Vatican's Pagan Tomb Reopened Video -- National Geographic

Vatican's Pagan Tomb Reopened Video May 28, 2008—The Vatican has reopened the Valeri Mausoleum, the largest and most luxurious of 22 pagan tombs buried under St. Peter's Basilica, the Associated Press reports.Welcome to the National Geographic video player.Video Sections

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- "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.
- "Epic" Vase Returned to Italy - January 23, 2008—A 2,500-year-old vase featuring scenes from a Homer poem is among several antiquities returned to Italy after lengthy negotiations with the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- "Ghostly" Audio Is Oldest Known - March 31, 2008—"It's ghostly. It's magic, " said an expert who heard the 1860 French recording of a human voice. The audio predates Edison's recording by 17 years.
- "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.
- 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.
- A Look at Kosovo Independence - February 19, 2008—The declaration of independence over the weekend was actually decades in the making—at least. Here's the story.
- 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 Croc Unveiled - February 1, 2008—An 80-million-year-old fossil found in Brazil could be a "missing link" between prehistoric and modern-day crocodiles, experts say.
- 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 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 Sandals, Spears Returned - June 23, 2008—Nomadic cave people's 800-year-old fiber footwear, weapons, and other artifacts have been returned to Mexico after being seized in the U.S. and Canada.
- Ancient Site Found in Colombia - April 24, 2008—Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a 2,000-year-old pre-Colombian settlement near Bogota, a find that may reveal information about the area's mysterious ancient inhabitants.
- 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.
- Aztec Palace Found in Mexico - June 11, 2008—The remains of a palace thought to have been used by the emperor Moctezuma (also called Montezuma) have been unearthed in México City, archaeologists say.
- 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.
- 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.
- Carnivals Around the World - February 6, 2008—Sequins and feathers in Brazil, sheepskin-clad men in Hungary—celebrations around the world mark the days before many Christians begin pre-Easter fasting.
- 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.
- Flying Fish Hunters' Ritual - June 24, 2008—As the Tao tribe of Taiwan celebrate the ritual launch of a newly carved fishing boat, there is concern nuclear waste could affect their catch.
- 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.
- Gandhi's Ashes Spread - January 30, 2008—Sixty years to the day after his assassination, some of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were scattered across the Arabian Sea Wednesday. Descendants of India's iconic, non-violent leader took part in the ceremonies.
- 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.
- Hillary In His Own Words - January 11, 2008—Sir Edmund Hillary describes his historic climb to the top of Mt. Everest...and reveals why there is no photo of him on the summit.
- Hillary In His Own Words - January 11, 2008—Sir Edmund Hillary describes his historic climb to the top of Mt. Everest...and reveals why there is no photo of him on the summit.
- 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.
- Inquisition Docs Made Public - February 27, 2008—The Vatican has opened to the public Inquisition documents from the Roman Catholic Church's efforts—beginning in medieval times—to root out heresy.
- Iraq Treasures Recovered - April 28, 2008—The Iraqi national museum has re-acquired more than 700 looted antiquities that Syria had seized from traffickers since the 2003 U.S. military invasion.
- Language Dying - February 22, 2008—The last eight people to speak the language of Ixcatec are recorded by an American linguist in Mexico. A language disappears every two weeks, experts say.
- 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".
- 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 Cities of the Amazon - In 1542, a Spanish expedition turns to an epic journey across South America; the writings of a priest survive to share the story.
- Lost Pyramid Found in Egypt - June 5, 2008—The long-buried pyramid—whose upper reaches disappeared centuries ago—is believed to house the tomb of an obscure pharaoh who ruled more than 4,000 years ago.
- 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.
- Mass Grave Found in Germany - January 24, 2008—Bodies dating back more than 50 years have been uncovered in Kassel, Germany. Experts speculate they may be victims of a Nazi labor camp or a mid-1800s epidemic.
- 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.
- Maya Discovery a Key Link? - April 7, 2008—Sculptures recently discovered in Guatemala, including one that may depict the first Maya king, may be a clue to the birth of the Maya culture, archaeologists say.
- 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 Friends Revisit Murder Site - April 4, 2008—Forty years after Martin Luther King, Jr., was shot, Jesse Jackson and another witness to the assassination return to the Tennessee scene and remember the event.
- 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.
- Nazi Plunder Found? - February 25, 2008—German treasure hunters claim a discovery in Germany near the Czech Republic may reveal Nazi-plundered art, including the famed Amber Room.
- Nepal, N. Zealand Mourn Hillary - January 11, 2008—Many are mourning the late Sir Edmund Hillary, especially in his native New Zealand and in Nepal, where he became the first to conquer Everest.
- 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 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 Gold Jewelry in Americas - April 2, 2008—See the earliest known gold necklace created in the Western Hemisphere—found in a burial site near Lake Titicaca in Peru.
- 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.
- Olympic Torch Lit in Greece - March 24, 2008—At a ceremony in Olympia, Greece, the torch was lit for the start of an 85,000-mile (137,000-kilometer) journey to Beijing, China for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.
- 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 Artifacts Returned - June 17, 2008—Peru's government has reclaimed more than a hundred pre-Inca and colonial artifacts from private collections in Germany and the United States.
- Peru Sues Yale Over Artifacts - December 12, 2008—The Peruvian government is suing Yale University over artifacts removed from Peru nearly a century ago.
- Peru Temple Uncovered - March 17, 2008—Archaeologists believe the new find near Cusco, Peru, predates the Inca empire.
- 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.
- 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.
- Rare Dead Sea Scroll Displayed - May 14, 2008—A small, fragile piece of a 2,000-year-old Dead Sea scroll was shown briefly to visitors at the Jerusalem convention center.
- Razing Historic Beijing Homes - August 6, 2008—China is demolishing Beijing homes in historic neighborhoods known for their narrow alleyways, or hutongs, spurring protests.
- Real Good Friday Crucifixion - March 21, 2008—An annual ritual in the Philippines, Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic country, features self-flagellations and temporary crucifixions complete with nails hammered into hands and feet.
- Rio Carnival Honors Japanese - January 31, 2008—Kicking off a yearlong celebration of Japanese immigrants' arrival in Brazil a hundred years ago, revelers honor the world's largest Japanese community outside Japan.
- 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.
- Ruins Found Near Machu Picchu - January 16, 2008—The lost citadel of Paititi may have been found, says the mayor of the Peruvian town where archeological remains were recently uncovered.
- 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.
- Sir Edmund Hillary Dies at 88 - January 11, 2008—Sir Edmund Hillary died at age 88 in New Zealand. He and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first to scale Mount Everest, the world's highest peak, in May 1953.
- 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.
- State Funeral for E. Hillary - January 22, 2008— New Zealand crowds honored Everest pioneer Sir Edmund Hillary who received a state funeral. In Nepal, Sherpas held traditional prayer services for the beloved mountaineer.
- 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.
- Terra-Cotta Army Coming to U.S. - April 29, 2008—Part of China's famed terra-cotta army is coming to the U.S. for a traveling exhibit over the next two years.
- 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.
- Top Climber Recalls Hillary - January 11, 2008—One of the world's most accomplished mountain climbers reflects on the life of a legend.
- 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.
- Vatican's Pagan Tomb Reopened - May 28, 2008—The Vatican has reopened the Valeri Mausoleum, the largest and most luxurious of 22 pagan tombs buried under St. Peter's Basilica, the Associated Press reports.
- 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.
- WWII Shipwreck Found in Fjord - March 12, 2008—Wreckage of a British navy ship lost in 1940 was found this month in a Norwegian fjord.
- 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.
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