Surprising archaeological finds have led historians to new conclusions about the transportation technology invented by ancient peoples. An ancient railway was built in Greece in the 6th century BC, and wind cars' dating to the 6th century AD used in China could carry thirty men and traveled hundreds of miles per day. Evidence of possible flying machines goes all the way back to ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Chinese societies. Tombs in Abydos, Egypt, are adorned with hieroglyphics shaped remarkably like a modern helicopter. Forgotten through the ages, these machines are stunning examples of ancient societies' skill and determination.

In recent years there have been a number of extraordinary discoveries of ships from the ancient world. But what do these finds say about the societies which created them, and the techniques they used in their construction? Travel back to ancient Egypt and learn about the "Khufu Boat" which had not one metal nail in its construction, and uncover huge sailing vessels, dating from 3,000 B.C., in Abydos near the Nile. Some of the most exciting discoveries that have been made include the warship, and one carried as many as 7,000 crewman.

Amazingly, some of the world records that still stand today were set in the ancient world. The most valuable thing in the ancient world is still the most valuable thing today--2,000 dollars per gram! And incredibly it is made from nothing more than rotting shellfish. What was the fastest thing in the ancient world, and is it still the fastest man-made machine today? Ancient Discoveries builds a replica of a 2,000-year-old jet engine. A weapons team finally reveal the only weapon in history that can shoot around corners--and solve a 500-year-old debate. Explosives experts reveal that the world's first gun was made of fruit. And on a windswept beach in Britain, can a team of historians and engineers beat the ancient world land speed record?

Travel to Egypt to discover the mysteries of the mummified crocodiles of Kom Ombo. We'll X-ray an ancient mummy that has held a secret for 2,000 years.

In Mexico, explorers use a sacred ancient Mayan temple code to search for an occult underworld engineered in the depths of the earth.

Investigate the systems by which ancient intelligence services transmitted messages over thousands of miles--the fire beacon, the horse, and the pigeon. This episode sets up a great race between these three systems to see which communicates the swiftest. Learn how ancient spies sent secret messages using invisible ink made of human sperm and how they wrote on the inside of a raw egg. Discover how Japan's covert assassins, the ninja, used more than darts and poisons--they were pretty good with explosives as well. Find out how a Roman James Bond used a suit made of cork to support him in full armor during a covert operation across a river.

Our modern day landscapes are littered with the remains of ancient superstructures. Now, cutting edge archaeology is beginning to reveal that this century's most exciting discoveries actually lie at the bottom of the ocean.

In 2004, the American School of Classical Studies in Greece made a surprising discovery of two limestone coffins.

Surprising archaeological finds have led historians to new conclusions about the transportation technology invented by ancient peoples. An ancient railway was built in Greece in the 6th century BC, and wind cars' dating to the 6th century AD used in China could carry thirty men and traveled hundreds of miles per day. Evidence of possible flying machines goes all the way back to ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Chinese societies. Tombs in Abydos, Egypt, are adorned with hieroglyphics shaped remarkably like a modern helicopter. Forgotten through the ages, these machines are stunning examples of ancient societies' skill and determination.

In recent years there have been a number of extraordinary discoveries of ships from the ancient world. But what do these finds say about the societies which created them, and the techniques they used in their construction? Travel back to ancient Egypt and learn about the "Khufu Boat" which had not one metal nail in its construction, and uncover huge sailing vessels, dating from 3,000 B.C., in Abydos near the Nile. Some of the most exciting discoveries that have been made include the warship, and one carried as many as 7,000 crewman.

Amazingly, some of the world records that still stand today were set in the ancient world. The most valuable thing in the ancient world is still the most valuable thing today--2,000 dollars per gram! And incredibly it is made from nothing more than rotting shellfish. What was the fastest thing in the ancient world, and is it still the fastest man-made machine today? Ancient Discoveries builds a replica of a 2,000-year-old jet engine. A weapons team finally reveal the only weapon in history that can shoot around corners--and solve a 500-year-old debate. Explosives experts reveal that the world's first gun was made of fruit. And on a windswept beach in Britain, can a team of historians and engineers beat the ancient world land speed record?

Travel to Egypt to discover the mysteries of the mummified crocodiles of Kom Ombo. We'll X-ray an ancient mummy that has held a secret for 2,000 years.

In Mexico, explorers use a sacred ancient Mayan temple code to search for an occult underworld engineered in the depths of the earth.

Investigate the systems by which ancient intelligence services transmitted messages over thousands of miles--the fire beacon, the horse, and the pigeon. This episode sets up a great race between these three systems to see which communicates the swiftest. Learn how ancient spies sent secret messages using invisible ink made of human sperm and how they wrote on the inside of a raw egg. Discover how Japan's covert assassins, the ninja, used more than darts and poisons--they were pretty good with explosives as well. Find out how a Roman James Bond used a suit made of cork to support him in full armor during a covert operation across a river.

Our modern day landscapes are littered with the remains of ancient superstructures. Now, cutting edge archaeology is beginning to reveal that this century's most exciting discoveries actually lie at the bottom of the ocean.

In 2004, the American School of Classical Studies in Greece made a surprising discovery of two limestone coffins.

Surprising archaeological finds have led historians to new conclusions about the transportation technology invented by ancient peoples. An ancient railway was built in Greece in the 6th century BC, and wind cars' dating to the 6th century AD used in China could carry thirty men and traveled hundreds of miles per day. Evidence of possible flying machines goes all the way back to ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Chinese societies. Tombs in Abydos, Egypt, are adorned with hieroglyphics shaped remarkably like a modern helicopter. Forgotten through the ages, these machines are stunning examples of ancient societies' skill and determination.

In recent years there have been a number of extraordinary discoveries of ships from the ancient world. But what do these finds say about the societies which created them, and the techniques they used in their construction? Travel back to ancient Egypt and learn about the "Khufu Boat" which had not one metal nail in its construction, and uncover huge sailing vessels, dating from 3,000 B.C., in Abydos near the Nile. Some of the most exciting discoveries that have been made include the warship, and one carried as many as 7,000 crewman.

Amazingly, some of the world records that still stand today were set in the ancient world. The most valuable thing in the ancient world is still the most valuable thing today--2,000 dollars per gram! And incredibly it is made from nothing more than rotting shellfish. What was the fastest thing in the ancient world, and is it still the fastest man-made machine today? Ancient Discoveries builds a replica of a 2,000-year-old jet engine. A weapons team finally reveal the only weapon in history that can shoot around corners--and solve a 500-year-old debate. Explosives experts reveal that the world's first gun was made of fruit. And on a windswept beach in Britain, can a team of historians and engineers beat the ancient world land speed record?

Travel to Egypt to discover the mysteries of the mummified crocodiles of Kom Ombo. We'll X-ray an ancient mummy that has held a secret for 2,000 years.

In Mexico, explorers use a sacred ancient Mayan temple code to search for an occult underworld engineered in the depths of the earth.

Investigate the systems by which ancient intelligence services transmitted messages over thousands of miles--the fire beacon, the horse, and the pigeon. This episode sets up a great race between these three systems to see which communicates the swiftest. Learn how ancient spies sent secret messages using invisible ink made of human sperm and how they wrote on the inside of a raw egg. Discover how Japan's covert assassins, the ninja, used more than darts and poisons--they were pretty good with explosives as well. Find out how a Roman James Bond used a suit made of cork to support him in full armor during a covert operation across a river.

Our modern day landscapes are littered with the remains of ancient superstructures. Now, cutting edge archaeology is beginning to reveal that this century's most exciting discoveries actually lie at the bottom of the ocean.

In 2004, the American School of Classical Studies in Greece made a surprising discovery of two limestone coffins.