Ancient Superstructures Episode Rating Graph

Nestled in the Jordanian desert, Petra is regarded as the Eighth Wonder Of The World. Forgotten for centuries, this city was erected 2000 years ago by Nabataeans, a civilization of Arab merchants. It was rediscovered during the 20th century by a Swiss explorer. Even today, scientists are still fascinated by its monumental facades carved into the rock and its unique hydraulic system. Using the latest technology, experts can go beyond what the eye can see, and are on a mission to unravel Petra’s mysteries.

On the planet’s largest continent, in Asia, the Great Wall of China spans the country from East to West: but this enigmatic monument is still shrouded in mystery. Thanks to the latest digital technology, today's experts now have the means to scrutinize this UNESCO World Heritage site from all perspectives and scales, from the infinitely far to the infinitely close. History, science, construction… they dissect the work of ancient builders to try to reveal secrets kept for millennia.

The Taj Mahal was built in the 17th Century by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his late wife. The extraordinary marble mausoleum was built in the city of Agra in northern India, and is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world. And yet, there are so many things we still need to learn about the Taj Mahal and the surrounding architectural complex. How did the builders complete it in just 20 years – when the Notre Dame cathedral took more than a century? What gives it stability, built as it is on the unstable banks of the sacred river Yamuna? Using satellite images and microscopic investigations, historians, researchers, and engineers uncover the answer to these questions and more. The latest technology finds evidence of deep foundations, intricate gemstones, and innovative brick manufacture, and reveals the secrets at the heart of the colossal construction.

Hidden in the tropical jungle of Cambodia is the largest religious structure ever built - the majestic temple of Angkor Wat. It was built in the 12th century by the powerful Khmer Empire. Now archaeologists are using new technology to examine the monument at the satellite, aerial and molecular scales, to unravel the mysteries of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. How was this iconic temple built? What are the secrets of its longevity? What remains to be discovered of the legendary lost city alongside? Using drones and 3D laser scanning techniques, teams of investigators are discovering long lost structures, looking for clues about whether the temple was used for a tomb, and unravelling the area’s hidden secrets. History, science, engineering, exposed as never before, the temple of Angkor Wat finally reveals itself, on every scale.