Archaeologists have long believed that while the Egyptians were building pyramids 3,000 years ago, nothing was happening in Western Europe, but a new discovery shows something far different. Five years ago, the remains of an incredible, ancient site began to emerge from a quarry in eastern England. Due to its delicate nature, experts have largely been working in secret, until now.

With expert analysis from historians and archaeologists, this season features Shakespeare's final home, disturbing mysteries, and insight into King Henry the VIII.

5000 years ago the Minoans flourished on the island of Crete. Their advanced culture became the setting for many famous Greek myths. Yet in their heyday the Minoans were wiped from the pages of history. The cause of their downfall has remained a mystery of the ancient world. Sinking Atlantis explores the usual theories about the disappearance of the Minoans and reveals the truth behind the reign and fall of the great Minoan civilization.

200,000 years ago we took our first steps in Africa. Today there are seven billion of us living across the planet. How did our ancestors spread from continent to continent? This is a global detective story, featuring the latest archaeological discoveries and genetic research. On each continent, we track down the earliest members of our species, Homo sapiens. Who were these First Peoples? What drove them to the ends of the earth?

This program films a team performing salvage archaeology as they find clues to the Pharos Lighthouse and the Caesareum.

A team of archaeologists excavating the site of an early American colony discovers something surprising: the remains of a young woman, dating back to 1609, buried in the trash layer of a cellar. Now, 400 years later, a cellar excavation has uncovered numerous bone fragments, all belonging to this adolescent female. With the help of forensic anthropologists, the extraordinary and frightening story of this young woman comes to life.

Forty years ago, hundreds of skeletons were unearthed in a mass grave in an English village. Bioarchaeologist Cat Jarman believes these bones are the last remains of the 'Great Heathen Army,' a legendary Viking fighting force that once invaded England. Cat's team uncovers human stories from the front line, including evidence of women warriors and a lost king reunited with his son in death.

The story of China's 8,000 terracotta warriors begins two centuries before the birth of Christ. The First Emperor of China was preparing an extravagant tomb for his journey into the afterlife, and decreed that he be protected forever by a monumental army. Since then no one has seen these ancient warriors in their original splendor, brightly painted and fully armed, ready to protect their Emperor for all eternity. Now this once mighty army will be...

Mansions of the spirits visits some of the most important surviving Egyptian sanctuaries, including the Great Temple of Karnak and the Deir El Bahari of Queen Hatshepsut. It also features footage of the ongoing efforts to restore and preserve these monuments. The Great pharaoh and his lost children examines the largest tomb in the Valley of the Kings. Kent Weeks, whose team has been excavating the site for five years, explains the importance of the...

Looks at the history and culture of various ancient civilizations and extinct cities.