1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 This is where they say the Ark rested for 800 years. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,000 They claim the Ark is not far from here. 3 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:10,000 This is a literal hole in the ground? 4 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,000 That's right. It's not documented. It's never been filmed. 5 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,000 There's a passage! 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,000 Hard to breathe. 7 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,000 Finding Zalch is really dangerous. 8 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,000 Incredible. 9 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:27,000 You're not gonna believe what we've got here. 10 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,000 This is awesome! 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,000 The Ark of the Covenant. 12 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,000 It is the single most iconic archaeological relic in history. 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:47,000 An object of astounding religious significance 14 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,000 and, according to legend, unimaginable power. 15 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,000 In the Old Testament, Moses returns from the top of Mount Sinai 16 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,000 to the stone tablets delivered from God Himself. 17 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,000 On them are inscribed ten commandments, 18 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,000 an eternal covenant between man and the Almighty. 19 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:09,000 These are kept in a sacred, gold-covered chest known as the Ark. 20 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:17,000 It is said to wield the terrifying power to consume its enemies with a wall of fire 21 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,000 and reduce mountains to dust. 22 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:25,000 The Israelites carry the Ark to Jerusalem where it vanishes from history. 23 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,000 And mankind has been looking for it ever since. 24 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:37,000 Thanks to everyone's favorite whip-cracking archaeologist and my cinematic hero, 25 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,000 the Ark is synonymous with adventure. 26 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,000 But I won't be fighting Nazis to find it. 27 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,000 New excavations beneath the holy city of Jerusalem 28 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:49,000 are revealing secret passages which may lead to the Ark's last location. 29 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:55,000 And there are those that swear that the Ark left the Middle East entirely 30 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:59,000 and shocking new evidence that may rewrite biblical history. 31 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:04,000 It's my turn to take on Indy's quest as I join a new generation of raiders 32 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,000 going after the Lost Ark. 33 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,000 My name is Josh Gates. 34 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,000 Look at that! 35 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,000 With a degree in archaeology and a passion for exploration. 36 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,000 I have a tendency to end up in some very strange situations. 37 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,000 This is horrible. This is officially horrible. 38 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:29,000 My travels have taken me to the ends of the earth 39 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,000 as I investigate the greatest legends in history. 40 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,000 We're good to fly. Let's go. 41 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,000 This is Expedition Unknown. 42 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,000 Like most biblical mysteries, this one starts in Israel. 43 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,000 Welcome to the Old City of Jerusalem. 44 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,000 This is one of the most extraordinary places in the world. 45 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,000 It is also one of the most confusing. 46 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,000 And that's because it's splintered into four pieces. 47 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:56,000 The Jewish quarter, the Muslim quarter, the Christian quarter, and the Armenian quarter. 48 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:59,000 Within these walls, the world's great religions rub shoulders, 49 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,000 sometimes uncomplicated, and the world's great religions rub shoulders. 50 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,000 Within these walls, the world's great religions rub shoulders, 51 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:09,000 sometimes uncomfortably, in a city unlike any other. 52 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:16,000 The heart of this holy hodgepodge is the Temple Mount, 53 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:20,000 a massive platform that has dominated the Old City for millennia. 54 00:03:20,000 --> 00:03:24,000 To really understand how important this place is, all you have to do is look around. 55 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,000 The dome of the rock here behind me is where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son 56 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,000 and where the prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. 57 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:35,000 And this is the last known location of the Ark of the Covenant, 58 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,000 which was housed in the great Temple of Solomon. 59 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,000 Where it went from there is where our mystery begins. 60 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:49,000 Almost 3,000 years ago, the platform was home to the immense Temple of Solomon, 61 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,000 dedicated to the God of the Israelites. 62 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:56,000 Inside the complex was a raised inner sanctum known as the Holy of Holies, 63 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:01,000 where the Ark of the Covenant was kept, seen only by the highest of the high priests. 64 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,000 For hundreds of years, the Ark is a living, present part of the Jewish faith, 65 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:10,000 the center of the Temple and the people of Israel. 66 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,000 But in 589 BCE, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar 67 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:17,000 lays siege to the city of Jerusalem. 68 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:23,000 It lasts two years, and when it ends, Solomon's Temple is destroyed by the Babylonians. 69 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,000 After that, the Ark simply vanishes from history. 70 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:32,000 One of the theories explaining its disappearance is that the prophet Jeremiah 71 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:38,000 foresaw the impending Babylonian invasion and secreted the Ark into a dark corner beneath the Temple Mount. 72 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,000 But looking for it here is complicated to say the least, 73 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,000 and that's because this place isn't just historic, it's holy. 74 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:50,000 The platform is now under Arab control and is highly restricted. 75 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:56,000 The western, or so-called wailing wall, is the lower side of the Temple Mount platform. 76 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:01,000 Jews pray here, since it's the closest they can get to where the Ark once rested. 77 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,000 The Temple Mount is a political powder keg, 78 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:08,000 and anyone poking around has the potential to cause violent clashes between the factions here. 79 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:15,000 There is one archaeologist, though, who has the rare privilege of working beneath the area of the Temple Mount. 80 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:20,000 And I have exclusive permission to join him at his dig site. 81 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:24,000 On the way, I get a glimpse at the vibrant life of the old city. 82 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:27,000 How have I made it to this age and never played marbles? 83 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,000 One, two, three. 84 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,000 Though it's been 2700 years since the Ark's disappearance, 85 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:40,000 you can put this baby on your coffee table at home today. 86 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,000 You know, the last time I saw somebody take the lid off this thing, their face melted. 87 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:48,000 No, I shouldn't look. I shouldn't look. It's not a good idea. 88 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:54,000 While I learned my lesson from Indy, my crew seems to have let their guard down entirely. 89 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:57,000 Bad dates. 90 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,000 Come on, Raiders of the Lost Ark, nobody? 91 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:03,000 Good dates. 92 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:10,000 I emerge in the Jewish Quarter to meet Avi Solomon at the western wall. 93 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:11,000 Avi. 94 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,000 Hello, Josh. It's nice to meet you. 95 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:17,000 He's the chief archaeologist at an immensely important dig nearby. 96 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:19,000 How long have you been excavating here? 97 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:20,000 Almost 16 years. 98 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,000 And where are you excavating? 99 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,000 Inside the western wall tunnels. 100 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,000 In the tunnels? 101 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:25,000 In the tunnels. 102 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,000 In respect to the sacred nature of this place, 103 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:32,000 I don a traditional head covering called a Yamaka and walk with Avi beneath the western wall 104 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,000 to one of the most exclusive locations in Jerusalem. 105 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:42,000 A sealed off passageway where the last attempt to find the Ark beneath the Great Temple began and ended. 106 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,000 This opening is considered to be one gate. 107 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:47,000 One gate. 108 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:54,000 One gate is one of the four gates that archaeologists has discovered inside the western wall. 109 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,000 And this would have led into the Temple Mount? 110 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:57,000 Yes. 111 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:58,000 So it was like a tunnel? 112 00:06:58,000 --> 00:06:59,000 Like a tunnel. 113 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:04,000 In 1981, read by Euda Meir Gez, tried to enter behind it. 114 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:10,000 Because according to his calculations, he might find the Ark of Convent beside the Temple Mount itself. 115 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,000 How far in did he get? 116 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:13,000 In 30 meters. 117 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,000 He went almost 100 feet, but he did not find the Ark. 118 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:17,000 He did not find the Ark. 119 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:21,000 The rabbi's tunneling was so controversial that it sparked a riot. 120 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:26,000 15 years later, when a small section of the western wall tunnels were opened to the public, 121 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:30,000 violence erupted that resulted in the deaths of 75 people. 122 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:33,000 No one has attempted to search for the Ark here since. 123 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:37,000 But riots aren't the only risks for those who seek the Ark. 124 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:43,000 Avi offers an example from the Mishnah, a book of Jewish wisdom dating back to the second century. 125 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,000 It once happened that a priest surmised that this was the entrance to the hidden chambers. 126 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:53,000 He came to tell his friend, but before he had time to finish his words, his soul departed. 127 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,000 They then knew for certain that the Ark was hidden there. 128 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:59,000 So he was just going to mention it, and he died. 129 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,000 Yes. 130 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,000 Finding the Ark is very dangerous. 131 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:09,000 Avi is not in search of the Ark, but his work puts him in close proximity to the Temple Mount, 132 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:14,000 so anything his team finds has profound historic and religious ramifications. 133 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:19,000 He leads me beneath the streets, and as we descend, we begin to travel back in time. 134 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:25,000 This is the true Old Jerusalem, frozen in time beneath the hustle and bustle above. 135 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,000 Wow, look at this. You excavated all of this? 136 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:29,000 Yes. 137 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:30,000 And what's above us here? 138 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,000 The Muslim quarter of Jerusalem. 139 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:38,000 He brings me into one of the pits to see how fruitful digging under the city can be. 140 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:39,000 Take the hammer. 141 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,000 This is a shed of porter. 142 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:47,000 Here's another one. 143 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:48,000 And how old do you figure this is? 144 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,000 1,600 years old. 145 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,000 Wow, incredible. 146 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,000 We are here really at the edge of the Temple Mount. 147 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:55,000 Yes. 148 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,000 Underneath the Temple Mount, proper. 149 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,000 How much of that has been excavated? 150 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,000 None. 151 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:04,000 And do you think it will ever be excavated? 152 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,000 None. 153 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,000 Nobody's working over there, nobody's allowed to work over there. 154 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:14,000 It's like a black hole in the ecology of the land of Israel. 155 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:15,000 Unfortunately. 156 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:19,000 But this is still giving you a lot of incredibly valuable information about the history of the city. 157 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,000 Yes, yes. 158 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,000 All right. Hey, thank you very much. 159 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:22,000 You're welcome. 160 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:23,000 I appreciate it. 161 00:09:23,000 --> 00:09:28,000 I leave Avi to keep working on one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, 162 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:32,000 with a new appreciation for just how much of Jerusalem has never been explored. 163 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:37,000 Okay, so digging down into the rest of the Temple Mount isn't going to happen anytime soon. 164 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:39,000 But there is an archaeologist in town named Scott Stripling, 165 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:43,000 who may have a lead on another way to explore the underside of this city. 166 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,000 I meet Scott at the Tower of David, 167 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,000 amidst the ruins of a massive citadel that once guarded the old city. 168 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:52,000 Scott. 169 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:53,000 Hey, Josh, how are you? 170 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:54,000 I'm good, man. Nice to meet you. 171 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:58,000 So I know there's a lot of people who believe that the Ark was hidden under the Temple Mount. 172 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,000 You think that's a possibility? 173 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:03,000 Well, I think it is, because the last place we know that it was was here in Jerusalem. 174 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:05,000 So it's a legitimate thing to explore. 175 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,000 But since the 19th century, because of the political tensions and the religious tensions, 176 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,000 there's been such little exploration that's been done. 177 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:18,000 In the 19th and 20th centuries, archaeologists such as R.W. Hamilton, Charles Warren, 178 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:24,000 and German explorer Conrad Schick were able to explore beneath the Temple Mount with impunity, 179 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,000 something that's become unthinkable in this day and age. 180 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,000 So what brings you to the old city today, then? 181 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,000 Well, I've been invited by some colleagues to check out an opening into the ground, 182 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:38,000 and it seems like there's a passage that is connecting to the Temple Mount area. 183 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,000 Wow. This is a literal hole in the ground? 184 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,000 Right. 185 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:42,000 Has anyone gone down and surveyed this? 186 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,000 Not in modern times. 187 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,000 It's not documented. It's not published. 188 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:47,000 It's never been filmed, and that's what we're hoping to do today. 189 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:53,000 Scott invites me to join him as he prepares to explore this mysterious hole in the ground. 190 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:58,000 We walk down ancient alleys and narrow passages to the site, 191 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:01,000 where Scott introduces me to his team member, Alon, 192 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:04,000 who's prepping to head down into the newly discovered opening. 193 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,000 Hey, Alon, nice to meet you. 194 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,000 You look like a guy who's ready to explore something. 195 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,000 Where is this opening? 196 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,000 I'm sorry, that's the opening? 197 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:16,000 Yeah, that's the opening. 198 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,000 Oh, man, I should have skipped breakfast. 199 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,000 I mean, I'm barely going to get in that. 200 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:21,000 You see the bottom? 201 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,000 Oh, my God. 202 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:28,000 It's like 40 feet, more or less. 203 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:30,000 I will load you down in the beginning with this rope. 204 00:11:30,000 --> 00:11:34,000 Just so I understand this, you're going to pull me out of this hole using that consumer power drill? 205 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:35,000 Yeah. 206 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,000 It's working. 207 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,000 You'll be surprised. 208 00:11:39,000 --> 00:11:41,000 Yes, I will be surprised. 209 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,000 Okay, let's see what happens. 210 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,000 The shaft was concealed beneath ancient stonework, 211 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:50,000 and because no one has been down there for hundreds of years or more, 212 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:54,000 we can't be sure the air is safe, or that there is any air for that matter. 213 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:58,000 We send down a meter to test how much oxygen there is for us to breathe. 214 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,000 We don't have any poisoned gas. 215 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,000 Just the hair, it's a bit thin. 216 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:03,000 A bit thin? 217 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:04,000 It's right on the line. 218 00:12:04,000 --> 00:12:07,000 It will be more thinner because we have more people down. 219 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:08,000 Okay. 220 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:09,000 Once we get the green light to proceed, 221 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:16,000 we tape our cuffs at the wrists and ankles to keep spiders and scorpions from doing their own excavations. 222 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,000 Finally, it's time to go. 223 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:19,000 Holy moly. 224 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,000 I begin my descent through 3,000 years of history. 225 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:23,000 Here we go. 226 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:28,000 Hoping that at the bottom lies a pathway that leads directly to the Ark of the Covenant. 227 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:35,000 Biblical archaeologists Scott Stripling and I are descending into a tunnel beneath one of the most ancient and sacred places in the world, 228 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,000 the Old City of Jerusalem. 229 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,000 See you on the other side. 230 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:39,000 See you down there. 231 00:12:39,000 --> 00:12:44,000 He's hoping this trip could lead to the impossible to access area beneath the Holy Temple Mount, 232 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:48,000 where some believe the Ark of the Covenant has been hidden for millennia. 233 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:49,000 Okay. 234 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,000 How's it going down there? 235 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:53,000 Oh, it's going great. 236 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,000 Very old blocks all the way down. 237 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,000 Does the stone change from the top to the bottom? 238 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,000 It looks pretty consistent. 239 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,000 The stone on the top is definitely first century. 240 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:06,000 So if it's consistent all the way down, then we know that this is a first century shaft. 241 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:07,000 Copy that. 242 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:08,000 Copy that. 243 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:09,000 Copy that. 244 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:10,000 Copy that. 245 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:11,000 Copy that. 246 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:12,000 Copy that. 247 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:13,000 Copy that. 248 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:14,000 Copy that. 249 00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:15,000 Copy that. 250 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:16,000 Copy that. 251 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:17,000 Copy that. 252 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:18,000 Copy that. 253 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:22,000 Looks like it's opening up a little bit down here. 254 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,000 Looks good. 255 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,000 Okay, I'm definitely at the bottom. 256 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,000 Lowering. 257 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,000 There's a passage. 258 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,000 You're kidding me. 259 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:33,000 How wide is it? 260 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:34,000 It's very narrow, Scott. 261 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,000 It's only about two feet across. 262 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:37,000 Coming down. 263 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:42,000 An extremely cramped passageway leads into the darkness, unexplored for centuries. 264 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:46,000 It means Scott may be right, and this could connect to a larger tunnel network 265 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,000 leading under the Temple Mount. 266 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:49,000 Pick it up, Scott. 267 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:51,000 I'm gonna coffin down here. 268 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,000 Okay, I'm on the ground. 269 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:58,000 I wedge into a small opening so he can lead the way. 270 00:13:58,000 --> 00:13:59,000 Right behind you, Scott. 271 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:00,000 All right, here we go. 272 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:02,000 We start to push forward into the tunnel. 273 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,000 It's pitch black down here, and the air feels thin. 274 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:09,000 We're joined by one of Scott's team members who's equipped with supplemental oxygen. 275 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,000 Notice how the roof is changing. 276 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:18,000 These pavers that have been laid in here 2,000 years ago, I'm positive now that this is a drainage system from the first century. 277 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:19,000 Wow. 278 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:21,000 Any idea how far back it goes? 279 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:25,000 Well, further than I can see, we're going in the direction of the Temple Mount. 280 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,000 Okay, let's see where this thing goes. 281 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:36,000 The size of these stones above us is incredible. 282 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:37,000 Another massive. 283 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,000 Remember, we're about 40 feet under the modern city of Jerusalem right now. 284 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,000 Some of the stones are holding up better than others. 285 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:49,000 Looks like the lentil stone actually cracked. 286 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:50,000 Yeah, it is broken. 287 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,000 It looks unstable, so don't touch it. 288 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:53,000 Copy that. 289 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,000 As you're coming in, stay low. 290 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:00,000 Little, stay down. 291 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:02,000 There you go. 292 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:03,000 All right, you made it. 293 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:10,000 Things don't get any more comfortable as we move in the direction of the Temple Mount. 294 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,000 The further we go, the tighter the tunnels seem to narrow. 295 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,000 Yeah, I'm pretty much hands and knees at this point. 296 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:21,000 This is incredible, but also incredibly close to our foot back. 297 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,000 This is as dangerous a place as I've been in a long time. 298 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,000 The ancient tunnel is unstable. 299 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:31,000 The air is barely breathable, and we're down here with Jehovah knows what. 300 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:33,000 Oh, spiders. 301 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,000 Why did I have to be spiders? 302 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,000 But at the end of it could be the Ark of the Covenant. 303 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:42,000 So there's no thought of turning back. 304 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:43,000 Oh my goodness. 305 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:44,000 What'd you find? 306 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,000 You're not going to believe what we've got here. 307 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,000 What do you got? 308 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,000 I can't believe what I'm looking at. 309 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:56,000 The signature of Conrad Schick dated 1863. 310 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:58,000 Look at that. 311 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:04,000 Conrad Schick was a famous 19th century archeologist, one of the few to explore underneath the 312 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:08,000 Temple Mount before it became too volatile to dig. 313 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:11,000 You can see clearly here, see Schick. 314 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:18,000 Now the date's a little rubbed out, but if we look back here, his companion has dated in 1863. 315 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:19,000 That is outrageous. 316 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:23,000 Can you believe that this man had the presence of mine 150 years ago. 317 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:24,000 Took graffiti to the wall. 318 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,000 To actually tag the wall so that we could find it and show it to the world. 319 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:30,000 Oh man, I knew I should have brought my can of spray paint. 320 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:33,000 You're looking at history right now. 321 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,000 This is a real confirmation that this is one of the tunnels that he discovered and surveyed. 322 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:40,000 Well, it's positive proof. 323 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:44,000 I mean, as an archeologist we dream about having inscriptions for evidence. 324 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,000 You couldn't get any more clear than this. 325 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,000 This is awesome. 326 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:48,000 This is so awesome. 327 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:49,000 All right man. 328 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:50,000 Nice work buddy. 329 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:51,000 Excellent. 330 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:52,000 Okay, let's see where this tunnel goes. 331 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,000 All right. 332 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:58,000 Could his signature mean that these tunnels connect to those in the Temple? 333 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:04,000 We have to push on even as the walls close in on us until there's no further for us to go. 334 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,000 Josh, we've come to collapse. 335 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:09,000 Locked off? 336 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,000 It's blocked off. 337 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,000 Looks like the tunnel actually does keep going, but another shaft has collapsed in. 338 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,000 Anywhere to sneak a camera through there? 339 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,000 I don't see any way to get a camera through. 340 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:19,000 Looks unstable. 341 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:26,000 In the future, maybe we'll be able to raise the money and come back and actually excavate this tunnel 342 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:28,000 and see if it goes the rest of the way toward the Temple Mount. 343 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:30,000 But for today, no arc. 344 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:32,000 Not today my friend. 345 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,000 We're going to have to ring a team and come back and dig it right. 346 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:39,000 We turn around for the long walk back. 347 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:43,000 But getting home may be even more dangerous than we imagine. 348 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,000 Hey guys, I just got to be very thin right now. 349 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:50,000 Okay. 350 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:51,000 You need to go outside. 351 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,000 You okay Scott? 352 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,000 Yeah, I'm laboring to breathe. 353 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:55,000 Yeah, me too. 354 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,000 Okay, let's see if we can get a place where it gets a little wider here. 355 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,000 I'm in a claustrophobic's worst nightmare. 356 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:18,000 Nearly 50 feet beneath the old city of Jerusalem on the hunt for the Ark of the Covenant. 357 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:22,000 And suddenly our oxygen meters tell us that we're running out of air to breathe. 358 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:31,000 On the long journey through this tunnel, we've been using oxygen far faster than it's being replaced. 359 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:36,000 The air, which was thin to begin with, has now turned downright dangerous. 360 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,000 Hard to breathe. 361 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:45,000 We find a small open space for Scott's team member to administer oxygen. 362 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,000 I'm feeling a little lightheaded man. 363 00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:48,000 Alright, can you use it? 364 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,000 Yeah, yeah. 365 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,000 I'm going to go ahead and breathe. 366 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:09,000 Oh my god, I feel like a new man. 367 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:10,000 That's awesome. 368 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,000 I had to carry one of these things around all the time. 369 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:14,000 Like blue velvet in here. 370 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:15,000 Right. 371 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,000 Let's keep moving and keep this thing on standby in case we need it. 372 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,000 With fresh lungs, we make our final push to the exit. 373 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:26,000 Attention, please repull you. 374 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:42,000 Was that the power drill? 375 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:43,000 Yeah. 376 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:44,000 Come on. 377 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,000 You laughed at my drilling. 378 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:52,000 Am I hallucinating or do I hear singing? 379 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,000 It's all for you, Jerusalem. 380 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,000 God love this town. 381 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:05,000 Scott will hopefully be back with an excavation team to push even further down the tunnels to see how far they extend. 382 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:12,000 But for now, if the arc is beneath the temple mount, it seems to be entombed both physically and politically. 383 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:15,000 As for my search, I'm not giving up yet. 384 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:22,000 I'm off to meet with a new researcher with another compelling theory that the arc made its way out of the city before the Babylonian invasion. 385 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:27,000 Not only out of the city, but to another continent, Africa. 386 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:42,000 Welcome to Ethiopia, a country still marred by memories of famine, but in reality, a place of bounty and historical riches beyond compare. 387 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:46,000 A true melting pot of cultures and religion. 388 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,000 Ethiopia has been the stage for some of the most mysterious kingdoms in history. 389 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:58,000 One of them had its capital in the northern city of Axum. 390 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:05,000 I'm here to ask local historians, see say, Seagai, why this dusty city is ground zero for modern seekers of the lost arc. 391 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,000 He says he wants to meet at a local coffee shop. 392 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,000 And this is it. 393 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,000 This is not like any coffee shop I've ever seen. 394 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:15,000 Yes, this is Ethiopian coffee ceremony. 395 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:21,000 Drinking coffee in Ethiopia isn't just a morning habit. It's a spectator sport. 396 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,000 I've heard of a hand coffee grinder before, but this is like next level. 397 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:27,000 Yes, very ancient tradition. 398 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:36,000 The locally grown beans are roasted and ground, in this case with a piece of rebar, in an elaborate process that is a far different site from our grab it and go society. 399 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:39,000 Oh my word. 400 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:40,000 Come on. 401 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:41,000 Wow. 402 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:42,000 It's so smooth. 403 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:43,000 Forget Starbucks. 404 00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:49,000 Forget that hipster pour over beaker thing that my cameraman Brian will not stop talking about. 405 00:21:49,000 --> 00:21:50,000 Hey, that thing works. 406 00:21:51,000 --> 00:21:56,000 Our great fathers, when they want to teach history, they make it coffee time. 407 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,000 Well, that's good because I need some teaching here. 408 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:05,000 I want to understand how the Ark comes from Jerusalem, from the Temple of Solomon. 409 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:06,000 How does it get to Ethiopia? 410 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:07,000 Queen of Sheba. 411 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,000 She's a queen of the Axis, my kingdom. 412 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:14,000 Queen Sheba traveled to Jerusalem to meet King Solomon. 413 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,000 During her stay in Jerusalem, they become two lovers. 414 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:22,000 And they have a baby called Menelik. 415 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,000 And Menelik grow here in Axis. 416 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:31,000 The lore says that when Menelik grew to adulthood, he returned to his father in Jerusalem. 417 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:36,000 There, a high priest had a vision that Menelik should bring the Ark back to Ethiopia. 418 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:40,000 He took the Ark from Solomon's Temple and brought it here to the Kingdom of Axis. 419 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,000 The Bible is silent on this, right? 420 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:45,000 The Bible doesn't tell this story. 421 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,000 Everything is mentioned in the Ethiopian Kibernagest. 422 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,000 Kibernagest. 423 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:50,000 Yes. 424 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:51,000 This is an Ethiopian holy book. 425 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:52,000 It's like a Bible. 426 00:22:52,000 --> 00:22:56,000 It can show you the evidence the Ark is here in Axis. 427 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:57,000 I would love to see that. 428 00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:58,000 Yeah. 429 00:22:58,000 --> 00:22:59,000 Let's finish this coffee. 430 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:00,000 I'm not going to sleep for a week, by the way. 431 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:01,000 Okay. 432 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:08,000 Cece takes me to just outside of the city to see one of the oldest churches in Africa. 433 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:09,000 We're going up there? 434 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:10,000 Yes. 435 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:18,000 The Abba Pentalion, which reportedly contains ancient manuscripts related to the Ark. 436 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:24,000 As befits a holy place, the church is perched on Axis' highest point. 437 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:28,000 Cece, why can't the power of the Ark reveal itself closer to sea level? 438 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:31,000 The Ark works many mysteries. 439 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:35,000 What a view. 440 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:37,000 Worth the walk. 441 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:44,000 The documents we seek are kept in a sacred chamber of the monastery, 442 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:47,000 and the priests are kind enough to bring them into the light. 443 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:52,000 So this is one of the old books here in this monastery. 444 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:56,000 It is about 1,600 years old. 445 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,000 Cece reads me the crucial passage about the Ark. 446 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:08,000 This is the part. 447 00:24:08,000 --> 00:24:11,000 It says Salamun and Queen Shiva that they made together. 448 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,000 Does it explicitly say that the Ark came here? 449 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:15,000 Yes. 450 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,000 This is what they explained to us. 451 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:18,000 It's incredible. 452 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,000 Thank you for showing this. 453 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:26,000 To the people of Ethiopia, the scriptures of the Kebra Nagas are taken as gospel, 454 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:30,000 but it isn't only the locals who believe that the Ark is here in Axis. 455 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:36,000 Cece and I hike back to town to meet his friend and my next contact, biblical investigator Bob Hornuk. 456 00:24:36,000 --> 00:24:37,000 How are you, man? 457 00:24:37,000 --> 00:24:38,000 Nice to meet you. 458 00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:42,000 Bob has been coming to Ethiopia for nearly two decades investigating the Ark, 459 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:45,000 and he's formed tight connections with the community here. 460 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:52,000 I first came here about 19 years ago to disprove that the Ark was here. 461 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:56,000 But I started talking to the monks, I started looking at evidence, and it all fit. 462 00:24:56,000 --> 00:25:01,000 The more I come here, the more confident I get that their story has merit. 463 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:07,000 They claim that the Ark, the actual Ark, and the Ten Commandments are not far from here. 464 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:09,000 In town. 465 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:10,000 In town. 466 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:12,000 In St. Mary's of Zion Church. 467 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,000 Now, does anybody get to go in and actually see it? 468 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:20,000 Only one man gets to go in and see it, the guardian of the Ark. 469 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,000 And who is the guardian? 470 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:24,000 He's appointed by the church. 471 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,000 He's considered the only one holy enough to be in front of the Ark to become. 472 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,000 He lives in there, and he'll live in there till the day he dies. 473 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:35,000 And if I go up to the guardian with a checkbook, I'll give you a million dollars. 474 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:36,000 Doesn't do anything. 475 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:40,000 Not any amount of money will ever gain you access. 476 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:44,000 I don't have a million dollar check to offer. 477 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:45,000 I work in cable. 478 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,000 But if they believe the Ark is there, I have to try and see it. 479 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,000 This is St. Mary's of Zion Church. 480 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:55,000 It's the most holy church in all Ethiopia. 481 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:01,000 We enter the gates of St. Mary's, a tightly knit complex of chapels and churches. 482 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:06,000 And somewhere in the middle of it all is reportedly the Ark of the Covenant. 483 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,000 Is it possible to walk to the gate? 484 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,000 We are not allowed to cross the line to go closer to the temple. 485 00:26:11,000 --> 00:26:12,000 I understand. 486 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:16,000 How often does the guardian come out from that building? 487 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,000 He never leaves that compound in his entire life. 488 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:23,000 There's such a holy tear in their heart that if they violate that, 489 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:27,000 they believe that God will kill them right on the spot. 490 00:26:28,000 --> 00:26:34,000 Is it possible, you think, to see if we might be able to maybe try to get an audience with a guardian? 491 00:26:34,000 --> 00:26:36,000 We can try through the decon. 492 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:37,000 Okay, great. 493 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:38,000 Just a second. 494 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:48,000 We're making a request to meet one of Ethiopia's most reclusive holy men 495 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:51,000 in one of the world's most restricted places. 496 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:53,000 And it looks like we're about to get an answer. 497 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,000 I'm in the ancient city of Aksum, 498 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:05,000 once the capital of a mighty Ethiopian kingdom, 499 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:08,000 and now, perhaps, home to the Ark of the Covenant. 500 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:14,000 We've asked to meet with the reclusive priest who reportedly guards the Ark. 501 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:17,000 The decon says he's not coming out. 502 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:18,000 This is it. 503 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:20,000 So no access beyond here. 504 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:21,000 No access. 505 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:22,000 Okay. 506 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,000 Like so many others before us, we've been turned away. 507 00:27:25,000 --> 00:27:29,000 To the faithful, the Ark is sitting about 50 feet away from me. 508 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:30,000 It's maddening. 509 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:34,000 How can we determine if the legend is true without getting a look inside? 510 00:27:34,000 --> 00:27:39,000 Well, historian Bob Cornuik believes he can prove the Ark is here. 511 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:43,000 All we need to do is examine ancient clues that are hiding in plain sight. 512 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:48,000 That is unbelievable. 513 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:53,000 This is the stele field of Aksum, a collection of ancient columns 514 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:57,000 covered in enigmatic inscriptions from nearly two millennia ago. 515 00:27:57,000 --> 00:27:59,000 This is outrageous to me. 516 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:00,000 Just the design of these things. 517 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:02,000 It almost looks like science fiction. 518 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:07,000 They believe these huge monoliths were raised by the fiery presence of the Ark. 519 00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:12,000 The mysterious kingdom of Aksum was a powerful trade center in the ancient world. 520 00:28:12,000 --> 00:28:16,000 Even though Aksum thrived hundreds of years after the Ark vanished from Jerusalem, 521 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:21,000 I've already seen Ethiopian texts that claim the sacred chest was brought here. 522 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:26,000 As for the columns, they range from small to the largest one on earth. 523 00:28:27,000 --> 00:28:31,000 But there's one stone monument in particular that Bob wants me to see. 524 00:28:31,000 --> 00:28:33,000 There's a stele that's fallen over. 525 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:35,000 It's not that grand in size or elaborate, 526 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:38,000 but there's something pretty interesting that's underneath it. 527 00:28:38,000 --> 00:28:39,000 Underneath it? 528 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:40,000 Yeah, right on the other side. 529 00:28:42,000 --> 00:28:44,000 Ah, it's carved. 530 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:47,000 It looks like a pedestal with something on top of it. 531 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:54,000 This is a 2,000-year-old photograph and stone of the container of the Ark of the Covenant. 532 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,000 That's crazy. 533 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,000 That is really cool. 534 00:28:59,000 --> 00:29:03,000 I'd be careful if I were you, because last time a man was underneath it did this, 535 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:04,000 a snake jumped down and bit him. 536 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:06,000 Really, he was in the hospital for two days. 537 00:29:07,000 --> 00:29:11,000 Bob, that falls under the category of that you should have told me two minutes ago. 538 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:13,000 Better late than never, man. 539 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:15,000 Let's get the hell out of here. 540 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:20,000 If Bob is correct, this second-century design would be one of the oldest depictions of the Ark, 541 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,000 and could be proof that it was brought here to Ethiopia. 542 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:28,000 But this field isn't the only place that supports Ethiopia's claim to the Ark. 543 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:35,000 In fact, Bob believes there's testable physical evidence that we can examine. 544 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:40,000 According to one controversial theory, before the Ark reached its home at St. Mary's, 545 00:29:40,000 --> 00:29:46,000 it passed through Egypt and then down the Nile to a sacred island monastery in Ethiopia 546 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,000 known as Tanakhircus, and that's where Bob wants to explore. 547 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:53,000 Okay, so what's the plan, Bob? 548 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,000 There ain't no way to get out of there. 549 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Okay, so what's the plan, Bob? 550 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,000 There are ancient artifacts. 551 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:03,000 If they say came with the Ark of the Covenant, they have in a treasure house. 552 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:04,000 They've never been tested. 553 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:05,000 Never been tested. 554 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:06,000 Wow. 555 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:09,000 Bob's goal is to test these artifacts. 556 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,000 If they line up with the Ark's timeline, 557 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:16,000 they could prove that whatever is hidden inside St. Mary's is in fact the Ark. 558 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:20,000 But first, we have to make it onto the island where the artifacts are housed. 559 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:26,000 We pull over at the shore of Lake Tanakh, the largest lake in Ethiopia, 560 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,000 and source of the legendary Blue Nile. 561 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:35,000 Waiting for us is Haifa University professor of archaeology, Sariel Shaliff. 562 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:37,000 So, Sariel, how do you fit into this motley crew? 563 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:40,000 I'm an archaeometallogist, analyzing ancient metals, 564 00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:44,000 trying to understand how they were made and in what time. 565 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:45,000 Okay, let's do it. 566 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:53,000 The ride across Lake Tanakh seems absolutely idyllic, 567 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:58,000 though I decide to take a pass on an afternoon swim once I spot the local wildlife. 568 00:30:58,000 --> 00:31:00,000 Pitbull right there. 569 00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:01,000 Wow. 570 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:05,000 Turns out there are crocodiles here too, and as we get deeper into the lake, 571 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,000 things start to feel foreboding, 572 00:31:07,000 --> 00:31:11,000 especially when we see the holy island looming ahead. 573 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,000 This is the mysterious Tanakhirkos Island. 574 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:22,000 Even before you consider that this place might have once housed the Ark of the Covenant, 575 00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:24,000 it's intimidating. 576 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:26,000 It's a wild looking place. 577 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,000 It's got a real Skull Island vibe about it. 578 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:34,000 Ready for even more adventure? 579 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:37,000 Then head over to TravelChannel.com and check out behind the scenes photos, 580 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:39,000 deleted scenes, and more. 581 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:47,000 Biblical investigator Bob Cornucanai are on Ethiopia's Lake Tanakh, 582 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:52,000 heading to an ancient island monastery where legend says the Ark of the Covenant 583 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:57,000 was held for 800 years before being moved to an off-limits church on the mainland. 584 00:31:57,000 --> 00:32:00,000 Do outsiders visit this place or not? 585 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,000 No, no, this is a holy island. 586 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:05,000 Bob is hoping to test artifacts still housed on the island, 587 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,000 which reportedly came here with the Ark. 588 00:32:08,000 --> 00:32:13,000 This is about as primitive a place as you're ever going to find on planet Earth. 589 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:21,000 As we slowly approach the cliffs, I'm a little concerned to see that there's no dock. 590 00:32:21,000 --> 00:32:25,000 And as for a welcome party, a lone monk emerges silently from the treeline. 591 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:27,000 We're going to dock right here. 592 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:31,000 Lucky for us, Bob has met this senior monk in the past, 593 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:35,000 but has never been given permission to examine the artifacts on his island. 594 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:38,000 How about Gabriel? 595 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:39,000 Yeah, nice to meet you. 596 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:40,000 Nice to meet you. 597 00:32:40,000 --> 00:32:41,000 How are you? 598 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:44,000 It's good to see you again. 599 00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:45,000 Hello. 600 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:50,000 I'm given a blessing, which I hope is a sign of good things to come. 601 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:51,000 Thank you. 602 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:58,000 We would like to know if you would grant us permission to come on to the holy island of Tanakhircos. 603 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:05,000 The island is highly restricted, so each step we take requires permission from the priests. 604 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:06,000 I'm going to go now. 605 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:07,000 Okay. 606 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:09,000 Okay. 607 00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:10,000 Thank you very much. 608 00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:21,000 As we push through the dense jungle, we stop at one of the most sacred and secret places in all of Ethiopia. 609 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:24,000 This is where the Tabernacle was, right where we're standing. 610 00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:27,000 This is where they say the Ark Resid for 800 years. 611 00:33:27,000 --> 00:33:31,000 In fact, we even found the holes where the tent poles went here. 612 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:37,000 If he's right, we're in the presence of one of the holiest places on Earth. 613 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:41,000 The site is tantalizing, but we're here for hard evidence. 614 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:52,000 The monk leads us to a courtyard where we come face to face with the island's sacred treasury. 615 00:33:55,000 --> 00:33:56,000 Wow, this is amazing. 616 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:03,000 What you're looking at here, this is like vault where they keep all the holy objects. 617 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:05,000 How old is this building? 618 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:09,000 Oh, this is probably eight, nine hundred years old, maybe a thousand. 619 00:34:09,000 --> 00:34:11,000 And look at this giant snake skin. 620 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:13,000 A little reminder of what lives on the island. 621 00:34:13,000 --> 00:34:20,000 They claim that what is inside there aren't holy objects that came with the Ark to the island. 622 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:25,000 Aba, is it possible to see inside the great treasury room? 623 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:32,000 It's possible? 624 00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:33,000 Yeah. 625 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:34,000 Okay. 626 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:35,000 Thank you. 627 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:36,000 I'm a Saganala. 628 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:37,000 Thank you. 629 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:43,000 Access to this building by outsiders is almost unheard of, and I proceed with humble gratitude. 630 00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:44,000 Shoes off. 631 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:45,000 Shoes off, okay. 632 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:57,000 Wow, beautiful. 633 00:34:57,000 --> 00:35:01,000 He shows us the Ark's tools one by one. 634 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:02,000 What is this? 635 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:05,000 The garment of the High Priest, known as the E'Fat. 636 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:08,000 So this was worn by the High Priest when worshipping over the Ark? 637 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:09,000 Yes. 638 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:11,000 This house? 639 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:13,000 So older incense holder? 640 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:14,000 Yes. 641 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:22,000 They would take the blood, and the blood would be sprickled on the tavernacle and the Ark, I see. 642 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,000 Thank you very much for showing us this. 643 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:27,000 It means a great deal. 644 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:30,000 The artifacts are visually compelling. 645 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:35,000 The relics and the texts in this room are clearly extremely old, no question. 646 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:38,000 But do they fit into the timeline of the Ark of the Covenant? 647 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:39,000 So how does this work? 648 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:41,000 It looks to me like an alien hairdryer. 649 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:49,000 This alien hairdryer would tell me exactly the relative amount of each element in the surface that I'm measuring. 650 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:52,000 Okay, so let's give it a whirl. 651 00:35:52,000 --> 00:36:00,000 He tests the implements with the XRF machine, which can tell us what the items are made out of without putting so much as a dent in them. 652 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:04,000 Okay, we've got all the data, so let's step outside and see what we've got. 653 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:05,000 Sounds good. 654 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:07,000 Let's do it. 655 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:10,000 Okay, so what do we got? 656 00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:12,000 Let's start with a ball. 657 00:36:12,000 --> 00:36:18,000 The ball is made of copper with 15.3% zinc. 658 00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:19,000 Okay. 659 00:36:19,000 --> 00:36:22,000 It's significant because it cannot be earlier than year zero. 660 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:23,000 And why is that? 661 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:30,000 Because before that, nobody knew how to add zinc in such quantities into melted copper. 662 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:31,000 Okay, I got it. 663 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:36,000 So that object, which they say is very old from the time of the Ark, can't be that old? 664 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:37,000 For sure. 665 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,000 Let's talk about these incense holders. 666 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:44,000 The one that they claim is all was made definitely of iron. 667 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:50,000 The problem with using this on iron, this machine, doesn't see organic material. 668 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:54,000 Now we have a system that we could date the carbon. 669 00:36:54,000 --> 00:36:58,000 We need to take a real small sample of few milligrams. 670 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:00,000 And they're never going to allow that. 671 00:37:00,000 --> 00:37:04,000 They will never allow anything to harm those objects. 672 00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:11,000 Even though the dating remains really gray here, these objects are very unique. 673 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,000 They're very specific. 674 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:18,000 They do certainly fit with what the Bible talks about as objects used with the Ark. 675 00:37:18,000 --> 00:37:19,000 Right. 676 00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:22,000 We have unique objects that you don't have any parallels. 677 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,000 I don't know anything like that. 678 00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:32,000 So it does in a lot of ways back up this story of the Ark being here, but in terms of iron, clad, no pun intended evidence, 679 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,000 we still have to go on faith a bit here. 680 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:41,000 The tests on the tools here are, like so much of the Ark's story, incomplete. 681 00:37:41,000 --> 00:37:48,000 We know that one of the objects inside is newer than the Ark, but the iron relics do appear to be the right period. 682 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:52,000 Do you think that they have that Ark in axum in that church? 683 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:58,000 Even if it's not the Ark, it's something so powerful that it's galvanized an entire nation of people. 684 00:37:58,000 --> 00:37:59,000 Right. 685 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:02,000 Was the Ark once on this lonely island? 686 00:38:02,000 --> 00:38:06,000 And is it locked away in a church in axum today? 687 00:38:06,000 --> 00:38:25,000 I'm left with a mountain of circumstantial evidence, but one man may have answers, and I can't leave Ethiopia without making another effort to speak with the guardian of the Ark at St. Mary's Church. 688 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:31,000 Bob, Cece and I return to axum, bypassing the front gate of the church to stake out the rear fence. 689 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:37,000 If the guardian does step outside, we're hoping it'll be here. 690 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:39,000 This is where he sometimes sits? 691 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:43,000 This is the only place that he would go, but we could be here for six months and he might not come out. 692 00:38:43,000 --> 00:38:50,000 Bob has met the guardian only once, and he's been coming here for decades. 693 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:54,000 But even with the odds against us, I can't walk away yet. 694 00:38:54,000 --> 00:39:01,000 We wait for hours as the city of axum moves all around us. 695 00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:03,000 Hey, Josh, that's him. 696 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:05,000 That's the corner. Right the corner. 697 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:14,000 Look to the gate. Yes, he's coming. 698 00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:21,000 In the Ethiopian city of axum, I'm hoping against hope to meet the guardian of the Ark of the Covenant at St. Mary's Church. 699 00:39:21,000 --> 00:39:27,000 The guardian may be the only man alive who has seen the actual Ark. 700 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:31,000 Suddenly, in flowing yellow robes, the guardian appears. 701 00:39:31,000 --> 00:39:37,000 That's him. Look to the gate. Yes, he's coming. 702 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,000 Abba, the nice, the link. 703 00:39:40,000 --> 00:39:44,000 Abba, Abba. 704 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:49,000 Do you remember me? Abba, this is my friend, Josh. 705 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:51,000 It's a great honor to meet you. 706 00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:57,000 I was just going to ask him what it feels like to be in the presence of the Holy of Holies. 707 00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:58,000 It's the boy, right? 708 00:39:58,000 --> 00:39:59,000 No way. 709 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:00,000 No way. 710 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:01,000 No way. 711 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:02,000 No way. 712 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:08,000 He said, this is the home of God, the home of the Lord. 713 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:14,000 The Lord is live every day here, so welcome to the home of God. 714 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:15,000 Thank you very much. 715 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:16,000 Thank you. 716 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:17,000 I'm a seconder. 717 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:18,000 It's Shabbatach'u. 718 00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:19,000 It's she. 719 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:20,000 They know who... 720 00:40:23,000 --> 00:40:27,000 Josh, you must be special because that's the most he's ever said to anybody. 721 00:40:27,000 --> 00:40:30,000 He's never carried on or commented about anything. 722 00:40:30,000 --> 00:40:32,000 I think the two of you may have something to do with that. 723 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:34,000 Thank you for the introduction. 724 00:40:34,000 --> 00:40:35,000 That was incredible. 725 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:36,000 That was awesome. 726 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:37,000 Bless you, man. 727 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:46,000 To know that right behind that wall could be the most substantial religious artifact in the history of the world. 728 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:52,000 I would bet everything I owned that the Ark of the Covenant is right in that building. 729 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:53,000 Thank you both. 730 00:40:53,000 --> 00:41:00,000 I wasn't sure if we were going to even get to see him, let alone have him come up and engage with us was incredible. 731 00:41:01,000 --> 00:41:09,000 So with the Guardian's blessing, I'm left to wonder, is the Ark of the Covenant here in the dusty capital of a lost empire? 732 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:19,000 Or is it beneath Jerusalem in the ruins of the grandest temple in history, now hidden behind stone walls and explosive politics? 733 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:26,000 My journey has brought the search to never before explored places and conducted never performed tests. 734 00:41:26,000 --> 00:41:32,000 To be honest, I leave this expedition feeling as though I've actually glimpsed the power of the Ark. 735 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:42,000 Its ability, even in its absence to start riots and wars, to inspire scripture and to cement the faith of the Ethiopian people. 736 00:41:43,000 --> 00:41:50,000 To crib a line from Raiders, perhaps it's true that the Ark is something that man was not meant to disturb. 737 00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:52,000 It is not of this earth. 738 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:56,000 And therefore, it may be safest right where it is. 739 00:41:57,000 --> 00:41:59,000 In the realm of legend.