Ancient Mysteries

In August 2011, an expedition in the Gobi Desert region of Mongolia uncovered a long-forgotten section of the Great Wall of China. In 2015, nine new sections of the wall were located in northwest China. Researchers and archaeologists have worked for years to uncover the secrets of this incredible ancient structure. How was this massive wall created? Who exactly built it and why? Centuries of study have led to many theories and ideas, but some questions may never be answered. Find out more about the myths, history, and science surrounding the Great Wall of China.

Five thousand years ago, someone (or a lot of someones) shaped and assembled a group of 25-ton rocks in southwest England. We call it Stonehenge. The summer and winter solstices are amazingly beautiful at this mysterious configuration of rocks. But still no one knows exactly who built Stonehenge, how they did it, or why. Explore the fantastical myths that attempt to explain these ancient mysteries, as well as the fascinating clues and tools archaeologists are using to uncover the truth about Stonehenge.

On Easter in 1722, a fleet of Dutch ships exploring the southeastern Pacific Ocean came across a small island that at first seemed uninhabited. Instead, the sailors found a community of people and hundreds of giant stone statues. Easter Island and its statues have long been a source of mystery for explorers, historians, and tourists. How did people come to live in such a remote place? How had the islanders carved such enormous statues without metal tools? And how had they moved them? Read all about the myths and theories surrounding Easter Island, as well as the science researchers are using to learn more.

Massive pyramids tower over the Giza Plateau near Cairo, Egypt. Built in the Bronze Age, these immense stone structures were engineered with remarkable precision. How did the ancient Egyptians construct them without the use of modern tools? Why were they built? Throughout the centuries, historians and archaeologists have studied the pyramids and other Egyptian artifacts in search of possible answers to these questions. The pyramids are filled with mysterious doors and passage ways what other secrets and treasures might lie inside? Find out more about the myths, science, and technology surrounding the creation and exploration of the Egyptian pyramids.

In 1911 an American explorer came across an ancient city hidden high in the Andes Mountains of Peru. Since then, explorers, archaeologists, and tourists have been fascinated by this beautiful and mysterious city known as Machu Picchu. The city appears to have been carefully constructed every stone is perfectly cut and placed. The Inca people built Machu Picchu at the height of their empire, but no one knows for sure how or why they created it. Read all about the myths and theories surrounding Machu Picchu and its history, as well as the science archaeologists are using to understand this ancient city.

Two thousand years ago, disaster struck the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. When Mount Vesuvius erupted, a deadly cloud of superheated ash, rock, and gas descended on the city and its terrified people. Pompeii lay buried and forgotten for centuries. The thick layer of volcanic ash acted like a time capsule, preserving homes, temples, human remains, and even food. What secrets did this lost city hold? Explore the science being used to solve Pompeii's greatest mysteries including how the city's people lived and died. Compare what we know with some of the more fantastic myths about the buried city of Pompeii.