Ancient Bodies: Secrets Revealed

Ancient Bodies: Secrets Revealed

©National Geographic
Ancient Bodies: Secrets Revealed

Synopsis

Combining age-old mysteries with cutting-edge archaeology, Ancient Bodies: Secrets Revealed calls on the world’s leading experts to crack thousand-year-old puzzles where the cause of death could be accident, murder, suicide—and even ritual sacrifice. Complete with hair, skin, clothes and all, perfectly-preserved prehistoric bodies emerge from glaciers and peat bogs—as if frozen in time. And, as these time-capsule corpses reveal their secrets, the mystery gradually unravels. With a dramatic story lineup that includes an Irish king murdered by his subjects, the oldest ice mummy ever found, and a group of children discovered ‘sleeping’ on an Argentinian mountaintop, every episode covers a single in-depth investigation and features competing theories, dramatic recreations, and an unforgettable glimpse into everyday life—before recorded history.

Episodes

Season 1

  • Otzi: World’s Oldest Cold Case

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    In the mountains of Northern Italy, a grisly discovery is made by a couple of mountaineers. In a nearly unreachable part of the world, human remains are found sticking out from a glacier.

  • Old Croghan Man: Murder Most Royal

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    Human remains are discovered near Croghan Hill, Irelanda place where ancient kings were once crowned. As archeologists examine the remains, a story unfolds that reveals the gruesome murder of a King by his followers.

  • Weerdinger Couple: Mysterious Double Murder

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    Two bodies are discovered near the town of Weerdinge, Netherlands as locals jump to conclusions that the bodies belong to a man and woman likely united in life and death.

  • Haraldskær Woman: Mummy Identity

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    When the human remains of a female are uncovered near Vejle, Denmark, an archeologist begins detailing a fantastic tale of who she was and why she was murdered, linking her to ancient sagas.

  • Tollund Man: Peaceful in the Peat

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    Near Silkeborg, Denmark, peat diggers uncover a human head and authorities quickly work to identify who it is, possibly relating it a missing boy in the area. But a keen police officer reveals the body is much older than the current missing person and calls the museum to investigate

  • Yde Girl: Murder on the Edge of Town

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    Human remains are pulled up from the depths of a peat bog near Yde, Netherlands. Some locals believe it is the work of the devilstrands of shocking fire-red hair stream from the ground, sending them fleeing in fear.

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    A German town is shocked when mutilated beyond recognition human remains are unearthed. As archeologists investigate further, they reveal proof of ancient human sacrifice.

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    An archeologist makes the 22,000-foot journey to the peak of an Argentinian mountain near an active volcano and discovers the remains of children, perfectly preserved as though they are asleep.