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00:00:06,173 --> 00:00:08,707
Narrator: Where
emperors reign.
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And gladiators entertain.
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Site of luxury, excess and the
ever-present danger of the mob.
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For five centuries, rome
dominates the western world,
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But the real secret of the
empire's power lies elsewhere,
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Beneath the seas
it once commanded.
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Jon: Without the sea and
without controlling the trade
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Routes of the sea, there
would have been no empire.
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Narrator: Imagine if we
could empty the oceans,
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Letting the water drain away,
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To reveal the secrets
of the seafloor.
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Now, we can.
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Using accurate data and
astonishing technology to
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Bring light once
again to a lost world.
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This time, how does
a mysterious lake,
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Miles from the city,
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Explain rome's mastery
of the mediterranean.
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Peter: It was built on a
scale unlike anything else,
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Only the roman emperors
were this ambitious.
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Narrator: What can a maritime
graveyard unearthed in an
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Italian field tell us of
rome's one great weakness?
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And how does a lost marvel on
a distant mediterranean shore
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Explain rome's greatest
ever feat of engineering.
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Beverly: The romans
took technology to a
whole 'nother level.
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(theme music plays),
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Narrator: When the
great historian, livy,
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Sets out to write the
story of his city,
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He knows it all comes
down to location.
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Livy: Gods and men
together chose this place.
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Hills with pure air.
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A convenient river.
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A sea, handy for our needs.
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All these advantages
marked us out for glory.
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Narrator: Rome is the
world's first superpower,
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But it doesn't start that way.
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Over the course of 500 years,
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It grows from a
fortified settlement
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To a powerful
republic and finally,
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An empire.
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Demanding the allegiance
of over 16 million people,
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From britain in the north,
down the coast of africa
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And into the middle east.
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Rome's power rests on the
unrivalled might of its army.
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And engineering skills
that astonish its rivals.
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But that's not all.
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Jon: So everyone thinks
they know the story of the
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Roman empire, it's a story
of legions and of roads and
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Of building massive structures.
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But the key really was
control of the sea.
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Narrator: Controlling
the seas is essential,
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Because rome struggles
to feed its people.
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By the first century ad, the
population of the capital
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Swells to one million.
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The largest city the
world has ever seen.
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And if those people
go hungry, they riot.
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Jon: What rome
is dependent on,
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Obtaining about 150 to 300
million tons of grain annually
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To keep the population fed,
if you were an emperor,
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You wanted to be seen as
someone who was providing
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For the population.
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So really, without
that grain coming in,
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They couldn't
hold on to power.
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Narrator: How the
emperors managed this has
long puzzled historians.
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But now, buried underground
and miles inland,
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An extraordinary discovery
could unlock the mystery.
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Rome's challenge isn't shipping
grain from the empire.
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It's getting it to
the city itself.
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15 miles from the sea.
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There must have been a huge
port somewhere on the coast,
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Or inland, up the river tiber.
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But its whereabouts
are a mystery.
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Today, international teams are
trying to piece together the
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Puzzle of the lost port.
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Archaeologist, peter campbell,
is determined to discovery how
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Rome handled its
biggest problem.
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Peter: Feeding nearly a
million people would have
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Been an incredible task.
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The ability to get that
material from around the
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Mediterranean up to the city
took just an incredible amount
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Of human willpower and labor.
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Simon: You need
anchorage space,
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You need harbor facilities.
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Narrator: Simon kay
leads a group of experts
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Who are studying
the lost port.
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Simon: You need the
infrastructure to support them
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And you need the
administrative framework
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Indeed, to enable
them to function.
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Narrator: Clues, first
unearthed over a century ago,
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Are tantalizing.
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Simon: The early sources
are very very important.
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They saw things,
they recorded them.
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Narrator: Historical texts
refer to a port without equal.
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Somewhere on the coast,
near the mouth of the tiber.
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Established by the
emperor claudius by 46 ad.
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And extended by the emperor
trajan, over 60 years later.
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The romans call it portus.
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A single carved relief,
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Dating from the late
second century ad
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Hints at its magnificence.
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But gives no sense of its
true scale, or how it worked.
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Other sources speak of a
hexagonal basin at the center
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Of a vast complex, called
the portus traiani.
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Could evidence of it still
survive, 2,000 years later?
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Simon is convinced
that it does,
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About 15 miles south of rome,
where he's come to investigate
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Strange ruins and
a mysterious lake.
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It has six clearly defined
sites and looks manmade.
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It covers almost 80 acres,
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As large as 13 roman
coliseums joined together.
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But there's a problem.
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It's two miles from the
mediterranean coast.
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Could the heart of the legendary
portus lie so far in land.
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And where is the rest of it?
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Simon: So little is known about
the layout of the ancient port.
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It's very, very hard
to understand how it
all fits together.
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Narrator: Archaeologists
survey close to the lake.
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Man: Through here, then you
just get in the different
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Phases, running
down through there.
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Narrator: Probing beneath
the surface for any evidence.
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Man: About a meter, a
meter and a half or so,
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Four meters you start
hitting the water table.
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Narrator: Combining
discoveries made here during
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Past construction work.
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And these new archaeological
investigations.
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It's now possible to produce
a new window into the past.
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The mud and silt of
2,000 years drains away.
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And six feet
below the surface,
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Buried archaeological
treasure.
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The remains, not of a port.
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But something that
might have used it.
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A boat.
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From this field, two
miles from the coast,
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Four other vessels
emerge into the light.
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It's an extraordinary
discovery.
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The archaeologists
pour over the evidence.
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00:09:42,783 --> 00:09:46,701
And realize they are some
of the most complete
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Roman vessels ever discovered.
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It's even possible
to date one of them.
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Peter: Based on the
construction features,
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We can estimate that it dates
to the second century ad.
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Narrator: In the
second century,
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00:10:02,302 --> 00:10:05,170
The roman empire
is at its height.
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If it ever needed
a truly grand port,
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This is the moment.
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00:10:13,213 --> 00:10:16,948
But if these
beautifully preserved
boats used this port,
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00:10:17,050 --> 00:10:20,568
Why are they
so far inland?
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00:10:23,573 --> 00:10:25,974
Peter campbell
finds more evidence.
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00:10:28,111 --> 00:10:30,178
Not far from the wooden boats,
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00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:34,265
The remains of what looks
like a long, low wall.
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00:10:36,069 --> 00:10:39,437
And it's definitely roman.
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00:10:46,513 --> 00:10:50,315
More surveys reveal this is
just one section of an early
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00:10:50,417 --> 00:10:52,901
6,000 foot long structure.
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Now, mostly hidden
beneath the ground.
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Further archaeological work
unearths a second wall,
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Curling back
towards the first.
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And deposits on the walls
give a further clue.
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Peter: If you walk
along the structure,
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You can actually see calcium
deposits at a certain level
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00:11:17,744 --> 00:11:20,078
And it creates this white line
along the length of it and
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Those are actually
marine concretions.
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00:11:23,884 --> 00:11:26,568
Narrator: Marine concretions
are sediments that cling to
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Structures at seawater
level, leaving a white mark.
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This whole area, close
to the hexagonal basin,
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Was once under water.
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It's another astonishing find.
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In roman days, this is
where the coast was.
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And the curving structures make
up a huge protective harbor.
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This must be portus.
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00:12:05,842 --> 00:12:08,476
But one big question remains.
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The city is 15 miles
further inland.
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Connected to the sea by the
river tiber and the mouth of
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The river is nearly
two miles from portus.
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So how did food
ever get to rome?
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00:12:39,743 --> 00:12:43,178
Narrator: The architects who
designed portus faced one key
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Challenge, feeding rome's
million strong population.
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00:12:49,002 --> 00:12:53,338
So how does the harbor connect
to the city, 15 miles away?
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Moving huge volumes of
cargo by existing roads
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Would have been costly.
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00:13:02,916 --> 00:13:05,667
And the most obvious route
to rome, the river tiber,
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00:13:05,786 --> 00:13:09,237
Is too shallow for
merchant vessels.
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00:13:13,910 --> 00:13:18,313
Studying the ancient
boats dug up nearby,
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00:13:18,415 --> 00:13:23,001
Peter campbell finds
an important clue.
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00:13:25,772 --> 00:13:27,605
Peter: Rather than
having a v shape,
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As you would have
with a seagoing ship,
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00:13:29,376 --> 00:13:31,309
This actually has a
relatively flat bottom,
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Which would have
allowed it to travel in
much shallower waters.
187
00:13:34,614 --> 00:13:37,599
It was used within the
harbor and up the tiber.
188
00:13:38,635 --> 00:13:40,668
This vessel's an important
piece of the puzzle in the
189
00:13:40,770 --> 00:13:44,205
Network that connected
the ocean to the city.
190
00:13:46,610 --> 00:13:50,211
Narrator: The harbor lies
more than a mile from the
banks of the tiber.
191
00:13:52,249 --> 00:13:56,401
How could a cargo carrying
vessel reach the river?
192
00:13:57,804 --> 00:14:01,506
Peter consults the
archaeological surveys.
193
00:14:01,608 --> 00:14:05,844
And spots a set of parallel
lines near the hexagonal basin.
194
00:14:08,048 --> 00:14:12,066
They look like the remains
of a manmade channel.
195
00:14:13,537 --> 00:14:17,505
The data reveals a major
canal system connected
196
00:14:17,607 --> 00:14:22,076
Portus harbor to the tiber.
197
00:14:23,847 --> 00:14:27,699
An astonishing feat
of roman engineering.
198
00:14:29,870 --> 00:14:33,671
Peter: If you look at the
landscape of the river today,
199
00:14:33,773 --> 00:14:36,207
There's the main channel
that we're in right now.
200
00:14:36,309 --> 00:14:38,243
But in the past, there would
have been multiple other
201
00:14:38,345 --> 00:14:41,246
Canals, and we've only
recently discovered those
202
00:14:41,348 --> 00:14:44,082
Others through geoarchaeology.
203
00:14:46,403 --> 00:14:49,203
Narrator: The archaeologists
now understand the full scale
204
00:14:49,306 --> 00:14:52,874
Of the portus complex and
how it connects to rome.
205
00:14:55,011 --> 00:14:57,946
But there is still a mystery.
206
00:14:58,048 --> 00:15:01,733
At the heart of the port,
beyond the vast main harbor,
207
00:15:01,835 --> 00:15:05,603
Lies the huge enclosed
hexagonal basin.
208
00:15:06,306 --> 00:15:10,475
Apparently, unique
in the ancient world.
209
00:15:10,577 --> 00:15:13,411
But what was it for?
210
00:15:14,414 --> 00:15:18,633
Today, from the surface, it
seems like an ordinary lake.
211
00:15:19,603 --> 00:15:22,070
But by using the latest
computer visualization
212
00:15:22,172 --> 00:15:26,908
Techniques, we
can look deeper.
213
00:15:31,214 --> 00:15:34,632
As the water seeps
away, it exposes,
214
00:15:34,734 --> 00:15:37,402
Not the muddy banks
of a natural lake,
215
00:15:37,504 --> 00:15:40,371
But a crumbling brick wall.
216
00:15:41,841 --> 00:15:46,110
Similar walls support the
other sides of the hexagon
217
00:15:46,212 --> 00:15:49,781
And then something startling.
218
00:15:50,884 --> 00:15:54,736
A white block, with a
hole through the center.
219
00:15:55,171 --> 00:15:58,873
One of dozens protruding
from the brickwork.
220
00:15:58,975 --> 00:16:03,645
Close by, the
remains of a column.
221
00:16:05,248 --> 00:16:10,468
And just visible on it, roman
symbols for the number 23.
222
00:16:17,477 --> 00:16:22,313
Can ruins scattered nearby help
reveal the hexagon's purpose?
223
00:16:24,150 --> 00:16:26,734
Simon keay thinks so.
224
00:16:29,039 --> 00:16:33,875
To his expert eye, they
are roman and important.
225
00:16:36,413 --> 00:16:38,046
Simon: I'm currently standing
on one of the largest
226
00:16:38,148 --> 00:16:41,265
Surviving buildings
from portus.
227
00:16:41,334 --> 00:16:44,435
Narrator: The thick walls,
large enclosed space and a
228
00:16:44,537 --> 00:16:48,306
Wide opening all
point to one thing.
229
00:16:49,509 --> 00:16:52,477
These are warehouses.
230
00:16:52,579 --> 00:16:55,446
Warehouses designed to store
the most important commodity
231
00:16:55,548 --> 00:16:59,634
In the roman empire, grain
for the people of rome.
232
00:17:00,637 --> 00:17:03,771
Simon: They are the largest
place of grain storage in the
233
00:17:03,873 --> 00:17:07,809
Whole portus complex,
making them the largest
234
00:17:07,911 --> 00:17:11,079
Grain warehouses in
the roman empire.
235
00:17:14,901 --> 00:17:19,370
Narrator: It's now
clear what the drained
hexagonal lake is for.
236
00:17:22,609 --> 00:17:25,443
Mooring rings for
ships to unload,
237
00:17:25,545 --> 00:17:27,745
A broad quayside
surrounding the lake.
238
00:17:30,750 --> 00:17:33,334
And the numbered
column docking station,
239
00:17:33,436 --> 00:17:36,537
One of dozens in
the whole complex.
240
00:17:37,273 --> 00:17:41,242
The hexagon is the
heart of portus.
241
00:17:42,812 --> 00:17:47,448
A purpose built facility
to manage dozens of
cargo ships at a time.
242
00:17:50,603 --> 00:17:52,937
Decades of archaeological
work haven't simply found some
243
00:17:53,039 --> 00:17:56,541
Ancient docks and warehouse.
244
00:17:56,626 --> 00:18:00,611
They've uncovered the secret
to the success of rome itself,
245
00:18:00,780 --> 00:18:04,182
Allowing us to understand
exactly how the emperors
246
00:18:04,284 --> 00:18:06,901
Fed a million people.
247
00:18:09,706 --> 00:18:13,374
Now, for the first time
in almost two millennia,
248
00:18:13,476 --> 00:18:17,712
The true scale and brilliance
of portus is revealed in full.
249
00:18:21,901 --> 00:18:25,403
Approaching ships arrive
at the outer harbor.
250
00:18:25,505 --> 00:18:29,107
Some moor here.
251
00:18:30,343 --> 00:18:33,811
Others head further
into the port.
252
00:18:34,447 --> 00:18:38,666
To dock at numbered
mooring rings.
253
00:18:43,873 --> 00:18:48,509
The great basin can
hold over 100 vessels.
254
00:18:51,447 --> 00:18:55,766
Surrounding them, another
engineering marvel and a hint
255
00:18:55,869 --> 00:18:59,137
Of the majesty of rome.
256
00:19:01,374 --> 00:19:04,742
Not only warehouses
and harbor offices,
257
00:19:04,844 --> 00:19:08,045
But giant temples
and statues too.
258
00:19:10,650 --> 00:19:13,668
The sheer volume of goods
passing through portus is
259
00:19:13,770 --> 00:19:17,305
Beyond anything the
world has ever seen.
260
00:19:19,108 --> 00:19:22,844
While a host of smaller barges
wait to ferry cargo through
261
00:19:22,946 --> 00:19:27,181
The canals, to the river
tiber and onto rome.
262
00:19:29,769 --> 00:19:33,604
The hexagonal basin at portus
is the final crucial link in
263
00:19:33,706 --> 00:19:37,909
The supply chain from the
empire to rome itself.
264
00:19:41,981 --> 00:19:46,434
The ultimate symbol of
rome's mastery of the seas.
265
00:19:48,171 --> 00:19:50,638
Jon: In portus, we're seeing
the roman empire at its height,
266
00:19:50,740 --> 00:19:52,673
We're seeing the first
and second centuries ad,
267
00:19:52,775 --> 00:19:54,609
They're building
a massive port.
268
00:19:54,711 --> 00:19:57,378
And it's the most advanced,
it's the most monumental,
269
00:19:57,480 --> 00:19:59,647
It's the most spectacular port
and it's actually making a
270
00:19:59,749 --> 00:20:01,799
Statement about rome.
271
00:20:03,803 --> 00:20:06,637
Narrator: Vessels from
across the empire flock
272
00:20:06,739 --> 00:20:09,607
To this engineering marvel.
273
00:20:09,709 --> 00:20:14,412
Can the surprising cargo of
one ship destined for portus
274
00:20:14,514 --> 00:20:19,533
Explain how rome survives one
of its greatest ever disasters?
275
00:20:30,079 --> 00:20:31,646
Narrator: The mediterranean,
276
00:20:31,748 --> 00:20:34,448
Superhighway of
the roman empire.
277
00:20:35,535 --> 00:20:38,536
For five centuries, it's
crisscrossed by merchant
278
00:20:38,638 --> 00:20:42,540
Ships, many carrying
grain to portus.
279
00:20:45,311 --> 00:20:48,379
Very few have ever been found.
280
00:20:50,917 --> 00:20:54,468
But off the coast of Spain,
near the city of alicante,
281
00:20:54,570 --> 00:20:57,171
An ancient shipwreck is
discovered by two amateur
282
00:20:57,273 --> 00:21:01,676
Divers, jose bou
and antoine ferrer.
283
00:21:04,380 --> 00:21:09,500
Maritime archaeologists name
it after them, the bou ferrer.
284
00:21:12,472 --> 00:21:14,905
When carols de juan
hears about it,
285
00:21:15,008 --> 00:21:17,775
He sets out to discover more.
286
00:21:24,484 --> 00:21:25,566
Carlos: We have
seen everything,
287
00:21:25,668 --> 00:21:27,501
So a sea break
from roman period,
288
00:21:27,603 --> 00:21:31,672
Right underneath where
we are right now.
289
00:21:32,842 --> 00:21:35,543
It is absolutely emotional.
290
00:21:35,645 --> 00:21:37,712
Emotional moment.
291
00:21:39,048 --> 00:21:42,333
And I felt that it was the
beginning of something.
292
00:21:51,411 --> 00:21:53,678
Narrator: 80 feet
below the surface,
293
00:21:53,780 --> 00:21:56,847
Something rare and precious.
294
00:21:58,301 --> 00:22:03,104
The bones of the bou ferrer
and the remains of her cargo.
295
00:22:04,907 --> 00:22:08,476
Carlos thinks its
roman, but is he right?
296
00:22:10,113 --> 00:22:13,180
And what was she carrying?
297
00:22:20,340 --> 00:22:23,841
The mediterranean empties.
298
00:22:25,978 --> 00:22:29,180
And light pours once again
onto this ancient and
299
00:22:29,282 --> 00:22:32,233
Mysterious ship.
300
00:22:33,936 --> 00:22:38,105
Spread across the seafloor,
a mountain of amphorae,
301
00:22:38,241 --> 00:22:41,208
Many completely intact,
despite lying at the bottom of
302
00:22:41,310 --> 00:22:44,845
The mediterranean
for many centuries.
303
00:22:47,784 --> 00:22:51,168
The storage jars are
used to carry food,
304
00:22:51,270 --> 00:22:53,504
Oil and wine in
the ancient world.
305
00:22:56,509 --> 00:22:59,944
Clear evidence that
this is a roman wreck.
306
00:23:03,816 --> 00:23:07,501
The sheer number of amphorae
suggests she was an unusually
307
00:23:07,603 --> 00:23:12,440
Large cargo ship, but
little of her frame remains.
308
00:23:13,876 --> 00:23:18,712
Just a few timbers from
the hull have survived
the ravages of time.
309
00:23:22,301 --> 00:23:24,168
Carlos: It is a great
opportunity for the
310
00:23:24,270 --> 00:23:28,672
Archaeology to learn more
about those big vessels,
311
00:23:28,775 --> 00:23:31,909
Those merchant vessels
of roman period.
312
00:23:35,248 --> 00:23:38,899
Narrator: The fully drained
remains reveal a shape that's
313
00:23:39,001 --> 00:23:42,136
Typical of a roman
merchant ship,
314
00:23:42,238 --> 00:23:44,905
But much bigger than most.
315
00:23:49,645 --> 00:23:52,746
Pulling her skeleton together
from the bottom of the sea,
316
00:23:52,849 --> 00:23:55,566
We can recreate the
bou ferrer as she was
317
00:23:55,668 --> 00:23:58,269
On the day she sank.
318
00:24:01,808 --> 00:24:04,842
30 feet wide and
almost 100 feet long,
319
00:24:04,944 --> 00:24:07,878
She's larger than
a tennis court.
320
00:24:11,217 --> 00:24:15,669
Capable of carrying
over 200 tons of cargo.
321
00:24:21,511 --> 00:24:23,344
Carlos: We have
other questions,
322
00:24:23,446 --> 00:24:27,982
So we have to investigate
inside of the shipwreck.
323
00:24:31,904 --> 00:24:34,538
Narrator: So little
remains of the ship.
324
00:24:36,142 --> 00:24:39,543
Carlos must look to the
cargo, to learn more.
325
00:24:43,382 --> 00:24:46,767
The team raise some of
the jars to the surface.
326
00:24:56,245 --> 00:25:00,614
Each weighs nearly 140 pounds.
327
00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:10,941
On land, they're handled
delicately and examined
328
00:25:11,043 --> 00:25:14,211
In minute detail.
329
00:25:25,741 --> 00:25:27,608
Carlos: We have set to
discover some pottery
330
00:25:27,710 --> 00:25:32,079
Fragments that have a
waterproof resin inside.
331
00:25:34,250 --> 00:25:37,434
Narrator: Waterproof
resin is a key clue.
332
00:25:37,537 --> 00:25:41,305
It means the amphorae
carried liquid.
333
00:25:41,407 --> 00:25:45,943
And in some of them, ancient
sediment from that liquid
334
00:25:46,045 --> 00:25:49,446
Reveals something else.
335
00:25:50,383 --> 00:25:53,234
Fish bones.
336
00:25:53,736 --> 00:25:56,503
The amphorae carry one of the
most popular products of the
337
00:25:56,606 --> 00:26:00,574
Roman economy, the super
food of the ancient world.
338
00:26:02,878 --> 00:26:07,181
Fish sauce, known as garum.
339
00:26:08,401 --> 00:26:10,601
Jon: Well, garum, or fish
sauce is basically a condiment
340
00:26:10,703 --> 00:26:13,137
That you would add to food
to enhance its flavor,
341
00:26:13,239 --> 00:26:14,872
As you would today, as you
would do with soy sauce,
342
00:26:14,974 --> 00:26:16,807
Or something like that.
343
00:26:18,177 --> 00:26:21,812
And that's because roman
food really was a bit bland.
344
00:26:21,914 --> 00:26:23,948
Narrator: And this is
before they had tomatoes,
345
00:26:24,050 --> 00:26:25,799
Before they had pizza,
before they had, you know,
346
00:26:25,901 --> 00:26:28,669
The things we think of
in terms of italian food.
347
00:26:30,139 --> 00:26:33,941
So the bou ferrer was
carrying fish sauce.
348
00:26:34,043 --> 00:26:37,111
But where had it come from?
349
00:26:39,882 --> 00:26:43,801
The shape of the amphorae
gives carlos a clue.
350
00:26:45,204 --> 00:26:49,607
Carlos: We knew that that
kind of amphoras are related
351
00:26:49,709 --> 00:26:53,143
To the fisheries from
the south of Spain.
352
00:26:57,249 --> 00:27:01,035
Narrator: But where was
the bou ferrer taking them?
353
00:27:02,772 --> 00:27:07,007
Returning to the drained wreck
and removing layers of the
354
00:27:07,109 --> 00:27:11,111
Amphorae reveals
further evidence.
355
00:27:12,948 --> 00:27:17,101
A secret cargo
hidden for centuries.
356
00:27:18,571 --> 00:27:23,173
On either side of the
keel, strange metal ingots.
357
00:27:32,668 --> 00:27:36,637
The team prizes 22 of
them from the wreck.
358
00:27:46,649 --> 00:27:50,567
Each weighs 140 pounds.
359
00:28:00,479 --> 00:28:03,647
In the laboratory, careful
examination of the ingots
360
00:28:03,749 --> 00:28:07,234
Reveals something unexpected.
361
00:28:08,671 --> 00:28:13,674
The hidden cargo is not
gold, or silver, it's lead.
362
00:28:16,612 --> 00:28:19,613
And there's something else.
363
00:28:21,150 --> 00:28:27,137
All the ingots found on
bou ferrer are stamped
with the letters, imp.
364
00:28:31,177 --> 00:28:33,944
It's the mark of
the imperator,
365
00:28:34,046 --> 00:28:37,247
The latin word for emperor.
366
00:28:38,667 --> 00:28:43,203
Carlos: Those marks are
telling us that this ingots
367
00:28:43,305 --> 00:28:47,141
Belongs to the emperor
and that was like, "wow."
368
00:28:49,545 --> 00:28:52,780
That was just the moment
where the bou ferrer
369
00:28:52,882 --> 00:28:56,967
Changed from such a
large big roman vessel,
370
00:28:57,069 --> 00:28:59,937
To something
absolutely different.
371
00:29:00,973 --> 00:29:04,808
A vessel that has been able
to link in the story of rome.
372
00:29:04,910 --> 00:29:08,045
Narrator: The bou ferrer
isn't just another cargo ship.
373
00:29:08,147 --> 00:29:11,431
It's taking at least a ton of
metal to the most powerful man
374
00:29:11,517 --> 00:29:14,101
In the world.
375
00:29:14,203 --> 00:29:18,005
So which emperor could it be
destined for and why does he
376
00:29:18,107 --> 00:29:21,041
Need a boatload of lead?
377
00:29:32,738 --> 00:29:34,238
Narrator: Off the
coast of Spain,
378
00:29:34,340 --> 00:29:37,941
A remarkable roman shipwreck,
called the bou ferrer,
379
00:29:38,043 --> 00:29:40,744
Conceals a secret cargo.
380
00:29:41,847 --> 00:29:43,647
A fortune in lead,
381
00:29:43,749 --> 00:29:47,434
Possibly destined for the
emperor of rome himself.
382
00:29:50,906 --> 00:29:56,009
The drained wreck
holds clues that could
reveal which emperor.
383
00:29:57,646 --> 00:30:02,099
Hidden amongst the amphorae
are two weathered coins.
384
00:30:13,579 --> 00:30:17,581
The coins are made of bronze.
385
00:30:18,567 --> 00:30:22,169
On one side, a faint image.
386
00:30:22,271 --> 00:30:25,906
Almost invisible marks prove
the coins were stamped around
387
00:30:26,008 --> 00:30:31,578
Ad 66, during the reign of
one of the most infamous
388
00:30:31,680 --> 00:30:34,615
Emperors of them all.
389
00:30:37,236 --> 00:30:39,636
Nero.
390
00:30:43,108 --> 00:30:47,010
The information from the coins
allows carlos to do something
391
00:30:47,112 --> 00:30:50,030
Even more remarkable.
392
00:30:51,617 --> 00:30:55,702
Date the sinking of the bou
ferrer to the time of one of
393
00:30:55,804 --> 00:30:59,439
Rome's greatest disasters.
394
00:31:02,344 --> 00:31:07,381
In 64 ad, an inferno ravages
the city for six days.
395
00:31:09,268 --> 00:31:12,569
According to legend,
nero plays his fiddle,
396
00:31:12,671 --> 00:31:15,706
While his capital burns.
397
00:31:17,142 --> 00:31:20,010
Whether that's true or not,
the huge damage gives him the
398
00:31:20,112 --> 00:31:24,081
Chance to rebuild the
city in his own image.
399
00:31:24,383 --> 00:31:26,633
Jon: The great fire of rome
destroyed about two thirds of
400
00:31:26,735 --> 00:31:29,436
The city and there was a
massive rebuilding campaign
401
00:31:29,538 --> 00:31:31,338
In the years that followed
and they obviously,
402
00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:33,206
Needed the raw
materials to do that.
403
00:31:33,309 --> 00:31:35,642
Lead was a very
important part of that.
404
00:31:36,979 --> 00:31:41,181
Narrator: Lead lines pipes, in
all kinds of roman plumbing.
405
00:31:41,283 --> 00:31:45,469
Like the luxurious bathhouses
enjoyed by the wealthy elite.
406
00:31:47,840 --> 00:31:51,308
Carlos believes the emperor's
mark is evidence that this
407
00:31:51,410 --> 00:31:55,212
Cargo is destined for
nero's very own palace,
408
00:31:56,115 --> 00:32:00,300
The lavish domus aurea,
the golden house.
409
00:32:08,410 --> 00:32:12,980
This means the ingots
belonged to nero himself.
410
00:32:14,683 --> 00:32:18,468
And the bou ferrer is
sailing for portus.
411
00:32:19,738 --> 00:32:24,708
So she likely sinks before
nero's death in 68ad.
412
00:32:30,816 --> 00:32:33,166
But there's one
final question.
413
00:32:34,336 --> 00:32:38,105
Why did the bou ferrer
and her imperial cargo
414
00:32:38,207 --> 00:32:41,241
Fail to make it to portus?
415
00:32:44,046 --> 00:32:47,447
The drained wreck
offers some clues.
416
00:32:48,484 --> 00:32:50,968
The amphorae are off center,
417
00:32:51,070 --> 00:32:54,504
They've shifted towards
the port side.
418
00:32:55,074 --> 00:32:59,076
Such a heavy cargo would
never be loaded like this.
419
00:33:00,846 --> 00:33:05,882
So what could cause some
5,000 amphorae to move?
420
00:33:13,008 --> 00:33:17,644
Carlos believes that the bou
ferrer runs into a storm.
421
00:33:19,848 --> 00:33:25,369
A large wave strikes the hull,
causing the cargo to shift,
422
00:33:26,338 --> 00:33:30,273
The vessel to list
to her port side,
423
00:33:30,376 --> 00:33:33,610
Making her
impossible to steer.
424
00:33:34,780 --> 00:33:38,882
And allowing more waves
to come over her decks
425
00:33:38,984 --> 00:33:42,202
And slowly fill her hold.
426
00:33:43,672 --> 00:33:45,572
Carlos: And there you are
done, it's a matter of time,
427
00:33:45,674 --> 00:33:47,908
Maybe 20 minutes, maybe
one hour, but you are done.
428
00:34:02,808 --> 00:34:04,775
Narrator: As rome
masters the seas,
429
00:34:04,877 --> 00:34:08,045
Ships like bou ferrer are
the empire's lifeblood,
430
00:34:08,147 --> 00:34:12,733
Carrying precious metals,
slaves and especially grain,
431
00:34:12,835 --> 00:34:17,304
To and from portus and harbors
all across the mediterranean.
432
00:34:18,474 --> 00:34:21,808
Spreading the power
and influence of rome.
433
00:34:23,078 --> 00:34:26,747
Including a strategic
base in modern day israel,
434
00:34:27,516 --> 00:34:30,067
What the romans called judea.
435
00:34:30,169 --> 00:34:33,003
Its capital,
caesarea maritima,
436
00:34:33,105 --> 00:34:36,306
Stands at the crossroads
of africa and asia.
437
00:34:38,110 --> 00:34:41,645
To the romans, it's the
gateway to the riches of the
438
00:34:41,747 --> 00:34:46,166
East, an important source
of grain and exotic spices.
439
00:34:48,370 --> 00:34:51,905
Transporting these treasures
to rome requires a harbor.
440
00:34:54,476 --> 00:34:56,810
But there are major problems.
441
00:34:56,912 --> 00:35:00,781
No natural inlets
protect from waves.
442
00:35:02,868 --> 00:35:07,404
A sandy coastline offers no
solid footing for building and
443
00:35:07,506 --> 00:35:10,974
There's a constant
threat of earthquakes.
444
00:35:13,278 --> 00:35:15,579
But according to
historical records,
445
00:35:15,681 --> 00:35:18,615
Two decades before
the birth of jesus,
446
00:35:18,717 --> 00:35:22,169
Roman engineers
defy nature here.
447
00:35:23,672 --> 00:35:26,439
They construct a
grand offshore harbor,
448
00:35:26,542 --> 00:35:30,844
Transforming caesarea
into a wealthy trade hub.
449
00:35:31,947 --> 00:35:35,599
It's a remarkable feat of
engineering, yet today,
450
00:35:35,701 --> 00:35:38,802
It's nowhere to be seen.
451
00:35:42,741 --> 00:35:44,641
For decades, investigators
452
00:35:44,743 --> 00:35:47,744
Like national geographic
explorer beverly goodman,
453
00:35:47,846 --> 00:35:51,148
Have been trying
to find evidence.
454
00:35:52,801 --> 00:35:54,434
Beverly: We have a pretty good
idea of what the harbor might
455
00:35:54,536 --> 00:35:57,037
Have looked like, because the
historian, flavius josephus,
456
00:35:57,139 --> 00:35:59,906
Left us a record.
457
00:36:01,910 --> 00:36:05,145
The entrance of the harbor
had towers and statues.
458
00:36:06,181 --> 00:36:09,399
You can kind of picture it
being this monumental harbor,
459
00:36:09,518 --> 00:36:12,602
Comparable to something
you would see in rome.
460
00:36:14,206 --> 00:36:16,273
Narrator: But over
the centuries,
461
00:36:16,375 --> 00:36:19,176
The harbor disappears.
462
00:36:20,879 --> 00:36:24,548
Only traces of this
great roman outpost remain,
463
00:36:24,650 --> 00:36:27,167
Scattered on dry land.
464
00:36:29,605 --> 00:36:32,405
As for what's
left of the harbor itself,
465
00:36:32,507 --> 00:36:36,443
The focus of beverly's
investigation must be offshore.
466
00:36:40,315 --> 00:36:44,901
What she finds underwater is
promising, but far from clear.
467
00:36:45,971 --> 00:36:48,438
Beverly: There's a lot of
uncertainty about which parts
468
00:36:48,540 --> 00:36:51,041
Of the harbor are natural
and which of them are the
469
00:36:51,143 --> 00:36:53,343
Artificial features.
470
00:36:54,563 --> 00:36:59,049
Narrator: There are
shapes that could be
natural or manmade.
471
00:37:00,602 --> 00:37:05,739
Meticulous investigation reveals
they're resting on sand.
472
00:37:07,509 --> 00:37:10,543
There's no natural
bedrock underneath.
473
00:37:11,780 --> 00:37:17,033
It's a sure sign they're
all manmade and could be
474
00:37:17,135 --> 00:37:20,170
Part of the lost harbor.
475
00:37:21,039 --> 00:37:22,706
Beverly: Everything
that you look at,
476
00:37:22,808 --> 00:37:25,642
You realize it was put there,
it was placed there and then
477
00:37:25,744 --> 00:37:28,078
You start to think about that,
you start to really understand
478
00:37:28,180 --> 00:37:31,815
The scale of what
this place was like.
479
00:37:33,201 --> 00:37:36,002
Narrator: To work out the size
and orientation of the ancient
480
00:37:36,104 --> 00:37:39,539
Harbor, the team must first
create a comprehensive
481
00:37:39,658 --> 00:37:43,009
Sonar map of the seafloor.
482
00:37:45,514 --> 00:37:48,415
Beverly: So this kind of
survey is getting our baseline
483
00:37:48,517 --> 00:37:50,767
Maps, our basic
information, that from that,
484
00:37:50,869 --> 00:37:53,870
We can go and find targets.
485
00:37:55,073 --> 00:37:57,707
Narrator: Combining years
of diving surveys with these
486
00:37:57,809 --> 00:38:02,312
Latest scans, it's possible
to drain the waters from the
487
00:38:02,414 --> 00:38:06,733
Eastern mediterranean and
expose what's left of the
488
00:38:06,835 --> 00:38:10,870
Ancient harbor of
caesarea maritima,
489
00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:16,493
For the first time in
almost 2,000 years.
490
00:38:17,913 --> 00:38:21,715
As the water recedes, it
lays bare a strangely shaped
491
00:38:21,817 --> 00:38:24,934
Structure on the seafloor.
492
00:38:25,904 --> 00:38:30,273
This long jagged mass of rock
resembling a natural reef
493
00:38:30,375 --> 00:38:34,344
Stretches into
the empty basin.
494
00:38:36,081 --> 00:38:39,466
Opposite, another
wider mass reaches out,
495
00:38:39,568 --> 00:38:41,835
Almost a third of a mile.
496
00:38:46,641 --> 00:38:51,044
These are the remains of the
breakwaters of a massive port,
497
00:38:51,146 --> 00:38:54,381
That spanned over 40 acres,
498
00:38:54,483 --> 00:38:57,967
The harbor of
caesarea maritima.
499
00:39:00,038 --> 00:39:03,640
So how did the romans build
something so monumental on
500
00:39:03,742 --> 00:39:06,443
Nothing more than sand?
501
00:39:15,504 --> 00:39:18,138
Narrator: Over 2,000
years ago in judea,
502
00:39:18,240 --> 00:39:22,876
Romans perform an engineering
miracle at a place called
503
00:39:22,978 --> 00:39:25,678
Caesarea maritima.
504
00:39:28,617 --> 00:39:31,401
They construct the largest
artificial harbor in the
505
00:39:31,503 --> 00:39:34,037
Ancient world.
506
00:39:36,308 --> 00:39:39,776
Revealed for the first
time in centuries,
507
00:39:39,878 --> 00:39:43,480
The foundations of the huge
harbor walls had to be built
508
00:39:43,582 --> 00:39:45,965
On shifting sand.
509
00:39:46,068 --> 00:39:49,069
It seems an impossible task.
510
00:39:51,006 --> 00:39:54,474
Beverly goodman has
come to the site of
the ancient harbor,
511
00:39:54,576 --> 00:39:58,111
To take samples from
its underwater remains.
512
00:40:06,371 --> 00:40:10,707
The team insert a pipe
deep into the seafloor.
513
00:40:10,809 --> 00:40:14,344
To draw up traces
from the past.
514
00:40:19,050 --> 00:40:23,903
(mechanical clicking).
515
00:40:26,541 --> 00:40:29,959
Beverly: So, we managed to
get a core in very deep.
516
00:40:30,378 --> 00:40:33,113
Next up, is to open it,
see what we have inside,
517
00:40:33,215 --> 00:40:35,799
See what surprises
wait for us.
518
00:40:40,372 --> 00:40:42,255
Oh, good.
519
00:40:42,340 --> 00:40:45,508
Alright, we got quite a few
changes we need to log here
520
00:40:45,610 --> 00:40:47,577
And take a look at.
521
00:40:48,780 --> 00:40:50,413
Wow, this is kind
of surprising,
522
00:40:50,482 --> 00:40:53,800
I didn't think it was gonna
have quite so much variation.
523
00:40:54,803 --> 00:40:57,537
On the upper part of the core,
we have this natural sediment.
524
00:40:57,639 --> 00:41:00,707
We really have this period
where the site is nearly
525
00:41:00,809 --> 00:41:03,243
Abandoned for
many, many years.
526
00:41:03,345 --> 00:41:06,012
Then as we go down the core
and we start to get periods
527
00:41:06,114 --> 00:41:07,780
Where there's actually
people around,
528
00:41:07,883 --> 00:41:11,835
We start to see more pottery,
we start to see rubble,
529
00:41:11,937 --> 00:41:14,471
We start to see changes that
relate to the fact that people
530
00:41:14,573 --> 00:41:16,873
Were there and they were
influencing the environment,
531
00:41:16,975 --> 00:41:19,108
They were building.
532
00:41:19,211 --> 00:41:21,411
Narrator: The sediment layer
from the time of the harbor
533
00:41:21,513 --> 00:41:24,013
Reveals a clue.
534
00:41:27,135 --> 00:41:30,537
The rubble contains
an unusual mineral.
535
00:41:31,640 --> 00:41:36,709
A particular type of volcanic
ash, called pozzolana.
536
00:41:38,213 --> 00:41:41,147
It's not natural
to this region.
537
00:41:41,249 --> 00:41:45,502
The source is over
1,000 miles to the west,
538
00:41:45,604 --> 00:41:49,005
The slopes of mount
vesuvius in Italy.
539
00:41:54,079 --> 00:41:58,381
Why bring pozzolana
all this way?
540
00:42:00,969 --> 00:42:06,339
The reason still lies on the
seafloor of caesarea maritima.
541
00:42:08,410 --> 00:42:12,362
Traces of a revolutionary
roman invention.
542
00:42:13,415 --> 00:42:16,416
A new kind of concrete.
543
00:42:19,170 --> 00:42:21,471
Beverly: We could actually see
those elements of the concrete
544
00:42:21,573 --> 00:42:23,673
And know that this is
the fingerprint of the
545
00:42:23,775 --> 00:42:25,775
Presence of the romans.
546
00:42:27,879 --> 00:42:30,747
Narrator: Historical records
reveal that roman engineers
547
00:42:30,849 --> 00:42:34,567
Ferry tons of
pozzolana to caesarea.
548
00:42:35,103 --> 00:42:37,170
Beverly: To imagine that
they are shipping across the
549
00:42:37,272 --> 00:42:41,574
Mediterranean 2,000 years ago,
essentially barges that have
550
00:42:41,676 --> 00:42:43,610
Volcanic ash
coming from Italy,
551
00:42:43,712 --> 00:42:45,211
All the way across the
mediterranean to the eastern
552
00:42:45,313 --> 00:42:48,114
Mediterranean is really
something phenomenal.
553
00:42:49,367 --> 00:42:52,502
Narrator: The romans use
concrete to build on land,
554
00:42:52,604 --> 00:42:56,739
Throughout their empire, but
then they realize that by
555
00:42:56,841 --> 00:43:00,310
Adding the pozzolana ash
to their concrete mix,
556
00:43:00,478 --> 00:43:03,246
They can use it
underwater too.
557
00:43:03,348 --> 00:43:05,348
Jon: So they're bringing
this volcanic ash in,
558
00:43:05,450 --> 00:43:08,001
Then mixing it with the stone
rubble and the lime to create
559
00:43:08,103 --> 00:43:11,471
Concrete, but it only hardens
when you pour water on it.
560
00:43:11,573 --> 00:43:13,706
So if you take it into the
sea, once it hits the water,
561
00:43:13,808 --> 00:43:15,842
It hardens.
562
00:43:17,245 --> 00:43:20,313
Narrator: It's known
as hydraulic concrete.
563
00:43:20,415 --> 00:43:24,601
And it's a huge milestone in
the history of construction.
564
00:43:29,107 --> 00:43:33,476
For years, how the romans used
this modern building material
565
00:43:33,578 --> 00:43:37,547
To create this harbor
remains a mystery.
566
00:43:39,401 --> 00:43:43,670
But finds on the
seabed provide a clue.
567
00:43:45,307 --> 00:43:47,607
Beverly: So one of the
findings in caesarea is
568
00:43:47,709 --> 00:43:50,443
Preserved wood, wood
from 2,000 years ago
569
00:43:50,545 --> 00:43:54,647
That was used to create
the framework for them
to pour the concrete,
570
00:43:54,766 --> 00:43:58,201
To create these large
structures of the harbor.
571
00:43:59,838 --> 00:44:03,740
Narrator: 2,000 years ago,
the romans work with concrete,
572
00:44:03,842 --> 00:44:06,843
Just like we do today.
573
00:44:08,313 --> 00:44:12,181
They build wooden structures,
known as caissons, that hold
574
00:44:12,283 --> 00:44:17,170
Liquid concrete in place and
then drop them into the sea.
575
00:44:18,940 --> 00:44:22,208
Flooded with seawater,
the mixture solidifies,
576
00:44:22,310 --> 00:44:26,112
Creating solid
concrete blocks.
577
00:44:26,981 --> 00:44:31,300
Manmade bedrock, on which to
build the first artificial
578
00:44:31,403 --> 00:44:34,704
Harbor in the world.
579
00:44:38,877 --> 00:44:43,279
We now know how caesarea
maritima was constructed.
580
00:44:44,482 --> 00:44:47,600
But there's one mystery left.
581
00:44:47,702 --> 00:44:52,405
Contemporary accounts suggest
the harbor disappears,
582
00:44:52,507 --> 00:44:56,309
Barely a century after
its construction.
583
00:44:59,180 --> 00:45:01,514
Amongst the drained ruins,
584
00:45:01,616 --> 00:45:04,367
There's a clue
to what happened.
585
00:45:05,970 --> 00:45:10,173
All the elements of the
harbor still remain,
586
00:45:10,275 --> 00:45:14,077
But they lie shattered
on the seafloor.
587
00:45:22,203 --> 00:45:26,372
So what might have led to
the collapse of the harbor?
588
00:45:30,111 --> 00:45:32,044
In the core samples,
589
00:45:32,147 --> 00:45:35,748
Layers of sediment from after
the construction of the harbor,
590
00:45:35,850 --> 00:45:38,768
Help build a picture of events.
591
00:45:38,870 --> 00:45:41,137
Beverly: When we find these
layers and when we see it's
592
00:45:41,256 --> 00:45:44,674
Not like the deposits that
are above or below it,
593
00:45:44,776 --> 00:45:48,845
So we can see that it's in
fact an isolated incident.
594
00:45:50,248 --> 00:45:53,516
Narrator: These layers suggest
that something cataclysmic
595
00:45:53,601 --> 00:45:55,768
Churned up the sediment.
596
00:45:56,905 --> 00:45:59,539
Beverly: There is a reference
that talks about a possible
597
00:45:59,641 --> 00:46:03,209
Tsunami in the year 115 ad.
598
00:46:10,635 --> 00:46:12,668
Maybe that's the
event, maybe not,
599
00:46:12,771 --> 00:46:15,538
It does coincide nicely with
the finds that we have and
600
00:46:15,640 --> 00:46:17,740
The ages that we see.
601
00:46:17,842 --> 00:46:21,010
Narrator: It seems likely that
this great artificial harbor
602
00:46:21,112 --> 00:46:23,746
Is reduced to a fraction
of its former glory,
603
00:46:23,848 --> 00:46:27,800
Just as rome tightens its grip
on the mediterranean world.
604
00:46:27,902 --> 00:46:32,472
But caesarea's part
in the history of the
roman empire is not over.
605
00:46:34,943 --> 00:46:37,643
The romans apply the power
of their wondrous concrete
606
00:46:37,745 --> 00:46:41,948
Everywhere, establishing
ports and harbors across the
607
00:46:42,050 --> 00:46:45,168
Mediterranean
wherever they need.
608
00:46:45,270 --> 00:46:47,603
Jon: This is the first and
last time the mediterranean
609
00:46:47,705 --> 00:46:50,540
Was under the
control of one power.
610
00:46:50,642 --> 00:46:52,975
It wasn't a space
where wars were fought,
611
00:46:53,077 --> 00:46:55,745
It was a place where trade
took place and that's why the
612
00:46:55,847 --> 00:46:58,548
Romans have this kind of
relationship with the sea,
613
00:46:58,650 --> 00:47:01,434
It's our sea, mare nostrum.
614
00:47:03,972 --> 00:47:07,006
Narrator: 1,000 years will
pass before other nations,
615
00:47:07,108 --> 00:47:10,176
Portugal and Spain,
come close to matching
616
00:47:10,278 --> 00:47:12,712
What the romans achieve.
617
00:47:12,814 --> 00:47:17,099
Domination of the known world,
through an empire of the seas.
618
00:47:18,803 --> 00:47:20,002
Captioned by cotter
captioning services.