"Apocalypto" Consultant Excavates Maya Temple Video -- National Geographic

"Apocalypto" Consultant Excavates Maya Temple Video December 5, 2006—Before he became Mel Gibson's lead consultant on the movie Apocalypto, Maya expert Richard Hansen spent decades exploring their ancient civilization. Watch as he excavates a tomb in the lost city of El Mirador.Welcome to the National Geographic video player.Video Sections

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- "Cradle of Civilization" in Peril - April 21, 2009—Iraq's southern marshes were largely restored after Saddam Hussein drained them following the 1991 Gulf War. But now a drought threatens the ancient wetlands' recovery.
- "Missing Link" Found - May 20, 2009—A "missing link" found in Germany may be a key to human evolution—a nearly intact skeleton of a 47-million-year-old lemur-like creature.
- "Apocalypto" Consultant Excavates Maya Temple - December 5, 2006—Before he became Mel Gibson's lead consultant on the movie Apocalypto, Maya expert Richard Hansen spent decades exploring their ancient civilization. Watch as he excavates a tomb in the lost city of El Mirador.
- "Cult of Dead" Cave Restored - December 15, 2008—For decades Italians adopted random skulls in a centuries-old underground mass grave as conduits to the afterlife. Now the complex is being readied for a reopening to the public.
- "Drunken" Street Dance in Japan - August 21, 2008—Forty thousand costumed revelers took to the streets in Tokushima, Japan, where some dancers emulate "drunken fools" in remembrance of a sake-infused 15th-century celebration.
- "Gladiator" Tomb Found - October 17, 2008—Archaeologists in Rome have discovered what's believed to be the tomb of a wealthy man on whom the main character of the movie "Gladiator" was based.
- "Witchcraft" Rebounds in Russia - October 28, 2008— Shamanism is making a comeback in the Russian region of Tyva (Tuva). Harshly suppressed during the Soviet era, Tyvan shamans combine magic and medicine.
- 1,300-Year-Old Peru Mummy Found - August 27, 2008—The rare pre-Inca mummy was masked and entombed with a child sacrifice. Found near high-rises in Lima, the tomb is one of the few known unlooted Wari burials.
- 49 Aztec Warriors in Mass Grave - February 11, 2009—Archaeologists in Mexico City have discovered a mass grave of what may have been the last warriors to resist conquistador Hernán Cortés, who took the Aztec capital in 1521.
- 9-Story Candle Tower Carried - September 5, 2008—A more-than-90-foot (27-meter) tower with candles is carried through an Italian village to honor St. Rose, who died more than 750 years ago.
- Ancient Babylon Damaged - September 24, 2008—After years of deterioration, the ancient Iraqi city of Babylon is suffering anew in the wake of war.
- Ancient Cat in Today's Egypt - December 6, 2007—Egyptian Maus may descend from the first domesticated cats in the world. One woman is working to help save them.
- Ancient Little People Found? - March 10, 2008—Watch as a scientist uncovers tiny human bones in a tropical island cave, in what could be a major discovery.
- Ancient Roman Tiny "Boxer" Found - January 28, 2009—Unearthed from the ruins of a 1,500-year-old, earthquake-hit Jerusalem building, the unprecedented marble figurine sports a short hairstyle indicating it depicts an athlete.
- Ancient Sahara Graveyard Found - August 14, 2008—A 10,000-year-old cemetery with hundreds of skeletons is giving unparalleled insight into life in Africa's great desert when it was green and lush.
- Ancient Sea Life in Utah - January 9, 2009—Some 93 million years ago, dinosaur-era "sea monsters" swam the seas above what is now Utah. Thanks to paleontologists, more evidence of the ancient beasts is now surfacing.
- Ancient Statue Returned to Iraq - January 12, 2009—Confiscated from a smuggler in Egypt, an ancient bronze statuette—perhaps of a goddess—has been returned to Iraq.
- Ancient Talisman Found Under Sea - July 15, 2008—A 2,500-year-old discus believed to have been used to protect a ship from the "evil eye" has been found by a lifeguard diving off Israel.
- Ancient Temples Found in Peru - October 20, 2008—Archeologists in Peru have discovered two religious temples more than 3,000 years old, the remains of which are still in excellent condition.
- Atlantis Volcano Devastated Ancient Egypt? - April 4, 2007—See the freshly uncovered evidence that may prove ancient cities on Egypt and Palestine's coast were devastated by a massive Mediterranean volcanic eruption.
- Australia's First Visitors? - November 7, 2008—Newfound rock art paintings in northern Australia may reveal that peoples from neighboring Indonesia traded with Aborigines centuries before the arrival of the British.
- Belief in Elves Strong in Iceland - December 11, 2008—Most Icelanders believe in elves, according to a self-proclaimed elf historian. Whether elves exist or not, their lore remains strong in the country.
- Biggest Snake Found - February 5, 2009—Fossils from the world's biggest snake—a prehistoric giant that weighed more than a ton and was more than 42 feet (13 meters) long—have been found in a Colombian coal mine.
- Blindfolded Kimono Contest - July 23, 2008—Wearing blindfolds is part of an annual kimono-dressing competition in Japan. Women are judged on both speed and overall elegance of the finished result.
- Buddhism Rebounds in Mongolia - January 4, 2008—After decades of persecution that began under Stalinist rule in the 1930s, Buddhism and monasteries are now on the rebound in Mongolia.
- Buried Spanish Galleon Found - December 31, 2008—Complete with canons and jars of olive oil, an 18th-century Spanish ship has been found at a Buenos Aires, Argentina, construction site.
- Burning Boats for St. Nick - December 10, 2008—For centuries, each year before Christmas, a Croatian fishing village has "sacrificed" a boat in honor of St. Nicholas, patron saint of children and fishers—and inspiration for Santa Claus.
- Cleopatra Tomb Site Found? - April 20, 2009—Cleopatra and Marc Anthony are likely buried together in one of three sites at an ancient temple, archaeologists announced in Egypt Sunday.
- Climate Drives Nomads to Cities - February 21, 2008—Mongolia's harsher, less predictable, and increasingly warmer weather is helping to drive a migration of nomadic herders from the steppe into cities.
- Crackdown on Peru Indian Protest - August 19, 2008—Amazonian Indians have blocked roads and oil and gas projects in Peru to protest a new law that makes it easier for the government to sell their lands.
- Darwin Voyage to Rio Retraced - December 2, 2008—Stunned by slavery and "the glories of the vegetation of the tropics," Charles Darwin explored Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state in 1832—a voyage now being retraced with the help of one of his great-great-grandsons.
- Diving to China's Great Wall - July 8, 2008—In the 1980s planned flooding submerged part of the Great Wall of China. Now divers are gaining a unique perspective on the ancient structure.
- Drug Lord's Hippos Thriving - January 25, 2008—A herd of hippos once owned by Pablo Escobar, Colombia's famed drug lord, run free on Escobar's former estate—creating a problem for the government.
- Egypt Palace on Fire - August 20, 2008—The 19th-century Cairo palace that houses Egypt's upper house of parliament was heavily damaged, and at least 13 people were hurt.
- Entombed Ship Revealed in Egypt - July 21, 2008—At the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, visitors could see, for the first time, an underground ship apparently intended to carry a pharaoh into the afterlife.
- Europe's Church of Human Bones - July 1, 2008—For centuries, the Chapel of All Saints in the Czech Republic has drawn visitors with a chandelier and other décor made from the bones of some 40,000 people.
- Farmer Busted With Artifacts - December 18, 2008—A farmer in Italy uncovered hundreds of ancient artifacts—some perhaps 2,500 years old—but ran into trouble with police when he tried to sell some of them.
- First New World Gunshot Victim Discovered - July 19, 2007—Archaeologists uncover and examine the 500-year-old skeleton of the Inca man they believe was the first shooting victim in the Americas.
- Forbidden "Paradise" Revealed - November 12, 2008—Built as a "paradise on Earth" in Beijing for a Chinese emperor, the Forbidden City's newly restored garden quarters have been sealed off for nearly a century.
- Fossil Found in Kitchen Counter - May 5, 2009—After a factory had found a 40-million-year-old whale fossil in a limestone kitchen counter, researchers investigated the stone's fossil-packed quarry, which could shed light on the origins of African wildlife.
- Giant Prehistoric Elephant Found - June 22, 2009—Scientists in Indonesia claim they have unearthed the 200,000-year-old skeleton of a giant elephant that stood more than 13 feet (4 meters) tall.
- Great Wall of China Crumbling - July 9, 2008—With a highway running through it and weather wearing it down, China's greatest landmark is no longer the nearly impenetrable barrier of centuries past.
- Hatshepsut - June 27, 2007—Watch as archaeologists reveal how they identified the long-lost mummy of Hatshepsut, an Egyptian ruler famous for donning the male garb of a pharaoh.
- Herod Mausoleum, Art Found? - November 20, 2008—Archaeologists in Israel announced new discoveries at what the team believes is the tomb of the biblical King Herod on Wednesday.
- How Flu Viruses Attack - May 1, 2009—See how a flu virus attacks, mutates, and becomes contagious—perhaps resulting in an outbreak or even pandemic.
- Ice Age People in Florida? - October 1, 2008—People may have lived in Florida over 10,000 years ago—earlier than previously thought—according to evidence uncovered by National Geographic researchers.
- Juice Stains Huge Ancient Heads - January 14, 2009—Pouring grape juice and other liquids on 3,000-year-old Olmec sculptures in Mexico, people performing a ritual badly damaged the treasures.
- Lebanon Caves a New Wonder? - July 2, 2008—Lebanon has launched a campaign to get its renowned Jeita Grotto caves named as one of the world's "New Seven Wonders of Nature".
- Leonardo da Vinci Portrait Found? - April 3, 2009—A medieval historian in Italy found what is believed to be a portrait, hidden beneath another painting, of Leonardo da Vinci.
- London Skeletons Displayed - August 26, 2008—Building projects in London have unearthed over 17,000 skeletons, some dating to the Middle Ages. Some of the oddest are now on display.
- Lost Civilization Under Istanbul - January 29, 2009—A rail-tunnel project has led to the discovery of artifacts proving that an ancient city is much older than originally believed.
- Machu Picchu Find Revealed - December 1, 2008— Archaeologists in Peru have discovered an Incan mummy and artifacts at a site within the Machu Picchu national park.
- Maya "Road to Hell" Found? - November 10, 2008—The Maya believed the road to the afterlife ran through the underworld. Now an archaeologist says he's found the real-life version of that road in a Mexican cave.
- Mexican "St. Death" Worshipped - August 28, 2008—Mexican devotees honor the folk saint Santa Muerte—a scythe-carrying skeleton—each month, though the Catholic Church links the saint to black magic and Satanism.
- MLK, Jr. Remembered - January 7, 2007—Thanks to the efforts of a humble Baptist preacher, Martin Luther King, Jr., the law is bound to uphold equal rights for all people across the country regardless of race, color, or creed.
- Moche Tomb Found in Peru - July 8, 2008—A newfound tomb in northern Peru contains well-preserved human remains and artifacts, shedding light on the pre-Colombian Moche Indian civilization, archaeologists say.
- Mongol Life Vanishing in China - July 30, 2008—The last living vestiges of Genghis Khan's empire in China are disappearing as Mongol herders adopt modern lifestyles and are outnumbered by Han Chinese neighbors.
- Moon Pics Fixed at Old McDonald's - May 5, 2009—It might sound like going from the frying pan to the Frymaster, but it's actually a good thing that historic moon pictures have been moved from dusty storage to an old McDonald's--a "pretty cool place" for restoration work.
- New Egypt Pyramid Discovered - November 12, 2008—A previously buried 4,300-year-old pyramid in Egypt has been found by archaeologists—the tomb of Queen Sesheshet.
- New Terra-Cotta Army Dig Begins - June 15, 2009—Archaeologists have begun excavating more of the famed terra-cotta warriors, life-size clay figures created to guard the tomb of China's first emperor.
- New View on Stonehenge Burials - May 29, 2008—Radiocarbon dating of human remains indicates that the mysterious stone monument was used as a cemetery longer than previously thought.
- Oldest Mummies on Display - September 3, 2008—More than 2,000 years older than the oldest Egyptian mummy, the world's earliest known intentionally preserved mummies are on display in Santiago, Chile.
- Oldest Woman is 130? - April 1, 2009—A Kazakh woman claims to be 130 years old, making her the oldest living human in history. Her doctor believes she's 130, and her passport is offered as proof, but skeptics question the claim.
- Painted Egypt Coffins Unearthed - April 27, 2009—Archaeologists in Egypt have found 53 rock tombs containing preserved mummies and painted coffins dating back as far as 4,000 years.
- Pearls Rise Again in Gulf - July 31, 2008—Pearl harvesting was once a key livelihood for people who lived in what is now the United Arab Emirates. Now the practice is making a comeback.
- Peru Sues Yale Over Artifacts - December 12, 2008—The Peruvian government is suing Yale University over artifacts removed from Peru nearly a century ago.
- Pregnant Woman Sacrificed? - September 11, 2008 — Peru archaeologists have found what may have been a pre-Inca pregnant woman sacrificed for an important religious event.
- Presidents' Day Discovery - February 13, 2009—Archaeologists digging at the site of George Washington's early home have discovered clues about the boyhood of the first U.S. President.
- Proof of Bible's King David? - October 31, 2008—The oldest known Hebrew inscription has reportedly been found where David and Goliath are said to have fought in Israel. If the controversial claim is true, it bolsters biblical accounts.
- Razing Historic Beijing Homes - August 6, 2008—China is demolishing Beijing homes in historic neighborhoods known for their narrow alleyways, or hutongs, spurring protests.
- Roman "Jewel" Promoted - November 25, 2008—Archaeologists are touting a "jewel" of the Roman Empire: the city of Viminacium in modern-day Serbia.
- Rosa Parks's Belongings for Sale - July 9, 2008—A postcard from Martin Luther King, Jr., and a congressional Medal of Honor are among hundreds of the late U.S. civil rights pioneer's possessions to be auctioned off.
- Salt "Mummies" in Iran - July 31, 2008—Over 14 years, and as recent as last year, the bodies of 6 very well preserved men have been found in a salt mine in northwestern Iran. The salt preserved some of their bodies for more than 2700 years.
- Spain's Tomato Food Fight - August 28, 2008—In Buñol, Spain, residents and tourists pelt each other with more than 200,000 pounds of ripe tomatoes in the annual Tomatina festival.
- Stonehenge Builders Village - January 30, 2007—Join archaeologist Mike Parker Pearson as he takes you through a huge prehistoric settlement that's believed to have housed the builders of Stonehenge.
- Surviving Deadly Everest - January 11, 2008—Climbing to the top of the world is an often fatal quest. But for many climbers, reaching the peak is a thrill like no other.
- The Hurricane Ike of 1900 - September 13, 2008— Hurricane Ike isn't the first epic storm to slam Galveston, Texas. See scenes of the devastation from what is still called the worst natural disaster in U.S. history.
- Toddler Becomes "Living Goddess" - November 4, 2008—A three-year-old has become the latest Kumari, or "living goddess" in Nepal. She will live away from her family until puberty.
- Tourism Hurting Angkor Wat? - July 10, 2008—Experts and residents fear heavy foot traffic and pollution is destroying what's left of the thousand-year-old temples at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
- U.S. Mining Law Contested - February 1, 2008—An 1872 law that allows mining companies to buy land in the U.S. West for about $5 an acre is running smack into 21st-century sensibilities.
- Undersea Roman Town Draws Divers - September 11, 2008—Some remains of an ancient Roman harbor and town off Israel's coast, partially submerged, can only be viewed by visitors wearing diving or snorkeling equipment.
- Unusual Mummy Found in Peru - July 17, 2008—His eyes covered with metal plates, a thousand-year-old elite mummy has been found surrounded by unfamiliar artifacts—shedding light on a mysterious culture.
- White Trees Fill Capital - December 30, 2008—In the country of Georgia each new year, handcrafted, decorated trees sprout around the capital, Tbilisi, as emblems of prosperity and happiness.
- World's Largest Stone Dome Rises - September 19, 2008—The world's largest stone dome built without pillars is near completion in India at the site of a gigantic pagoda.
- World's Oldest Child - September 20, 2006—Journey to Ethiopia's barren great Rift Valley with Anthropologist Zeresenay Alemsegeed, and learn how he discovered "Lucy's Baby," the oldest and most complete human ancestor child ever found.
- Yale Agrees to Return Machu Picchu Artifacts - September 20, 2007—Yale University has agreed to return thousands of Machu Picchu relics to the government of Peru in what many officials are hailing as a landmark deal.
- Yves St. Laurent Auction Dispute - February 26, 2009—Two bronzes, which disappeared from a Chinese palace in 1860, sold at an auction of the late fashion designer's possessions for U.S. $36 million, despite pleas to halt the sale.
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