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NARRATOR: Inside the pyramid
of an ancient Egyptian king,
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a team of archaeologists is
about to reveal a burial chamber
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that has never
been excavated before.
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MOHAMED: I am dreaming every
day to the moment that I will
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start exploring the burial
chamber and the time
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when this moment came.
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NARRATOR: The roof
has collapsed,
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burying valuable artifacts
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and possibly even
killing tomb raiders
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from the ancient world.
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MOHAMED: How about right.
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NARRATOR: Now, finally,
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the time has come to unearth
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four and a half thousand
years of history.
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MOHAMED: It's a
huge responsibility.
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I have to make sure
that everybody is safe.
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NARRATOR: But as they dig
deeper into the pyramid,
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they must avoid being
buried themselves.
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(chatter)
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(crumbling)
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(theme music plays)
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The ancient pyramids of Egypt.
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For over 4000 years,
these iconic royal tombs have
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captivated humankind with
their majesty and mystique.
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Today, more than 100 survive,
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spanning over 1,000 years
of pyramid building history.
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Almost all of them have been
explored by archaeologists
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and found robbed of the
king's mummy and treasures.
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But seven miles south of
the famous Pyramids of Giza
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lies a smaller,
lesser known pyramid
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that has never been
fully explored.
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MOHAMED: Good morning, everyone.
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Shall we start.
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NARRATOR: In Abu Sir,
Egyptian archaeologist
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Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khalid and
his team are about to begin
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a remarkable new
season of excavations.
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They are preparing to enter
an unexplored burial chamber
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inside the pyramid of
a king named Sahure.
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What lies inside is
a complete mystery.
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MOHAMED: I'm very
excited to be back.
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I can't wait to start
getting inside the pyramid
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and starting our exploration.
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Since I was a
child I liked history.
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I like the names.
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I like the life.
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5000 years, people were living
here in the same places that
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we live right now in Egypt
and to study their life,
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it's really a big dream.
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NARRATOR: When complete,
the pyramid of Saha Rae
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would have been a shining
edifice of white limestone,
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with the king's mummy entombed
within a central burial chamber.
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But when early archaeologists
first investigated the site,
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they discovered masses
of rubble inside,
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collapsed from
the pyramid above.
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This prevented a
full excavation.
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Now, nearly 200 years later,
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Mohamed has an
incredible opportunity.
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MOHAMED: Our mission is to
excavate the burial chamber
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and to be the first.
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Many Egyptologists tried before
you to enter into this place.
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But they couldn't.
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I cannot express how
you feel that you are
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the first one after
many, many years.
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If we will find part of his
sarcophagus or even part of
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his mummy, this is would be
the best moment in my life.
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I dream of this.
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NARRATOR: Deep in the
heart of the pyramid,
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Mohamed's excavations
have already revealed the
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structure of eight new
storerooms called magazines
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looted of treasures
by ancient thieves.
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Opposite lies
Mohamed's ultimate goal.
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A large vaulted room
that should be Sahure's
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burial chamber.
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Today, the massive ceiling
beams are broken and rocks
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from the pyramid fill the room
up to eight meters high,
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the remnants of a mysterious
and catastrophic collapse.
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Last season, Mohamed
started to clear rubble
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at the entrance to
the burial chamber.
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He found small fragments
of dark basalt,
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pieces of the
king's sarcophagus,
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and an unmummified
human jawbone that
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could be from an ancient tomb
raider who was buried alive.
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Now Mohamed and his team
are back to find out
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what really caused this
pyramid to collapse.
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And if tomb raiders
really were buried,
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could royal treasures
still be hidden inside?
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(chatter)
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NARRATOR: Their first job
is a dangerous one.
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They must secure a precarious
sealing beam that covers
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the entrance to the
burial chamber.
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MOHAMED: We have a stone beam,
nine meter high that has
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a lot of cracks, it's
of course a big problem
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because behind this beam
it's a lot of huge blocks.
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If we did not support the beam,
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huge blocks from the part of
the pyramid will fall down.
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It would be a big
disaster and a big collapse.
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NARRATOR: Ahmed Abdelnaby is
responsible for the safety of
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the pyramid structure.
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Climbing high above
the chamber floor,
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he reaches the
cracked limestone beam.
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AHMED: It's very dangerous.
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In this place, I
prefer to be alone.
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I just one guy helping me.
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We have to have a little fear.
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Just a little.
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To be success.
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NARRATOR: To secure the
structure of the beam.
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Ahmed fixes a network of
metal anchor rods inside the
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limestone and then injects
it with an epoxy resin.
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This should stop any cracks
from getting larger and
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breaking off, but he'll
need to finish over 20
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before it's completely secure.
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AHMED: Anchor by anchor,
the safety will increase.
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NARRATOR: As the
repair work continues.
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Mohamed and the team prepare
the rest of the burial chamber
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for excavation.
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If they succeed,
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their discoveries will add a
new chapter to the history
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of King Sahure,
his life and reign.
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Only 32 years after the
colossal pyramids of Giza
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are complete,
Sahure becomes king.
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He builds up Egypt's navy,
sending trade missions to
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foreign lands for exotic goods
like frankincense and myrrh,
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and constructs temples
across the country to
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grow the economy and
be worshipped as a god.
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At Abu Sir, his 150 foot
pyramid was the vehicle
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to take Sahure into
the afterlife.
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It was meant to last forever.
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Up above the burial chamber,
the stone beam is now secure.
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MOHAMED: We are now standing
at the beginning of the
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burial chamber and we hope
that it extends up to
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seven meter or more,
seven meters and a half,
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until we reach the end
of the burial chamber.
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NARRATOR: Several large
stone blocks are precariously
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perched on top of a four
meter mound of rubble.
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The only way forward into the
chamber is to bring them down.
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MOHAMED: Then we will start to
take the debris down until
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we bring the small blocks first
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and then this large
one in the middle.
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Of course, in every single
moment inside the pyramid,
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it's very risky, but we try
very hard to make sure to
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make the situation
as safe as we could.
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NARRATOR: Led by the
excavation foreman
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known as the Rais,
the team start clearing
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piles of pyramid debris.
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MOHAMED: My Rais and all
the people and his team,
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they have got this experience
from their fathers and
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their father got it from their
fathers and grandfathers,
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so it's inherited experience.
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Of course, you cannot learn this
in university or anything.
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Ismail is one of the most
experienced workers that
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I've ever seen in my life.
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He has no fear and
also he has got
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a very, very quick reaction.
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NARRATOR: Quick
reactions are critical.
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One wrong move
could spell disaster.
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(clanging)
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PRODUCER: Is it
safe to come out now?
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MOHAMED: Yes,
yes, yes, yes, yes.
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It's very safe.
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NARRATOR: The team
begins to clear the debris.
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Almost immediately, Mohamed
finds a tantalizing piece of
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stone buried in the rubble.
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MOHAMED: So we have a piece
from the basalt sarcophagus.
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And this is it gives us really
good indication that we are on
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the right way and we are going
towards the burial chamber
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and the
sarcophagus of the king.
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NARRATOR: On the other side
of the pyramid, Mohamed checks
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the team's progress,
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restoring the newly
discovered storerooms.
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Parts of the chamber walls
are missing or destroyed,
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and these gaps offer a
rare chance to see how
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the inside of Sahure's
pyramid was built.
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MOHAMED: We have a very unique
part because we have seen the
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inner walls of the north
side of the pyramid,
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as well as a very clear
part of the bedrock.
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See how large is the
stones above the bedrock?
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And then they start
to use smaller blocks.
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They come above each other,
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but the first one
is the largest.
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NARRATOR: As well as
understanding the
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pyramid's internal structure.
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Mohamed believes clearing away
the tons of rubble will give
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an insight into
why it collapsed.
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MOHAMED: Here, we have
collected all the white
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limestone that we found
during our exploration.
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And what's really interesting
that we found very smooth
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surface and this all
comes from original walls.
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NARRATOR: The smooth limestone
fragments from the original
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walls seem to have been
destroyed intentionally.
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Mohamed thinks it's
the work of robbers.
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MOHAMED: Our theory that
a lot of destruction,
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intentional destruction,
happened inside the pyramid.
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Either they reused the
white fine limestone,
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or they were searching for
treasures without knowing,
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without studying the things
they start to cut the, the walls
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and the stability of the
pyramid became very weak.
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NARRATOR: Mohamed's
excavations have revealed the
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00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,680
builders of Sahure's Pyramid
dug a three meter pit straight
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into the bedrock of the
site and reinforced it with
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local stone blocks before
cutting a deeper outline
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for the pyramid's
internal chambers.
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Thick white limestone
walls, ceilings and
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monolithic gabled
beams are added,
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holding the weight of 200,000
blocks from the pyramid above.
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Mohamed thinks damage to the
white limestone walls by tomb
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robbers was instrumental in
causing the pyramid's collapse.
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Two miles south of Abu Sir,
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in the ancient
necropolis of Saqqara,
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Egyptologist Dr. Meredith Brand
has come to explore
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the pyramid of Sahure's
father, King Userkaf.
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Similar in size and structure
to Sahure's, she hopes to
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00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:42,440
reveal more clues about how
these pyramids were built.
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To understand why
Sahure's may have collapsed.
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MEREDITH: It's actually
pretty impressive.
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From a distance it kind of
just looks like a hill,
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but when I get up close,
I can see all of these
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local limestone blocks that
were used to be the core,
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the fill of this pyramid.
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NARRATOR: Like Sahure's,
the local stone blocks have
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suffered from heavy weathering,
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but originally a
stronger limestone
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would have encased the outside.
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MEREDITH: This is
Tura limestone.
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It's fine and white and bright,
and it would have been
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really valuable loot
to people in Egypt.
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You could use this ready-made
stone to, to build buildings.
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NARRATOR: Heading inside,
unlike Sahure's pyramid,
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Meredith finds the
colossal stonework intact.
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MEREDITH: It's nice to see
that these walls are finished
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the way that they would
have been in Userkaf's time.
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It's beautiful.
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NARRATOR: Along the corridor,
Meredith spots a huge slab of
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solid granite meant to defend
the pyramid from looters.
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In the corner, a hole
has been chiseled away.
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MEREDITH: Oh, this
is really incredible.
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This is where the looters
must have come in from.
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NARRATOR: It's clear Userkaf's
pyramid was compromised
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by robbers, but most of the
structure is still standing.
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Meredith's search
is to find out why.
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Inside the pyramid storerooms,
she finds more remnants of
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the fine limestone walls.
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MEREDITH: This is the foundation
limestone for the wall.
244
00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:29,280
And so this would have gone
from here all the way up
245
00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:32,240
to create a smooth surface.
246
00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:37,000
NARRATOR: Like Sahure's pyramid,
lots of the wall is missing,
247
00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:40,480
but instead of revealing blocks
from the pyramid above,
248
00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:43,440
it has exposed a
roughly-hewn chamber
249
00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:46,480
tunneled directly
into the ground.
250
00:15:47,080 --> 00:15:50,400
MEREDITH: This entire space
is carved out of the
251
00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,920
bedrock here in Saqqara.
252
00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:54,920
So it's secure, it's stable.
253
00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,120
And the robbers knew that
they could take the limestone
254
00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,800
blocks from this area and
it wasn't going to collapse.
255
00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,440
NARRATOR: The broken and
stolen limestone walls may not
256
00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,720
have caused a collapse here.
257
00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,160
But what about the
rest of the pyramid?
258
00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,800
Back in the pyramid
of King Sahure,
259
00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:21,480
Mohamed and the
team start to make
260
00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:23,600
some intriguing finds.
261
00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,200
MOHAMED: Oh, it's
alabaster piece.
262
00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,360
It comes from
alabaster vessels.
263
00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,120
The alabaster piece is
actually it was part of the
264
00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:36,680
canopic jars of the King.
265
00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,160
NARRATOR: Canopic jars were
used to hold the internal
266
00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:41,880
organs of the mummified king.
267
00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:45,960
For Mohamed, the
discovery is bittersweet.
268
00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:48,560
MOHAMED: If you find some
alabaster pieces here,
269
00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:51,640
that means most of the
alabaster and canopic jars
270
00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:55,600
of King Sahure has been
completely destroyed.
271
00:16:55,600 --> 00:17:00,640
It's disappointing news
for me, but it's also very
272
00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:05,000
interesting to see even part
of the canopic jars and
273
00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:09,160
to see how it's really smooth
and beautifully done.
274
00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:10,720
It's perfect.
275
00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:12,600
So no inscription.
276
00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,280
So hopefully we will find
more pieces that could
277
00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:20,080
give us more information
and more clues.
278
00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,280
NARRATOR: Soon, even
more pottery emerges
279
00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:28,040
from the rubble.
280
00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,560
But this time, it appears
more recent,
281
00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:34,720
perhaps something the
tomb raiders left behind.
282
00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,840
MOHAMED: It's a lower part
of a pottery vessel,
283
00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,840
and it has still
remains of burning.
284
00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:47,080
So maybe they use it for,
uh, as oil lamp.
285
00:17:47,080 --> 00:17:49,440
NARRATOR: It's an
important find.
286
00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:52,000
An oil lamp is the first
direct evidence of the
287
00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,920
robbers working inside
the burial chamber.
288
00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:59,160
The question is when
does it date from?
289
00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:01,680
And were these robbers
responsible for
290
00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:04,480
the pyramid's collapse?
291
00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,960
NARRATOR: In Saqqara, Meredith
is exploring the pyramid of
292
00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:16,560
Sahure's father, Userkaf.
293
00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,080
Deep inside the pyramid's
dark corridors,
294
00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,440
she reaches an opening.
295
00:18:23,120 --> 00:18:25,800
MEREDITH: Oh, wow.
296
00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:28,720
Oh.
297
00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,640
This is beautiful.
298
00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,920
This is it.
This is the burial chamber.
299
00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:47,000
NARRATOR: The room's huge
gabled ceiling is intact,
300
00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,280
revealing a marvel of
ancient engineering.
301
00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,560
It's a close match to what
Sahure's burial chamber
302
00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:55,600
would have looked like.
303
00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:57,280
MEREDITH: Structurally, this
is the smartest thing for the
304
00:18:57,280 --> 00:18:59,080
ancient Egyptians to do.
305
00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,800
They wanted to have the
entire weight of the pyramid
306
00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:03,600
above this chamber.
307
00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:07,720
Where I'm standing, I should
be smack in the middle of it.
308
00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:12,240
This is interesting.
309
00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:16,000
There's a hole here in the
back of the burial chamber.
310
00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,800
So this is probably from
looters trying to see if
311
00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,520
there's anything else they
could tunnel through and
312
00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:28,040
maybe find more gold or
jewels or precious items.
313
00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,400
NARRATOR: It seems tomb
robbers have been busy
314
00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:33,600
chiseling away the walls.
315
00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:37,280
Parts of the original
floor are also missing.
316
00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,160
MEREDITH: So down
here is the bedrock.
317
00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:43,720
This is the bottom of the pit
that the ancient builders dug
318
00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,440
in order to create the
space for these rooms.
319
00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:52,000
So it looks like the ancient
thieves came and just
320
00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,400
dug up this entire area.
321
00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,920
Probably both looking for
stone to loot and to see if
322
00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:00,200
there's any hidden
treasures below.
323
00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,320
NARRATOR: All over the
Pyramid, tomb raiders
324
00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:07,960
have left their mark.
325
00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:12,000
But one incredible
treasure still remains.
326
00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:16,880
MEREDITH: This looks to be
the basalt sarcophagus lid
327
00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:20,360
that would have housed
the mummy of Userkaf,
328
00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:22,560
so this is the actual
lid of this sarcophagus.
329
00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:24,360
We only have a fragment.
330
00:20:24,360 --> 00:20:28,280
This is where the king
would have been buried.
331
00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:30,800
NARRATOR: While the
rest of his sarcophagus
332
00:20:30,800 --> 00:20:32,760
may have been stolen.
333
00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,680
For Sahure's father,
334
00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,400
the structure and spirit
of his burial chamber
335
00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:41,640
has lasted for over 4400 years.
336
00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:45,000
MEREDITH: To feel the
solemnness and sacredness
337
00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,880
of this space, it's,
it's quite moving.
338
00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,920
NARRATOR: Back at the Pyramid
of Sahure, the team has
339
00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:03,040
discovered even more artifacts
the tomb raiders left behind.
340
00:21:04,040 --> 00:21:07,280
Mohamed takes
them to be examined.
341
00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,600
He wants to know when
they date from so he can
342
00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,560
piece together the
pyramid's history.
343
00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:15,720
MOHAMED: We have found
three oil lamps from
344
00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:17,120
the burial chamber.
345
00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:18,800
REHAM: Inside the pyramid?
346
00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,320
MOHAMED: Yes.
347
00:21:20,320 --> 00:21:23,160
NARRATOR: Dr. Reham Zaky is
in charge of documenting
348
00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,240
the finds at the site.
349
00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:27,080
REHAM: This is nice.
350
00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,360
So we have our
robbers, you know?
351
00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:35,000
When you read about treasure
hunting or tomb raiders
352
00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,920
in the past and
you ask in your mind,
353
00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:40,680
how does this
information come from?
354
00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,480
What is the evidence of this?
355
00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,040
So these are the evidence.
356
00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:47,080
It is an oil lamp, I think,
from medieval times,
357
00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:49,400
maybe the 13th century,
358
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,680
you know, based on their
features like the handle and
359
00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:55,360
the shape of the body
and also the glaze,
360
00:21:55,360 --> 00:21:58,120
the color and technique.
361
00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:02,000
It all offers us information
about which times it was used.
362
00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:06,080
NARRATOR: The lamps appear to
be around 700 years old
363
00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,800
from the Ottoman era over
1,000 years after
364
00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:11,960
even the last pharaohs of Egypt.
365
00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,280
REHAM: These items are quite
rare because, you know,
366
00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:18,280
we always read in
references and books that
367
00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:20,600
we are tomb raiders
or treasure hunting.
368
00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,800
And we saw the evidence
inside the historic Cairo,
369
00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:27,120
but not inside the
pyramids itself.
370
00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:29,600
NARRATOR: The remarkable
collection of oil lamps
371
00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,080
indicates a whole team of
robbers inside the pyramid.
372
00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,680
And there's even evidence
of their tools of the trade.
373
00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:39,600
REHAM: We have this hammer
and we have this chisel.
374
00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:45,440
And actually, as modern times,
use this and use this to bash,
375
00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:47,080
to knock it.
376
00:22:47,080 --> 00:22:48,680
Like this.
377
00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:51,640
So these together are fitting
perfectly with each other,
378
00:22:51,640 --> 00:22:55,720
you know, by knocking them
the holes perfectly match
379
00:22:55,720 --> 00:22:58,840
and they use it
inside the pyramid.
380
00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:00,880
So we have the
whole context here.
381
00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,120
We have the lamps and we
have the robbing tool.
382
00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:13,520
NARRATOR: Back
inside the pyramid.
383
00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,200
MOHAMED: So it's
very good news.
384
00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,440
We have reached the
original floor of the,
385
00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:20,040
of the burial chamber.
386
00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,400
We have to be very careful
and we have to use only
387
00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:26,680
the brush just to see
any mortar or any traces
388
00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:30,240
left by ancient Egyptian.
389
00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:33,400
I'm very happy every time
when I see any original
390
00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:37,000
wall or floor
inside the pyramid.
391
00:23:37,800 --> 00:23:41,000
NARRATOR: The white
limestone floor is intact.
392
00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,440
But so far, the only evidence
of the original walls are
393
00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,200
small, broken fragments.
394
00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:51,880
MOHAMED: We found also another
smooth limestone surface that
395
00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,600
comes from the retaining
walls of the burial chamber.
396
00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:58,600
That means that the retaining
walls of the burial chamber in
397
00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:02,400
this area was broken
in several pieces.
398
00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:06,000
NARRATOR: Once again,
Mohamed thinks it's
399
00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:08,400
the work of tomb robbers.
400
00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:10,680
MOHAMED: They were searching
for some treasures,
401
00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,400
and that's why they cut here.
402
00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:21,040
NARRATOR: Discoveries of oil
lamps, stone cutting tools and
403
00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:25,120
intentionally damaged walls
mean evidence is growing that
404
00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:28,520
tomb raiders were responsible
for the pyramid collapse.
405
00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:34,400
So could evidence of the
king still be buried inside?
406
00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,600
(chatter)
407
00:24:36,600 --> 00:24:38,680
MOHAMED: Oooh!
408
00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:46,000
♪ ♪
409
00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,400
NARRATOR: Mohamed's team has
spotted hints of a large slab
410
00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:53,560
of basalt stone inside
the ancient pyramid.
411
00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,720
MOHAMED: They extend
towards the burial chamber.
412
00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:05,600
So what we are going to do
now is just to clean this area
413
00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:10,640
around in order to see how
far this large piece goes.
414
00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:17,240
I don't know how large it is,
415
00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:20,320
but it seems to be
very large piece.
416
00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,360
It's getting more exciting.
417
00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:27,600
NARRATOR: The team add a
gypsum mortar to stabilize
418
00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,600
the loose debris and
continue to dig.
419
00:25:32,320 --> 00:25:34,640
What emerges seems
to be part of
420
00:25:34,640 --> 00:25:38,000
King Sahure's sarcophagus lid.
421
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:44,400
MOHAMED: It's almost 130,
one meter and 30 centimeter.
422
00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:49,080
It's the largest piece that
ever been discovered
423
00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,960
in this burial chamber
of King Sahure.
424
00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,000
I can't believe my eyes.
425
00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:56,960
Definitely, it's the lid,
426
00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:00,160
because here we
have another piece.
427
00:26:00,160 --> 00:26:02,040
It's the corner.
428
00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:05,760
It's very smooth surface here.
429
00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,360
I cannot express
my feeling now.
430
00:26:08,360 --> 00:26:12,080
I need to, to
know more and more.
431
00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:16,000
And I'm calming myself a
little bit because I need to
432
00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:20,280
flip it on the other side
to see the smooth surface.
433
00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:24,120
Maybe we could find some
written inscription on it.
434
00:26:24,120 --> 00:26:25,320
Maybe not.
435
00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,560
We will see.
436
00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:29,760
NARRATOR: With the lid
lying upside down,
437
00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:33,000
Mohamed examines underneath.
438
00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,280
MOHAMED: Wow. It's perfect.
439
00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:39,680
NARRATOR: It seems bare,
440
00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:43,680
but he spots something
unexpected attached.
441
00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,200
MOHAMED: They're
actually ropes.
442
00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,800
So those are the ropes
that they were used
443
00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,480
to pull the lid.
444
00:26:51,480 --> 00:26:53,600
You see them.
445
00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:58,120
This is ancient ropes,
maybe 700 years old,
446
00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:03,400
and they were using them in
order to take the slate out.
447
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,040
Wow.
448
00:27:09,120 --> 00:27:12,280
NARRATOR: The ropes are
an extraordinary clue.
449
00:27:12,280 --> 00:27:15,600
Either the tomb raiders
gave up dragging the lid or
450
00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:19,400
something else stopped them
from leaving with their loot.
451
00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:22,120
MOHAMED: Oh. Yes.
452
00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:25,720
NARRATOR: Perhaps
even a fatal accident.
453
00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,880
MOHAMED: Another part of a
jaw, a small one under the
454
00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,320
lid of the sarcophagus.
455
00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:33,240
It's amazing.
456
00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:37,000
Maybe the people when
they were doing this work,
457
00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:39,600
something happened and
they were buried just
458
00:27:39,600 --> 00:27:42,920
waiting for us to discover
459
00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:46,680
the lid and the tomb raider.
460
00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,120
NARRATOR: It's an incredible
discovery for Mohamed
461
00:27:50,120 --> 00:27:51,840
and the team.
462
00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,920
Not only have they revealed
a royal sarcophagus lid,
463
00:27:54,920 --> 00:27:58,640
the first in Abusir, but
they have stumbled across
464
00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,760
an ancient crime scene where
tomb raiders may have been
465
00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:05,200
killed by the pyramid
they were looting.
466
00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:08,760
The team will keep digging
for more evidence to
467
00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:10,760
why it collapsed.
468
00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:14,480
Mohamed hopes it will
lead him to the king.
469
00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:16,920
MOHAMED: This is definitely
the biggest thing until now
470
00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:20,400
that we found here in the
during our exploration
471
00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,120
inside the pyramid of Sahure.
472
00:28:23,120 --> 00:28:26,720
And we hope we will
find the sarcophagus.
473
00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:32,760
(applause)
474
00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,960
(applause, cheering)
475
00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,360
NARRATOR: Less than a mile
away from the pyramid are
476
00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:45,840
the scattered ruins
of a huge structure
477
00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:49,000
built by Sahure's nephew.
478
00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:53,560
According to ancient records,
Sahure and his successors
479
00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,120
each built temples
like this one,
480
00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:58,680
separate from their pyramids.
481
00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:03,080
But mysteriously,
Sahure's has never been found.
482
00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:06,360
Meredith Brand has come
to investigate what these
483
00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:09,560
buildings were for.
484
00:29:09,560 --> 00:29:11,240
Among the ruins,
485
00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:15,360
she finds a gigantic
alabaster offering table.
486
00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:18,560
MEREDITH: Oh, this is
absolutely stunning.
487
00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,480
I love this.
488
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:23,800
It's a beautiful piece of
stone and craftsmanship.
489
00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:28,400
This is well over 4000 years
old, but its shape is a bit
490
00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,200
strange for ancient Egypt.
491
00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:35,400
Each side, there's four
corners of it that have
492
00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:38,400
the ancient Egyptian
symbol hetep for offering.
493
00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,800
And that's usually
what's on an offering table.
494
00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,440
But this one has something
special in the four of them.
495
00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:46,080
But even more so in the
center is a giant circle
496
00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:48,120
in the shape of the sun.
497
00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,360
The design of this tells us
exactly what's going on here.
498
00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:53,520
It tells us that this
is the place where
499
00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:56,040
ancient Egyptian priests would
have left the offerings
500
00:29:56,040 --> 00:29:59,520
for the sun God to consume.
501
00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:06,000
NARRATOR: In addition to
their pyramids, Sahure and
502
00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:10,320
other fifth Dynasty Kings
built dedicated Sun temples
503
00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:14,480
to amplify the importance
of the Sun God Ra.
504
00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:16,880
As well as for
religious purposes,
505
00:30:16,880 --> 00:30:20,240
some temples functioned
as economic institutions
506
00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,480
endowed with land and wealth.
507
00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:28,560
Each day worshippers presented
offerings of meat and beer
508
00:30:28,560 --> 00:30:31,120
at the temple's altar.
509
00:30:31,120 --> 00:30:33,720
After Ra consumed
the food's spirit,
510
00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:36,240
it was redistributed like a tax
511
00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:40,200
to serve the needs of other
temples across Abusir.
512
00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:45,440
An ancient papyrus that dates
to around 100 years after
513
00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:48,880
Sahure's reign, reveals
the economic importance
514
00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:51,240
of these temples.
515
00:30:51,240 --> 00:30:52,840
MEREDITH: This here is
an accounting record.
516
00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:54,640
It's basically like
a spreadsheet,
517
00:30:54,640 --> 00:30:58,440
and at the top it says where
goods are coming from.
518
00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:01,960
And then underneath it
it says the type of good.
519
00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:05,400
And then the vertical
columns are days of the week.
520
00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:07,880
And here we've got
some key things.
521
00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,800
We've got two rows
that talk about bread.
522
00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:13,560
And we have this third
row that says Henekut.
523
00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,400
That's the word for beer.
524
00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:18,680
So these are crucial
material goods offerings,
525
00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:21,680
but also they were
basically money
526
00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:23,360
for the ancient Egyptians.
527
00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,440
So in terms of jars of beer,
this upside down V,
528
00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:28,120
that's the number ten.
529
00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:32,040
So each day there were ten
jars of beer being sent
530
00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,400
from here just to one location.
531
00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:36,320
And that's only one of
the transactions that
532
00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:38,240
happens here every single day.
533
00:31:38,240 --> 00:31:40,320
So having this place be
a depot center that
534
00:31:40,320 --> 00:31:43,920
took in money and then
sent it back out again to
535
00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:48,120
other places meant that
this was an economic hub.
536
00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:54,720
NARRATOR: Sun Temples not
only provided jobs for
537
00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,880
high status elites, but
a new way for the country
538
00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:00,560
to distribute
goods and wealth.
539
00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:04,480
The shift towards building
separate sun temples instead
540
00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:08,440
of the colossal single pyramid
projects like those at Giza,
541
00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:12,200
marks a revolutionary step
for the religion and economy
542
00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:14,440
of ancient Egypt.
543
00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:17,920
MEREDITH: Fifth Dynasty kings
like Sahure were part of
544
00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:21,400
a new emphasis on the sun Ra,
545
00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,320
where the sun was the
most important God.
546
00:32:24,320 --> 00:32:28,600
And temples like this attest
to this change in religion,
547
00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:30,400
change in belief.
548
00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:35,360
And also the idea that temples
are a key part of the economy.
549
00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:38,880
They're a key focus of
art and beauty as well.
550
00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:42,440
And that carries on for
the rest of ancient Egypt.
551
00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,520
NARRATOR: And yet, the
whereabouts of Sahure's own
552
00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:49,200
Sun temple is still unknown.
553
00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,960
MEREDITH: Sahure must
have built a Sun temple.
554
00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:54,720
We know of it because
of the Abusir papyrus,
555
00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,720
but we've never found
the actual temple.
556
00:32:57,720 --> 00:33:00,200
It's one of those mysteries.
557
00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:02,800
NARRATOR: Could clues to
its location lie beneath
558
00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:06,520
the rubble inside
Sahure's pyramid?
559
00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:11,520
Back in the burial chamber,
the team finished surveying
560
00:33:11,520 --> 00:33:15,120
and documenting the
precious sarcophagus lid.
561
00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:18,520
As they prepare
to flip it over,
562
00:33:18,520 --> 00:33:21,720
their anticipation is growing.
563
00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:25,160
MOHAMED: We are not sure
if it will be some line of
564
00:33:25,160 --> 00:33:27,680
hieroglyphic
inscription or not.
565
00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:29,480
We will see right now.
566
00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:42,960
(chatter)
567
00:33:43,520 --> 00:33:48,560
MOHAMED: The body of the lid
and the smooth surface is
568
00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:50,600
in a good condition.
569
00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:52,600
No inscription.
570
00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:54,680
Nothing.
571
00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:57,040
NARRATOR: There are no clues
inscribed in the stone of
572
00:33:57,040 --> 00:33:59,640
Sahure's sarcophagus lid.
573
00:33:59,640 --> 00:34:03,040
But Mohamed finds
an unusual hole.
574
00:34:03,040 --> 00:34:05,720
MOHAMED: Or maybe the tomb
raiders itself, they cut it
575
00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:08,480
in order to move it from
above the sarcophagus.
576
00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:11,120
Just to move the
lid a little bit.
577
00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:17,760
NARRATOR: As the team move
the lid safely into storage,
578
00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:21,360
Mohamed returns to see if more
fragments of sarcophagus are
579
00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:23,680
buried underneath.
580
00:34:23,680 --> 00:34:27,040
MOHAMED: So here are
more pieces from the,
581
00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:31,680
from the basalt lid,
as well as the rope.
582
00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:37,560
And not that they were using
in order to pull the lid out.
583
00:34:37,560 --> 00:34:41,040
There are more basalt pieces
here, so maybe we could
584
00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:44,200
find the rest of
the lid here down.
585
00:34:44,200 --> 00:34:47,240
But we have to
clean this area.
586
00:34:50,200 --> 00:34:53,000
NARRATOR: The team carefully
clear away the rubble.
587
00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:56,440
But it's not more of
the lid that they find.
588
00:34:56,800 --> 00:35:00,320
(speaking native language)
589
00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:04,640
MOHAMED: Oh, we found here
also another piece of a skull.
590
00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:07,800
Human skull.
591
00:35:07,800 --> 00:35:11,680
NARRATOR: It seems to be part
of an ill-fated tomb raider.
592
00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:16,680
Together, the ancient ropes,
the chiseled out walls,
593
00:35:16,680 --> 00:35:19,080
the Ottoman era oil lamps,
594
00:35:19,080 --> 00:35:21,280
and now the remains
of a tomb raider
595
00:35:21,280 --> 00:35:23,560
crushed by the pyramid,
596
00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:26,120
evidence is mounting
to explain how the
597
00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:29,120
burial chamber collapsed.
598
00:35:29,120 --> 00:35:31,640
MOHAMED: I believe that
they were everywhere here,
599
00:35:31,640 --> 00:35:35,000
inside the pyramid, just
searching for treasures
600
00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:37,800
and destroying all
the inner walls.
601
00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:41,120
And that's why the
destruction happened.
602
00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:44,600
NARRATOR: Despite myths of
booby-trapped pyramids,
603
00:35:44,600 --> 00:35:47,280
the evidence reveals a
long history of looting
604
00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:51,000
that eventually led to
this pyramid's demise.
605
00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:55,440
Mohamed thinks robbers
first stole from the pyramid
606
00:35:55,440 --> 00:35:59,880
during a period of widespread
looting around 3000 years ago.
607
00:36:01,840 --> 00:36:04,480
While inside the burial
chamber, thieves likely
608
00:36:04,480 --> 00:36:07,280
displaced the king's
sarcophagus lid
609
00:36:07,280 --> 00:36:10,360
to hunt for jewelry and amulets.
610
00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:14,360
Later, around 700 years ago,
611
00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,800
evidence shows
Ottoman stone thieves
612
00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,080
chiseled away the
limestone walls,
613
00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:22,240
searching for more
hidden treasure.
614
00:36:22,240 --> 00:36:25,120
But their efforts
weakened the structure.
615
00:36:25,120 --> 00:36:27,880
And while dragging away
the sarcophagus lid,
616
00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:32,240
at least one robber was killed
by a catastrophic collapse.
617
00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:37,640
The excavations
have revealed the
618
00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:40,480
pyramid's remarkable history.
619
00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:43,720
Now, Mohamed is more
determined than ever
620
00:36:43,720 --> 00:36:46,080
to reach the back of
the burial chamber,
621
00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:48,080
where the rest of
the sarcophagus
622
00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:51,640
could still be in
its original place.
623
00:36:52,320 --> 00:36:54,600
MOHAMED: We found
many basalt parts.
624
00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,440
We believe that all of
them comes from the lid.
625
00:36:57,440 --> 00:36:59,280
Nothing from the sarcophagus.
626
00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:02,320
That's why we believe that the
sarcophagus is still intact
627
00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:04,280
because it's still far away,
628
00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:07,880
up to six meters to
reach the sarcophagus.
629
00:37:08,280 --> 00:37:10,080
I'm very excited.
630
00:37:10,080 --> 00:37:12,800
You cannot imagine.
631
00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:24,240
NARRATOR: For two weeks,
632
00:37:24,240 --> 00:37:27,240
the team continues to clear
rubble and go even deeper
633
00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:30,000
into the burial chamber.
634
00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,960
They build a new temporary
wall to shore up the sides
635
00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:36,160
and a column to support
the next gigantic
636
00:37:36,160 --> 00:37:39,080
limestone ceiling beam.
637
00:37:39,080 --> 00:37:42,040
But there's a problem.
638
00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:44,280
MOHAMED: Yesterday, I was
really disappointed because
639
00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:49,240
we found out that this beam is,
is totally broken from the edge.
640
00:37:49,240 --> 00:37:51,720
Now we have to change
completely our plan because
641
00:37:51,720 --> 00:37:55,200
it's dangerous to leave the
beam and they're almost
642
00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:57,840
in the middle of the
burial chamber.
643
00:37:59,840 --> 00:38:02,480
NARRATOR: The broken ceiling
beam is only supported by the
644
00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:06,040
rubble beneath and their
temporary column to the side.
645
00:38:06,640 --> 00:38:08,840
If they excavate,
any movement could
646
00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:12,040
bring down tons of stone
debris from above.
647
00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:16,360
To make the pyramid
safe again,
648
00:38:16,360 --> 00:38:17,960
the team will need
to build another
649
00:38:17,960 --> 00:38:21,680
supporting pillar to help
prop up the broken beam.
650
00:38:22,200 --> 00:38:26,120
It's a huge setback and
time is against them.
651
00:38:26,640 --> 00:38:28,720
MOHAMED: We have only just
two weeks ahead of us
652
00:38:28,720 --> 00:38:33,040
and of course, this delay,
our plans, I'm worried.
653
00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:35,640
We hope that we will
will be able to make it.
654
00:38:35,640 --> 00:38:37,440
I hope so.
655
00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:39,760
NARRATOR: If Mohamed can't
secure the beam before
656
00:38:39,760 --> 00:38:41,440
the season ends,
657
00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:44,440
the burial chamber could
be at risk of collapse.
658
00:38:44,440 --> 00:38:47,880
And the King's
sarcophagus never found.
659
00:38:52,840 --> 00:38:54,920
NARRATOR: With the season
coming to a close,
660
00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:58,000
Mohamed calls in a
specialist scanning team
661
00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:01,240
to map the internal
structure of the pyramid.
662
00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:04,760
Creating a 3D model
will reveal the team's
663
00:39:04,760 --> 00:39:08,240
incredible progress
during the excavations
664
00:39:08,240 --> 00:39:12,240
and help them work out how
far could be left to go.
665
00:39:13,120 --> 00:39:16,840
In charge of the operation
is Abdelrahman Abbas.
666
00:39:36,800 --> 00:39:39,560
NARRATOR: With the latest
laser-mapping technology,
667
00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:43,200
the team can produce a 3D model
with millimeter precision
668
00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:45,400
in a matter of minutes.
669
00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:11,320
NARRATOR: The results
are breathtaking.
670
00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:13,960
MOHAMED: Wow.
671
00:40:13,960 --> 00:40:15,160
It's fantastic.
672
00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:17,560
It's, it's really wonderful.
673
00:40:17,560 --> 00:40:20,960
NARRATOR: The scans reveal
the pyramid's corridors.
674
00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:24,080
Eight fully cleared
storeroom magazines.
675
00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:25,760
MOHAMED: It's crazy.
676
00:40:25,760 --> 00:40:27,200
(laughing)
677
00:40:27,200 --> 00:40:29,920
NARRATOR: And the partially
excavated burial chamber
678
00:40:29,920 --> 00:40:32,480
in unprecedented detail.
679
00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:34,120
MOHAMED: This is the first
time that we see the
680
00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:36,880
complete plan of the magazine.
681
00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:39,000
The complete structure.
682
00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:40,400
It's like this.
683
00:40:40,400 --> 00:40:41,800
It's perfect.
684
00:40:41,800 --> 00:40:44,600
This is, will help us very,
very much in order to get
685
00:40:44,600 --> 00:40:47,040
the real and precise
measurements,
686
00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:50,120
as well as also
the the new outline
687
00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:53,880
of the pyramid from inside.
688
00:40:55,720 --> 00:40:56,760
Wow.
689
00:40:56,760 --> 00:40:58,800
ABDELRAHMAN: Science fiction.
690
00:41:00,240 --> 00:41:03,520
NARRATOR: The scans show the
team has advanced four meters
691
00:41:03,520 --> 00:41:06,760
into the center of
Sahure's burial chamber.
692
00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:10,960
Based on the size
of the magazines,
693
00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:13,560
and the symmetry the
pyramid builders used
694
00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:15,840
to construct them,
695
00:41:15,840 --> 00:41:20,040
Mohamed thinks there are still
four more meters left to go.
696
00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:25,200
(chatter)
697
00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:27,120
NARRATOR: Back inside
the burial chamber.
698
00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:29,600
The team is flat out.
699
00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:33,520
They have almost completed the
new supporting pillar needed
700
00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:36,920
to safely continue
the excavations.
701
00:41:36,920 --> 00:41:40,080
But time is running out.
702
00:41:41,120 --> 00:41:44,600
With only one day left and
hopes waning that they can
703
00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:47,680
make more progress into
the burial chamber,
704
00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:51,320
Mohamed calls an end
to the season's work.
705
00:41:51,320 --> 00:41:53,320
(chatter)
706
00:41:53,320 --> 00:41:55,240
NARRATOR: The pyramid
is not ready to give up
707
00:41:55,240 --> 00:41:58,600
all of its secrets just yet.
708
00:41:58,920 --> 00:42:02,360
MOHAMED: If you work in
Egyptology, you may find
709
00:42:02,360 --> 00:42:05,480
good surprise or bad surprise.
710
00:42:05,480 --> 00:42:08,880
We have to stop because
this is the end of our season.
711
00:42:08,880 --> 00:42:13,160
But of course I can't wait to
come back again to find the
712
00:42:13,160 --> 00:42:17,920
sarcophagus and reach the
end of the burial chamber.
713
00:42:18,200 --> 00:42:20,400
NARRATOR: With almost all
of the internal structure
714
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:22,120
now exposed.
715
00:42:22,120 --> 00:42:24,600
The discovery of the
king's sarcophagus lid
716
00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:28,640
and an audacious
tomb raiding plot.
717
00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:31,720
Mohamed's excavations are
bringing the mysteries of
718
00:42:31,720 --> 00:42:34,520
King Sahure and his
forgotten pyramid
719
00:42:34,520 --> 00:42:37,720
back to life once again.
720
00:42:41,320 --> 00:42:45,040
In its prime, Sahure's pyramid
complex would have been
721
00:42:45,040 --> 00:42:49,080
the epicenter of the
Egyptian economy and religion.
722
00:42:50,080 --> 00:42:52,240
On the banks of the Nile,
723
00:42:52,240 --> 00:42:54,960
priests would have
disembarked with offerings
724
00:42:54,960 --> 00:42:58,000
collected from his
Sun Temple and beyond,
725
00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:01,600
and walked along the
pyramid's causeway to its
726
00:43:01,600 --> 00:43:05,640
mortuary temple for
worship of the king.
727
00:43:06,520 --> 00:43:10,360
While today the pyramid's
splendor has been lost to
728
00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:15,240
robbers and ruin, until
Mohamed is finished,
729
00:43:15,240 --> 00:43:18,560
there remains a chance
that Sahure himself
730
00:43:18,560 --> 00:43:22,400
is still buried inside.
731
00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:29,520
Mohamed's mission
isn't over yet.
732
00:43:30,600 --> 00:43:32,880
MOHAMED: When I come to
Sahure pyramid complex,
733
00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:34,760
I feel that I'm home.
734
00:43:34,760 --> 00:43:36,920
I feel that I'm
attached to this king.
735
00:43:36,920 --> 00:43:40,160
And in return, I have really
a great belief that also
736
00:43:40,160 --> 00:43:42,440
this king supports me somehow.
737
00:43:42,440 --> 00:43:44,920
That's why I don't stop.
738
00:43:44,920 --> 00:43:48,280
I go every time because
it gives more and more
739
00:43:48,280 --> 00:43:50,360
new information.
740
00:43:50,360 --> 00:43:55,200
It changes more and more our
history about this great king.
741
00:43:56,840 --> 00:43:58,280
Captioned by
Cotter Media Group.