their larynx
so you can hear 'em
1142
00:43:20,066 --> 00:43:22,166
3 miles away
if the wind's right.
1143
00:43:22,166 --> 00:43:24,567
Terrifying. Terrifying.
1144
00:43:24,567 --> 00:43:26,834
[monkey howling]
1145
00:43:30,266 --> 00:43:31,400
This is incredible.
1146
00:43:31,400 --> 00:43:33,567
Look at all the geography
that you can see
1147
00:43:33,567 --> 00:43:36,367
that you totally can't detect
under that canopy.
1148
00:43:36,367 --> 00:43:38,000
Oh, that's amazing.
1149
00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:40,166
[Josh] In the jungles
of Chiapas, Mexico,
1150
00:43:40,166 --> 00:43:43,100
we're examining the LiDAR
data of a site we believe
1151
00:43:43,100 --> 00:43:47,166
could be the legendary
Maya city of Sac Balam.
1152
00:43:47,166 --> 00:43:49,567
Question is,
did you find structures?
1153
00:43:49,567 --> 00:43:50,467
Yes. Yes, we did.
1154
00:43:50,467 --> 00:43:51,900
-Yes?
-Structures.
1155
00:43:51,900 --> 00:43:53,166
Show us. Where?
1156
00:43:54,100 --> 00:43:55,166
[Nicholas] On the valley floor
1157
00:43:55,166 --> 00:43:57,700
we found some
mound structures.
1158
00:43:57,700 --> 00:44:00,567
Look at these.
These are foundation mounds.
1159
00:44:00,567 --> 00:44:02,967
Brent, does this look like
where a house would be built?
1160
00:44:02,967 --> 00:44:05,567
Definitely. About how big
are they?
1161
00:44:05,567 --> 00:44:07,500
They're approximately
seven meters by seven meters.
1162
00:44:07,500 --> 00:44:09,900
[Josuhe] This is the perfect
size for a Maya house.
1163
00:44:09,900 --> 00:44:11,266
[Josh] That's incredible.
1164
00:44:11,266 --> 00:44:13,166
These are most likely
foundations for houses.
1165
00:44:13,166 --> 00:44:14,266
Definitely.
1166
00:44:14,266 --> 00:44:15,667
So, people were living here.
1167
00:44:15,667 --> 00:44:17,567
-People were living here.
-This is awesome.
1168
00:44:18,667 --> 00:44:20,700
Did you find
any other structures?
1169
00:44:20,700 --> 00:44:22,500
Oh, yeah. We found more
along the ridges.
1170
00:44:22,500 --> 00:44:24,467
-Really?
-What's on the ridge?
1171
00:44:24,467 --> 00:44:25,367
[Nicholas] Up on the ridge,
1172
00:44:25,367 --> 00:44:27,166
we found
these rectangular structures.
1173
00:44:27,166 --> 00:44:28,467
-[Brent] Look at that.
-[Josh] Wow.
1174
00:44:28,467 --> 00:44:30,667
Sitting right
at the top of the ridge,
1175
00:44:30,667 --> 00:44:31,900
that would lead me to believe
1176
00:44:31,900 --> 00:44:34,200
they were miradors,
or lookouts.
1177
00:44:34,200 --> 00:44:36,200
Oh, which we think
we found in the jungle.
1178
00:44:36,200 --> 00:44:37,367
-One of these
watchtower structures.
-[Brent] Yeah.
1179
00:44:37,367 --> 00:44:39,066
[Josuhe] Maybe watchtower,
right?
1180
00:44:39,066 --> 00:44:41,700
[Nicholas] It's approximately
10 meters by 10 meters
1181
00:44:41,700 --> 00:44:43,266
sitting right
at the top of the ridge.
1182
00:44:43,266 --> 00:44:45,667
It allows them a full view
of the valley
1183
00:44:45,667 --> 00:44:47,233
from north to the south end.
1184
00:44:48,100 --> 00:44:49,767
As we go farther
south along the ridge,
1185
00:44:49,767 --> 00:44:53,300
we found more groupings
of these rectangular shapes.
1186
00:44:53,300 --> 00:44:56,500
Small platforms
just raised above the ridge.
1187
00:44:56,500 --> 00:44:59,567
This shows us
that there is a perimeter
1188
00:44:59,567 --> 00:45:01,567
of defensive structures
up there.
1189
00:45:01,567 --> 00:45:03,266
This shows that the people
who lived here
1190
00:45:03,266 --> 00:45:06,767
were investing a lot of time
and energy
1191
00:45:06,767 --> 00:45:09,166
trying to make the best
defensive system they could.
1192
00:45:09,166 --> 00:45:11,066
Absolutely. Okay.
1193
00:45:11,500 --> 00:45:12,500
Anything else?
1194
00:45:12,500 --> 00:45:14,100
We found one more structure
1195
00:45:14,100 --> 00:45:15,367
that I think
you guys will like.
1196
00:45:16,467 --> 00:45:17,567
[Josh] Holy [bleep].
1197
00:45:17,567 --> 00:45:19,000
[Nicholas] It's the largest
one we found.
1198
00:45:19,000 --> 00:45:21,000
It's approximately
34 meters in length.
1199
00:45:21,000 --> 00:45:23,100
It's a hundred-foot
long structure.
1200
00:45:23,100 --> 00:45:25,767
de Valenzuela says
that there are three
1201
00:45:25,767 --> 00:45:27,500
big public structures
in the middle,
1202
00:45:27,500 --> 00:45:29,867
which he says were
actually 36 meters long.
1203
00:45:29,867 --> 00:45:31,667
[Josh] 36-meter long
structures.
1204
00:45:31,667 --> 00:45:33,166
That's incredible though.
1205
00:45:33,166 --> 00:45:35,500
I mean,
that's almost an exact match.
1206
00:45:35,500 --> 00:45:38,000
[Josh] This is what
we've been looking for.
1207
00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:40,567
This discovery not only
mirrors the description
1208
00:45:40,567 --> 00:45:41,900
from the conquistadors,
1209
00:45:41,900 --> 00:45:45,166
but its sheer size
speaks volumes.
1210
00:45:45,166 --> 00:45:48,000
The fact that there is
a hundred-foot long structure
1211
00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:49,867
sitting in this valley
1212
00:45:49,867 --> 00:45:51,400
definitely tells us
1213
00:45:51,400 --> 00:45:54,400
that this is not some
backwater place
1214
00:45:54,400 --> 00:45:55,767
with a few inhabitants.
1215
00:45:55,767 --> 00:45:57,767
That is a larger
scale project.
1216
00:45:57,767 --> 00:45:59,867
This might end up
being the silver bullet.
1217
00:45:59,867 --> 00:46:01,867
-Right here.
-[Brent] Right here.
1218
00:46:02,667 --> 00:46:04,533
Do you think
this could be Sac Balam?
1219
00:46:05,166 --> 00:46:08,066
I think when we first saw it,
1220
00:46:08,066 --> 00:46:10,400
I was maybe about 80% sure.
1221
00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:12,700
-Uh-huh.
-I'm up to, like, 99%.
1222
00:46:12,700 --> 00:46:16,100
All of this screams Sac Balam.
1223
00:46:16,100 --> 00:46:17,600
-That's incredible.
-[Brent] Yeah.
1224
00:46:17,600 --> 00:46:18,767
[Josh] What about you?
1225
00:46:18,767 --> 00:46:20,767
I think we find Sac Balam.
1226
00:46:20,767 --> 00:46:22,400
-You do?
-Yes, for sure.
1227
00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:24,066
Lost city, found.
1228
00:46:24,066 --> 00:46:25,000
Absolutely Great.
1229
00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:27,000
-Great.
-Amazing. Brent,
what a pleasure.
1230
00:46:27,000 --> 00:46:28,367
-Josuhe, awesome.
-Yeah.
1231
00:46:28,367 --> 00:46:29,734
This is incredible.
1232
00:46:34,200 --> 00:46:36,767
[Josh] It's no wonder
that the fabled Sac Balam
1233
00:46:36,767 --> 00:46:38,467
has been so elusive.
1234
00:46:38,467 --> 00:46:41,400
After all,
it was built to not be found.
1235
00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:44,200
But here, in the deepest
reaches of the jungle,
1236
00:46:44,200 --> 00:46:47,800
the White Jaguar seems
to have revealed itself.
1237
00:46:47,800 --> 00:46:51,000
In the weeks that follow,
the LiDAR data is refined
1238
00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:53,700
and the results
are remarkable.
1239
00:46:53,700 --> 00:46:56,266
The laser scans detected
more platforms
1240
00:46:56,266 --> 00:46:57,700
buried in the jungle,
1241
00:46:57,700 --> 00:47:00,867
including a huge set
of terraces for homes
1242
00:47:00,867 --> 00:47:03,367
and on the ridge above us,
what appears to be
1243
00:47:03,367 --> 00:47:06,166
a sizable building
with what may be an altar
1244
00:47:06,166 --> 00:47:08,767
at one end.
1245
00:47:08,767 --> 00:47:12,300
If we have found Sac Balam,
it's impossible to overstate
1246
00:47:12,300 --> 00:47:14,667
how historic a discovery it is
1247
00:47:14,667 --> 00:47:18,400
and how important
the work ahead will be.
1248
00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:21,867
Now, it must be fully
ground truth as they say,
1249
00:47:21,867 --> 00:47:24,500
an excavation will need
to be launched to interrogate
1250
00:47:24,500 --> 00:47:27,100
these hidden features,
which will help us preserve
1251
00:47:27,100 --> 00:47:31,467
the final refuge
of the free Maya in Mexico.
1252
00:47:31,467 --> 00:47:34,000
Though Sac Balam fell,
the fact is,
1253
00:47:34,000 --> 00:47:37,967
the conquistadors failed
to extinguish Maya culture.
1254
00:47:39,667 --> 00:47:43,066
Throughout Mexico,
it endures in the people,
1255
00:47:43,066 --> 00:47:46,166
in the traditions,
in the history,
1256
00:47:46,166 --> 00:47:48,266
and even here intertwined
1257
00:47:48,266 --> 00:47:50,367
with the rainforest itself.
1258
00:47:50,367 --> 00:47:52,667
The Maya
are a part of the land
1259
00:47:52,667 --> 00:47:55,767
and this discovery shows us
1260
00:47:55,767 --> 00:47:58,200
they always will be.