Opening a Sealed Egyptian Tomb
Clip: Season 52 Episode 4 | 2m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Archaeologists remove the mud brick seal of an unopened Egyptian tomb.
Beneath the sand and mud bricks of Egypt, a sealed tomb reveals its secrets for the first time in centuries. As archaeologists carefully break through the entrance, they uncover an unusual vase that doesn’t resemble any known Egyptian artifact - but the most breathtaking discovery is a never-before-seen sculpture.
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Opening a Sealed Egyptian Tomb
Clip: Season 52 Episode 4 | 2m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Beneath the sand and mud bricks of Egypt, a sealed tomb reveals its secrets for the first time in centuries. As archaeologists carefully break through the entrance, they uncover an unusual vase that doesn’t resemble any known Egyptian artifact - but the most breathtaking discovery is a never-before-seen sculpture.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- [Narrator] Most tombs discovered in Egypt have been looted in antiquity.
(dramatic music) But just below the surface in tomb number six, the expectations are high.
Afifi is checking the mud bricks that block the entrance to the burial chamber.
(dramatic music continues) - The seal of the doorway is just directly under the mother rock.
It means that it never opened before.
This tomb was confusing for us.
In the beginning, we thought there is nothing here.
Was thinking to stop the work and leave the shaft.
(dramatic music continues) - [Narrator] And Afifi is also concerned about the safety of the crew working in the tomb.
- The mother rock is not straight, so I try to check if it is still an original seater or just fall down.
- [Narrator] On closer inspection, Afifi notices that a couple of the mud bricks have collapsed under the weight of the rock above, leaving a small opening.
(dramatic music continues) Over time, the sand has seeped through.
With great anticipation, Baghdadi starts removing the mud bricks.
Once the passage is cleared, work inside the chamber begins.
At first, it's just clean sand, but soon artifacts emerge.
- This amethyst?
Huh?
- Yeah, could be.
(dramatic music) Oh.
Oh!
Beautiful vase.
God!
(laughs) - This is not Egyptian.
(dramatic music continues) - This is so strange.
Doesn't look Egyptian.
Even the colors.
- [Narrator] The style of this tiny pot is nothing like any artifact the team has found before.
(upbeat dramatic music) Was it imported from a distant land?
- This is a very important discovery.
The artifacts are now a really unique.
Very happy.
(dramatic music) - [Narrator] Then Zahi comes face-to-face with a special object.
- (speaking in a foreign language).
This is the first time I see something like this.
The lady is seated, having a gazelle on her hand, and holding her son on the back.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.