Treasures Decoded

Most kings of England get a grand tomb when they die, but not Richard III. His body vanished after being killed in battle, leaving just his terrible reputation behind. But 500 years later, he may have finally been found. Follow this remarkable story, from the historic excavation of a city parking lot, to the battery of tests that followed. From skeletal analysis to CT scans to DNA profiling, watch scientists unlock this skeleton's secrets, confirm its true identity, and perhaps even clear the name of one of history's most reviled kings.

[Season Finale] Historians analyse an intriguing scrap of papyrus that may prove Jesus was married, but historians aren't convinced it's genuine.

The stone giants of Easter Island are some of the most recognizable statues on Earth, and some of the least understood. How were hundreds of these enormous figures built, and why? And what prompted the Islanders to topple all of them to the ground, save for one? To answer these questions, our team of experts gathers evidence on the island and pores over a centuries-old eyewitness account. They also use modern analysis to decipher the symbolic code cut into the last statue standing, a carving that reveals a story of extraordinary struggle.

The Great Pyramid at Giza is the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence. It's as tall as a 50-story building, has stood for 4,500 years, and for centuries, has been a puzzle to archaeologists, who still do not really know how it was built. But today, two new developments might just solve this great mystery: the remarkable discovery of a diary written by one of the men involved in the pyramid's construction, and radical new theories from an engineer who's bringing fresh insights to this ancient riddle.

Queen Nefertiti was the most powerful woman in ancient Egypt, but few today would know anything about her if it weren't for the discovery of her statue in the Amarna Desert in 1912. Since then, she has become a global icon...and a very controversial figure. Many believe the unearthing of her likeness was staged, and that the bust is one of the greatest art frauds of all time. Follow our team of historians and scientists as they sort through the clues, visit the sites, and put the spectacular object to the test to solve this ancient secret.

Beneath the waters off the North Carolina coast, lost for over 300 years, lays the wreckage of a ship. Experts believe it once belonged to the bloodthirsty pirate Blackbeard, but not everyone is convinced. Join the investigation as our experts analyze historical records and charts, and search for clues among 300,000 documented artifacts. Their mission: to prove this is the wreckage of Queen Anne's Revenge, and to determine how this ship, supposedly captained by one of the most skilled sailors of his day, suddenly and mysteriously ran aground.