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[narrator] it's one of the
greatest defeats in history.
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The mighty roman empire
3
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Brought to its knees
by barbarian hordes.
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The vandals, the goths,
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They are described as
exceeding all savagery
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With an inhuman
desire for violence.
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[narrator] and the romans
blamed one tribe and one man,
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As the greatest threat
to their civilization--
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The huns, led by
the infamous attila.
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[darius] the name is legendary.
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This is a person who is
truly transforming the world.
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[narrator] but the shocking
discovery of a cemetery
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Full of strangely shaped
skulls challenges that story.
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Fifty-one individuals had
very heavily deformed skulls.
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Every skull had a very
exotic genetic ancestry.
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[narrator] because
it's not the only time
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These strange looking
people have appeared
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During a time of chaos.
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[matt] this is a phenomenon
we see across the world
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And throughout human history.
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It's the difference
between life and death.
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[narrator] now, a
cutting-edge investigation
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Is revealing the mysteries
of these unnatural skulls,
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And it rewrites the fall
of the roman empire.
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[hannah-marie] they say history
is written by the victors,
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But in this case,
that's not accurate.
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[dramatic music]
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[narrator] the relics of
the past hold secrets.
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[ground crumbling]
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[soldier shouts]
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Written in gold.
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Stone.
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[soldier shouts]
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And blood.
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We can unlock them.
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These are the secrets of
history's greatest treasures.
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[curious music]
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They're one of
history's most puzzling
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And disturbing mysteries.
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Skeletons with bizarre
cone-shaped skulls.
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[matt] this is a phenomenon
that we see across the world.
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We see it on every
continent in eurasia,
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In the south pacific,
in south america,
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Central america, north america,
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Western europe
throughout history.
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[narrator] across millennia
and around the world,
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Strangely shaped
skulls seem to appear
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At times of chaos and violence.
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But now an unsettling discovery
in the heart of europe
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Is shedding new
light on a phenomenon
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That's perplexed
experts for centuries.
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[istvan] fifty-one individuals
have deformed skulls,
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And they look different.
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In case of very heavily
deformed skulls,
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They don't even
look natural at all.
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[dramatic music]
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[narrator] it's an investigation
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That reveals how these
skulls from the roman empire
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Fit into the worldwide
mystery of deformed heads.
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What connects them?
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What story do they tell
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About the turbulent times
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In which they lived and died?
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And who were they?
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[suspenseful music]
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Near the small village
of mozs, hungary,
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Lies an unremarkable
looking field.
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It sits on the edge of what
was once the roman empire,
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Just a few miles from
its easternmost frontier,
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And a recreated
roman border fort.
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[istvan] this region was
occupied by the romans
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At the very beginning
of the first century ad,
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And remained under roman rule
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Till the middle of
the 5th century.
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[dramatic music]
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People living here enjoyed
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Many advantages of
being under roman rule,
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As showed by
archaeological finds
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From the roman towns,
villas, and forts.
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[narrator] sixteen
hundred years ago,
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This was home to
a small community,
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Who buried their dead
in a simple cemetery.
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[eerie music]
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Here their secrets
lay hidden until 1961.
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Archaeologists excavating
this ordinary looking field,
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Unearth a handful
of roman-era graves.
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[istvan] we are standing on the
5th century cemetery right now.
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The first burial
group in the 60s
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Was actually found
somewhere around that area.
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We are standing on top of
the second burial ground,
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And the third burial ground
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Is across and under
the highway.
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[narrator] the earliest finds
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Suggest this was a
regular roman cemetery
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With bodies neatly buried
in stone-lined graves.
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But as excavations continue,
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It soon becomes clear there was
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Nothing normal
about this cemetery.
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[istvan] a total of 96 burials
were unearthed.
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Out of the 96 burials,
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51 individuals showed
signs of deformed skulls.
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[dramatic music]
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[narrator] each has a
strangely elongated skull,
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[eerie music]
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Some as much as twice the
length of a normal human head.
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The skulls have puzzled
experts for decades.
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[eerie music]
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But now, archaeologist
istvan koncz
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Believes the date
of their burial
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May provide a critical clue.
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[istvan] the cemetery site
is dated
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To the middle of
the 5th century,
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And the 5th century
was a very hectic time,
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Especially in this part
of the roman empire.
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[narrator] these
individuals lived and died
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During one of the
ancient world's
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Most turbulent
and pivotal times,
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The fall of the roman empire.
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-[people shouting]
-[suspenseful music]
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[darius] it's a very traumatic
period for the romans.
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Rome is sacked in 410.
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Rome is sacked again in 455.
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I mean the writing
is on the wall.
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There is real change here,
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And it's not going to go back
to the way it was before.
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[dramatic music]
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[narrator] at its height,
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The roman empire
stretched from britain
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Through germany
and eastern europe,
130
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To syria and north africa.
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Controlled by rigorously
efficient bureaucracy
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And ruthless military might,
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This vast sophisticated
civilization seemed invincible.
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-[soldiers marching]
-[dramatic music]
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But it wasn't.
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[darius] in the 5th century
the outsiders
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Are pushing into that empire,
138
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And it starts to fragment.
139
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-[suspenseful music]
-[people shouting]
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[narrator] according
to roman writers,
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It was these outsiders who
caused the empire's collapse.
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Savage barbarian hordes
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00:06:46,244 --> 00:06:49,835
Who swarmed across
rome's borders,
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Including those led by the
infamous attila the hun.
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[hannah-marie] the roman
accounts from this period blame
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So-called barbarians
at the gates.
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00:07:00,670 --> 00:07:02,882
The idea that the roman empire
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00:07:02,957 --> 00:07:05,595
Was invaded by outside forces,
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00:07:05,630 --> 00:07:07,755
And that's why it fell.
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00:07:07,830 --> 00:07:09,435
[dramatic music]
151
00:07:09,510 --> 00:07:11,115
[narrator] according
to these accounts,
152
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The barbarians overran the
empire's eastern frontier,
153
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Plunging it into
chaos and violence.
154
00:07:17,550 --> 00:07:19,115
Shortly afterwards,
155
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The first strangely
shaped skulls appeared
156
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Just six miles
from this frontier
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In the cemetery at mozs,
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And it seems this
wasn't a coincidence,
159
00:07:28,077 --> 00:07:29,842
Because over the
following decades,
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As the roman empire crumbled,
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More and more people
with deformed skulls
162
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Were buried in the same
small patch of land.
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[gentle music]
164
00:07:40,910 --> 00:07:42,315
Cranial deformation
is not present
165
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In the burials of the
founding generation.
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But later 70% of the
individuals
167
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Show deformed skulls.
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[eerie music]
169
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It becomes very, very common.
170
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[narrator] the remains
suggest people with
171
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Cone-shaped skulls were
taking over this outpost
172
00:08:02,270 --> 00:08:05,035
On the edge of the
crumbling roman empire.
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00:08:05,070 --> 00:08:06,875
-[people shouting]
-[dramatic music]
174
00:08:06,910 --> 00:08:08,882
Were these the infamous invaders
175
00:08:08,957 --> 00:08:13,995
That roman historians blamed
for the empire's collapse?
176
00:08:14,030 --> 00:08:16,675
[hannah-marie] roman accounts
present us with a picture
177
00:08:16,750 --> 00:08:21,682
Of widespread destruction of
roman provinces and cities
178
00:08:21,757 --> 00:08:26,715
By groups which the romans
collectively termed barbarians.
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00:08:26,750 --> 00:08:29,682
-[people shouting]
-[suspenseful music]
180
00:08:29,757 --> 00:08:33,835
They are supposedly
uncultured, savage.
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00:08:33,844 --> 00:08:35,915
They invaded and brought down
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00:08:35,950 --> 00:08:39,355
The civilized world
of the romans.
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00:08:39,390 --> 00:08:41,202
[narrator] the skulls
are in the right place
184
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At the right time.
185
00:08:42,910 --> 00:08:44,515
[people clamoring]
186
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They seem to fit with the
picture painted by roman writers
187
00:08:46,797 --> 00:08:50,555
Of violent savages
invading from the east.
188
00:08:50,590 --> 00:08:53,355
But as archaeologists
investigate further,
189
00:08:53,390 --> 00:08:55,242
Something doesn't add up.
190
00:08:57,390 --> 00:09:01,955
The remains do not show
any evidence of violence.
191
00:09:02,030 --> 00:09:04,195
[narrator] these bones
bear none of the injuries
192
00:09:04,270 --> 00:09:05,915
Experts would expect to see
193
00:09:05,950 --> 00:09:09,675
If they belonged to warriors
who lived by the sword,
194
00:09:09,710 --> 00:09:14,835
And of a total of 96 graves,
only one contained a weapon.
195
00:09:14,910 --> 00:09:16,995
[istvan] it's very surprising
because these are,
196
00:09:17,070 --> 00:09:20,562
Of course, very
turbulent, hectic times.
197
00:09:20,637 --> 00:09:22,115
[narrator] the evidence
from mozs seems
198
00:09:22,190 --> 00:09:25,195
To contradict written
accounts of the period.
199
00:09:25,230 --> 00:09:27,835
[istvan] the burials of mozs
tell us a story
200
00:09:27,870 --> 00:09:30,795
That's not in the written
or historical sources.
201
00:09:30,830 --> 00:09:33,515
It tells us a different story.
202
00:09:33,550 --> 00:09:35,842
[narrator] what is that story?
203
00:09:35,917 --> 00:09:39,515
How do these strangely
shaped skulls fit into it?
204
00:09:39,550 --> 00:09:41,475
To find the answer
experts must look
205
00:09:41,550 --> 00:09:43,955
Beyond these misty
hungarian fields.
206
00:09:44,030 --> 00:09:45,362
[heartbeat pulsating]
207
00:09:45,437 --> 00:09:47,842
Because the cone-skulled
beings found in mozs,
208
00:09:47,917 --> 00:09:51,835
Weren't the first to walk
the earth or the last.
209
00:09:51,844 --> 00:09:54,882
[suspenseful music]
210
00:09:59,710 --> 00:10:02,635
[dramatic music]
211
00:10:02,670 --> 00:10:05,842
Locked in a laboratory
in budapest, hungary,
212
00:10:05,917 --> 00:10:08,402
Lie some of the roman
world's strangest
213
00:10:08,477 --> 00:10:11,722
And most disturbing
archaeological finds.
214
00:10:12,750 --> 00:10:15,475
Fifty-one elongated skulls
215
00:10:15,550 --> 00:10:17,355
Unearthed in a small cemetery
216
00:10:17,364 --> 00:10:20,475
On the easternmost edge
of the roman empire.
217
00:10:20,510 --> 00:10:22,395
[dramatic music]
218
00:10:22,430 --> 00:10:24,882
They date to the period
immediately after the romans
219
00:10:24,957 --> 00:10:27,155
Abandoned the region
in the first decades
220
00:10:27,230 --> 00:10:28,995
Of the 5th century ad.
221
00:10:29,070 --> 00:10:30,515
-[soldiers marching]
-[dramatic music]
222
00:10:30,590 --> 00:10:31,995
History records
the former frontier
223
00:10:32,030 --> 00:10:34,875
Descended into
chaos and violence,
224
00:10:34,884 --> 00:10:37,522
And at the same time the
number of deformed skulls
225
00:10:37,597 --> 00:10:39,642
In the cemetery increased.
226
00:10:40,750 --> 00:10:42,395
Who were they,
227
00:10:42,430 --> 00:10:45,275
And is there a connection
between these skulls,
228
00:10:45,310 --> 00:10:48,995
And the turbulent times
in which they were buried?
229
00:10:49,070 --> 00:10:51,595
Experts believe a
clue can be found
230
00:10:51,630 --> 00:10:54,555
In other similarly
shaped skulls.
231
00:10:54,590 --> 00:10:56,715
[matt] this is a phenomenon
232
00:10:56,750 --> 00:10:59,955
That we see across the world
and throughout human history.
233
00:11:00,030 --> 00:11:02,475
[dramatic music]
234
00:11:02,510 --> 00:11:04,715
[narrator] matt
velasco has spent years
235
00:11:04,750 --> 00:11:07,322
Investigating these
mysterious skulls,
236
00:11:08,957 --> 00:11:10,635
And not surprisingly,
237
00:11:10,670 --> 00:11:14,515
He's encountered a host of
colorful conspiracy theories
238
00:11:14,590 --> 00:11:17,882
About these strangely
shaped ancient remains.
239
00:11:19,790 --> 00:11:21,355
[matt] it's not uncommon to
240
00:11:21,390 --> 00:11:22,995
Hear references to
extra-terrestrials
241
00:11:23,070 --> 00:11:26,075
When one encounters
an elongated skull.
242
00:11:26,150 --> 00:11:29,915
But, in fact, this is a
quintessentially human practice
243
00:11:29,950 --> 00:11:32,762
That we have evidence of
throughout our history.
244
00:11:34,564 --> 00:11:37,915
[narrator] forensic analysis
of the skeletons from mozs
245
00:11:37,950 --> 00:11:41,475
And other cone shaped skulls
from around the world,
246
00:11:41,550 --> 00:11:43,915
Has also established
they're not the result
247
00:11:43,950 --> 00:11:45,602
Of a genetic abnormality.
248
00:11:47,630 --> 00:11:49,955
These strangely shaped skulls
249
00:11:50,030 --> 00:11:53,515
Are the product of
human intervention.
250
00:11:53,550 --> 00:11:55,795
Ridges on the skulls
of the people from mozs
251
00:11:55,870 --> 00:11:58,795
Suggest their heads
been tightly wrapped
252
00:11:58,830 --> 00:12:00,522
And deliberately deformed.
253
00:12:01,710 --> 00:12:03,035
More disturbingly,
254
00:12:03,070 --> 00:12:04,715
This had to have been started
255
00:12:04,724 --> 00:12:07,435
When these individuals
were babies.
256
00:12:07,470 --> 00:12:10,002
[dramatic music]
257
00:12:10,077 --> 00:12:11,915
[matt] head-shaping must happen
258
00:12:11,950 --> 00:12:14,515
During a critical
window in infancy,
259
00:12:14,590 --> 00:12:17,195
When the bones of the
skull have not yet fused,
260
00:12:17,204 --> 00:12:20,042
And are quite malleable
and can be reshaped.
261
00:12:21,524 --> 00:12:24,882
An elongated head would
have been achieved
262
00:12:24,957 --> 00:12:29,195
Through the binding of the
skull around the circumference,
263
00:12:29,204 --> 00:12:31,755
Using cloth bandages,
for example,
264
00:12:31,790 --> 00:12:35,322
Or textile bands that were
wrapped around the skull.
265
00:12:37,190 --> 00:12:39,035
[narrator] the tightly
wrapped bindings slowly
266
00:12:39,070 --> 00:12:42,795
Squeeze and elongate the
malleable infant skull.
267
00:12:42,830 --> 00:12:45,675
When it finally fuses at
around three years of age,
268
00:12:45,710 --> 00:12:48,882
The head shape is
permanently fixed.
269
00:12:48,957 --> 00:12:52,242
To modern eyes, the end
result may be unsettling,
270
00:12:52,317 --> 00:12:55,315
But to the people who
practiced cranial modification,
271
00:12:55,390 --> 00:12:59,115
An elongated skull was
clearly a desirable feature.
272
00:12:59,190 --> 00:13:01,035
[eerie music]
273
00:13:01,070 --> 00:13:04,675
This was seen as a normal,
beautiful practice,
274
00:13:04,750 --> 00:13:07,882
And nothing like a deformity
as we would see one today.
275
00:13:09,550 --> 00:13:11,595
[narrator] and remarkably,
there appears to have been
276
00:13:11,670 --> 00:13:14,875
No adverse effect on
the child's development.
277
00:13:14,910 --> 00:13:16,635
[matt] while it may have
been bothersome for
278
00:13:16,710 --> 00:13:18,155
A squirming child,
279
00:13:18,190 --> 00:13:21,915
It probably didn't
significantly, if at all,
280
00:13:21,950 --> 00:13:25,155
Influence their
likelihood of survival.
281
00:13:25,230 --> 00:13:26,875
[narrator] skull
shaping has been found
282
00:13:26,884 --> 00:13:29,835
Around the globe and
throughout history.
283
00:13:29,870 --> 00:13:32,155
People separated by
thousands of miles
284
00:13:32,190 --> 00:13:36,795
And thousands of years created
identical looking skulls.
285
00:13:36,830 --> 00:13:39,362
The question is why?
286
00:13:39,437 --> 00:13:42,875
What connects these
distant societies?
287
00:13:42,910 --> 00:13:44,955
What compelled people
like those in mozs
288
00:13:44,990 --> 00:13:48,042
To take such a drastic
irreversible step?
289
00:13:49,790 --> 00:13:51,842
A clue lies far from
the windswept plains
290
00:13:51,917 --> 00:13:53,842
Of eastern europe,
291
00:13:53,917 --> 00:13:57,955
In the soaring peaks and secret
canyons of south america.
292
00:13:58,030 --> 00:13:59,522
[matt]
in the andean highlands,
293
00:13:59,597 --> 00:14:01,675
We have found large
burial sites
294
00:14:01,710 --> 00:14:03,515
With hundreds of individuals
295
00:14:03,524 --> 00:14:05,882
That show evidence
of this modification.
296
00:14:07,230 --> 00:14:08,875
[narrator] in
peru's colca valley,
297
00:14:08,884 --> 00:14:11,035
Inside stone-built tombs,
298
00:14:11,044 --> 00:14:15,955
Velasco and his colleagues
have identified 213 skeletons.
299
00:14:16,030 --> 00:14:18,002
Each of them has
a modified skull
300
00:14:18,077 --> 00:14:20,475
Similar to those in hungary.
301
00:14:20,510 --> 00:14:23,515
And despite being
buried 700 years apart,
302
00:14:23,524 --> 00:14:25,435
Both the people of
the colca valley
303
00:14:25,470 --> 00:14:30,675
And mozs were buried during
violent and uncertain times.
304
00:14:30,750 --> 00:14:32,875
[matt] the skeletons I study
date to around
305
00:14:32,910 --> 00:14:36,882
1100 ad to 1450 ad.
306
00:14:36,957 --> 00:14:38,722
This is a time
period where we see
307
00:14:38,797 --> 00:14:40,635
A lot of evidence of violence,
308
00:14:40,710 --> 00:14:43,595
As people move to
hilltop fortifications
309
00:14:43,670 --> 00:14:47,522
To defend their agricultural
resources and their families.
310
00:14:47,597 --> 00:14:50,242
-[people shouting]
-[gentle music]
311
00:14:50,317 --> 00:14:52,882
[narrator] this descent into
warfare and tribal violence
312
00:14:52,957 --> 00:14:56,115
Followed the collapse
of two powerful empires.
313
00:14:56,190 --> 00:14:57,475
[people shouting]
314
00:14:57,550 --> 00:14:59,042
[matt] we see evidence of
315
00:14:59,117 --> 00:15:00,635
Social and political
fragmentation
316
00:15:00,670 --> 00:15:04,315
In the vacuum left by
the collapse of the larger
317
00:15:04,350 --> 00:15:07,955
State society that
organized economy, trade,
318
00:15:08,030 --> 00:15:10,835
And other aspects
of social life.
319
00:15:10,910 --> 00:15:12,675
[narrator] velasco believes
there's a connection
320
00:15:12,750 --> 00:15:15,115
Between this collapse
and violence,
321
00:15:15,150 --> 00:15:18,235
And the modified skulls
found in the valley.
322
00:15:18,270 --> 00:15:20,635
Because as the
violence increased,
323
00:15:20,670 --> 00:15:22,642
So did the practice
of head-shaping.
324
00:15:23,757 --> 00:15:24,955
[matt] in the earliest tombs,
325
00:15:24,990 --> 00:15:28,715
Those dating before 1300 ad,
326
00:15:28,724 --> 00:15:32,402
Around 35 to 40% of
individuals had evidence
327
00:15:32,477 --> 00:15:34,635
Of artificial
cranial modification.
328
00:15:34,670 --> 00:15:36,882
But after 1300 ad,
329
00:15:36,957 --> 00:15:39,682
That number increases
dramatically.
330
00:15:39,757 --> 00:15:42,075
A full three-fourths
of the population
331
00:15:42,150 --> 00:15:43,995
Buried in these
above ground tombs,
332
00:15:44,004 --> 00:15:45,915
Now shows evidence
of the practice.
333
00:15:45,950 --> 00:15:47,355
[dramatic music]
334
00:15:47,390 --> 00:15:48,875
[narrator] the people
of the colca valley
335
00:15:48,910 --> 00:15:50,882
Responded to
violent instability,
336
00:15:50,957 --> 00:15:52,922
By shaping their infants' heads.
337
00:15:54,957 --> 00:15:56,635
It's evidence that suggests
338
00:15:56,710 --> 00:15:58,875
An increase in head
shaping could occur
339
00:15:58,910 --> 00:16:03,195
During times of stress,
hardship, and uncertainty.
340
00:16:03,230 --> 00:16:06,075
So is that what was
happening in mozs?
341
00:16:06,110 --> 00:16:08,835
Because just like the
people of the colca valley,
342
00:16:08,910 --> 00:16:10,875
The inhabitants of
mozs experienced
343
00:16:10,910 --> 00:16:12,882
The collapse of a ruling empire
344
00:16:12,957 --> 00:16:15,042
And the descent into chaos.
345
00:16:15,117 --> 00:16:17,115
-[people shouting]
-[dramatic music]
346
00:16:17,150 --> 00:16:19,275
[darius] in the 5th century
along the borders,
347
00:16:19,350 --> 00:16:24,155
That large infrastructure that
provided a feeling of safety,
348
00:16:24,190 --> 00:16:26,955
That network and that
government and the military,
349
00:16:27,030 --> 00:16:30,475
Is not able to do the
job that it once did.
350
00:16:30,550 --> 00:16:32,395
[people shouting]
351
00:16:32,404 --> 00:16:34,155
It would have given you a
real sense of uncertainty
352
00:16:34,190 --> 00:16:35,995
As to what's happening next,
353
00:16:36,004 --> 00:16:39,915
And what's going to happen
in the roman empire.
354
00:16:39,950 --> 00:16:41,522
[narrator] but
despite the chaos,
355
00:16:41,597 --> 00:16:44,955
The bodies from mozs show
no evidence of injury.
356
00:16:44,990 --> 00:16:47,355
So who were they?
357
00:16:47,390 --> 00:16:50,722
Were they locals from
inside the former empire,
358
00:16:50,797 --> 00:16:53,035
Or invaders from
beyond the frontier?
359
00:16:53,044 --> 00:16:55,202
[dramatic music]
360
00:16:55,277 --> 00:16:57,915
Now groundbreaking
forensic analysis
361
00:16:57,950 --> 00:17:01,242
Is unlocking the answers
hidden deep inside their bones.
362
00:17:02,004 --> 00:17:03,515
These, along with teeth,
363
00:17:03,550 --> 00:17:05,795
Contain a record of
what we eat and drink
364
00:17:05,870 --> 00:17:08,315
While our bodies are growing.
365
00:17:08,350 --> 00:17:10,995
Using this, archaeologists
can identify
366
00:17:11,070 --> 00:17:14,075
What an individual ate
during their childhood
367
00:17:14,110 --> 00:17:15,802
And where they ate it.
368
00:17:17,310 --> 00:17:18,875
So during the project,
369
00:17:18,910 --> 00:17:22,475
We conducted different
isotopic analysis.
370
00:17:22,510 --> 00:17:24,875
This information is
extracted from the teeth,
371
00:17:24,910 --> 00:17:27,275
And occasionally we
are also taking samples
372
00:17:27,310 --> 00:17:29,202
From certain bones, like ribs
373
00:17:29,277 --> 00:17:32,042
Or sometimes small parts
of the long bones as well.
374
00:17:33,310 --> 00:17:35,035
[narrator] as
plants grow in soil,
375
00:17:35,070 --> 00:17:38,322
They pick up the unique chemical
fingerprint of that region.
376
00:17:39,350 --> 00:17:41,115
When humans eat these plants,
377
00:17:41,150 --> 00:17:43,515
These chemicals replace
some of the calcium
378
00:17:43,524 --> 00:17:45,162
In their teeth and bones.
379
00:17:46,910 --> 00:17:48,715
For the bodies from mozs,
380
00:17:48,750 --> 00:17:51,915
One chemical in particular
proves critical.
381
00:17:51,950 --> 00:17:53,275
Strontium.
382
00:17:53,350 --> 00:17:54,875
It's an element
that's composition
383
00:17:54,884 --> 00:17:58,875
And distribution varies
widely in nature.
384
00:17:58,884 --> 00:18:01,835
This geographical variation
allows archaeologists
385
00:18:01,870 --> 00:18:05,995
To identify which people in the
cemetery were raised locally
386
00:18:06,030 --> 00:18:07,835
And which weren't.
387
00:18:07,870 --> 00:18:09,835
Strontium is really
like a fingerprint
388
00:18:09,870 --> 00:18:11,675
Of a geographical area.
389
00:18:11,710 --> 00:18:13,202
[gentle music]
390
00:18:13,277 --> 00:18:14,875
[narrator] the strontium
analysis reveals
391
00:18:14,884 --> 00:18:18,882
That in the earliest burials
dated to around 430 ad,
392
00:18:18,957 --> 00:18:21,042
All the people were local
393
00:18:21,117 --> 00:18:23,675
And all had normal
shaped skulls.
394
00:18:23,684 --> 00:18:26,115
[dramatic music]
395
00:18:26,190 --> 00:18:30,475
But during the following
decade this pattern changes.
396
00:18:30,510 --> 00:18:32,635
Most of the people
buried in this phase
397
00:18:32,670 --> 00:18:34,402
Were local, as expected.
398
00:18:35,710 --> 00:18:37,275
But 12 weren't.
399
00:18:37,350 --> 00:18:38,875
They were outsiders,
400
00:18:38,910 --> 00:18:41,882
And 10 of these had
elongated skulls.
401
00:18:43,150 --> 00:18:44,875
And further analysis reveals
402
00:18:44,910 --> 00:18:47,835
They all shared the same diet.
403
00:18:47,870 --> 00:18:49,682
[istvan] that suggests
they probably
404
00:18:49,757 --> 00:18:52,482
Came from the same place
and moved together.
405
00:18:54,270 --> 00:18:55,915
[narrator] a decade
after the first burials
406
00:18:55,950 --> 00:18:57,315
In the cemetery,
407
00:18:57,390 --> 00:18:59,915
A group of strangers
arrived in mozs.
408
00:18:59,950 --> 00:19:01,595
Twelve died there.
409
00:19:01,670 --> 00:19:04,795
Ten of them with
elongated skulls.
410
00:19:04,870 --> 00:19:08,795
They came from outside the
crumbling roman empire,
411
00:19:08,830 --> 00:19:11,795
And their strange appearance
matches roman descriptions
412
00:19:11,870 --> 00:19:15,595
Of monstrous invaders who
overran the civilized world,
413
00:19:15,630 --> 00:19:17,195
-[dramatic music]
-[people shouting]
414
00:19:17,230 --> 00:19:21,915
Marauding savages from
the uncivilized east.
415
00:19:21,950 --> 00:19:26,235
[hannah-marie] the vandals,
the goths, the huns,
416
00:19:26,270 --> 00:19:29,515
Many of these names have
outlasted the roman empire
417
00:19:29,550 --> 00:19:31,835
And still resonate
with us today.
418
00:19:31,844 --> 00:19:33,275
[suspenseful music]
419
00:19:33,350 --> 00:19:35,275
[narrator] archaeologists
have found dozens
420
00:19:35,310 --> 00:19:36,715
Of other cone-shaped skulls
421
00:19:36,724 --> 00:19:39,202
Across the empire's
former eastern edge.
422
00:19:39,277 --> 00:19:41,635
Suggesting people
with elongated skulls
423
00:19:41,710 --> 00:19:43,842
Were infiltrating the region,
424
00:19:43,917 --> 00:19:44,875
-[suspenseful music]
-[horse whinnying]
425
00:19:44,910 --> 00:19:47,635
And not just any people.
426
00:19:47,710 --> 00:19:50,715
Because now startling
new scientific evidence
427
00:19:50,750 --> 00:19:53,042
Links these people to
the most terrifying
428
00:19:53,117 --> 00:19:56,235
Of all rome's enemies,
429
00:19:56,270 --> 00:19:59,835
And one of the most
infamous tribes in history.
430
00:19:59,844 --> 00:20:02,882
[suspenseful music]
431
00:20:04,030 --> 00:20:05,995
[dramatic music]
432
00:20:06,004 --> 00:20:09,115
Fifty-one bodies buried
in a small cemetery
433
00:20:09,190 --> 00:20:11,362
On the edge of the
crumbling roman empire.
434
00:20:13,390 --> 00:20:16,882
Each with a deliberately
modified, elongated head.
435
00:20:18,750 --> 00:20:22,835
Scientific analysis identifies
10 of them as outsiders
436
00:20:22,910 --> 00:20:25,362
From beyond the roman
empire's former frontier.
437
00:20:25,437 --> 00:20:26,675
[people clamoring]
438
00:20:26,750 --> 00:20:29,675
And this wasn't
a freak occurrence.
439
00:20:29,710 --> 00:20:31,275
In recent years archaeologists
440
00:20:31,310 --> 00:20:33,155
Have unearthed dozens of skulls
441
00:20:33,230 --> 00:20:36,715
Along what was once the eastern
edge of the roman empire.
442
00:20:36,724 --> 00:20:40,875
All with strikingly
similar elongated skulls,
443
00:20:40,884 --> 00:20:43,722
And all dating to the
turbulent 5th century.
444
00:20:44,990 --> 00:20:46,795
But with the empire in chaos
445
00:20:46,830 --> 00:20:49,755
And so many tribes pouring
across its borders,
446
00:20:49,790 --> 00:20:53,355
Identifying who these people
were or where they came from,
447
00:20:53,390 --> 00:20:57,915
Hasn't been possible until now.
448
00:20:57,990 --> 00:21:00,315
[krishna] we find these
skulls primarily
449
00:21:00,350 --> 00:21:02,715
In that eastern european area,
450
00:21:02,750 --> 00:21:05,155
Romania, hungary
those kind of areas.
451
00:21:05,230 --> 00:21:07,755
And then you see it
expanding a little bit out
452
00:21:07,790 --> 00:21:10,955
Towards the west into
germany, into France.
453
00:21:10,990 --> 00:21:13,522
[dramatic music]
454
00:21:13,597 --> 00:21:16,355
[narrator] advanced 21st
century dna analysis
455
00:21:16,430 --> 00:21:19,522
Has finally allowed
geneticist krishna veeramah
456
00:21:19,597 --> 00:21:21,035
To discover the identity
457
00:21:21,070 --> 00:21:24,315
Of these mysterious
5th century outsiders.
458
00:21:24,350 --> 00:21:27,915
We're using the dna that we
can get from these individuals
459
00:21:27,950 --> 00:21:30,475
To identify their
genetic origins,
460
00:21:30,510 --> 00:21:32,555
And trying to work out
where do they come from
461
00:21:32,590 --> 00:21:34,715
If they are not local.
462
00:21:34,750 --> 00:21:36,075
[narrator] among
these individuals
463
00:21:36,110 --> 00:21:37,915
Is a small group of bodies found
464
00:21:37,950 --> 00:21:40,195
In altenerding, southern germany
465
00:21:40,270 --> 00:21:43,995
Buried at the same time
as the bodies in mozs
466
00:21:44,030 --> 00:21:46,955
With strikingly similar skulls.
467
00:21:47,030 --> 00:21:49,915
So this is an example
of three skeletons
468
00:21:49,950 --> 00:21:51,955
That we were able
to get dna from.
469
00:21:52,030 --> 00:21:53,355
Furthest to the left,
470
00:21:53,390 --> 00:21:55,915
We have the most extreme
cranial deformation
471
00:21:55,990 --> 00:21:57,995
Amongst all those that we had.
472
00:21:58,030 --> 00:21:59,995
You can see a very
much larger skull,
473
00:22:00,004 --> 00:22:02,875
And it's kind of
flat at the back.
474
00:22:02,910 --> 00:22:05,035
[narrator] this
extremely elongated skull
475
00:22:05,070 --> 00:22:06,835
Offers a tantalizing clue
476
00:22:06,910 --> 00:22:10,242
To the origin of the
outsiders buried in mozs.
477
00:22:10,317 --> 00:22:11,675
[krishna]
the interesting thing about
478
00:22:11,710 --> 00:22:13,842
This particular
one on the left was
479
00:22:13,917 --> 00:22:15,915
She had both the most
extreme head shape,
480
00:22:15,950 --> 00:22:18,555
But also the most extreme
genetic difference
481
00:22:18,590 --> 00:22:20,875
From the local population.
482
00:22:20,884 --> 00:22:23,435
[narrator] her body was
found in southern germany,
483
00:22:23,510 --> 00:22:25,115
But her genetic ancestry points
484
00:22:25,190 --> 00:22:28,282
To an origin thousands
of miles to the east.
485
00:22:29,917 --> 00:22:31,915
[krishna] her genetic
background
486
00:22:31,950 --> 00:22:35,635
Has a clear east
asian component to it,
487
00:22:35,710 --> 00:22:39,682
And so she has recent ancestry
at least from east asia.
488
00:22:39,757 --> 00:22:42,882
That doesn't mean she is
necessarily born in east asia.
489
00:22:42,957 --> 00:22:44,882
But she might have
parents that have
490
00:22:44,957 --> 00:22:46,875
A strong east asian ancestry
491
00:22:46,884 --> 00:22:48,922
Maybe going back
a few generations.
492
00:22:50,957 --> 00:22:52,475
[narrator] all the
other deformed skulls
493
00:22:52,510 --> 00:22:54,955
Veeramah and his team
have tested so far,
494
00:22:54,990 --> 00:22:57,082
Show similar exotic origins.
495
00:22:58,724 --> 00:23:00,475
[krishna] this was
pretty remarkable.
496
00:23:00,510 --> 00:23:02,795
We didn't expect it
to be this clear-cut.
497
00:23:02,830 --> 00:23:06,875
Every deformed skull
had a very non-local,
498
00:23:06,910 --> 00:23:09,202
Exotic, essentially,
genetic ancestry
499
00:23:09,277 --> 00:23:11,355
That suggests that they
probably had moved from
500
00:23:11,390 --> 00:23:16,875
Somewhere in eastern europe
or even central asia.
501
00:23:16,910 --> 00:23:18,875
[narrator] the similarity
between the skulls studied
502
00:23:18,910 --> 00:23:20,955
By veeramah and the
skulls from mozs,
503
00:23:20,990 --> 00:23:25,675
Strongly suggests both share
the same origin in the east,
504
00:23:25,710 --> 00:23:28,635
In an area that gave rise
to the most notorious
505
00:23:28,670 --> 00:23:32,955
Of all the barbarian
tribes, the huns.
506
00:23:32,990 --> 00:23:35,035
[suspenseful music]
507
00:23:35,070 --> 00:23:40,635
[darius] the huns had a massive
nomadic army on a horseback,
508
00:23:40,670 --> 00:23:45,915
Originating all the way in
mongolia, in western china.
509
00:23:45,950 --> 00:23:48,875
[narrator] but despite
their fame or infamy,
510
00:23:48,884 --> 00:23:53,195
Very little is known about
who the huns really were.
511
00:23:53,230 --> 00:23:57,115
They had no written
language, left no records,
512
00:23:57,150 --> 00:23:58,715
And as nomads they built
513
00:23:58,750 --> 00:24:01,842
No monuments, cities,
or settlements.
514
00:24:01,917 --> 00:24:03,835
[hannah-marie] we don't
actually know very much
515
00:24:03,870 --> 00:24:05,835
About the huns' way of life.
516
00:24:05,870 --> 00:24:08,355
We don't know what language
they spoke, really.
517
00:24:08,430 --> 00:24:10,882
We don't know what
religion they had,
518
00:24:10,957 --> 00:24:13,995
What their daily life was like.
519
00:24:14,030 --> 00:24:15,755
[narrator] almost
everything historians
520
00:24:15,790 --> 00:24:18,362
Know about the huns is
based on roman accounts.
521
00:24:19,844 --> 00:24:23,515
From these, it seems that
sometime before 370 ad,
522
00:24:23,550 --> 00:24:25,835
The huns began to move west.
523
00:24:25,844 --> 00:24:28,155
[dramatic music]
524
00:24:28,190 --> 00:24:29,915
[hannah-marie] there is
some evidence
525
00:24:29,950 --> 00:24:32,835
That it was the climate
of the steppe regions
526
00:24:32,910 --> 00:24:35,195
That forced them to move
out of that territory.
527
00:24:35,204 --> 00:24:36,882
The climate was very dry,
528
00:24:36,957 --> 00:24:39,835
And there may have
been a drought
529
00:24:39,870 --> 00:24:41,435
Which led to famine.
530
00:24:41,510 --> 00:24:43,675
[dramatic music]
531
00:24:43,710 --> 00:24:45,475
[narrator] when the huns
left their homeland,
532
00:24:45,550 --> 00:24:47,355
It triggered a chain of
events that would lead
533
00:24:47,390 --> 00:24:51,035
From the plains of asia
to the heart of rome.
534
00:24:51,070 --> 00:24:52,475
[darius] the huns
are really seen
535
00:24:52,510 --> 00:24:55,915
As being historically
grand disrupters.
536
00:24:55,950 --> 00:24:57,515
As they push west,
537
00:24:57,550 --> 00:24:58,882
They're going to be
displacing people,
538
00:24:58,957 --> 00:25:01,042
Famously, the goths.
539
00:25:01,117 --> 00:25:02,875
The goths who were living there
540
00:25:02,910 --> 00:25:05,842
Then moved out into
vandal territory,
541
00:25:05,917 --> 00:25:09,362
Which caused the vandals
to migrate as well.
542
00:25:09,437 --> 00:25:11,955
So it's the huns that
are pushing the goths,
543
00:25:12,030 --> 00:25:13,675
That are then pushing
into the empire
544
00:25:13,684 --> 00:25:15,042
Like a big domino effect.
545
00:25:15,117 --> 00:25:16,715
-[dramatic music]
-[people shouting]
546
00:25:16,724 --> 00:25:19,275
[narrator] as the huns rampaged
across the roman empire,
547
00:25:19,310 --> 00:25:23,842
They were led by a leader whose
name still resonates today.
548
00:25:23,917 --> 00:25:25,675
[hannah-marie] ask anyone
about the huns,
549
00:25:25,710 --> 00:25:28,442
And they will undoubtedly
tell you the name attila.
550
00:25:29,790 --> 00:25:30,875
[narrator] attila led the huns
551
00:25:30,910 --> 00:25:32,875
During the early 5th century.
552
00:25:32,910 --> 00:25:34,402
At the same time as the people
553
00:25:34,477 --> 00:25:37,275
With elongated skulls
were buried in mozs
554
00:25:37,310 --> 00:25:40,795
And across the eastern
edge of the empire.
555
00:25:40,870 --> 00:25:42,882
[darius] his leadership
skills are legendary.
556
00:25:42,957 --> 00:25:46,355
Taking this kind of
dispersive, nomadic tribe,
557
00:25:46,430 --> 00:25:48,475
Putting them all together
into an incredible army,
558
00:25:48,510 --> 00:25:50,882
Unstoppable army.
559
00:25:50,957 --> 00:25:52,882
[hannah-marie] he's
remembered as being
560
00:25:52,957 --> 00:25:55,915
A particularly ferocious
military general
561
00:25:55,950 --> 00:25:58,562
Who infamously invaded
the balkans
562
00:25:58,637 --> 00:26:00,795
And then attacked Italy
563
00:26:00,830 --> 00:26:03,842
And caused the decline and
fall of the roman empire.
564
00:26:05,310 --> 00:26:06,875
[narrator] there
are few contemporary records
565
00:26:06,910 --> 00:26:08,475
Of the huns.
566
00:26:08,510 --> 00:26:11,675
But there is one tantalizing
description of attila
567
00:26:11,710 --> 00:26:15,355
Written within a 100 years
of the empire's collapse.
568
00:26:15,364 --> 00:26:16,875
[darius] we don't have
many ancient sources
569
00:26:16,910 --> 00:26:18,795
That tell us about the huns.
570
00:26:18,830 --> 00:26:20,242
One exception to this
571
00:26:20,317 --> 00:26:21,675
Is a precious document
572
00:26:21,710 --> 00:26:23,835
From jordanes in
the 6th century,
573
00:26:23,870 --> 00:26:25,275
And in that account,
574
00:26:25,310 --> 00:26:27,595
He talks specifically
of attila the hun,
575
00:26:27,670 --> 00:26:29,915
"as a man who was
born into the world
576
00:26:29,950 --> 00:26:34,242
To shake the nations as a
scourge of all the lands,"
577
00:26:34,317 --> 00:26:38,675
And he says that this was a
man who was a lover of war.
578
00:26:38,750 --> 00:26:42,075
[narrator] this account also
describes attila's features,
579
00:26:42,150 --> 00:26:44,115
Including his head.
580
00:26:44,190 --> 00:26:46,635
[darius] he describes him as
short in stature,
581
00:26:46,670 --> 00:26:50,955
Broad of chest, a large
head, and small eyes.
582
00:26:50,990 --> 00:26:53,755
So that's our physical
description that we have
583
00:26:53,790 --> 00:26:55,042
Anywhere
584
00:26:55,117 --> 00:26:59,682
About what attila the
hun actually looked like.
585
00:26:59,757 --> 00:27:02,995
[narrator] with large
heads like attila himself
586
00:27:03,070 --> 00:27:06,235
And possible origins in
central or east asia,
587
00:27:06,270 --> 00:27:08,875
It seems the outsiders
buried in the cemetery
588
00:27:08,910 --> 00:27:11,595
At mozs weren't
simply barbarians.
589
00:27:11,630 --> 00:27:14,075
They may have been
huns, the most infamous,
590
00:27:14,110 --> 00:27:18,195
And most feared of all
the invading tribes,
591
00:27:18,270 --> 00:27:19,835
And what started as a trickle,
592
00:27:19,844 --> 00:27:22,235
With the arrival
of 12 outsiders,
593
00:27:22,270 --> 00:27:23,995
Soon became a flood.
594
00:27:24,030 --> 00:27:25,835
[dramatic music]
595
00:27:25,844 --> 00:27:28,075
As the influence of rome faded,
596
00:27:28,110 --> 00:27:30,355
The number of
deliberately shaped skulls
597
00:27:30,430 --> 00:27:33,315
In the cemetery at mozs soared,
598
00:27:33,390 --> 00:27:36,715
From zero in the first
generation of burials
599
00:27:36,724 --> 00:27:39,522
To the majority just
a few decades later.
600
00:27:39,597 --> 00:27:41,515
[dramatic music]
601
00:27:41,524 --> 00:27:43,355
But when archaeologists
turn their attention
602
00:27:43,390 --> 00:27:45,842
To the cemetery's later phase,
603
00:27:45,917 --> 00:27:48,042
They discover
something puzzling.
604
00:27:49,670 --> 00:27:52,115
Not all of the people
with cone-shaped heads
605
00:27:52,190 --> 00:27:54,475
Were outsiders.
606
00:27:54,550 --> 00:27:55,915
As time passed,
607
00:27:55,950 --> 00:27:59,915
An increasing
number were locals.
608
00:27:59,950 --> 00:28:02,235
[hannah-marie] we have evidence
of people buried
609
00:28:02,270 --> 00:28:04,235
In brick-lined graves,
610
00:28:04,270 --> 00:28:05,835
Which was a roman custom.
611
00:28:05,870 --> 00:28:07,315
But some of these skeletons
612
00:28:07,390 --> 00:28:10,075
Show evidence of
cranial modification,
613
00:28:10,110 --> 00:28:11,675
Which was something
that was supposedly
614
00:28:11,684 --> 00:28:14,795
Brought into the
region by the huns.
615
00:28:14,870 --> 00:28:16,395
[narrator] the evidence suggests
616
00:28:16,430 --> 00:28:19,842
There was something
strange going on in mozs.
617
00:28:19,917 --> 00:28:24,235
The locals, people who may
have lived as roman citizens,
618
00:28:24,270 --> 00:28:26,075
Copied a tradition belonging to
619
00:28:26,110 --> 00:28:28,875
An entirely different
civilization,
620
00:28:28,910 --> 00:28:30,242
And in doing so,
621
00:28:30,317 --> 00:28:31,635
They allied their children
622
00:28:31,710 --> 00:28:34,355
With rome's mortal enemies.
623
00:28:34,430 --> 00:28:35,835
Why?
624
00:28:35,870 --> 00:28:37,882
What was it they stood to gain?
625
00:28:39,870 --> 00:28:42,235
-[dramatic music]
-[people shouting]
626
00:28:42,244 --> 00:28:45,755
The huns, the most
notorious of all the tribes
627
00:28:45,790 --> 00:28:47,995
To invade the roman empire.
628
00:28:48,004 --> 00:28:52,875
Today the word hun strikes
fear into people's hearts.
629
00:28:52,910 --> 00:28:56,875
They are remembered as being
particularly ferocious warriors
630
00:28:56,884 --> 00:29:02,395
Responsible for the decline
and fall of the roman empire.
631
00:29:02,430 --> 00:29:05,042
[narrator] ground-breaking
archaeological investigation,
632
00:29:05,117 --> 00:29:07,475
And the latest dna analysis,
633
00:29:07,550 --> 00:29:09,595
Suggests these nomadic warriors
634
00:29:09,670 --> 00:29:13,202
Proclaimed their identity in
the most extreme way possible.
635
00:29:14,910 --> 00:29:16,795
They deliberately
and irreversibly,
636
00:29:16,870 --> 00:29:19,635
Shaped their children's heads.
637
00:29:19,710 --> 00:29:21,595
[matt] cranial modification
would have been
638
00:29:21,630 --> 00:29:24,875
A very strong marker of
their shared identity.
639
00:29:24,910 --> 00:29:29,675
We are literally the same
people of the same origin,
640
00:29:29,710 --> 00:29:32,875
And that social
identity would have been
641
00:29:32,910 --> 00:29:34,875
Written into their bodies.
642
00:29:34,910 --> 00:29:36,355
-[crickets chirping]
-[dramatic music]
643
00:29:36,430 --> 00:29:37,915
[narrator] with countless
different tribes
644
00:29:37,950 --> 00:29:40,635
And groups moving through
the crumbling empire,
645
00:29:40,670 --> 00:29:43,842
All fighting for
power and resources,
646
00:29:43,917 --> 00:29:45,915
A distinctive head would
have made it possible
647
00:29:45,950 --> 00:29:50,235
To instantly distinguish
friend from foe,
648
00:29:50,270 --> 00:29:54,155
And for the huns in
particular this was crucial.
649
00:29:54,190 --> 00:29:58,075
The huns themselves
were not a single group.
650
00:29:58,150 --> 00:30:01,515
[krishna] they were multiple,
complex societies.
651
00:30:01,550 --> 00:30:02,875
They probably may have moved,
652
00:30:02,884 --> 00:30:05,155
And then added other groups in,
653
00:30:05,230 --> 00:30:07,515
And formed these
amalgamations over time.
654
00:30:07,550 --> 00:30:09,155
-[dramatic music]
-[people shouting]
655
00:30:09,230 --> 00:30:11,155
[narrator] under the charismatic
leadership of attila,
656
00:30:11,230 --> 00:30:14,242
The huns absorbed many of
the tribes they encountered
657
00:30:14,317 --> 00:30:16,235
On their journey from the east.
658
00:30:16,270 --> 00:30:18,515
[hannah-marie] we think that
their allegiance was political
659
00:30:18,590 --> 00:30:19,915
Rather than racial.
660
00:30:19,950 --> 00:30:21,675
So people who were
part of a really
661
00:30:21,710 --> 00:30:23,915
Broad diverse group
like the huns,
662
00:30:23,950 --> 00:30:27,195
Might have chosen to
adopt cranial modification
663
00:30:27,230 --> 00:30:29,282
As a means of
identifying themselves.
664
00:30:31,437 --> 00:30:33,362
[narrator] but now
analysis of the bodies
665
00:30:33,437 --> 00:30:36,315
Discovered in the 5th
century cemetery in mozs,
666
00:30:36,350 --> 00:30:38,715
Suggests the invaders
were more diverse
667
00:30:38,750 --> 00:30:41,515
Than historians ever imagined.
668
00:30:41,524 --> 00:30:45,955
Grave 86 is a burial of
a young, probably, girl,
669
00:30:46,030 --> 00:30:48,795
Based on her grave goods.
670
00:30:48,830 --> 00:30:51,002
She also had a deformed skull.
671
00:30:52,990 --> 00:30:54,395
[narrator] the girl's
cone-shaped skull
672
00:30:54,430 --> 00:30:57,315
Suggests she could be a hun.
673
00:30:57,390 --> 00:31:00,635
But her grave goods
are distinctly roman.
674
00:31:00,670 --> 00:31:03,475
[istvan] she was buried
with an earring,
675
00:31:03,550 --> 00:31:05,682
And this is a type
that's distributed
676
00:31:05,757 --> 00:31:07,675
All over the mediterranean.
677
00:31:07,710 --> 00:31:11,275
This is definitely a late
roman form of jewelry.
678
00:31:11,310 --> 00:31:13,155
[gentle music]
679
00:31:13,230 --> 00:31:15,915
[narrator] in keeping with
her roman-style grave goods,
680
00:31:15,950 --> 00:31:19,755
Strontium analysis reveals she
was born and raised locally,
681
00:31:19,790 --> 00:31:23,562
Along with many of the later
burials with modified skulls.
682
00:31:25,437 --> 00:31:27,595
[hannah-marie] finding locally
born children
683
00:31:27,630 --> 00:31:29,915
With evidence of
cranial modifications,
684
00:31:29,950 --> 00:31:33,042
Suggests that the late
roman community living here
685
00:31:33,117 --> 00:31:34,882
Might have taken the decision
686
00:31:34,957 --> 00:31:37,195
To shape their children's skulls
687
00:31:37,230 --> 00:31:40,075
In order to align
them with the culture
688
00:31:40,110 --> 00:31:42,875
That had moved into
that territory.
689
00:31:42,884 --> 00:31:45,355
[narrator] the increase in
elongated skulls in mozs
690
00:31:45,390 --> 00:31:47,915
Wasn't simply the
result of evermore huns
691
00:31:47,950 --> 00:31:50,075
Pouring across the border.
692
00:31:50,110 --> 00:31:52,955
Instead, it was because
an increasing number
693
00:31:52,990 --> 00:31:56,402
Of locally-born people
also had deformed skulls.
694
00:31:57,437 --> 00:31:59,082
And not just in mozs.
695
00:32:00,830 --> 00:32:02,875
[istvan] it's definitely
not unique to mozs.
696
00:32:02,910 --> 00:32:06,002
It's probably happened
all over the roman empire.
697
00:32:07,670 --> 00:32:09,035
[narrator] why would the locals,
698
00:32:09,044 --> 00:32:11,115
In former roman
settlements like mozs,
699
00:32:11,150 --> 00:32:12,795
Subject their children to such
700
00:32:12,870 --> 00:32:15,515
An extreme irreversible ordeal?
701
00:32:15,550 --> 00:32:18,162
Why would they align
them with the huns?
702
00:32:19,524 --> 00:32:21,842
A new scientific
investigation suggests
703
00:32:21,917 --> 00:32:23,682
The answer may
have been as simple
704
00:32:23,757 --> 00:32:25,882
And fundamental as food.
705
00:32:27,790 --> 00:32:30,195
Because the study reveals
there was a big difference
706
00:32:30,270 --> 00:32:35,915
Between the local roman
diet and that of the huns.
707
00:32:35,950 --> 00:32:38,235
[hannah-marie] isotopic
analysis suggests
708
00:32:38,270 --> 00:32:40,315
That the hunnic diet was rich
709
00:32:40,350 --> 00:32:44,242
In meat and fish and
fast-growing millet,
710
00:32:44,317 --> 00:32:48,675
And that the roman diet
was predominantly grains
711
00:32:48,750 --> 00:32:50,682
And much more narrow.
712
00:32:52,797 --> 00:32:54,515
[narrator] the
huns' meat-rich diet
713
00:32:54,590 --> 00:32:57,315
Matches an account of life
at the court of attila,
714
00:32:57,390 --> 00:32:58,955
Written by a roman diplomat,
715
00:32:58,990 --> 00:33:01,355
Who visited the
fearsome warlord's camp,
716
00:33:01,390 --> 00:33:05,795
Somewhere in hungary
in around 448 ad.
717
00:33:05,870 --> 00:33:08,002
[hannah-marie] the roman
historian, priscus,
718
00:33:08,077 --> 00:33:09,515
Gives us an account
719
00:33:09,550 --> 00:33:12,002
Of his visit to
attila's residence
720
00:33:12,077 --> 00:33:15,595
And a luxurious banquet of meat
721
00:33:15,670 --> 00:33:19,115
Presented to them
on silver plates.
722
00:33:19,150 --> 00:33:23,115
This account suggests
that the hunnic lifestyle
723
00:33:23,190 --> 00:33:26,715
May not have been
as unattractive
724
00:33:26,724 --> 00:33:30,875
As many of our other
accounts make out.
725
00:33:30,884 --> 00:33:33,515
[narrator] the huns' more
varied, more nutritious diet,
726
00:33:33,524 --> 00:33:36,882
May help to explain why the
people on the edge of empire
727
00:33:36,957 --> 00:33:40,995
Chose to join forces
with rome's enemies.
728
00:33:41,070 --> 00:33:42,882
[hannah-marie] this late
roman community,
729
00:33:42,957 --> 00:33:46,715
Living on the edges of the
empire, a very unstable place,
730
00:33:46,724 --> 00:33:50,955
Might have been attracted to
align themselves with the huns
731
00:33:50,990 --> 00:33:52,875
Because of their better diet
732
00:33:52,884 --> 00:33:55,522
And a potentially
more secure lifestyle.
733
00:33:57,230 --> 00:33:59,915
[narrator] the incentive
could not have been greater,
734
00:33:59,950 --> 00:34:01,835
Because the prize
was nothing less
735
00:34:01,844 --> 00:34:04,355
Than their children's survival.
736
00:34:04,430 --> 00:34:07,795
One of the reasons we see
it at such high frequencies
737
00:34:07,870 --> 00:34:09,995
During these periods
of social strife,
738
00:34:10,004 --> 00:34:13,835
Is because marking oneself
vis-a-vis the other
739
00:34:13,870 --> 00:34:15,755
Is of crucial importance.
740
00:34:15,790 --> 00:34:18,635
It's the difference between
life and death, potentially.
741
00:34:18,670 --> 00:34:20,235
[dramatic music]
742
00:34:20,270 --> 00:34:22,875
A child with cranial
modification,
743
00:34:22,910 --> 00:34:25,682
May have had access to
particular resources,
744
00:34:25,757 --> 00:34:29,115
Or may have enjoyed
certain social benefits,
745
00:34:29,150 --> 00:34:32,475
That other individuals
without a reshaped head
746
00:34:32,510 --> 00:34:33,882
Would not have had access to.
747
00:34:34,957 --> 00:34:36,875
And, ultimately, this can lead
748
00:34:36,910 --> 00:34:39,115
To increased
chances of survival.
749
00:34:39,150 --> 00:34:40,875
[dramatic music]
750
00:34:40,884 --> 00:34:42,475
[narrator] and a better
diet wasn't the only thing
751
00:34:42,550 --> 00:34:43,995
The huns had to offer the people
752
00:34:44,004 --> 00:34:45,915
On the frontline of the empire.
753
00:34:45,950 --> 00:34:47,635
[darius] number one,
they're apparently
754
00:34:47,710 --> 00:34:49,915
Very successful in warfare.
755
00:34:49,950 --> 00:34:52,475
Number two, they don't
seem to be going anywhere,
756
00:34:52,510 --> 00:34:55,522
And number three, them
being that new power base,
757
00:34:55,597 --> 00:34:57,995
It would make more sense
with the passing of time,
758
00:34:58,030 --> 00:35:01,835
To align yourself and your own
interests with those people
759
00:35:01,870 --> 00:35:06,675
Versus the powers of rome that
are so at this point far off.
760
00:35:06,750 --> 00:35:08,875
[narrator] this, could
be why the people of mozs
761
00:35:08,910 --> 00:35:12,402
Saw the need to align
themselves with the huns.
762
00:35:12,477 --> 00:35:15,362
They chose the winners
over the losers,
763
00:35:15,437 --> 00:35:17,842
Food over hunger,
764
00:35:17,917 --> 00:35:19,915
And they elongated
their children's skulls
765
00:35:19,950 --> 00:35:22,315
To cement this relationship,
766
00:35:22,350 --> 00:35:26,555
And ensure their survival in
this most turbulent of times.
767
00:35:26,590 --> 00:35:28,875
Modifying the head
of a child was a way
768
00:35:28,910 --> 00:35:31,835
Of permanently
inscribing on their body,
769
00:35:31,870 --> 00:35:33,682
A form of privilege.
770
00:35:33,757 --> 00:35:35,195
[narrator] for the huns
771
00:35:35,204 --> 00:35:36,875
And the locals who
lived alongside them,
772
00:35:36,884 --> 00:35:40,882
An elongated head was more
than a mark of identity.
773
00:35:40,957 --> 00:35:46,722
It was a passport to a better,
potentially longer life.
774
00:35:46,797 --> 00:35:48,155
[istvan] the skulls
of these children
775
00:35:48,190 --> 00:35:50,075
Tell us that as parents,
776
00:35:50,110 --> 00:35:52,235
We would do anything
to our children
777
00:35:52,270 --> 00:35:54,555
To provide them a better future.
778
00:35:54,590 --> 00:35:55,955
[dramatic music]
779
00:35:56,030 --> 00:35:57,835
[narrator] from
this small cemetery
780
00:35:57,870 --> 00:36:00,235
On the farthest edge
of the roman empire,
781
00:36:00,270 --> 00:36:03,595
A previously untold
story is emerging
782
00:36:03,630 --> 00:36:06,235
Of the huns, not
as brutal savages,
783
00:36:06,270 --> 00:36:09,242
But as people to be
admired and emulated.
784
00:36:11,150 --> 00:36:13,362
This sort of evidence
does suggest then
785
00:36:13,437 --> 00:36:15,995
That the simplistic view
of in come the invaders
786
00:36:16,030 --> 00:36:19,035
Into the empire and go
in conquest and move on
787
00:36:19,070 --> 00:36:21,842
Is actually much more nuanced.
788
00:36:21,917 --> 00:36:24,355
[narrator] it seems
that at least in mozs,
789
00:36:24,430 --> 00:36:27,515
The bad guys weren't
so bad after all.
790
00:36:27,550 --> 00:36:30,002
They were immigrants,
not invaders.
791
00:36:30,077 --> 00:36:32,715
Settlers, not nomads.
792
00:36:32,750 --> 00:36:35,435
[darius] we can now go back and
reassess what we've learned,
793
00:36:35,470 --> 00:36:38,075
Maybe unlearn it,
and have a more
794
00:36:38,150 --> 00:36:40,602
Sophisticated view of the huns.
795
00:36:42,430 --> 00:36:43,915
[narrator] it's clear
something strange
796
00:36:43,950 --> 00:36:47,955
Was happening on the
empire's former frontier.
797
00:36:48,030 --> 00:36:51,682
Something that conflicts with
the standard version of events
798
00:36:51,757 --> 00:36:53,842
In which savage
barbarians from the east
799
00:36:53,917 --> 00:36:55,995
Destroyed roman civilization
800
00:36:56,030 --> 00:36:59,995
And plunged europe
into the dark ages.
801
00:37:00,030 --> 00:37:03,682
How can the history of the
roman empire's fall from power
802
00:37:03,757 --> 00:37:07,762
Enshrined as fact for more
than a millennium be wrong?
803
00:37:10,910 --> 00:37:13,435
-[suspenseful music]
-[people shouting]
804
00:37:13,510 --> 00:37:15,275
As the roman empire collapsed,
805
00:37:15,310 --> 00:37:16,842
Two worlds collided.
806
00:37:18,910 --> 00:37:21,995
Roman writers paint the huns
as bloodthirsty invaders,
807
00:37:22,004 --> 00:37:23,682
Hell-bent on destruction.
808
00:37:26,830 --> 00:37:30,722
But now, the discovery of 51
deliberately deformed skulls
809
00:37:30,797 --> 00:37:32,562
In the empire's eastern reaches,
810
00:37:32,637 --> 00:37:35,835
Is revealing a very
different picture.
811
00:37:35,870 --> 00:37:38,555
[hannah-marie] we've had this
story presented to us
812
00:37:38,590 --> 00:37:40,875
That with the fall
of the roman empire
813
00:37:40,910 --> 00:37:45,435
Came the collapse of
civilization as we know it.
814
00:37:45,470 --> 00:37:47,515
But actually, this
is a very inaccurate
815
00:37:47,550 --> 00:37:50,115
Representation of
what happened.
816
00:37:50,190 --> 00:37:51,755
[darius] of course, there's
going to be these flashpoints,
817
00:37:51,790 --> 00:37:53,315
These dramatic moments,
818
00:37:53,390 --> 00:37:57,195
These losses in these
battles over centuries.
819
00:37:57,204 --> 00:38:00,635
But really, it's
this gradual change,
820
00:38:00,670 --> 00:38:02,675
And pivot into new powers
821
00:38:02,750 --> 00:38:07,835
That were occupying the
empire and not going away.
822
00:38:07,870 --> 00:38:10,402
[narrator] the evidence
from mozs suggests the huns,
823
00:38:10,477 --> 00:38:13,362
And their fellow barbarians
were a consequence
824
00:38:13,437 --> 00:38:17,795
And not a cause of the
roman empire's collapse.
825
00:38:17,870 --> 00:38:19,115
There's so many
factors then that lead
826
00:38:19,150 --> 00:38:21,042
To the fall of the roman empire.
827
00:38:21,117 --> 00:38:22,235
-[people shouting]
-[suspenseful music]
828
00:38:22,244 --> 00:38:23,995
The tax revenue is not there.
829
00:38:24,004 --> 00:38:26,875
That power, the military,
it's breaking down.
830
00:38:26,910 --> 00:38:29,475
[dramatic music]
831
00:38:29,550 --> 00:38:31,675
[narrator] the empire's
complex economy
832
00:38:31,710 --> 00:38:35,675
In which taxation,
agriculture, a vast army,
833
00:38:35,710 --> 00:38:40,122
And huge cities all relied on
each other was its strength.
834
00:38:40,990 --> 00:38:44,235
But also, its weakness.
835
00:38:44,270 --> 00:38:46,075
Because when things went wrong,
836
00:38:46,110 --> 00:38:49,835
This carefully constructed
house of cards collapsed.
837
00:38:49,844 --> 00:38:52,875
[dramatic music]
838
00:38:52,910 --> 00:38:55,355
And, of course, other
people are going to come
839
00:38:55,390 --> 00:38:57,115
And fill in that vacuum.
840
00:38:57,150 --> 00:38:59,915
[dramatic music]
841
00:38:59,950 --> 00:39:03,362
[narrator] some of these
people fought, some settled.
842
00:39:03,437 --> 00:39:06,835
But they all shared
a common purpose.
843
00:39:06,910 --> 00:39:09,115
[istvan] the goal of these
people is really
844
00:39:09,150 --> 00:39:12,795
Sustaining their
lives, their economies.
845
00:39:12,870 --> 00:39:17,202
One way is to lead successful
military campaigns,
846
00:39:17,277 --> 00:39:22,635
Plundering or forcing payments
in the form of tribute,
847
00:39:22,710 --> 00:39:26,675
Or moving into the area of
the empire of settling down
848
00:39:26,750 --> 00:39:28,002
And living off the land.
849
00:39:29,230 --> 00:39:30,715
[narrator] instead of invaders,
850
00:39:30,750 --> 00:39:32,715
Many of these people
were migrants,
851
00:39:32,750 --> 00:39:35,922
Or even refugees in
search of a better life.
852
00:39:37,470 --> 00:39:39,315
[darius] people come inside,
853
00:39:39,390 --> 00:39:42,875
People settle, people
interact, people merge,
854
00:39:42,910 --> 00:39:47,682
And so you have this kind of
much more complex relationship
855
00:39:47,757 --> 00:39:50,555
That's going on between
these conquerors
856
00:39:50,590 --> 00:39:53,115
And then the romans.
857
00:39:53,150 --> 00:39:55,115
[narrator] this relationship
between these two
858
00:39:55,150 --> 00:39:58,235
Supposedly sworn
enemies was so strong,
859
00:39:58,270 --> 00:40:00,875
That by the time of the
last burials in mozs,
860
00:40:00,910 --> 00:40:03,035
When almost everyone
buried in the cemetery
861
00:40:03,070 --> 00:40:04,882
Had an elongated head,
862
00:40:04,957 --> 00:40:06,722
The distinction between invaders
863
00:40:06,797 --> 00:40:10,635
And locals may have
ceased to exist.
864
00:40:10,670 --> 00:40:12,075
[darius] it's really at a
certain point
865
00:40:12,150 --> 00:40:14,635
Hard to distinguish
you from them,
866
00:40:14,670 --> 00:40:18,155
When you've been interacting
with each other for so long.
867
00:40:18,230 --> 00:40:20,075
[hannah-marie] this evidence
really strongly
868
00:40:20,110 --> 00:40:22,875
Challenges the
idea that the huns,
869
00:40:22,884 --> 00:40:25,915
Or any other invading
groups in this period,
870
00:40:25,950 --> 00:40:30,122
Simply came in and destroyed
the areas that they invaded.
871
00:40:31,310 --> 00:40:33,275
[narrator] for 1500 years,
872
00:40:33,310 --> 00:40:34,955
The generally accepted story
873
00:40:34,990 --> 00:40:38,082
Of rome's fall from
power has been wrong.
874
00:40:40,750 --> 00:40:43,762
The question, is why?
875
00:40:45,550 --> 00:40:49,515
And the answer lies with the
original source material.
876
00:40:49,524 --> 00:40:52,475
They say history is
written by the victors.
877
00:40:52,510 --> 00:40:55,595
But in this case,
that's not accurate.
878
00:40:55,630 --> 00:40:58,002
The written sources that
we have of this period
879
00:40:58,077 --> 00:40:59,955
Were written by the romans.
880
00:41:00,030 --> 00:41:01,522
-[dramatic music]
-[people shouting]
881
00:41:01,597 --> 00:41:03,842
[narrator] historians have
had to rely on a version
882
00:41:03,917 --> 00:41:07,675
Of the empire's collapse
written by the losers,
883
00:41:07,710 --> 00:41:09,682
The educated roman elite,
884
00:41:09,757 --> 00:41:13,035
Living 700 miles
from the frontier.
885
00:41:13,070 --> 00:41:15,155
[hannah-marie] we get a really
strong sense from them
886
00:41:15,230 --> 00:41:17,955
That they are trying to
present their enemies
887
00:41:18,030 --> 00:41:21,115
As more fearsome and terrible,
888
00:41:21,190 --> 00:41:24,922
To make their losses
seem less shameful.
889
00:41:25,950 --> 00:41:27,355
[narrator] to save face,
890
00:41:27,390 --> 00:41:30,235
Roman writers cast
the blame on the huns.
891
00:41:30,270 --> 00:41:34,635
Spinning a story of good
romans versus bad barbarians,
892
00:41:34,670 --> 00:41:37,682
Civilized versus uncivilized.
893
00:41:38,750 --> 00:41:40,075
And with no written language
894
00:41:40,110 --> 00:41:42,555
To preserve the huns'
side of the story,
895
00:41:42,590 --> 00:41:45,482
Roman propaganda became
accepted history.
896
00:41:47,630 --> 00:41:51,362
But now, scientific analysis
of these extraordinary skulls
897
00:41:51,437 --> 00:41:54,555
Is helping archaeologists
to see through the spin,
898
00:41:54,590 --> 00:41:57,355
And piece together the
reality of ordinary life
899
00:41:57,390 --> 00:41:59,122
In the crumbling roman empire.
900
00:42:01,030 --> 00:42:03,435
[hannah-marie] archaeology can
help us to tell those stories
901
00:42:03,510 --> 00:42:05,202
That need to be told.
902
00:42:05,277 --> 00:42:07,035
About what life was actually
903
00:42:07,070 --> 00:42:09,195
Like during historical periods.
904
00:42:09,204 --> 00:42:10,635
[dramatic music]
905
00:42:10,710 --> 00:42:13,915
[narrator] thanks to 51
strangely shaped skulls,
906
00:42:13,950 --> 00:42:17,915
Microscopic traces of
strontium, carbon, and nitrogen,
907
00:42:17,950 --> 00:42:20,722
Tiny variations in genetic code,
908
00:42:20,797 --> 00:42:23,635
And the experience of a
radically different culture,
909
00:42:23,710 --> 00:42:26,155
In a different time and place,
910
00:42:26,190 --> 00:42:28,555
The story of the
people on the frontline
911
00:42:28,590 --> 00:42:30,395
Of men, women, and children,
912
00:42:30,430 --> 00:42:34,075
Who experienced the fall
of the empire firsthand,
913
00:42:34,110 --> 00:42:36,955
Can finally be told.
914
00:42:36,990 --> 00:42:39,842
[hannah-marie] sites like mozs
help us to tell the stories
915
00:42:39,917 --> 00:42:41,915
About the people
who actually lived
916
00:42:41,950 --> 00:42:44,882
During the transformation
of europe and asia
917
00:42:44,957 --> 00:42:48,282
From roman rule
into something new.
918
00:42:49,950 --> 00:42:53,315
[narrator] but the new community
in mozs was short lived.
919
00:42:53,390 --> 00:42:56,315
In 453 ad attila died,
920
00:42:56,350 --> 00:42:59,835
Plunging the huns'
territories into civil war.
921
00:42:59,844 --> 00:43:00,995
In little more than a decade,
922
00:43:01,070 --> 00:43:03,275
Their empire disappeared,
923
00:43:03,310 --> 00:43:06,875
And the huns vanished from
contemporary accounts.
924
00:43:06,910 --> 00:43:10,875
There are no burials at
mozs after around 470 ad,
925
00:43:10,910 --> 00:43:14,475
Just 40 years after the
cemetery was founded.
926
00:43:14,550 --> 00:43:16,515
And the practice of
cranial modification
927
00:43:16,590 --> 00:43:19,915
Petered out across europe
over the following decades.
928
00:43:19,950 --> 00:43:22,115
So it seems to be that
kind of window in time,
929
00:43:22,190 --> 00:43:25,515
In which it was culturally
acceptable to a degree,
930
00:43:25,550 --> 00:43:27,035
And then afterwards,
931
00:43:27,044 --> 00:43:28,635
Maybe through merger of
other peoples or whatnot,
932
00:43:28,670 --> 00:43:29,915
Different cultural norms,
933
00:43:29,950 --> 00:43:31,355
It's no longer prevalent.
934
00:43:31,390 --> 00:43:32,882
[dramatic music]
935
00:43:32,957 --> 00:43:34,882
[narrator] but this
fleeting practice
936
00:43:34,957 --> 00:43:39,275
In this short-lived community
leaves a lasting legacy
937
00:43:39,310 --> 00:43:42,635
That reveals for many of the
people living in the empire
938
00:43:42,670 --> 00:43:45,522
For many of those
arriving from the east
939
00:43:45,597 --> 00:43:48,955
The fall of the roman
empire wasn't a disaster.
940
00:43:48,990 --> 00:43:50,882
It was an opportunity,
941
00:43:50,957 --> 00:43:54,635
That offered the hope of
a new life in a new land
942
00:43:54,710 --> 00:43:57,322
And a better future
for all their children.