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♪♪
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WOLTER: The story of our past
hinges on present day finds.
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This is a crazy, weird chamber,
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and it is in the
middle of nowhere.
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The landscape hides
the unexpected.
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Do you think that
giants built this wall?
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That's for you
guys to figure out.
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And the unexplored.
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That could be the
entrance to the treasure.
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My job is to explain
the unexplainable.
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The only question I have is,
"Where am I going next?"
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The history that we were
all taught growing up is wrong.
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My name is Scott Wolter,
and I'm a forensic geologist.
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There's a hidden history in this
country that nobody knows about.
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There are pyramids here,
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chambers, tombs, inscriptions.
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They're all over this country.
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We're gonna investigate
these artifacts and sites,
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and we're gonna
get to the truth.
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Sometimes, history
isn't what we've been told.
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♪♪
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♪♪
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Kids have long been taught
that the first European
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to reach America was
Christopher Columbus in 1492,
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but that's not true.
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We now know the
Vikings beat him,
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but I think other explorers
did too, centuries earlier.
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I'm always looking for
more definitive proof,
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and today I'm feeling lucky.
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I'm heading to Rock Springs,
Wyoming,
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where a husband and wife want
to show me a good luck charm
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that they believe
proves the Phoenicians,
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famous ancient sailors
of the Mediterranean,
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came here to the Cowboy State
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over 1,000 years
before Columbus.
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If they're right, it'll rewrite
the history books forever.
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-Hi, guys.
-Hey, hi.
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-You must be Patrice.
-I am Patrice.
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-And Don.
-Yep, good to meet you.
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Nice to meet you.
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00:02:17,071 --> 00:02:19,804
So I understand you
have an artifact.
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Can I take a look at it?
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-She's got it with her.
-Okay.
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Wow, this is awesome!
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So who found this?
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My mom did,
years ago.
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Like what,
75 years ago?
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It's a sandstone
for sure.
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There's definitely
carved characters here.
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This is definitely manmade,
no doubt about that.
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My mom, she was 12 years
old when she found it.
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Come upon it,
and knew it was
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something more than
just an ordinary rock.
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Where was it found?
Somewhere up here, right?
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It was. I can take you
to the general area.
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Well, I would like to see
roughly where it came from.
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-All right. Let's do it.
-Okay.
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WOLTER: Rock Springs is known as
the home of 56 nationalities
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because an influx of
immigrants came to work
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in the coal mines here
in the late 1800s,
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00:03:06,654 --> 00:03:09,387
but if this artifact proves
the Phoenicians came here
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2,000 years ago, they
might have to start
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calling it the home of 57.
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First and foremost, I want
to look at the geology.
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♪♪
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The question is, "Could this
rock have come from this area?"
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The answer is, "Yes."
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This is a sandstone,
this is a sandstone,
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and if you look at them,
the size of the sand grains
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00:03:34,681 --> 00:03:37,683
in this sandstone
look very similar.
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WOLTER: If the carved stone
Don's mom found
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was something other
than sandstone,
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we'd know it could
have come from afar,
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but because more than
half the exposed rock
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in the Phoenician's home
base, modern day Lebanon,
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is sandstone just like this,
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which is a trademark of
the city's architecture,
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I need more evidence to
figure out if this rock
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was carved here in Wyoming
or half a world away.
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WOLTER:
Why was your mother
up here?
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DON:
She was up here
horseback riding.
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WOLTER: Lorene Bolen was a
coal miner's daughter,
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00:04:11,251 --> 00:04:15,053
who moved from rural Indiana
to Wyoming when she was young.
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00:04:15,055 --> 00:04:18,590
After losing her dad to a
freak accident at age 9,
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Lorene was a kid who
could use a lucky break.
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00:04:22,062 --> 00:04:26,531
She was up here by
some water tanks,
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00:04:26,533 --> 00:04:30,202
and she stopped there and
just happened to notice it.
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00:04:30,204 --> 00:04:31,269
What happened next?
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00:04:31,271 --> 00:04:32,671
Well, she took it home.
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00:04:32,673 --> 00:04:34,339
She had it with her
a lot of the time,
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00:04:34,341 --> 00:04:35,674
and showed it to
a lot of people,
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00:04:35,676 --> 00:04:38,476
but nobody could
tell her what it was.
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00:04:38,478 --> 00:04:41,146
She sent pictures of it to
the University of Wyoming,
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00:04:41,148 --> 00:04:42,881
and they didn't
know what it was.
95
00:04:42,883 --> 00:04:45,016
She just always was
trying to find out.
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She was curious.
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00:04:46,086 --> 00:04:47,285
-She was very curious.
-Very much so.
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00:04:47,287 --> 00:04:49,154
Did she go
to anyone else?
99
00:04:49,156 --> 00:04:53,692
She sent a copy of the
picture to the Smithsonian.
100
00:04:53,694 --> 00:04:57,362
They sent a letter back
saying it's really nothing.
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00:04:57,364 --> 00:05:00,498
They didn't want anything
to do with it, basically,
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00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:03,835
and so she got mad and
threw the letter away.
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00:05:03,837 --> 00:05:05,236
Well, that doesn't
surprise me.
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00:05:05,238 --> 00:05:08,706
The Smithsonian doesn't
particularly care for anybody
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00:05:08,708 --> 00:05:10,041
who brings
something forward
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00:05:10,043 --> 00:05:13,512
that might change the
historical narrative.
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00:05:13,514 --> 00:05:14,913
Besides the Smithsonian,
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did anybody else look
at the inscription?
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Yes.
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Here's the letter
from Dr. Barry Fell
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00:05:21,121 --> 00:05:22,988
who was immediately able
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00:05:22,990 --> 00:05:25,457
to identify and
translate the script.
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Barry Fell, he was a
scholar from Harvard.
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He was one of the
first guys to come out
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00:05:31,531 --> 00:05:33,465
who was an academic
to say that, "Yes,
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00:05:33,467 --> 00:05:36,334
there were people that came
here long before Columbus."
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In fact, people had been coming
here for thousands of years.
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00:05:39,072 --> 00:05:42,273
It mentions Phoenician
people in there.
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00:05:42,275 --> 00:05:46,077
The way he explained it
is it starts and goes,
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00:05:46,079 --> 00:05:48,413
it goes vertically
first, start at the top,
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00:05:48,415 --> 00:05:50,282
and do an S-shape
on the way down.
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00:05:50,284 --> 00:05:52,750
And here's
the translation.
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00:05:52,752 --> 00:05:53,952
Keep safe.
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00:05:53,954 --> 00:05:56,088
Do not break
the stone.
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Misfortune it
turns away.
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00:05:58,558 --> 00:06:00,425
It protects
against evil.
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00:06:00,427 --> 00:06:03,495
Strikes harm
and turns it aside.
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00:06:05,432 --> 00:06:08,567
WOLTER: We know the Phoenicians
were merchant sailors.
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00:06:08,569 --> 00:06:11,169
You see their ships
and exploits depicted
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00:06:11,171 --> 00:06:15,039
in the art of their neighbors,
the Egyptians and the Greeks.
131
00:06:15,041 --> 00:06:18,443
And Herodotus, known as the
world's first historian,
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00:06:18,445 --> 00:06:20,178
wrote about the
Phoenician's claim
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00:06:20,180 --> 00:06:22,580
to have circumnavigated Africa.
134
00:06:22,582 --> 00:06:26,051
Maybe a Phoenician sailor
left behind an inscribed rock
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00:06:26,053 --> 00:06:29,321
that later became Lorene Bolen's
good luck charm.
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00:06:29,323 --> 00:06:31,790
I'm open to the idea,
because of everything
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00:06:31,792 --> 00:06:34,459
I know about the Phoenicians.
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00:06:34,461 --> 00:06:36,194
Basically what
Barry Fell is saying
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00:06:36,196 --> 00:06:39,397
is that this is an amulet
or a good luck charm.
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00:06:39,399 --> 00:06:41,933
Something to keep
bad spirits away.
141
00:06:41,935 --> 00:06:43,067
Does that make sense?
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00:06:43,069 --> 00:06:44,469
We think so.
143
00:06:44,471 --> 00:06:46,605
It does with my
mom's life, yeah.
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00:06:46,607 --> 00:06:48,473
With your mom's life,
what do you mean by that?
145
00:06:48,475 --> 00:06:52,411
There was a time when she
went to Jackpot, Nevada,
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00:06:52,413 --> 00:06:55,146
when she was down to her
last couple of quarters,
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00:06:55,148 --> 00:06:59,417
put them in a slot
machine, and won $48,000.
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00:06:59,419 --> 00:07:01,486
She hit it big!
149
00:07:01,488 --> 00:07:03,754
Let me guess,
she attributed it
150
00:07:03,756 --> 00:07:06,157
to this good luck
charm, right?
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00:07:06,159 --> 00:07:08,960
I think in a lot
of ways, she did.
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00:07:08,962 --> 00:07:11,229
WOLTER: This isn't the first
time I've investigated
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00:07:11,231 --> 00:07:14,899
the possibility that the
Phoenicians made it to America.
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00:07:14,901 --> 00:07:17,502
A while back, I met a
professor in New England
155
00:07:17,504 --> 00:07:19,838
who theorized there
was a map of the world
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00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:22,473
hidden on the back
of a Phoenician coin
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minted in 350 B.C.
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♪♪
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00:07:28,449 --> 00:07:30,114
WOLTER:
The question is,
"Could the Phoenicians
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00:07:30,116 --> 00:07:32,650
have gotten here and
carved that stone?"
161
00:07:32,652 --> 00:07:34,986
The oceans and rivers
were not barriers
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00:07:34,988 --> 00:07:36,454
like many people think.
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00:07:36,456 --> 00:07:38,856
I mean, they were
highways, super highways,
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00:07:38,858 --> 00:07:41,927
especially going back
thousands of years.
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00:07:41,929 --> 00:07:44,462
WOLTER: I've seen evidence of
pre-Columbian contact
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00:07:44,464 --> 00:07:46,664
all over the Americas.
167
00:07:46,666 --> 00:07:49,801
Ancient mariners like the
Vikings, the early Irish,
168
00:07:49,803 --> 00:07:52,871
and the Polynesians left
behind rock formations,
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00:07:52,873 --> 00:07:56,407
language, and canoe
building technology.
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00:07:56,409 --> 00:07:58,276
In the case of the Polynesians,
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00:07:58,278 --> 00:08:01,613
they even brought back
foods like the sweet potato.
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00:08:01,615 --> 00:08:03,014
Now, there's
a little more
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00:08:03,016 --> 00:08:04,549
that I'd like to
do with the stone.
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I've got
a microscope.
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00:08:05,685 --> 00:08:07,085
Is it okay if
we take a look?
176
00:08:07,087 --> 00:08:08,687
-Let's do it.
-That would be awesome.
177
00:08:08,689 --> 00:08:10,555
Okay.
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00:08:10,557 --> 00:08:12,958
WOLTER: The growth of
microscopic organisms
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00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,628
or evidence of erosion can help
me date artifacts like this.
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00:08:16,630 --> 00:08:19,030
Okay, here we go.
181
00:08:19,032 --> 00:08:20,498
That's coming up
pretty good there.
182
00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:24,035
You can see
the carved lines.
183
00:08:24,037 --> 00:08:26,637
Focus it just a
little bit there.
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00:08:26,639 --> 00:08:30,842
♪♪
185
00:08:30,844 --> 00:08:32,910
Huh.
186
00:08:32,912 --> 00:08:37,115
I'm seeing something
I don't like.
187
00:08:37,117 --> 00:08:38,783
Has somebody messed
with this at all,
188
00:08:38,785 --> 00:08:40,651
or done something
to it?
189
00:08:40,653 --> 00:08:43,655
♪♪
190
00:08:51,131 --> 00:08:58,870
♪♪
191
00:08:58,872 --> 00:09:06,811
♪♪
192
00:09:06,813 --> 00:09:09,547
I see something
here I don't like.
193
00:09:09,549 --> 00:09:12,283
Has somebody been
messing with this?
194
00:09:12,285 --> 00:09:17,221
Yeah.
My mom, naive,
195
00:09:17,223 --> 00:09:18,756
tried to get
a picture of it
196
00:09:18,758 --> 00:09:21,892
and it didn't show up very
well, so she took a nail to it.
197
00:09:21,894 --> 00:09:23,962
So she recut
the carvings?
198
00:09:23,964 --> 00:09:27,899
She went in deeper so it
would photograph better.
199
00:09:27,901 --> 00:09:30,302
WOLTER: If someone scratches
over old marks,
200
00:09:30,304 --> 00:09:32,303
they might as well
be fresh ones.
201
00:09:32,305 --> 00:09:35,506
She was trying to be helpful,
but unfortunately for me,
202
00:09:35,508 --> 00:09:39,844
a lot of the evidence that is
the most helpful in aging this
203
00:09:39,846 --> 00:09:41,246
would be in the grooves,
204
00:09:41,248 --> 00:09:43,914
and if she scratched it
out, that evidence is gone.
205
00:09:43,916 --> 00:09:47,519
WOLTER:
Since Lorene ran a nail across
the original inscription,
206
00:09:47,521 --> 00:09:49,887
there's no way to see
the natural weathering,
207
00:09:49,889 --> 00:09:54,025
and no microorganisms left
inside for me to date.
208
00:09:54,027 --> 00:09:55,794
When someone uses
something sharp
209
00:09:55,796 --> 00:09:58,863
to clean out an inscription,
I can no longer tell
210
00:09:58,865 --> 00:10:01,066
how naturally weathered and worn
211
00:10:01,068 --> 00:10:02,800
the edges of the
inscription were,
212
00:10:02,802 --> 00:10:05,336
meaning there's
no way to evaluate
213
00:10:05,338 --> 00:10:07,672
how long ago it was carved.
214
00:10:07,674 --> 00:10:11,409
You know this is unfortunate,
but I think I have a plan,
215
00:10:11,411 --> 00:10:14,145
another way that we can
get to the bottom of this.
216
00:10:14,147 --> 00:10:21,352
♪♪
217
00:10:21,354 --> 00:10:24,422
WOLTER: It's too bad I won't be
able to accurately date
218
00:10:24,424 --> 00:10:26,424
Lorene Bolen's carving,
219
00:10:26,426 --> 00:10:29,694
but I know of a secret
Shoshone site here in Wyoming
220
00:10:29,696 --> 00:10:33,565
that might support Phoenician
contact with this area
221
00:10:33,567 --> 00:10:36,100
as long as 2,000 years ago.
222
00:10:36,102 --> 00:10:42,173
♪♪
223
00:10:42,175 --> 00:10:48,312
♪♪
224
00:10:48,314 --> 00:10:51,115
WOLTER:
Well, Linea, I just recently
looked at an artifact
225
00:10:51,117 --> 00:10:54,919
that has been interpreted
to be Phoenician script.
226
00:10:54,921 --> 00:10:57,789
The reason I am here
is to see if this site
227
00:10:57,791 --> 00:10:59,524
potentially has
a connection
228
00:10:59,526 --> 00:11:03,394
to the Phoenicians coming
here to the New World.
229
00:11:03,396 --> 00:11:06,531
If there is a connection, we
can look for it right here.
230
00:11:06,533 --> 00:11:09,333
♪♪
231
00:11:09,335 --> 00:11:12,070
WOLTER:
I'm told there is evidence
of a Shoshone legend
232
00:11:12,072 --> 00:11:15,740
called the "Water Ghost Woman"
on this stone outcrop
233
00:11:15,742 --> 00:11:18,209
in the middle of nowhere.
234
00:11:18,211 --> 00:11:19,344
SUNDSTROM:
Why don't you tell me
235
00:11:19,346 --> 00:11:20,812
what you think
you're seeing here.
236
00:11:20,814 --> 00:11:23,348
This one here looks like a
female, am I right about that?
237
00:11:23,350 --> 00:11:24,949
Mm-hmm.
238
00:11:24,951 --> 00:11:27,752
She's a ghost, and
she lives in the water
239
00:11:27,754 --> 00:11:30,221
so she's called
the "Water Ghost Woman."
240
00:11:30,223 --> 00:11:31,356
Okay.
241
00:11:31,358 --> 00:11:34,358
The Eastern Shoshone
who lived around here,
242
00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,161
this is an important figure
in their belief system.
243
00:11:37,163 --> 00:11:41,299
She's depicted as either
very beautiful and young,
244
00:11:41,301 --> 00:11:44,368
or as
a hideous old hag.
245
00:11:44,370 --> 00:11:47,839
And she can go from one
to the other rapidly.
246
00:11:47,841 --> 00:11:49,841
Ah, are those tears?
247
00:11:49,843 --> 00:11:53,311
You can very plainly see the
tear streaks on her face.
248
00:11:53,313 --> 00:11:56,247
When you hear her crying,
you feel sorry for her
249
00:11:56,249 --> 00:11:59,851
and you want to help, so
you approach the sound
250
00:11:59,853 --> 00:12:01,653
of this crying woman,
and the next thing
251
00:12:01,655 --> 00:12:04,055
you know,
you've been drowned.
252
00:12:04,057 --> 00:12:07,392
WOLTER:
This legend is eerily similar
to that of the Sirens,
253
00:12:07,394 --> 00:12:11,529
characters from Greek mythology
the Phoenicians believed in.
254
00:12:11,531 --> 00:12:14,132
The Sirens were dangerous
creatures,
255
00:12:14,134 --> 00:12:15,466
whose enchanting songs
256
00:12:15,468 --> 00:12:18,870
drew unsuspecting
sailors to shipwreck.
257
00:12:18,872 --> 00:12:22,606
WOLTER:
Maybe this indicates that
there was some type of contact
258
00:12:22,608 --> 00:12:24,809
between the Phoenicians
and the Shoshone.
259
00:12:24,811 --> 00:12:27,946
Now that doesn't mean that
it does, but it could.
260
00:12:27,948 --> 00:12:29,480
How would they
have gotten here?
261
00:12:29,482 --> 00:12:32,150
Well, if they sail across
the Atlantic Ocean,
262
00:12:32,152 --> 00:12:35,419
they could come into the
Gulf, sail up the Mississippi,
263
00:12:35,421 --> 00:12:37,755
then they could have taken
either the Arkansas River,
264
00:12:37,757 --> 00:12:39,957
or the Platte River
with a portage
265
00:12:39,959 --> 00:12:41,893
not too far
to the east here,
266
00:12:41,895 --> 00:12:44,095
and it would put you
right into this area.
267
00:12:44,097 --> 00:12:46,297
How old do you think
these petroglyphs are?
268
00:12:46,299 --> 00:12:48,566
This type of rock
art was probably made
269
00:12:48,568 --> 00:12:52,636
within the last 2,000 years,
maybe a little bit older,
270
00:12:52,638 --> 00:12:54,505
maybe 3,000 years
from now.
271
00:12:54,507 --> 00:12:55,573
2 to 3,000.
272
00:12:55,575 --> 00:12:56,908
That's
an educated guess.
273
00:12:56,910 --> 00:12:58,309
Well, I like
those numbers.
274
00:12:58,311 --> 00:12:59,644
I like those numbers
a lot,
275
00:12:59,646 --> 00:13:02,246
because if we are
gonna make the argument
276
00:13:02,248 --> 00:13:05,049
that the Phoenicians could
possibly be connected here,
277
00:13:05,051 --> 00:13:07,385
you got to go back
at least 2,000 years
278
00:13:07,387 --> 00:13:10,588
and 2 to 3,000 years would
be right in the wheelhouse
279
00:13:10,590 --> 00:13:12,524
that actually
does make sense.
280
00:13:12,526 --> 00:13:16,528
Doesn't prove it, but I
really like those numbers.
281
00:13:16,530 --> 00:13:17,862
WOLTER:
The idea that the Phoenicians
282
00:13:17,864 --> 00:13:21,866
exchanged myths with the
Shoshone is fascinating.
283
00:13:21,868 --> 00:13:24,202
If it's true, it
would go a long way
284
00:13:24,204 --> 00:13:27,204
towards supporting the
idea that Lorene Bolen
285
00:13:27,206 --> 00:13:30,275
found a genuine Phoenician
good luck charm.
286
00:13:30,277 --> 00:13:32,277
Before I can buy
into that theory,
287
00:13:32,279 --> 00:13:35,947
I need to figure out if the
Phoenicians were even capable
288
00:13:35,949 --> 00:13:38,483
of sailing to America
in the first place.
289
00:13:38,485 --> 00:13:44,288
♪♪
290
00:13:44,290 --> 00:13:50,094
♪♪
291
00:13:50,096 --> 00:13:52,429
I need to see a Phoenician boat,
292
00:13:52,431 --> 00:13:55,099
and there's only one
good seaworthy example
293
00:13:55,101 --> 00:13:57,101
in the entire world.
294
00:13:57,103 --> 00:14:03,508
♪♪
295
00:14:03,510 --> 00:14:09,914
♪♪
296
00:14:09,916 --> 00:14:14,319
-Philip?
-Hi, welcome to Phoenicia.
297
00:14:14,321 --> 00:14:16,987
Well, thank you. Wow
so this is it, huh?
298
00:14:16,989 --> 00:14:20,658
This is it.
299
00:14:20,660 --> 00:14:22,393
Well, this is
pretty impressive.
300
00:14:22,395 --> 00:14:24,862
Tell me a little big about
this ship. It's really cool.
301
00:14:24,864 --> 00:14:26,531
Well, she's
a great ship.
302
00:14:26,533 --> 00:14:29,333
Phoenicia has the only
Phoenician sailing ship
303
00:14:29,335 --> 00:14:33,137
in existence as a working ship,
a proper seagoing ship,
304
00:14:33,139 --> 00:14:35,473
and it was built
as near as possible
305
00:14:35,475 --> 00:14:39,143
as an exact replica as
one could possibly have.
306
00:14:39,145 --> 00:14:40,745
WOLTER:
What are some of
the features here
307
00:14:40,747 --> 00:14:44,415
that are unique to the
Phoenician ship builders?
308
00:14:44,417 --> 00:14:48,886
The Phoenicians created the
first rigid hulled boats.
309
00:14:48,888 --> 00:14:50,087
Up until that point,
310
00:14:50,089 --> 00:14:53,290
the ships had literally
been sewn together.
311
00:14:53,292 --> 00:14:56,027
So this stiff
design was to
312
00:14:56,029 --> 00:14:58,429
withstand the large waves
on the oceans, right?
313
00:14:58,431 --> 00:14:59,630
That's it.
314
00:14:59,632 --> 00:15:01,766
That's what enabled the
Phoenicians to trade
315
00:15:01,768 --> 00:15:04,235
more successfully
than anyone else.
316
00:15:04,237 --> 00:15:06,370
WOLTER: Wherever they went,
the Phoenicians
317
00:15:06,372 --> 00:15:07,972
brought the Phoenician alphabet,
318
00:15:07,974 --> 00:15:10,241
and their most
famous trade item,
319
00:15:10,243 --> 00:15:14,178
a dye known as Tyrian
purple, named after Tyre,
320
00:15:14,180 --> 00:15:16,981
one of their four
Mediterranean kingdoms.
321
00:15:16,983 --> 00:15:19,717
More valuable than gold,
it started the tradition
322
00:15:19,719 --> 00:15:22,053
of royals wearing purple robes
323
00:15:22,055 --> 00:15:25,256
and earned the Phoenicians
the name the "Purple People."
324
00:15:25,258 --> 00:15:28,192
♪♪
325
00:15:28,194 --> 00:15:30,861
Look at the craftsmanship.
It's all handwork, right?
326
00:15:30,863 --> 00:15:32,263
Yeah, all done
by hand.
327
00:15:32,265 --> 00:15:33,731
What's really
impressive
328
00:15:33,733 --> 00:15:38,036
are these little dowel marks
there that you can see.
329
00:15:38,038 --> 00:15:39,270
-Oh, right here?
-Yep.
330
00:15:39,272 --> 00:15:41,539
The Romans called it
the Phoenician joint,
331
00:15:41,541 --> 00:15:43,207
and I've got a little
model of it here.
332
00:15:43,209 --> 00:15:45,943
So here are
the two planks.
333
00:15:45,945 --> 00:15:48,746
This is the peg, and
these are the dowels
334
00:15:48,748 --> 00:15:50,949
that are locking
it in place.
335
00:15:50,951 --> 00:15:53,751
So it's a really
rigid construction.
336
00:15:53,753 --> 00:15:56,420
Watertight joint
right here, right?
337
00:15:56,422 --> 00:15:58,489
And then
not only that,
338
00:15:58,491 --> 00:16:00,891
but the Phoenicians
did one better.
339
00:16:00,893 --> 00:16:05,229
They were the first to use
iron nails in the construction.
340
00:16:05,231 --> 00:16:08,232
So this was what helped
make the Phoenician ships
341
00:16:08,234 --> 00:16:13,171
undoubtedly the strongest ships
ever produced at that time.
342
00:16:13,173 --> 00:16:16,573
The way it's built, I mean
this thing looks like a tank,
343
00:16:16,575 --> 00:16:20,378
which brings me to a question
I want to ask you back up top.
344
00:16:20,380 --> 00:16:21,712
Sure.
345
00:16:21,714 --> 00:16:27,718
♪♪
346
00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:32,190
So, one sail
and one mast.
347
00:16:32,192 --> 00:16:34,725
I'm a little
skeptical that a ship
348
00:16:34,727 --> 00:16:37,929
could navigate the open
oceans with one sail.
349
00:16:37,931 --> 00:16:44,135
Certainly one sail makes
sailing a real challenge.
350
00:16:44,137 --> 00:16:45,536
However, the Phoenicians
were clever people.
351
00:16:45,538 --> 00:16:48,873
They knew which way the winds
and currents were flowing.
352
00:16:48,875 --> 00:16:50,340
The open ocean
would have presented
353
00:16:50,342 --> 00:16:52,477
no fears
for the Phoenicians.
354
00:16:52,479 --> 00:16:54,812
WOLTER: There's good reason to
believe the Phoenicians
355
00:16:54,814 --> 00:16:57,081
circumnavigated Africa.
356
00:16:57,083 --> 00:16:59,884
They made a statement
that, as they sailed,
357
00:16:59,886 --> 00:17:03,153
they had the sun on their
right to northward of them.
358
00:17:03,155 --> 00:17:04,956
That's only possible
if they rounded
359
00:17:04,958 --> 00:17:07,625
the Cape of Good Hope
while heading west,
360
00:17:07,627 --> 00:17:10,228
which no one had
ever done before.
361
00:17:10,230 --> 00:17:15,099
Then in 1990, in Senegal, the
most western point in Africa,
362
00:17:15,101 --> 00:17:18,703
French anthropologists
studied 14 unfamiliar letters
363
00:17:18,705 --> 00:17:21,639
found on cattle brands and
determined the closest match
364
00:17:21,641 --> 00:17:25,109
was Phoenician,
not Greek, Latin,
365
00:17:25,111 --> 00:17:29,046
Chinese, or any African
language, but Phoenician.
366
00:17:29,048 --> 00:17:32,382
WOLTER:
How far have you taken
this out on the open ocean?
367
00:17:32,384 --> 00:17:34,518
We've been around some
of the toughest points,
368
00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:36,787
like going around the
Cape of Good Hope.
369
00:17:36,789 --> 00:17:40,525
But in the Atlantic, you
know, we got pushed right out,
370
00:17:40,527 --> 00:17:42,460
and at one point
we were just
371
00:17:42,462 --> 00:17:44,796
700 miles from
the Florida coast.
372
00:17:44,798 --> 00:17:47,265
So we spent 80-odd
days in the Atlantic.
373
00:17:47,267 --> 00:17:50,067
Okay, if you got within
700 miles of Florida,
374
00:17:50,069 --> 00:17:53,537
how many days if you wanted to
go to Florida would it take?
375
00:17:53,539 --> 00:17:55,072
It would
have taken probably
376
00:17:55,074 --> 00:17:58,942
another 10 or 12 days to
get to America from there.
377
00:17:58,944 --> 00:18:00,611
Well Philip,
I'm very impressed,
378
00:18:00,613 --> 00:18:02,880
and you've pretty much
answered all my questions,
379
00:18:02,882 --> 00:18:04,816
but let me ask
you point blank.
380
00:18:04,818 --> 00:18:08,285
Do you think the Phoenicians
made it to North America?
381
00:18:08,287 --> 00:18:12,390
♪♪
382
00:18:19,031 --> 00:18:24,368
♪♪
383
00:18:24,370 --> 00:18:29,840
♪♪
384
00:18:29,842 --> 00:18:31,375
WOLTER:
Let me ask you
point blank.
385
00:18:31,377 --> 00:18:36,113
Do you think the Phoenicians
made it to North America?
386
00:18:36,115 --> 00:18:38,716
Yeah, I believe that
they did make it there.
387
00:18:38,718 --> 00:18:40,718
They had the ability,
they had the means,
388
00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,255
and undoubtedly, they had the
ships that could have done it.
389
00:18:44,257 --> 00:18:47,325
What we need to
find is the proof.
390
00:18:47,327 --> 00:18:49,260
I have a hunch the
key to this mystery
391
00:18:49,262 --> 00:18:51,261
lies in what
the Phoenicians
392
00:18:51,263 --> 00:18:53,263
brought back
from their voyages.
393
00:18:53,265 --> 00:18:54,532
The ships that Herodotus
394
00:18:54,534 --> 00:18:57,068
talks about
circumnavigating Africa,
395
00:18:57,070 --> 00:18:58,468
they would have been
trading vessels.
396
00:18:58,470 --> 00:19:00,738
Right. So they were
carrying big loads.
397
00:19:00,740 --> 00:19:03,474
Copper is one thing
that I think about.
398
00:19:03,476 --> 00:19:05,810
They were certainly
huge metal traders,
399
00:19:05,812 --> 00:19:07,878
and the Middle East was
always short of metal.
400
00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:10,214
WOLTER: Historians struggle to
explain
401
00:19:10,216 --> 00:19:14,352
where all the copper used in
Europe's Bronze Age came from.
402
00:19:14,354 --> 00:19:16,554
It's got me wondering,
"Could the Phoenicians
403
00:19:16,556 --> 00:19:18,756
have brought it back
with them from Wyoming,
404
00:19:18,758 --> 00:19:21,492
where copper mining
was once big business?"
405
00:19:21,494 --> 00:19:22,693
WOLTER:
Basically, you're
telling me
406
00:19:22,695 --> 00:19:23,961
they could have
made it to the Gulf.
407
00:19:23,963 --> 00:19:25,896
The question I want to
know is could your ship
408
00:19:25,898 --> 00:19:28,098
go up a river,
and if so how far?
409
00:19:28,100 --> 00:19:30,234
A ship like this
could certainly
410
00:19:30,236 --> 00:19:33,237
navigate up a river
quite a long way.
411
00:19:33,239 --> 00:19:35,239
I've always believed
that science one day
412
00:19:35,241 --> 00:19:37,841
will prove that the
Phoenicians got to America.
413
00:19:37,843 --> 00:19:40,110
Well, you and I are on
the same page there.
414
00:19:40,112 --> 00:19:47,918
♪♪
415
00:19:47,920 --> 00:19:55,593
♪♪
416
00:19:55,595 --> 00:19:58,262
WOLTER: Now that I have no
doubt the Phoenicians
417
00:19:58,264 --> 00:20:00,331
could have sailed
to North America
418
00:20:00,333 --> 00:20:02,532
and through rivers
in its interior,
419
00:20:02,534 --> 00:20:06,470
I need to take this
investigation to the next level.
420
00:20:06,472 --> 00:20:08,339
I'm back in Wyoming to check out
421
00:20:08,341 --> 00:20:11,542
an old copper mine
with a local historian.
422
00:20:11,544 --> 00:20:12,743
My goal?
423
00:20:12,745 --> 00:20:15,546
To find a representative
sample of native copper
424
00:20:15,548 --> 00:20:18,816
so I can compare it to the
copper the Phoenicians used.
425
00:20:18,818 --> 00:20:20,351
You really think that
the Phoenicians
426
00:20:20,353 --> 00:20:22,819
came all the way
out here to Wyoming?
427
00:20:22,821 --> 00:20:24,821
Well, I'm not saying
that they did come.
428
00:20:24,823 --> 00:20:26,556
I'm saying that
they could've come.
429
00:20:26,558 --> 00:20:30,628
If they did come, they had to
have had strong motivation,
430
00:20:30,630 --> 00:20:32,696
and in my mind the
strong motivation
431
00:20:32,698 --> 00:20:34,432
would have been copper,
432
00:20:34,434 --> 00:20:36,100
but I want
to investigate it,
433
00:20:36,102 --> 00:20:39,303
and I think I have way we
might be able to test it
434
00:20:39,305 --> 00:20:42,974
to really bring some strong
evidence, if it works out.
435
00:20:42,976 --> 00:20:45,509
WOLTER: If I can find some
copper from the area,
436
00:20:45,511 --> 00:20:48,112
I can compare it to copper
the Phoenicians used
437
00:20:48,114 --> 00:20:52,249
to create bronze to see if
it's of the same purity.
438
00:20:52,251 --> 00:20:54,585
But first, I have
to get to the mine,
439
00:20:54,587 --> 00:20:56,988
and that's not gonna
be a walk in the park.
440
00:20:56,990 --> 00:21:06,463
♪♪
441
00:21:06,465 --> 00:21:10,200
Because of the mining industry,
both past and present,
442
00:21:10,202 --> 00:21:13,070
Wyoming is crisscrossed
with rugged roads
443
00:21:13,072 --> 00:21:17,274
used to haul everything
from coal to gems and metals
444
00:21:17,276 --> 00:21:19,477
like the copper
I'm going to find.
445
00:21:19,479 --> 00:21:27,818
♪♪
446
00:21:27,820 --> 00:21:36,160
♪♪
447
00:21:36,162 --> 00:21:37,561
And look at
these ruins here.
448
00:21:37,563 --> 00:21:39,162
This is the
Ferris-Haggarty Mine.
449
00:21:39,164 --> 00:21:42,166
They discovered
copper here in 1897.
450
00:21:42,168 --> 00:21:45,636
It caused this entire
area to absolutely boom.
451
00:21:45,638 --> 00:21:48,572
Over 5,000 people
migrated to this area
452
00:21:48,574 --> 00:21:50,040
for the copper mining
boom.
453
00:21:50,042 --> 00:21:53,778
If this was such a booming
heyday at one time,
454
00:21:53,780 --> 00:21:55,980
copper everywhere,
what happened?
455
00:21:55,982 --> 00:21:59,716
Around 1908, copper
prices plunged.
456
00:21:59,718 --> 00:22:01,184
They absolutely
plunged.
457
00:22:01,186 --> 00:22:05,790
On top of that, there were a
series of fires at the smelter,
458
00:22:05,792 --> 00:22:09,727
and so it becomes very difficult
to keep the profits going.
459
00:22:09,729 --> 00:22:11,595
Well, actually, that makes
a lot of sense, you know.
460
00:22:11,597 --> 00:22:14,832
It was like a perfect
storm of bad luck.
461
00:22:14,834 --> 00:22:16,867
What I'd like to do
is see if we can find
462
00:22:16,869 --> 00:22:19,670
a good piece
of native copper
463
00:22:19,672 --> 00:22:21,805
or a rock that has
native copper in it,
464
00:22:21,807 --> 00:22:24,007
and I'd like to test
it with some copper
465
00:22:24,009 --> 00:22:25,676
that we know came
from Europe
466
00:22:25,678 --> 00:22:27,945
that's associated
with the Phoenicians
467
00:22:27,947 --> 00:22:31,415
because we can look for trace
elements in both pieces.
468
00:22:31,417 --> 00:22:34,084
These trace elements are
like a DNA fingerprint,
469
00:22:34,086 --> 00:22:37,088
and the copper here is gonna
have its own DNA fingerprint.
470
00:22:37,090 --> 00:22:41,092
If we can get a match, well,
now we're cooking with gas.
471
00:22:41,094 --> 00:22:44,428
The guy who finds the
best piece buys the beer.
472
00:22:44,430 --> 00:22:45,963
-Deal.
-All right, man.
473
00:22:45,965 --> 00:22:47,331
Let's go!
474
00:22:49,368 --> 00:22:52,569
WOLTER: To find copper, I'm
looking for green.
475
00:22:52,571 --> 00:22:55,573
There's a fancy name
for it -- verdigris.
476
00:22:55,575 --> 00:22:57,641
That's the color you get
when copper's weathered
477
00:22:57,643 --> 00:23:01,845
and exposed to air or
sea water over time.
478
00:23:01,847 --> 00:23:05,049
All the copper in this mine
will have the same purity,
479
00:23:05,051 --> 00:23:07,852
but I'm looking for a piece
with a solid copper vein
480
00:23:07,854 --> 00:23:11,989
running through it that's
big enough to test.
481
00:23:11,991 --> 00:23:13,991
-See all this stuff?
-Yep.
482
00:23:13,993 --> 00:23:15,726
This is the stuff
I wanted to see.
483
00:23:15,728 --> 00:23:18,195
What it tells you is there's
definitely copper here,
484
00:23:18,197 --> 00:23:20,864
so it's obviously it's
coming out of the water.
485
00:23:20,866 --> 00:23:22,666
WOLTER:
My goal is to connect the dots
486
00:23:22,668 --> 00:23:25,068
from Lorene Bolen's
good luck charm
487
00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:27,338
to the Phoenicians who
may have carved it
488
00:23:27,340 --> 00:23:30,808
to the copper they may have
come to Wyoming to mine.
489
00:23:30,810 --> 00:23:34,011
Once I find a good-sized
sample of Wyoming copper,
490
00:23:34,013 --> 00:23:37,614
I'll test it to see if it has
the same elemental fingerprint
491
00:23:37,616 --> 00:23:40,750
as copper used in
Phoenician artifacts.
492
00:23:40,752 --> 00:23:43,019
If it does, it might
be strong evidence
493
00:23:43,021 --> 00:23:44,754
that the Phoenicians came here,
494
00:23:44,756 --> 00:23:47,691
and brought this
copper back home.
495
00:23:47,693 --> 00:23:50,027
WOLTER:
So, this is one of the
main shafts, I assume.
496
00:23:50,029 --> 00:23:51,028
Yes, it is.
497
00:23:51,030 --> 00:23:52,696
Okay.
498
00:23:52,698 --> 00:23:54,031
"Bad air."
-Yep.
499
00:23:54,033 --> 00:23:55,366
-"Keep out."
-Yep.
500
00:23:55,368 --> 00:23:57,634
-Skull and crossbones?
-I'm not going near there.
501
00:23:57,636 --> 00:23:59,770
I'm not going
in there either.
502
00:23:59,772 --> 00:24:01,305
Clearly the water's
flowing out
503
00:24:01,307 --> 00:24:02,639
and it's
coloring the rocks.
504
00:24:02,641 --> 00:24:05,709
There's got to be some
copper specimens here.
505
00:24:05,711 --> 00:24:08,912
♪♪
506
00:24:08,914 --> 00:24:11,982
There's some.
507
00:24:11,984 --> 00:24:14,985
Most copper is not
gonna be visible, right?
508
00:24:14,987 --> 00:24:17,021
But I bet you
there's some in here.
509
00:24:19,324 --> 00:24:20,791
Oh, yeah,
I can see it.
510
00:24:20,793 --> 00:24:22,993
If you look close, you can
see it with the naked eye,
511
00:24:22,995 --> 00:24:25,196
but yeah, it's peppered
all through there.
512
00:24:25,198 --> 00:24:27,397
-Can I see?
-Yeah, absolutely.
513
00:24:27,399 --> 00:24:29,967
Can I take that one?
-Absolutely, it's yours.
514
00:24:30,870 --> 00:24:32,669
So, remember
what I said
515
00:24:32,671 --> 00:24:34,338
about the guy who
finds the copper?
516
00:24:34,340 --> 00:24:36,406
Yeah, that he's the
one who buys the beers.
517
00:24:36,408 --> 00:24:37,607
That's not
what I remember.
518
00:24:37,609 --> 00:24:38,942
-No?
-But I tell you what.
519
00:24:38,944 --> 00:24:40,544
Either way,
we both win.
520
00:24:40,546 --> 00:24:41,812
Okay, sounds good.
521
00:24:41,814 --> 00:24:48,552
♪♪
522
00:24:48,554 --> 00:24:55,358
♪♪
523
00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:57,561
WOLTER: What I need to do
next is figure out
524
00:24:57,563 --> 00:25:00,364
if the copper in this
sample from Wyoming
525
00:25:00,366 --> 00:25:04,168
matches the purity of the copper
found in Phoenician artifacts.
526
00:25:04,170 --> 00:25:07,438
And I'm back in Minnesota
to do just that.
527
00:25:07,440 --> 00:25:10,174
If it has the same
elemental fingerprint,
528
00:25:10,176 --> 00:25:12,309
then I'll have even
more reason to believe
529
00:25:12,311 --> 00:25:14,244
the Phoenicians
made it to America,
530
00:25:14,246 --> 00:25:17,581
took the copper back home,
and possibly left behind
531
00:25:17,583 --> 00:25:22,853
the inscription Lorene Bolen
found when she was a kid.
532
00:25:22,855 --> 00:25:24,989
Lori, the reason
I'm here is
533
00:25:24,991 --> 00:25:27,658
I was recently at a
copper mine in Wyoming,
534
00:25:27,660 --> 00:25:29,192
and I collected
a sample,
535
00:25:29,194 --> 00:25:31,195
and what I'd like
you to help me with
536
00:25:31,197 --> 00:25:34,531
is to test it for its
trace element content.
537
00:25:34,533 --> 00:25:36,200
Definitely, we're gonna
be able to image it
538
00:25:36,202 --> 00:25:38,268
and get elemental
information.
539
00:25:38,270 --> 00:25:40,604
I'm investigating the
possibility that Phoenicians
540
00:25:40,606 --> 00:25:44,208
came to North America
over 2,000 years ago.
541
00:25:44,210 --> 00:25:48,278
If its trace element profile
will match known samples
542
00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:49,946
that have
already been tested,
543
00:25:49,948 --> 00:25:52,216
that will go a long way to
proving that the Phoenicians
544
00:25:52,218 --> 00:25:55,485
came to North America,
collected copper,
545
00:25:55,487 --> 00:25:57,287
and then brought
it back.
546
00:25:57,289 --> 00:25:58,288
Sound like something
we can do?
547
00:25:58,290 --> 00:25:59,356
Yeah, absolutely.
548
00:25:59,358 --> 00:26:00,890
I've got
the sample right here.
549
00:26:00,892 --> 00:26:04,428
One concern that I've got,
between extracting this
550
00:26:04,430 --> 00:26:06,563
and everybody looking
at it, handling it,
551
00:26:06,565 --> 00:26:09,366
that the surface
could be contaminated.
552
00:26:09,368 --> 00:26:12,036
So it might be better if
we can get a fresh cleave
553
00:26:12,038 --> 00:26:15,238
off of this to have a
pristine surface to analyze.
554
00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:16,840
Well, it's certainly
been handled,
555
00:26:16,842 --> 00:26:20,711
so I understand the
contamination possibility.
556
00:26:20,713 --> 00:26:23,179
Let's take a look.
557
00:26:23,181 --> 00:26:25,783
You know what, we have
a fracture right here.
558
00:26:25,785 --> 00:26:27,117
Oh, perfect.
559
00:26:27,119 --> 00:26:30,854
Actually, we have a crack
that goes all the way around.
560
00:26:30,856 --> 00:26:34,391
If we pop this thing with
your chisel and hammer,
561
00:26:34,393 --> 00:26:37,794
I bet we'll probably be
able to get two pieces.
562
00:26:37,796 --> 00:26:38,862
Okay.
563
00:26:38,864 --> 00:26:43,667
♪♪
564
00:26:43,669 --> 00:26:46,603
I'm gonna hit it
right along there.
565
00:26:46,605 --> 00:26:48,639
Let's see
how it goes, ready?
566
00:26:50,542 --> 00:26:52,075
Perfect.
567
00:26:52,077 --> 00:26:55,879
WOLTER:
Now we have two uncontaminated
surfaces to examine,
568
00:26:55,881 --> 00:26:58,749
so we fire up the scanning
electron microscope
569
00:26:58,751 --> 00:27:00,283
to take a close look.
570
00:27:00,285 --> 00:27:03,954
It magnifies what we're
seeing 10,000 times.
571
00:27:03,956 --> 00:27:06,623
-So we've got the sample here.
-Okay.
572
00:27:06,625 --> 00:27:08,292
Then we'll get this
in the instrument.
573
00:27:08,294 --> 00:27:13,830
♪♪
574
00:27:13,832 --> 00:27:15,366
LAVANIER:
There's an electron beam
575
00:27:15,368 --> 00:27:18,835
that's going to be striking
the surface of the sample,
576
00:27:18,837 --> 00:27:20,370
and that's what
we're actually using
577
00:27:20,372 --> 00:27:23,040
to detect the elemental
composition of the sample.
578
00:27:23,042 --> 00:27:25,842
Okay, so you're gonna be
hitting it with electrons,
579
00:27:25,844 --> 00:27:28,779
and it will record those and
give us the quantity, right?
580
00:27:28,781 --> 00:27:30,447
-Yes.
-Perfect.
581
00:27:30,449 --> 00:27:33,516
-Well, let's turn the beam on.
-All right.
582
00:27:33,518 --> 00:27:36,920
WOLTER:
We're going to zap our copper
sample with an electron beam.
583
00:27:36,922 --> 00:27:40,390
When that happens, elements
will fly off our rock.
584
00:27:40,392 --> 00:27:41,925
The scanning electron microscope
585
00:27:41,927 --> 00:27:44,795
will catch those pieces
and analyze them.
586
00:27:44,797 --> 00:27:48,465
That's how we figure out exactly
what this rock is made of.
587
00:27:48,467 --> 00:27:51,334
We're looking for a fleck
of copper to zoom in on.
588
00:27:51,336 --> 00:27:52,869
That's a nice shot.
589
00:27:52,871 --> 00:27:53,870
Can we grab
that photo?
590
00:27:53,872 --> 00:27:55,339
-Yep.
-That's beautiful...
591
00:27:55,341 --> 00:27:56,339
...as rocks go.
592
00:27:56,341 --> 00:27:58,475
[ Both laugh ]
593
00:27:58,477 --> 00:28:01,145
WOLTER: Now that we're
zeroed in, we can see
594
00:28:01,147 --> 00:28:03,347
what this rock is made of.
595
00:28:03,349 --> 00:28:06,283
You can see things are moving
and glowing a little bit.
596
00:28:06,285 --> 00:28:08,418
So the heavier the element,
the brighter it'll appear
597
00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:09,953
on the screen.
598
00:28:09,955 --> 00:28:13,556
So copper on this should
appear somewhat brighter.
599
00:28:13,558 --> 00:28:15,959
This brightest region here
might be the area of interest
600
00:28:15,961 --> 00:28:17,961
so let's take a scan in here.
-Yeah, let's zoom
601
00:28:17,963 --> 00:28:19,396
in there
and see what we get.
602
00:28:21,567 --> 00:28:23,434
Ah, very interesting.
603
00:28:23,436 --> 00:28:26,437
♪♪
604
00:28:33,112 --> 00:28:42,519
♪♪
605
00:28:42,521 --> 00:28:44,922
WOLTER: As Lori zooms in on
the copper sample,
606
00:28:44,924 --> 00:28:48,725
I can tell she sees
something important.
607
00:28:48,727 --> 00:28:50,460
Ah, very interesting.
608
00:28:50,462 --> 00:28:52,262
Are you getting a pretty
strong peak for copper.
609
00:28:52,264 --> 00:28:56,733
It's fairly strong, but
equally as strong with iron.
610
00:28:56,735 --> 00:28:59,269
Okay, so those are
in there together?
611
00:28:59,271 --> 00:29:01,004
Yes.
612
00:29:01,006 --> 00:29:05,408
Copper, iron, sulfur,
silicon, aluminum, magnesium.
613
00:29:05,410 --> 00:29:07,010
Okay.
614
00:29:07,012 --> 00:29:09,947
WOLTER:
My sample isn't pure copper,
and neither is the rest
615
00:29:09,949 --> 00:29:12,349
of the copper at the
Ferris-Haggarty Mine.
616
00:29:12,351 --> 00:29:14,952
It doesn't even come close.
617
00:29:14,954 --> 00:29:19,156
So we're talking 41,
almost 42% copper.
618
00:29:19,158 --> 00:29:22,693
It has lots a copper in it,
but it has lots of other stuff.
619
00:29:22,695 --> 00:29:25,128
Unfortunately Lori, that's
just not gonna do it.
620
00:29:25,130 --> 00:29:27,164
That is not a high
enough concentration
621
00:29:27,166 --> 00:29:28,765
because the samples
that I wanted
622
00:29:28,767 --> 00:29:33,170
to compare it with were
98% and 99% pure copper.
623
00:29:33,172 --> 00:29:34,437
We're a long way
from that.
624
00:29:34,439 --> 00:29:36,773
WOLTER: I did a little more
digging and found out
625
00:29:36,775 --> 00:29:39,843
there aren't any
ultra-pure copper deposits
626
00:29:39,845 --> 00:29:42,646
in Wyoming or anywhere
else in the U.S.,
627
00:29:42,648 --> 00:29:45,448
except for Michigan's
upper peninsula.
628
00:29:45,450 --> 00:29:49,186
A few years back, I investigated
the perplexing mine pits
629
00:29:49,188 --> 00:29:50,988
in the Great Lakes region.
630
00:29:50,990 --> 00:29:53,190
Someone pulled
copper out of there,
631
00:29:53,192 --> 00:29:56,660
and the big mystery has
always been, "Who did it?"
632
00:29:56,662 --> 00:29:59,929
I gave credit to the Minoans,
an earlier sailing culture
633
00:29:59,931 --> 00:30:03,399
who disappeared mysteriously
from the island of Crete
634
00:30:03,401 --> 00:30:05,736
in 1200 B.C.
635
00:30:05,738 --> 00:30:08,338
Now, I feel strongly
that Phoenicians went
636
00:30:08,340 --> 00:30:09,673
to the Great Lakes, too.
637
00:30:09,675 --> 00:30:12,342
The copper in Wyoming
wouldn't have satisfied them.
638
00:30:12,344 --> 00:30:15,345
That's not anywhere
near what I think
639
00:30:15,347 --> 00:30:17,214
the Phoenicians
would be looking for.
640
00:30:17,216 --> 00:30:20,751
Back then, if they came up
to this part of the country,
641
00:30:20,753 --> 00:30:24,821
in the Saint Lawrence River
to the Great Lakes area,
642
00:30:24,823 --> 00:30:26,456
you're gonna
find copper that,
643
00:30:26,458 --> 00:30:28,625
after the glaciers had
melted away,
644
00:30:28,627 --> 00:30:30,660
was just laying
on the ground.
645
00:30:30,662 --> 00:30:33,563
99% plus pure copper.
646
00:30:33,565 --> 00:30:36,366
And to me, that would make
a heck of a lot more sense
647
00:30:36,368 --> 00:30:39,502
than trying to mine this
material that you would have
648
00:30:39,504 --> 00:30:41,771
to smelt to
concentrate the copper.
649
00:30:41,773 --> 00:30:44,908
And that's expensive,
time consuming.
650
00:30:44,910 --> 00:30:46,776
They wouldn't have
done that over here.
651
00:30:46,778 --> 00:30:49,112
They would go for
the easy pickings.
652
00:30:49,114 --> 00:30:51,582
WOLTER:
Bottom line, this copper isn't
653
00:30:51,584 --> 00:30:54,051
what the Phoenicians
were using in Europe.
654
00:30:54,053 --> 00:30:56,720
This doesn't prove that
the Phoenicians didn't come
655
00:30:56,722 --> 00:30:59,656
to Wyoming, it just
doesn't help our case.
656
00:30:59,658 --> 00:31:07,064
♪♪
657
00:31:07,066 --> 00:31:14,471
♪♪
658
00:31:14,473 --> 00:31:16,406
WOLTER: I'll admit it, I'm
disappointed the copper
659
00:31:16,408 --> 00:31:19,142
in Wyoming isn't pure
enough for the Phoenicians
660
00:31:19,144 --> 00:31:20,610
to bother with.
661
00:31:20,612 --> 00:31:23,212
That doesn't mean that they
didn't come to Wyoming,
662
00:31:23,214 --> 00:31:24,948
or that Lorene Bolen didn't find
663
00:31:24,950 --> 00:31:27,284
an authentic
Phoenician artifact.
664
00:31:27,286 --> 00:31:28,885
My new theory?
665
00:31:28,887 --> 00:31:31,421
That Minoans handed
copper and their knowledge
666
00:31:31,423 --> 00:31:35,292
of the New World to their
neighbors, the Phoenicians.
667
00:31:35,294 --> 00:31:37,027
It's a pretty narrow window.
668
00:31:37,029 --> 00:31:39,830
The Minoans vanish
around 1200 B.C.,
669
00:31:39,832 --> 00:31:43,233
and that's when Phoenician
script first appears.
670
00:31:43,235 --> 00:31:45,969
Still, the ancients knew a lot,
671
00:31:45,971 --> 00:31:47,770
more than we give
them credit for.
672
00:31:47,772 --> 00:31:51,041
Sometimes knowledge
gets lost over time.
673
00:31:51,043 --> 00:31:53,176
That's why I'm going to
check out the map collection
674
00:31:53,178 --> 00:31:57,447
at the world-class library
here in Minneapolis.
675
00:31:57,449 --> 00:32:00,917
They have an ancient map that
I think has a hidden detail
676
00:32:00,919 --> 00:32:03,519
to help prove the
Phoenicians came here
677
00:32:03,521 --> 00:32:05,788
long before Columbus.
678
00:32:05,790 --> 00:32:07,190
-Hello, Marguerite.
-Hi, Scott.
679
00:32:07,192 --> 00:32:08,525
Nice to meet you.
680
00:32:08,527 --> 00:32:09,860
Welcome the James
Ford Bell Library.
681
00:32:09,862 --> 00:32:11,328
Well, thank you.
682
00:32:11,330 --> 00:32:14,064
I understand that you have some
of the oldest surviving maps
683
00:32:14,066 --> 00:32:15,332
in the world,
is that true?
684
00:32:15,334 --> 00:32:16,800
That's true.
685
00:32:16,802 --> 00:32:19,602
The Bell Library has more
than 40,000 items dating back
686
00:32:19,604 --> 00:32:22,005
to the year 400.
-Amazing.
687
00:32:22,007 --> 00:32:24,474
What I'm specifically
looking for is a copy
688
00:32:24,476 --> 00:32:28,011
of Claudius Ptolemy's
"Geographia."
689
00:32:28,013 --> 00:32:29,746
I pulled two from
the late 15th century
690
00:32:29,748 --> 00:32:31,581
for you, so let's
go take a look.
691
00:32:33,652 --> 00:32:35,485
WOLTER: Claudius Ptolemy
was a 2nd century
692
00:32:35,487 --> 00:32:38,488
Greco-Roman geographer
famous for creating
693
00:32:38,490 --> 00:32:42,292
an atlas called "Geographia."
694
00:32:42,294 --> 00:32:48,165
This is a Ptolemy
Atlas printed in 1490.
695
00:32:48,167 --> 00:32:51,901
If this is late-15th
century, Ptolemy lived back
696
00:32:51,903 --> 00:32:54,171
in the 2nd century, right?
-That's correct.
697
00:32:54,173 --> 00:32:56,239
Wow!
Look at that.
698
00:32:56,241 --> 00:32:58,775
So this is over 500 years old.
-It is!
699
00:32:58,777 --> 00:33:00,443
It's amazing!
700
00:33:00,445 --> 00:33:04,114
WOLTER:
It's amazing, but I have to
admit, it barely resembles
701
00:33:04,116 --> 00:33:08,051
a world map of today, and I
can't tell what I'm looking at.
702
00:33:08,053 --> 00:33:09,919
This one is only
a few years later.
703
00:33:09,921 --> 00:33:11,921
It's in color, so it's a
little bit easier to see.
704
00:33:11,923 --> 00:33:14,257
Help me understand
what's going on here.
705
00:33:14,259 --> 00:33:17,060
What am I looking at?
-This is the known world.
706
00:33:17,062 --> 00:33:20,463
The world of Ptolemy
didn't really understand
707
00:33:20,465 --> 00:33:23,333
that the ocean
goes any further.
708
00:33:23,335 --> 00:33:25,869
So that's the extent
of the known world
709
00:33:25,871 --> 00:33:28,004
as far as
he was concerned.
710
00:33:28,006 --> 00:33:30,774
WOLTER:
There are only three continents
on Ptolemy's map --
711
00:33:30,776 --> 00:33:31,875
Europe,
712
00:33:31,877 --> 00:33:34,077
Africa,
713
00:33:34,079 --> 00:33:35,479
and Asia.
714
00:33:35,481 --> 00:33:38,214
And they are a total different
shape than you'd expect.
715
00:33:38,216 --> 00:33:40,484
Compared to a modern-day map,
716
00:33:40,486 --> 00:33:43,886
countries like Italy
look horizontal.
717
00:33:43,888 --> 00:33:45,422
But why?
718
00:33:45,424 --> 00:33:47,958
RAGNOW:
He actually calculated
the circumference
719
00:33:47,960 --> 00:33:50,159
of the Earth
too small.
720
00:33:50,161 --> 00:33:53,163
And then, to make his theory
work, Ptolemy sort of fudged
721
00:33:53,165 --> 00:33:57,100
the way he fit things in so
that he can get everything
722
00:33:57,102 --> 00:34:01,772
to work within the two
points that he says are
723
00:34:01,774 --> 00:34:03,974
the limits
of the known world.
724
00:34:03,976 --> 00:34:06,243
WOLTER:
Not long ago, an Italian
researcher
725
00:34:06,245 --> 00:34:08,378
named Lucio Russo made
726
00:34:08,380 --> 00:34:11,782
a startling claim that this
map actually does show more
727
00:34:11,784 --> 00:34:14,851
of the world than
anyone ever considered.
728
00:34:14,853 --> 00:34:17,120
And that's what I
came here to see.
729
00:34:17,122 --> 00:34:20,057
What I'm interested
in now is looking here
730
00:34:20,059 --> 00:34:22,125
at these islands
right here.
731
00:34:22,127 --> 00:34:24,027
So those are labeled
the Fortunate Islands,
732
00:34:24,029 --> 00:34:27,464
which we believe Ptolemy
meant the Canary Islands.
733
00:34:27,466 --> 00:34:28,732
But we don't know
that for sure, right?
734
00:34:28,734 --> 00:34:29,999
We don't.
735
00:34:30,001 --> 00:34:32,068
WOLTER: Taking into account
Ptolemy's mistake
736
00:34:32,070 --> 00:34:35,272
in his latitude calculation,
Lucio Russo deduced
737
00:34:35,274 --> 00:34:38,742
that these islands pictured
off the coast of Africa are not
738
00:34:38,744 --> 00:34:42,412
the Canary Islands, as
historians long believe,
739
00:34:42,414 --> 00:34:44,681
but actually,
the Lesser Antilles.
740
00:34:44,683 --> 00:34:48,351
Islands like Dominica,
St. Lucia, and Trinidad
741
00:34:48,353 --> 00:34:49,753
in the New World.
742
00:34:49,755 --> 00:34:52,689
WOLTER:
Russo says that they
are the Antilles.
743
00:34:52,691 --> 00:34:55,825
RAGNOW:
He's arguing that these
aren't the Canaries
744
00:34:55,827 --> 00:34:58,695
that these are
actually the Antilles
745
00:34:58,697 --> 00:35:02,299
that Ptolemy just puts way
too close to the continent.
746
00:35:02,301 --> 00:35:04,101
If these are really
the Antilles,
747
00:35:04,103 --> 00:35:07,036
than somebody must
have discovered them
748
00:35:07,038 --> 00:35:08,304
and communicated
that information
749
00:35:08,306 --> 00:35:09,839
back
to ancient Greece.
750
00:35:09,841 --> 00:35:11,307
Somebody had
to have been there.
751
00:35:11,309 --> 00:35:12,776
Somebody had
to have been there.
752
00:35:12,778 --> 00:35:15,178
Somebody knew about the
New World, going back
753
00:35:15,180 --> 00:35:16,913
to Ptolemy's
time and before...
754
00:35:16,915 --> 00:35:18,181
Probably before.
755
00:35:18,183 --> 00:35:20,116
And really, the only
candidate we have,
756
00:35:20,118 --> 00:35:21,451
the most logical
candidate, would have
757
00:35:21,453 --> 00:35:22,586
to be the Phoenicians.
758
00:35:22,588 --> 00:35:25,489
♪♪
759
00:35:32,197 --> 00:35:34,798
♪♪
760
00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:37,800
WOLTER: Is it possible that an
ancient Phoenician sailor left
761
00:35:37,802 --> 00:35:40,069
behind an artifact in Wyoming?
762
00:35:40,071 --> 00:35:42,939
If so, they had to get here.
763
00:35:42,941 --> 00:35:46,743
And according to Italian
researcher Lucio Russo,
764
00:35:46,745 --> 00:35:49,813
an ancient Greek map by
Claudius Ptolemy suggests
765
00:35:49,815 --> 00:35:53,883
they may have done just that
more than 2,000 years ago
766
00:35:53,885 --> 00:35:58,755
on a ship like the one
Philip Beal recreated.
767
00:35:58,757 --> 00:36:07,697
♪♪
768
00:36:07,699 --> 00:36:10,767
I'm on my way to Wyoming to
follow up on one last thing
769
00:36:10,769 --> 00:36:14,104
that could tell me whether
Lorene Bolen's artifact is
770
00:36:14,106 --> 00:36:17,506
the proof that's
long been missing.
771
00:36:17,508 --> 00:36:20,977
Early translations from
1982 suggested it said,
772
00:36:20,979 --> 00:36:22,245
"Keep safe.
773
00:36:22,247 --> 00:36:23,846
Do not break the stone.
774
00:36:23,848 --> 00:36:26,048
Misfortune it turns away.
775
00:36:26,050 --> 00:36:27,984
It protects against
evil,
776
00:36:27,986 --> 00:36:30,520
strikes harm
and turns it aside."
777
00:36:30,522 --> 00:36:33,723
But I think I need a
present-day scholar to weigh in,
778
00:36:33,725 --> 00:36:36,860
someone who has the
benefit of more knowledge
779
00:36:36,862 --> 00:36:42,332
that's been collected about
the culture and the language.
780
00:36:42,334 --> 00:36:44,534
Well, Brian, help me
understand Phoenician script
781
00:36:44,536 --> 00:36:45,802
a little bit.
782
00:36:45,804 --> 00:36:48,070
It's safe to say at a minimum
that the Phoenicians had
783
00:36:48,072 --> 00:36:50,473
a very heavy influence
on the development
784
00:36:50,475 --> 00:36:52,275
of written language,
right?
785
00:36:52,277 --> 00:36:54,544
The alphabet is one of the
great cultural achievements
786
00:36:54,546 --> 00:36:56,279
in all of world history,
period.
787
00:36:56,281 --> 00:36:57,814
And the Phoenicians
played a massive role
788
00:36:57,816 --> 00:36:59,950
in making that work.
789
00:36:59,952 --> 00:37:02,618
WOLTER:
Before the Phoenicians,
cultures in the Mediterranean
790
00:37:02,620 --> 00:37:04,020
were using a lot of different
791
00:37:04,022 --> 00:37:06,155
cuneiform symbols
to communicate.
792
00:37:06,157 --> 00:37:09,759
It made it hard to trade
goods with other cultures.
793
00:37:09,761 --> 00:37:12,895
The Phoenicians came up
with 22 letters based
794
00:37:12,897 --> 00:37:16,900
on Egyptian hieroglyphics
in the 12th century B.C.,
795
00:37:16,902 --> 00:37:19,102
which they encouraged
other cultures to adopt
796
00:37:19,104 --> 00:37:22,305
and which inspired
our alphabet today.
797
00:37:22,307 --> 00:37:24,106
They can't be credited
with inventing
798
00:37:24,108 --> 00:37:25,975
the alphabet
from scratch.
799
00:37:25,977 --> 00:37:28,578
They can be credited
with popularizing it.
800
00:37:28,580 --> 00:37:30,580
And the Phoenicians were
really the pioneers.
801
00:37:30,582 --> 00:37:31,914
They did a magnificent
cultural service
802
00:37:31,916 --> 00:37:33,582
with their alphabet.
803
00:37:33,584 --> 00:37:34,851
We know that that
the Phoenicians were,
804
00:37:34,853 --> 00:37:36,386
in a word, amazing.
805
00:37:36,388 --> 00:37:38,521
And we know that the
Phoenicians went all
806
00:37:38,523 --> 00:37:39,855
throughout
the Mediterranean.
807
00:37:39,857 --> 00:37:41,991
We know that they broke
across the top of Africa
808
00:37:41,993 --> 00:37:44,327
and down, maybe
circumnavigated Africa,
809
00:37:44,329 --> 00:37:46,395
maybe were the first
people from the region
810
00:37:46,397 --> 00:37:48,264
to break out into
the Atlantic Ocean.
811
00:37:48,266 --> 00:37:49,466
Well, we'll see here.
812
00:37:49,468 --> 00:37:51,000
It's moment of truth.
-Yes.
813
00:37:51,002 --> 00:37:54,136
Here is the stone.
814
00:37:54,138 --> 00:37:56,405
Ah, very nice.
815
00:37:56,407 --> 00:37:57,941
Barry Fell was somebody
they considered
816
00:37:57,943 --> 00:37:59,075
to be an expert.
817
00:37:59,077 --> 00:38:00,943
He said it was
definitely Phoenician.
818
00:38:00,945 --> 00:38:02,612
I'm honored that you asked
me to take a look at it.
819
00:38:02,614 --> 00:38:04,347
I love things like this.
It's a great little piece.
820
00:38:04,349 --> 00:38:06,283
I mean, when I look
at it, clearly
821
00:38:06,285 --> 00:38:08,951
somebody was doing
something on this, right.
822
00:38:08,953 --> 00:38:10,152
So you agree
it's manmade?
823
00:38:10,154 --> 00:38:12,555
Somebody was inscribing
something on this.
824
00:38:12,557 --> 00:38:14,423
I mean, these are very
distinctive marks.
825
00:38:14,425 --> 00:38:17,961
I wanted to get an opinion
of an expert today.
826
00:38:17,963 --> 00:38:20,964
Somebody who has the benefit
of new knowledge.
827
00:38:20,966 --> 00:38:23,166
And so, I ask you,
828
00:38:23,168 --> 00:38:26,435
is this a legitimate
Phoenician inscription?
829
00:38:26,437 --> 00:38:31,875
♪♪
830
00:38:39,150 --> 00:38:45,388
♪♪
831
00:38:45,390 --> 00:38:48,458
WOLTER:
I'm speaking to an expert
in ancient languages
832
00:38:48,460 --> 00:38:51,527
to see if the artifact
Lorene Bolen found
833
00:38:51,529 --> 00:38:53,796
in Rock Springs, Wyoming,
is the proof
834
00:38:53,798 --> 00:38:56,065
that's long been
missing that suggests
835
00:38:56,067 --> 00:39:00,337
Phoenicians made it to
America 2,000 years ago.
836
00:39:00,339 --> 00:39:02,872
Is this a legitimate
Phoenician inscription?
837
00:39:02,874 --> 00:39:05,809
♪♪
838
00:39:05,811 --> 00:39:08,812
I have some bad news.
839
00:39:08,814 --> 00:39:10,146
I would say no.
840
00:39:10,148 --> 00:39:12,548
I would say it's not.
841
00:39:12,550 --> 00:39:14,684
What do you see
that tells you
842
00:39:14,686 --> 00:39:17,287
that this is
not Phoenician?
843
00:39:17,289 --> 00:39:19,689
The Phoenician script
was standardized.
844
00:39:19,691 --> 00:39:21,824
WOLTER: Real Phoenician
script, which dates
845
00:39:21,826 --> 00:39:25,428
to the 8th century B.C.,
has known letters.
846
00:39:25,430 --> 00:39:28,832
And while Lorene Bolen's
inscribed rock has a few marks
847
00:39:28,834 --> 00:39:32,902
that could be Phoenician, the
rest of it is unrecognizable.
848
00:39:32,904 --> 00:39:36,373
DORK:
This triangular shape, a
very clear horizontal one,
849
00:39:36,375 --> 00:39:39,442
but a dalet, or a letter D,
pretty much like our letter D.
850
00:39:39,444 --> 00:39:41,043
A triangle, this is
where we get this from.
851
00:39:41,045 --> 00:39:42,578
I mean, this is clearly
something, right?
852
00:39:42,580 --> 00:39:43,780
-Oh, yeah.
-This isn't nothing.
853
00:39:43,782 --> 00:39:46,315
Somebody incised these
markings in here.
854
00:39:46,317 --> 00:39:48,250
The question is what is it
and what were they trying
855
00:39:48,252 --> 00:39:49,519
to do, and at what
time period?
856
00:39:49,521 --> 00:39:50,987
There are too many
letters, though,
857
00:39:50,989 --> 00:39:53,323
that have no correspondence
to any Phoenician character.
858
00:39:53,325 --> 00:39:56,192
Unfortunately, I'm
gonna have to deliver
859
00:39:56,194 --> 00:39:58,928
some bad news to
Don and Patrice.
860
00:39:58,930 --> 00:40:01,064
But in the end, the
data's the data.
861
00:40:01,066 --> 00:40:02,932
The results are the
results, and thanks
862
00:40:02,934 --> 00:40:05,535
for helping me get there.
-My pleasure, thank you.
863
00:40:05,537 --> 00:40:09,539
♪♪
864
00:40:09,541 --> 00:40:11,941
WOLTER:
In the case of the Bolen's
good luck charm being
865
00:40:11,943 --> 00:40:15,678
an authentic Phoenician
artifact, it is bad news.
866
00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:18,148
But in the case of
proving how likely it is
867
00:40:18,150 --> 00:40:22,285
Phoenicians made it to America,
I think I did get lucky.
868
00:40:22,287 --> 00:40:24,887
I now have more evidence
than before suggesting
869
00:40:24,889 --> 00:40:29,492
they could've made it here
and back in ancient times.
870
00:40:29,494 --> 00:40:37,567
♪♪
871
00:40:37,569 --> 00:40:45,508
♪♪
872
00:40:45,510 --> 00:40:51,447
First things first, I told you
I'd bring the artifact back.
873
00:40:51,449 --> 00:40:54,184
And there it is.
-Thank you.
874
00:40:54,186 --> 00:40:57,453
I just met with a linguist,
and his conclusion is
875
00:40:57,455 --> 00:41:01,925
this is not a genuine
Phoenician artifact.
876
00:41:01,927 --> 00:41:03,526
[ Chuckles ]
877
00:41:03,528 --> 00:41:06,196
I wish it was real
from that time.
878
00:41:06,198 --> 00:41:07,730
Not more than me.
879
00:41:07,732 --> 00:41:11,000
A little disappointed, but
we know it's something,
880
00:41:11,002 --> 00:41:13,336
we just don't know
what it is yet.
881
00:41:13,338 --> 00:41:14,837
This still begs
the question,
882
00:41:14,839 --> 00:41:17,607
"Could the Phoenicians have
come to North America,"
883
00:41:17,609 --> 00:41:19,942
and specifically, "Could
they have come to Wyoming?"
884
00:41:19,944 --> 00:41:21,143
The answer
is "Yes."
885
00:41:21,145 --> 00:41:23,880
I still think it's a
great story, and I wish
886
00:41:23,882 --> 00:41:26,416
that your mother was
here to hear this.
887
00:41:26,418 --> 00:41:28,751
I'd love to meet her
and I'd like a little
888
00:41:28,753 --> 00:41:31,020
of that good luck
hopefully to rub off on me.
889
00:41:31,022 --> 00:41:34,557
WOLTER:
Well, tell you what, I would
like to propose a toast
890
00:41:34,559 --> 00:41:38,161
to your mom, Lorene,
and continued good luck
891
00:41:38,163 --> 00:41:41,030
to your family
going forward.
892
00:41:41,032 --> 00:41:42,197
-Thank you.
-Thank you, cheers.
893
00:41:42,199 --> 00:41:43,465
Cheers.
894
00:41:43,467 --> 00:41:48,370
♪♪
895
00:41:48,372 --> 00:41:51,708
WOLTER: Like I've always said,
"You make your own luck."
896
00:41:51,710 --> 00:41:55,177
It's only when you examine
things from all sides
897
00:41:55,179 --> 00:41:57,313
that you find what
you're looking for.
898
00:41:57,315 --> 00:42:00,916
In this case, I'm convinced
it's entirely possible
899
00:42:00,918 --> 00:42:03,920
the Phoenicians, with
their game-changing ability
900
00:42:03,922 --> 00:42:07,189
to sail the open seas, came
to the New World millennia
901
00:42:07,191 --> 00:42:09,125
before Christopher Columbus.
902
00:42:09,127 --> 00:42:12,996
And I think proving it
is just a matter of time.
903
00:42:12,998 --> 00:42:16,533
♪♪
904
00:42:16,535 --> 00:42:19,869
If you have a mysterious
artifact or site I need to see,
905
00:42:19,871 --> 00:42:21,404
I wanna know about it.
906
00:42:21,406 --> 00:42:25,208
Go to travelchannel.com/
americaunearthed.
70640
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