1 00:00:02,336 --> 00:00:04,213 In Medyat, Turkey, a research team 2 00:00:04,296 --> 00:00:06,673 uncovers an incredible discovery. 3 00:00:06,757 --> 00:00:08,509 In the basement of a historic house, 4 00:00:08,592 --> 00:00:14,556 they found a passageway leading to several underground chambers. 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:16,517 So far, roughly 100,000 square feet 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:17,809 has been explored. 7 00:00:17,893 --> 00:00:21,396 This complex may be massive when all of it's been excavated. 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:23,732 In Royston, England, workmen uncover 9 00:00:23,815 --> 00:00:25,567 an underground chamber. 10 00:00:25,651 --> 00:00:28,070 The most eye-catching feature has to be 11 00:00:28,153 --> 00:00:30,572 that there are dozens of images and symbols 12 00:00:30,656 --> 00:00:32,991 cut into the lower part of the wall. 13 00:00:33,075 --> 00:00:37,704 The question is, who built this place, and what was it used for? 14 00:00:37,788 --> 00:00:40,415 In Orvieto, Italy, archaeologists discover 15 00:00:40,499 --> 00:00:43,252 a secret beneath a private wine cellar. 16 00:00:43,335 --> 00:00:46,255 The team discovered a striking, rock-cut staircase 17 00:00:46,338 --> 00:00:50,008 descending nearly 33 feet below street level. 18 00:00:50,092 --> 00:00:52,427 But the site is just one piece 19 00:00:52,511 --> 00:00:54,513 of a much larger puzzle. 20 00:00:54,596 --> 00:00:58,892 What roles did those hidden spaces serve? 21 00:01:00,269 --> 00:01:03,146 Below the busy streets of the world's cities 22 00:01:03,230 --> 00:01:06,817 exists a hidden realm of wonder. 23 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:10,904 Sprawling ancient complexes... 24 00:01:10,988 --> 00:01:13,532 mysterious tombs, 25 00:01:13,615 --> 00:01:16,618 top-secret military bases, 26 00:01:16,702 --> 00:01:19,121 strange structures, 27 00:01:19,204 --> 00:01:21,582 and lost artifacts. 28 00:01:21,665 --> 00:01:25,294 Buried beneath our feet and long forgotten, 29 00:01:25,377 --> 00:01:27,796 until now. 30 00:01:27,879 --> 00:01:30,173 Underground models are exposed 31 00:01:30,257 --> 00:01:32,217 to reveal what lies... 32 00:01:32,301 --> 00:01:35,220 Hidden Beneath the Cities. 33 00:01:44,646 --> 00:01:47,316 Just over 20 miles from the Syrian border 34 00:01:47,399 --> 00:01:50,277 in the Mardin Province of southeast Turkey 35 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,156 lies the ancient city of Midyat. 36 00:01:54,239 --> 00:01:57,326 Midyat spans over 500 square miles, 37 00:01:57,409 --> 00:02:00,996 and it has a population of about 120,000 people. 38 00:02:01,079 --> 00:02:03,999 Economically, it's primarily driven by agriculture, 39 00:02:04,082 --> 00:02:06,835 {\an8}but it is also the center of commerce in the region. 40 00:02:06,918 --> 00:02:10,339 {\an8}And it is a thriving market where merchants and artisans 41 00:02:10,422 --> 00:02:12,674 sell local goods and traditional crafts, 42 00:02:12,758 --> 00:02:16,345 such as handmade silver products and stonework. 43 00:02:18,930 --> 00:02:20,515 The city attracts up to 3 million 44 00:02:20,599 --> 00:02:21,683 tourists annually, 45 00:02:21,767 --> 00:02:24,311 primarily because of its historic architecture. 46 00:02:24,394 --> 00:02:25,520 {\an8}Nine churches and monasteries 47 00:02:25,604 --> 00:02:29,399 {\an8}are tentative UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 48 00:02:29,483 --> 00:02:33,195 Over the centuries, Midyat was occupied by Aramaeans, Persians, 49 00:02:33,278 --> 00:02:36,531 Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans, 50 00:02:36,615 --> 00:02:40,202 each adding to the work of the civilization that preceded it. 51 00:02:40,285 --> 00:02:41,953 It's believed that the city was founded 52 00:02:42,037 --> 00:02:45,832 by the Hurrian people in the third millennium BCE, 53 00:02:45,916 --> 00:02:49,169 making it around 4,000 years old. 54 00:02:49,252 --> 00:02:51,588 The first recorded mention of Midyat 55 00:02:51,672 --> 00:02:55,175 was during the time of King Ashurnasirpal II, 56 00:02:55,258 --> 00:02:57,219 who reigned over the Neo-Assyrian Empire 57 00:02:57,302 --> 00:03:00,889 from 883 to 859 BCE. 58 00:03:00,972 --> 00:03:03,725 {\an8}Records refer to a city called Matiate, 59 00:03:03,809 --> 00:03:05,560 {\an8}or "City of the Caves," 60 00:03:05,644 --> 00:03:10,399 {\an8}and it’s widely assumed that they were writing about Midyat. 61 00:03:10,482 --> 00:03:12,734 In 2020, a team associated 62 00:03:12,818 --> 00:03:15,570 with the Mardin Museum are doing restoration work 63 00:03:15,654 --> 00:03:18,240 in the old town section of Midyat 64 00:03:18,323 --> 00:03:21,243 when they make a surprising discovery. 65 00:03:21,326 --> 00:03:23,203 {\an8} In the basement of a historic house, 66 00:03:23,286 --> 00:03:28,583 {\an8}they found a passageway leading to several underground chambers. 67 00:03:28,667 --> 00:03:31,711 Clearly, they’re not naturally occurring. 68 00:03:31,795 --> 00:03:36,800 Somebody took the time to construct these hidden rooms. 69 00:03:38,468 --> 00:03:40,345 Subsequent excavations reveal 70 00:03:40,429 --> 00:03:43,181 a sophisticated subterranean complex 71 00:03:43,265 --> 00:03:47,102 of remarkable scope and sophistication. 72 00:03:47,185 --> 00:03:49,271 They unearthed more than 50 interconnected rooms 73 00:03:49,354 --> 00:03:51,731 and a tunnel that stretches almost 400 feet, 74 00:03:51,815 --> 00:03:54,109 as well as a multitude of artifacts. 75 00:03:54,192 --> 00:03:57,571 So far, roughly 100,000 square feet has been explored, 76 00:03:57,654 --> 00:03:58,613 and it's believed that this could be 77 00:03:58,697 --> 00:04:00,574 just the tip of the iceberg. 78 00:04:00,657 --> 00:04:05,078 This complex may be massive when all of it’s been excavated. 79 00:04:05,162 --> 00:04:07,205 The site is given the name Matiate, 80 00:04:07,289 --> 00:04:10,792 after the old Assyrian name for the city above it. 81 00:04:10,876 --> 00:04:16,590 So who built this intricate underground complex, and why? 82 00:04:16,673 --> 00:04:18,633 As the excavations continue, 83 00:04:18,717 --> 00:04:23,680 details of this subterranean world begin to emerge. 84 00:04:23,764 --> 00:04:25,807 They found holes thought to be 85 00:04:25,891 --> 00:04:30,145 for housing amphorae, which are large clay containers 86 00:04:30,228 --> 00:04:34,441 for storing liquid; in this case, likely wine. 87 00:04:34,524 --> 00:04:36,985 So was this complex constructed 88 00:04:37,068 --> 00:04:39,905 for the production and storage of wine? 89 00:04:39,988 --> 00:04:43,408 Turkey is one of the oldest wine-producing regions 90 00:04:43,492 --> 00:04:45,994 in the world, with evidence of the process 91 00:04:46,077 --> 00:04:49,664 dating back thousands of years. 92 00:04:49,748 --> 00:04:53,210 From around 1700 to 1200 BCE, 93 00:04:53,293 --> 00:04:55,504 the Hittites ruled much of this region, 94 00:04:55,587 --> 00:04:58,632 and they had a distinct connection to wine. 95 00:04:58,715 --> 00:05:01,676 Archaeological finds such as reliefs portraying vines, 96 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,806 grapes and cups, indicate that wine played an important role 97 00:05:05,889 --> 00:05:08,350 in the Hittite culture and economy. 98 00:05:08,433 --> 00:05:10,852 So maybe this was also true of the people 99 00:05:10,936 --> 00:05:14,022 who built the Matiate complex. 100 00:05:14,105 --> 00:05:15,690 Given Midyat's location, 101 00:05:15,774 --> 00:05:17,901 the area was a cultural and trade crossroads 102 00:05:17,984 --> 00:05:20,529 connecting Mesopotamia and Anatolia. 103 00:05:20,612 --> 00:05:22,614 So it's certainly possible that some rooms in the complex 104 00:05:22,697 --> 00:05:27,285 were built to produce wine and sell it on the open market. 105 00:05:27,369 --> 00:05:29,204 The research team progresses through 106 00:05:29,287 --> 00:05:34,709 the underground labyrinth and makes a macabre discovery. 107 00:05:34,793 --> 00:05:37,921 They found human remains! 108 00:05:38,004 --> 00:05:43,009 So was this complex originally constructed as a burial ground? 109 00:05:43,093 --> 00:05:46,680 Also, they came across water wells and silos 110 00:05:46,763 --> 00:05:49,558 for food storage, likely grains. 111 00:05:49,641 --> 00:05:53,645 I think this means we can rule out that the complex was built 112 00:05:53,728 --> 00:05:55,230 as a burial site. 113 00:05:55,313 --> 00:05:57,274 At the risk of stating the obvious, 114 00:05:57,357 --> 00:05:59,985 the dead don’t need water or food. 115 00:06:00,068 --> 00:06:03,238 And if it was constructed for wine production and storage, 116 00:06:03,321 --> 00:06:05,949 there would be no need for these things either. 117 00:06:06,032 --> 00:06:08,660 People wouldn't have been down there long enough 118 00:06:08,743 --> 00:06:10,579 to require supplies. 119 00:06:10,662 --> 00:06:13,123 It looks like the complex was designed for people 120 00:06:13,206 --> 00:06:16,167 to spend extended periods of time in. 121 00:06:16,251 --> 00:06:19,170 So is it possible that some of the residents of Midyat 122 00:06:19,254 --> 00:06:21,673 were actually living down here? 123 00:06:23,425 --> 00:06:27,220 Turkey is home to over 40 underground cities. 124 00:06:27,304 --> 00:06:30,348 The most notable example is Derinkuyu, 125 00:06:30,432 --> 00:06:34,769 located just over 350 miles northeast of Midyat 126 00:06:34,853 --> 00:06:37,772 in the Cappadocia region. 127 00:06:37,856 --> 00:06:40,108 Derinkuyu was discovered in 1963, 128 00:06:40,191 --> 00:06:42,444 when a man doing renovation work on his home 129 00:06:42,527 --> 00:06:44,404 noticed that his chickens kept disappearing 130 00:06:44,487 --> 00:06:46,406 through a crack in the rock. 131 00:06:46,489 --> 00:06:48,867 When he investigated, he discovered a tunnel 132 00:06:48,950 --> 00:06:51,786 which led to the underground city. 133 00:06:51,870 --> 00:06:54,456 The scale of Derinkuyu is astounding. 134 00:06:54,539 --> 00:07:00,045 {\an8}It has 18 levels of tunnels going down over 250 feet. 135 00:07:00,128 --> 00:07:02,255 {\an8}The upper levels were for livestock, 136 00:07:02,339 --> 00:07:03,632 {\an8}likely to cut down on odors 137 00:07:03,715 --> 00:07:07,135 {\an8}and potentially hazardous gas buildups. 138 00:07:07,218 --> 00:07:09,554 {\an8}Food and wine storage, residential areas, 139 00:07:09,638 --> 00:07:13,308 {\an8}and places of worship make up the lower levels. 140 00:07:13,391 --> 00:07:16,645 There's even a Byzantine-era school with vaulted ceilings 141 00:07:16,728 --> 00:07:18,980 on the second floor. 142 00:07:19,064 --> 00:07:21,983 There are over 50 ventilation shafts 143 00:07:22,067 --> 00:07:25,278 cut into the rock to ensure airflow, 144 00:07:25,362 --> 00:07:30,325 and a 180-foot-deep well provided fresh water. 145 00:07:30,408 --> 00:07:34,621 More than 600 entrances to the city have been found; 146 00:07:34,704 --> 00:07:38,166 many accessed through homes on the surface. 147 00:07:38,249 --> 00:07:41,461 And it's believed that Derinkuyu could have housed 148 00:07:41,544 --> 00:07:47,175 up to 20,000 people if necessary. 149 00:07:47,258 --> 00:07:48,843 Based on discovered artifacts, 150 00:07:48,927 --> 00:07:51,179 it's believed that the Hittites were responsible 151 00:07:51,262 --> 00:07:56,017 for the original construction of the complex, around 1200 BCE. 152 00:07:56,101 --> 00:07:59,187 And the first mention of the underground cities in the region 153 00:07:59,270 --> 00:08:04,025 appears in historical records from roughly 370 BCE. 154 00:08:04,109 --> 00:08:06,820 The prevailing school of thought is that Derinkuyu, 155 00:08:06,903 --> 00:08:08,697 and other complexes like it, 156 00:08:08,780 --> 00:08:11,032 were used mainly as temporary dwellings 157 00:08:11,116 --> 00:08:14,536 whenever people were threatened by outside forces. 158 00:08:14,619 --> 00:08:16,871 Could that be the case at Matiate? 159 00:08:16,955 --> 00:08:21,042 And if so, who were they hiding from? 160 00:08:21,126 --> 00:08:23,920 As the investigation beneath Midyat broadens, 161 00:08:24,003 --> 00:08:25,213 the team uncovers clues 162 00:08:25,296 --> 00:08:30,176 that may just solve the mystery once and for all. 163 00:08:30,260 --> 00:08:32,721 Roman-era coins and lamps were found, 164 00:08:32,804 --> 00:08:36,224 and using this information, we can surmise that the complex 165 00:08:36,307 --> 00:08:40,729 was likely built in the 2nd or 3rd century CE. 166 00:08:40,812 --> 00:08:42,397 But what's most telling is that they found 167 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:45,650 a Christian church and a large room with a Star of David symbol 168 00:08:45,734 --> 00:08:49,112 on the wall; probably a Jewish synagogue. 169 00:08:49,195 --> 00:08:50,989 So the picture that emerges is that the complex 170 00:08:51,072 --> 00:08:53,575 was probably originally constructed as a refuge 171 00:08:53,658 --> 00:08:55,744 for early Christians and Jews, 172 00:08:55,827 --> 00:08:58,913 and that they may have lived down here for extended periods. 173 00:08:58,997 --> 00:09:02,125 But why would they need to go to such lengths? 174 00:09:02,208 --> 00:09:04,586 In the early first century CE, 175 00:09:04,669 --> 00:09:06,963 the Roman Empire didn't make a distinction 176 00:09:07,047 --> 00:09:08,882 between Christians and Jews, 177 00:09:08,965 --> 00:09:11,259 because the first followers of Christianity 178 00:09:11,342 --> 00:09:13,011 were largely Jewish. 179 00:09:13,094 --> 00:09:17,307 But in 64 CE, a fire devastated Rome, 180 00:09:17,390 --> 00:09:21,227 and Emperor Nero attributed it to the Christians. 181 00:09:21,311 --> 00:09:24,606 Religious persecution began in earnest. 182 00:09:24,689 --> 00:09:27,942 By the 2nd century CE, Christians were viewed 183 00:09:28,026 --> 00:09:31,863 as criminals, but persecution was not widespread; 184 00:09:31,946 --> 00:09:34,574 it was localized and sporadic. 185 00:09:34,657 --> 00:09:37,827 Then in the year 250, Emperor Decius decreed 186 00:09:37,911 --> 00:09:40,789 that Christians were a threat to the Roman order 187 00:09:40,872 --> 00:09:42,457 and should be treated as such, 188 00:09:42,540 --> 00:09:46,544 with all the power and brutality that the empire could muster. 189 00:09:46,628 --> 00:09:49,506 While the exact numbers are impossible to know, 190 00:09:49,589 --> 00:09:53,968 it’s thought that thousands of Christians were executed. 191 00:09:55,762 --> 00:09:59,808 But in 313, Emperor Constantine issued 192 00:09:59,891 --> 00:10:03,603 the Edict of Milan, making Christianity legal. 193 00:10:03,686 --> 00:10:08,149 And then in 380, Emperor Theodosius issued 194 00:10:08,233 --> 00:10:13,822 the Edict of Thessalonica, declaring Nicene Christianity 195 00:10:13,905 --> 00:10:17,659 the official religion of the Roman Empire. 196 00:10:17,742 --> 00:10:20,078 However, evidence suggests that the people 197 00:10:20,161 --> 00:10:23,331 of Midyat continued to use the underground complex 198 00:10:23,414 --> 00:10:25,834 to hide from later civilizations, 199 00:10:25,917 --> 00:10:27,335 such as the Persians. 200 00:10:27,418 --> 00:10:30,004 And there are even medieval accounts of invading armies 201 00:10:30,088 --> 00:10:32,006 encountering deserted cities, 202 00:10:32,090 --> 00:10:38,429 suggesting prolonged use of the region’s subterranean hideout. 203 00:10:38,513 --> 00:10:41,349 The research team believes that the Metiate site 204 00:10:41,432 --> 00:10:44,477 was repeatedly repurposed over the centuries, 205 00:10:44,561 --> 00:10:46,688 above and beyond its original function 206 00:10:46,771 --> 00:10:50,358 as a refuge from religious persecution. 207 00:10:50,441 --> 00:10:52,652 Given the evidence, when the space wasn't occupied, 208 00:10:52,735 --> 00:10:54,028 it must have served various purposes 209 00:10:54,112 --> 00:10:56,030 for the people living in the city above. 210 00:10:56,114 --> 00:10:58,032 A storage space for wine and food, 211 00:10:58,116 --> 00:11:00,368 and considering the presence of human remains, 212 00:11:00,451 --> 00:11:01,744 a catacomb for the dead, 213 00:11:01,828 --> 00:11:06,541 and maybe even a simple respite from the blistering summer heat. 214 00:11:06,624 --> 00:11:10,170 It's thought that Matiate was continually expanded 215 00:11:10,253 --> 00:11:12,046 and reshaped over the centuries 216 00:11:12,130 --> 00:11:14,048 by the people who lived in the city, 217 00:11:14,132 --> 00:11:17,594 resulting in this extraordinary complex. 218 00:11:17,677 --> 00:11:20,680 Amazingly, we think that less than 5% of it 219 00:11:20,763 --> 00:11:21,890 has been uncovered. 220 00:11:21,973 --> 00:11:23,558 So when all is said and done, 221 00:11:23,641 --> 00:11:29,564 it may prove to be the largest underground city in the world. 222 00:11:29,647 --> 00:11:32,233 Some experts speculate that Matiate 223 00:11:32,317 --> 00:11:36,237 may span a staggering 4 million square feet 224 00:11:36,321 --> 00:11:40,241 and was capable of housing up to 70,000 people. 225 00:11:40,325 --> 00:11:43,161 But for now, that's only speculation, 226 00:11:43,244 --> 00:11:47,832 and the truth remains hidden beneath the city of Midyat. 227 00:11:58,259 --> 00:12:01,512 Just under 50 miles north of London, England, 228 00:12:01,596 --> 00:12:07,810 in the county of Hertfordshire, lies the town of Royston. 229 00:12:07,894 --> 00:12:09,270 Almost 2,000 years ago, 230 00:12:09,354 --> 00:12:11,522 the Romans built this north-south road 231 00:12:11,606 --> 00:12:14,275 that connected what is now York and what is now London, 232 00:12:14,359 --> 00:12:19,239 {\an8}and this became one of the most vital thoroughfares in England. 233 00:12:19,322 --> 00:12:22,617 Royston developed where that north-south road 234 00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:26,287 bisects another road, one that ran west to east 235 00:12:26,371 --> 00:12:29,916 from the Salisbury Plain to East Anglia. 236 00:12:29,999 --> 00:12:34,504 In 1162 CE, a chapel was built at Royston 237 00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:37,757 and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. 238 00:12:37,840 --> 00:12:41,803 {\an8}This was later expanded into an Augustinian priory, 239 00:12:41,886 --> 00:12:44,555 {\an8}which is a small Roman Catholic monastery 240 00:12:44,639 --> 00:12:48,434 devoted to the teachings of St. Augustine, 241 00:12:48,518 --> 00:12:53,523 a North African bishop, theologian, and philosopher. 242 00:12:53,606 --> 00:12:56,818 Following that, a market was founded, 243 00:12:56,901 --> 00:13:01,322 and the town grew around it. 244 00:13:01,406 --> 00:13:04,826 King James I stopped in Royston in 1603 245 00:13:04,909 --> 00:13:07,495 when he was on his way from Edinburgh to London 246 00:13:07,578 --> 00:13:08,913 for his coronation. 247 00:13:08,997 --> 00:13:11,624 {\an8}He was smitten with the area and he eventually built 248 00:13:11,708 --> 00:13:13,334 {\an8}a hunting retreat in the town, 249 00:13:13,418 --> 00:13:16,337 {\an8}which became one of his favorite residences. 250 00:13:16,421 --> 00:13:18,339 Part of that lodge still exists, 251 00:13:18,423 --> 00:13:20,258 and many of Royston's other buildings 252 00:13:20,341 --> 00:13:25,013 also reflect the town’s long, rich history. 253 00:13:25,096 --> 00:13:28,975 August 1742, workmen are building a bench 254 00:13:29,058 --> 00:13:33,146 in Royston's Mercat House, a cheese and butter market, 255 00:13:33,229 --> 00:13:35,815 when they uncover a surprise. 256 00:13:35,898 --> 00:13:37,358 They were digging a post hole 257 00:13:37,442 --> 00:13:40,320 and struck a millstone buried in the ground. 258 00:13:40,403 --> 00:13:42,030 And when that millstone was lifted out, 259 00:13:42,113 --> 00:13:45,366 they found this vertical shaft about two feet in diameter. 260 00:13:45,450 --> 00:13:48,578 And the best part is there were toe holds carved 261 00:13:48,661 --> 00:13:52,790 into either side of the shaft that would work as steps. 262 00:13:52,874 --> 00:13:56,377 A small boy was recruited to go down first, 263 00:13:56,461 --> 00:14:00,882 followed by a man skinny enough to fit through the opening. 264 00:14:00,965 --> 00:14:05,303 They discovered that the opening led to another cavity 265 00:14:05,386 --> 00:14:08,639 which was filled with dirt and debris. 266 00:14:08,723 --> 00:14:12,560 Perhaps thinking that they had found buried treasure, 267 00:14:12,643 --> 00:14:15,772 a team was assembled to empty the space, 268 00:14:15,855 --> 00:14:20,401 and some 200 loads of dirt were ultimately removed, 269 00:14:20,485 --> 00:14:23,780 revealing an incredible chamber. 270 00:14:25,656 --> 00:14:28,743 It's bell-shaped and extends roughly 25 feet 271 00:14:28,826 --> 00:14:30,244 from floor to ceiling. 272 00:14:30,328 --> 00:14:32,580 Its diameter is around 17 feet, 273 00:14:32,663 --> 00:14:36,167 and it’s hollowed out of chalky sedimentary rock. 274 00:14:36,250 --> 00:14:39,087 A number of recesses are carved into the walls. 275 00:14:39,170 --> 00:14:42,673 Some oblong, others kind of shaped like ovens. 276 00:14:42,757 --> 00:14:45,259 But the most eye-catching feature has to be 277 00:14:45,343 --> 00:14:47,845 that there are dozens of images and symbols 278 00:14:47,929 --> 00:14:50,431 cut into the lower part of the walls. 279 00:14:50,515 --> 00:14:55,853 The question is, who built this place and what was it used for? 280 00:14:55,937 --> 00:14:57,772 The initial investigation of the space 281 00:14:57,855 --> 00:15:01,442 reveals several items of interest. 282 00:15:01,526 --> 00:15:02,443 {\an8} According to records, 283 00:15:02,527 --> 00:15:04,445 {\an8}they found fragments of a small drinking cup, 284 00:15:04,529 --> 00:15:06,405 {\an8}a piece of brass with no markings, 285 00:15:06,489 --> 00:15:10,284 and most interestingly, decayed bones and a human skull. 286 00:15:10,368 --> 00:15:13,871 So maybe what we’re looking at is an elaborate gravesite. 287 00:15:16,207 --> 00:15:18,918 Among the iconography carved into the walls, 288 00:15:19,001 --> 00:15:22,088 there are a bunch of religious references. 289 00:15:22,171 --> 00:15:24,173 So you can see why people might have thought this cave 290 00:15:24,257 --> 00:15:28,594 was a religious site and a possible burial site. 291 00:15:31,681 --> 00:15:33,975 Due to the cave's shape and location, 292 00:15:34,058 --> 00:15:38,396 other ideas about the site’s origins come to light. 293 00:15:38,479 --> 00:15:41,482 Some theorize that the cave may have been what's called 294 00:15:41,566 --> 00:15:45,153 a denehole, essentially an ancient chalk mine. 295 00:15:45,236 --> 00:15:48,156 Chalk was extracted for two main purposes, 296 00:15:48,239 --> 00:15:51,659 farming and building materials, because when burned, 297 00:15:51,742 --> 00:15:53,494 chalk could produce quicklime, 298 00:15:53,578 --> 00:15:57,999 which was used in fertilizer, in bricks, and in mortar. 299 00:15:58,082 --> 00:16:01,002 If you compare Royston Cave to other denehole sites 300 00:16:01,085 --> 00:16:03,171 in southern England, the layout is similar. 301 00:16:03,254 --> 00:16:05,173 You've got this slender vertical shaft 302 00:16:05,256 --> 00:16:09,677 leading down to one or several bell-shaped cavities. 303 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,305 Also, like at Royston, a lot of mines were established 304 00:16:12,388 --> 00:16:16,559 near crossroads, possibly because chalk was used 305 00:16:16,642 --> 00:16:18,311 to build and maintain the roads. 306 00:16:18,394 --> 00:16:19,770 And here’s the third piece. 307 00:16:19,854 --> 00:16:23,858 After use, those shafts were often blocked with objects 308 00:16:23,941 --> 00:16:28,696 or backfill, which is exactly what we see at Royston. 309 00:16:28,779 --> 00:16:30,364 But the backfill in the Royston cave must have been 310 00:16:30,448 --> 00:16:33,367 added after the imagery was etched into the walls. 311 00:16:33,451 --> 00:16:35,745 It had to be removed to reveal the carvings. 312 00:16:35,828 --> 00:16:38,623 So it's possible that the site was originally a chalk mine, 313 00:16:38,706 --> 00:16:41,042 but was repurposed later for a different use 314 00:16:41,125 --> 00:16:43,461 and then blocked off unfilled. 315 00:16:45,421 --> 00:16:46,589 In the 1990s, 316 00:16:46,672 --> 00:16:50,551 some 250 years after the cave's discovery, 317 00:16:50,635 --> 00:16:53,221 a local devises a theory of his own, 318 00:16:53,304 --> 00:16:57,183 connecting the site to an ancient secret society. 319 00:16:57,266 --> 00:17:00,353 He proposed that the cave was an early ritual site 320 00:17:00,436 --> 00:17:01,812 of the Freemasons, 321 00:17:01,896 --> 00:17:04,732 which is the world's oldest fraternal organization 322 00:17:04,815 --> 00:17:07,318 and is known for its use of secret symbols, 323 00:17:07,401 --> 00:17:09,737 signs, and ceremonies. 324 00:17:09,820 --> 00:17:12,240 Now, its exact origins are murky, 325 00:17:12,323 --> 00:17:15,076 but Freemasonry is believed to have evolved 326 00:17:15,159 --> 00:17:18,162 from the early guilds of stonemasons 327 00:17:18,246 --> 00:17:21,999 who built Britain’s cathedrals and castles in the Middle Ages. 328 00:17:22,083 --> 00:17:24,252 Eventually, lodges were created 329 00:17:24,335 --> 00:17:26,754 where people could exchange ideas about the trade, 330 00:17:26,837 --> 00:17:29,924 but as time went on, some people began accepting 331 00:17:30,007 --> 00:17:31,342 honorary members, 332 00:17:31,425 --> 00:17:35,888 and that led to the development of Freemasonry. 333 00:17:38,432 --> 00:17:39,725 It's believed that Freemasonry originated 334 00:17:39,809 --> 00:17:43,521 in Scotland where King James I was from. 335 00:17:43,604 --> 00:17:46,315 We know he had a residence in Royston 336 00:17:46,399 --> 00:17:50,403 and spent a lot of time there, which has led to speculation 337 00:17:50,486 --> 00:17:54,949 that the cave may have been a private place for the king 338 00:17:55,032 --> 00:17:58,411 to engage in Freemasonry rituals 339 00:17:58,494 --> 00:18:03,791 hidden away from any nosy members of the royal court. 340 00:18:03,874 --> 00:18:05,167 A deeper look into the cave's 341 00:18:05,251 --> 00:18:11,132 enigmatic iconography may prove to support this theory. 342 00:18:11,215 --> 00:18:13,593 One of the images on the wall shows a figure 343 00:18:13,676 --> 00:18:17,805 holding a candle in one hand and a skull in the other. 344 00:18:17,888 --> 00:18:20,266 The skull could represent mortality, 345 00:18:20,349 --> 00:18:22,893 and the candle might represent knowledge, 346 00:18:22,977 --> 00:18:26,147 so this could be a reference to a man being initiated 347 00:18:26,230 --> 00:18:27,565 into the Freemasons 348 00:18:27,648 --> 00:18:32,028 and experiencing a symbolic metamorphosis. 349 00:18:32,111 --> 00:18:33,988 There's also a carving of Saint Lawrence, 350 00:18:34,071 --> 00:18:36,532 a historical figure known for his faith and courage, 351 00:18:36,616 --> 00:18:39,785 and there happens to be a degree named after him in Freemasonry. 352 00:18:39,869 --> 00:18:42,496 A degree is like a step up the ladder of advancement, 353 00:18:42,580 --> 00:18:44,498 representing a stage of personal development 354 00:18:44,582 --> 00:18:47,543 and increased knowledge within the fraternity. 355 00:18:47,627 --> 00:18:50,963 Below St. Lawrence, there's an image believed to be 356 00:18:51,047 --> 00:18:53,299 King David of the Psalms. 357 00:18:53,382 --> 00:18:56,510 One of his arms bends to form a perfect square, 358 00:18:56,594 --> 00:18:59,055 a cornerstone of Masonic imagery, 359 00:18:59,138 --> 00:19:01,474 usually accompanied by a compass 360 00:19:01,557 --> 00:19:04,977 and symbolizing morality and honesty. 361 00:19:05,061 --> 00:19:07,521 And by the main crucifixion scene, 362 00:19:07,605 --> 00:19:11,817 there are also carvings of hands with hearts in them, 363 00:19:11,901 --> 00:19:15,738 which represent charity in today’s Freemasonry. 364 00:19:15,821 --> 00:19:18,240 Here's the thing, there are lots of connections 365 00:19:18,324 --> 00:19:20,534 between the iconography we see in the cave 366 00:19:20,618 --> 00:19:22,912 and imagery associated with Freemasons. 367 00:19:22,995 --> 00:19:26,624 But the thing is, the Freemasons are super secretive. 368 00:19:26,707 --> 00:19:30,211 So it's not really clear whether the symbols we associate 369 00:19:30,294 --> 00:19:35,716 with them today had been adapted in the time of King James' reign 370 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:37,510 in the early 1600s. 371 00:19:37,593 --> 00:19:42,056 But if this theory is true, the Royston Cave would be the oldest 372 00:19:42,139 --> 00:19:46,268 Freemasonic ritual site in all of England. 373 00:19:46,352 --> 00:19:48,270 Thing is though, there are no historical records 374 00:19:48,354 --> 00:19:53,651 that verify King James was even a member of the Freemasons. 375 00:19:53,734 --> 00:19:56,195 Unsatisfied with any of the explanations 376 00:19:56,278 --> 00:19:58,239 surrounding the cave's purpose, 377 00:19:58,322 --> 00:20:01,659 an archaeologist conducts an extensive study of records 378 00:20:01,742 --> 00:20:03,327 relating to the site, 379 00:20:03,411 --> 00:20:08,416 and in 1978 proposes a theory of her own. 380 00:20:08,499 --> 00:20:11,127 She believed that the cave was originally used 381 00:20:11,210 --> 00:20:13,671 as a storage site for the Knights Templar, 382 00:20:13,754 --> 00:20:17,425 and that it was repurposed into a private worship space for them 383 00:20:17,508 --> 00:20:21,345 after disagreements with Royston’s priory. 384 00:20:21,429 --> 00:20:23,514 The Knights Templar were a Catholic military order 385 00:20:23,597 --> 00:20:24,890 founded in the 12th century 386 00:20:24,974 --> 00:20:28,519 to protect Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. 387 00:20:28,602 --> 00:20:30,062 They were known for their fighting abilities 388 00:20:30,146 --> 00:20:31,772 and involvement in the Crusades, 389 00:20:31,856 --> 00:20:34,275 but also for acquiring large amounts of wealth and land 390 00:20:34,358 --> 00:20:36,444 throughout Europe, including Hertfordshire, 391 00:20:36,527 --> 00:20:39,739 where Royston Cave is located. 392 00:20:39,822 --> 00:20:42,950 Just eight miles away, the Templars had a stronghold 393 00:20:43,033 --> 00:20:44,827 in Baldock, and they would visit Royston 394 00:20:44,910 --> 00:20:46,704 to sell produce at the market. 395 00:20:46,787 --> 00:20:49,957 And there are records of squabbles 396 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:53,627 between them and the priory’s monks over fees. 397 00:20:53,711 --> 00:20:57,131 And in 1254, the master of the Templars 398 00:20:57,214 --> 00:21:02,219 sued the head of the monastery for detaining and beating 399 00:21:02,303 --> 00:21:06,223 some of his men who had come to conduct business at the market. 400 00:21:06,307 --> 00:21:10,436 The Templars were obligated to pray every day, 401 00:21:10,519 --> 00:21:14,064 and if they had fallen out with any priory's monks, 402 00:21:14,148 --> 00:21:17,777 they likely sought out another place to worship. 403 00:21:17,860 --> 00:21:21,155 The Royston Cave may have provided this space for them, 404 00:21:21,238 --> 00:21:24,950 and considering the ample amount of religious imagery, 405 00:21:25,034 --> 00:21:29,163 this theory makes sense on some levels. 406 00:21:29,246 --> 00:21:31,665 Inside the cave, a closer look 407 00:21:31,749 --> 00:21:34,043 at the intricate etchings on the walls 408 00:21:34,126 --> 00:21:35,836 provides the strongest evidence 409 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,839 of a connection to the Knights Templar. 410 00:21:38,923 --> 00:21:41,342 Some of the carvings, those depicting hands, 411 00:21:41,425 --> 00:21:44,053 axe heads, hearts, and concentric circles, 412 00:21:44,136 --> 00:21:47,181 can also be found on the walls of Tour du Coudray 413 00:21:47,264 --> 00:21:49,683 in the Castle of Chinon in France. 414 00:21:49,767 --> 00:21:51,560 This castle was used as a prison, 415 00:21:51,644 --> 00:21:54,730 where some prominent members of the Knights Templar were held 416 00:21:54,814 --> 00:21:57,858 after they were arrested in October 1307, 417 00:21:57,942 --> 00:22:02,196 including their last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay. 418 00:22:02,279 --> 00:22:03,405 This is hardly the kind of connection 419 00:22:03,489 --> 00:22:05,449 that can be shrugged off as coincidence. 420 00:22:05,533 --> 00:22:07,701 And the Knight's Templar theory is the most captivating 421 00:22:07,785 --> 00:22:10,412 explanation of the Royston Cave’s purpose. 422 00:22:10,496 --> 00:22:12,832 But still, no official record or concrete proof 423 00:22:12,915 --> 00:22:16,043 of its age or function has ever been found. 424 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,840 In the 1790s, an entrepreneurial resident 425 00:22:20,923 --> 00:22:24,218 of a neighboring house dug a tunnel into the cave 426 00:22:24,301 --> 00:22:26,303 and began charging admission, 427 00:22:26,387 --> 00:22:28,639 which is how it is still accessed. 428 00:22:28,722 --> 00:22:32,226 Thousands of people flock to the Royston Cave every year 429 00:22:32,309 --> 00:22:35,521 to marvel at one of England's greatest mysteries, 430 00:22:35,604 --> 00:22:39,275 buried under the streets of this ancient town. 431 00:22:51,245 --> 00:22:53,581 Around 60 miles north of Rome, 432 00:22:53,664 --> 00:22:55,666 in Umbria, central Italy, 433 00:22:55,749 --> 00:23:01,338 the town of Orvieto rises 640 feet above the valleys below, 434 00:23:01,422 --> 00:23:04,758 perched on an isolated volcanic rock at the meeting point 435 00:23:04,842 --> 00:23:08,762 of the Paglia and Chiana rivers. 436 00:23:08,846 --> 00:23:10,097 {\an8}The earliest occupation 437 00:23:10,180 --> 00:23:13,100 {\an8}of the Orvieto Plateau dates to the Villanovan Period, 438 00:23:13,183 --> 00:23:16,854 {\an8}around 1100 to 750 BCE. 439 00:23:16,937 --> 00:23:19,023 Its strategic position above the Paglia Valley 440 00:23:19,106 --> 00:23:20,274 and near the Tiber River 441 00:23:20,357 --> 00:23:24,111 fostered agriculture, trade, and regional exchange. 442 00:23:24,194 --> 00:23:26,906 Artisans produced fine pottery and bronze works, 443 00:23:26,989 --> 00:23:30,451 {\an8}with trade networks reaching across the Mediterranean. 444 00:23:30,534 --> 00:23:33,078 {\an8} By the 8th century BCE, the settlement had developed 445 00:23:33,162 --> 00:23:36,999 {\an8}into Velsna, which is one of the most important cities 446 00:23:37,082 --> 00:23:39,293 {\an8}in the Etruscan world. 447 00:23:39,376 --> 00:23:42,046 The Etruscan civilization itself covered a bunch 448 00:23:42,129 --> 00:23:44,798 of what is now central Italy during the Iron Age, 449 00:23:44,882 --> 00:23:48,719 including modern Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria, 450 00:23:48,802 --> 00:23:51,889 and it expanded into neighboring regions over time. 451 00:23:51,972 --> 00:23:55,768 At its height, Velsna, today called Orvieto, 452 00:23:55,851 --> 00:23:58,479 was fortified by a four-mile wall system, 453 00:23:58,562 --> 00:24:03,233 underscoring its power and the rivalries among Etruscan cities. 454 00:24:03,317 --> 00:24:06,695 {\an8}Inscriptions show its influence extended northward, 455 00:24:06,779 --> 00:24:12,117 {\an8}but rising tensions with Rome led to conflict, and in 264 BCE, 456 00:24:12,201 --> 00:24:17,998 a final siege resulted in its destruction by Roman forces. 457 00:24:18,082 --> 00:24:21,835 In May 2012, archaeologists begin excavating 458 00:24:21,919 --> 00:24:25,214 a private wine cellar on Via Ripa Medici, 459 00:24:25,297 --> 00:24:30,177 on the west side of Orvieto, near the ancient Porta Romana. 460 00:24:30,260 --> 00:24:33,430 What they uncover marks the start of a new chapter 461 00:24:33,514 --> 00:24:37,476 in a search to understand the city’s layered history. 462 00:24:37,559 --> 00:24:39,269 {\an8}Beneath the cellar slab, 463 00:24:39,353 --> 00:24:42,481 {\an8}the team discovered a striking rock-cut staircase 464 00:24:42,564 --> 00:24:44,358 {\an8}carved into the west wall, 465 00:24:44,441 --> 00:24:48,028 {\an8}descending nearly 33 feet below street level 466 00:24:48,112 --> 00:24:50,614 {\an8}before opening into a chamber. 467 00:24:50,698 --> 00:24:55,160 The space, labeled Area A, widens as it descends, 468 00:24:55,244 --> 00:24:56,704 forming a truncated pyramid 469 00:24:56,787 --> 00:25:01,208 roughly 20 by 23 feet at its base. 470 00:25:01,291 --> 00:25:02,876 Beyond Area A, the site includes 471 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:06,046 ancient and medieval cisterns, tunnels and niches, 472 00:25:06,130 --> 00:25:09,633 revealing a continuous evolving use over centuries. 473 00:25:09,717 --> 00:25:12,553 Perhaps most intriguing is a second pyramidal chamber, 474 00:25:12,636 --> 00:25:14,221 labeled Area B. 475 00:25:14,304 --> 00:25:15,973 Although left for future excavation, 476 00:25:16,056 --> 00:25:18,475 Area B is already known to connect with Area A 477 00:25:18,559 --> 00:25:20,561 via an Etruscan tunnel, which is now filled 478 00:25:20,644 --> 00:25:23,522 with a gray, sandy, pozzolana-like material. 479 00:25:23,605 --> 00:25:25,858 This is a volcanic ash, or burnt earth, 480 00:25:25,941 --> 00:25:27,317 that when mixed with lime and water 481 00:25:27,401 --> 00:25:29,737 can be used for mortar or cement. 482 00:25:29,820 --> 00:25:32,406 But the site, now called Cavità 254, 483 00:25:32,489 --> 00:25:36,285 is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. 484 00:25:36,368 --> 00:25:40,080 Since the late 1970s, more than 1,200 human-made 485 00:25:40,164 --> 00:25:44,501 subterranean structures have been documented beneath Orvieto. 486 00:25:44,585 --> 00:25:48,714 Wells, cisterns, tunnels, chambers, and more 487 00:25:48,797 --> 00:25:53,761 all accumulated over the course of nearly 3,000 years. 488 00:25:53,844 --> 00:25:57,181 Together, these spaces form a hidden city, 489 00:25:57,264 --> 00:25:59,099 suggesting a complex relationship 490 00:25:59,183 --> 00:26:01,268 between Orvieto's surface life 491 00:26:01,351 --> 00:26:04,021 and the secret world beneath its streets. 492 00:26:04,104 --> 00:26:09,026 So, what roles did those hidden spaces serve? 493 00:26:10,444 --> 00:26:15,032 The carved walls and stepped cuts inside Cavità 254 494 00:26:15,115 --> 00:26:17,117 may reveal a deeper story, 495 00:26:17,201 --> 00:26:22,873 one rooted in the city’s drive to build grand monuments above. 496 00:26:22,956 --> 00:26:24,625 As excavations progressed, 497 00:26:24,708 --> 00:26:28,629 it was noted that the stone stairs turned at a right angle 498 00:26:28,712 --> 00:26:32,299 along the north wall before terminating. 499 00:26:32,382 --> 00:26:36,053 In antiquity, these stairs collapsed and were replaced 500 00:26:36,136 --> 00:26:39,807 by a wooden beam system pegged into post holes. 501 00:26:39,890 --> 00:26:42,267 Could these carefully engineered access systems, 502 00:26:42,351 --> 00:26:46,313 along with chisel marks, indicate that Cavità 254 503 00:26:46,396 --> 00:26:50,192 was designed as a controlled quarry to extract tufa? 504 00:26:50,275 --> 00:26:51,527 A soft porous rock, 505 00:26:51,610 --> 00:26:56,323 which was crucial in Orvieto’s monumental architecture. 506 00:26:56,406 --> 00:26:59,118 Material dumped into Cavità 254 507 00:26:59,201 --> 00:27:02,496 includes large quantities of gray bucchero, 508 00:27:02,579 --> 00:27:06,834 a shiny, dark gray to black pottery made by the Etruscans 509 00:27:06,917 --> 00:27:10,170 from the 7th to the 4th century BCE, 510 00:27:10,254 --> 00:27:14,633 along with black and red figure pottery, common ware fragments, 511 00:27:14,716 --> 00:27:17,261 and wash basins and building tiles. 512 00:27:17,344 --> 00:27:20,848 In several cases, fragments from the same vessel were found 513 00:27:20,931 --> 00:27:24,810 in different locations, indicating rapid infill, 514 00:27:24,893 --> 00:27:27,312 rather than slow accumulation. 515 00:27:27,396 --> 00:27:31,775 This could point to on-site quarry debris left in place 516 00:27:31,859 --> 00:27:34,695 when the quarrying abruptly ended. 517 00:27:34,778 --> 00:27:38,282 About 50 miles south, in Cerveteri, 518 00:27:38,365 --> 00:27:41,535 the site of the Etruscan city of Cisra, 519 00:27:41,618 --> 00:27:45,497 the Vigna Parocchiale area offers valuable parallels 520 00:27:45,581 --> 00:27:49,793 that may illuminate Cavità 254's possible function 521 00:27:49,877 --> 00:27:51,628 as a controlled quarry. 522 00:27:51,712 --> 00:27:53,881 Observatory excavations in 1983 523 00:27:53,964 --> 00:27:55,716 uncovered this huge trench 524 00:27:55,799 --> 00:27:59,219 that seems to originally have been dug as a quarry. 525 00:27:59,303 --> 00:28:01,138 After quarrying at Cerveteri, 526 00:28:01,221 --> 00:28:05,225 the trench was abruptly filled in the early 5th century BCE 527 00:28:05,309 --> 00:28:09,563 with about 21,000 cubic feet of debris. 528 00:28:09,646 --> 00:28:12,149 This wasn’t a gradual sort of landfill. 529 00:28:12,232 --> 00:28:15,569 It was dumped rapidly in one coordinated act, 530 00:28:15,652 --> 00:28:18,614 using materials from nearby prestigious buildings 531 00:28:18,697 --> 00:28:21,074 like architectural terracottas, 532 00:28:21,158 --> 00:28:24,912 column bases, and fine decorative pieces. 533 00:28:24,995 --> 00:28:29,082 In Cavità 254, we see the same abrupt infill, 534 00:28:29,166 --> 00:28:32,878 massive volumes of pottery and architectural fragments, 535 00:28:32,961 --> 00:28:37,341 all dating no later than roughly 430 BCE. 536 00:28:37,424 --> 00:28:40,761 These parallels could suggest a shared practice 537 00:28:40,844 --> 00:28:42,930 of sealing exhausted quarries 538 00:28:43,013 --> 00:28:45,974 with symbolic or practical debris. 539 00:28:46,058 --> 00:28:47,517 But the well-finished walls, 540 00:28:47,601 --> 00:28:48,769 except for the eastern one, 541 00:28:48,852 --> 00:28:51,730 don’t align with material extraction practices. 542 00:28:51,813 --> 00:28:54,107 Instead of rough surfaces for efficient block removal, 543 00:28:54,191 --> 00:28:57,194 these dressed walls point to a different intention. 544 00:28:57,277 --> 00:28:59,112 And also, the presence of the spiral staircase 545 00:28:59,196 --> 00:29:01,323 is highly unusual in quarry design, 546 00:29:01,406 --> 00:29:03,533 hinting at a more complex use. 547 00:29:06,036 --> 00:29:07,371 Among Orvieto's underground spaces, 548 00:29:07,454 --> 00:29:11,541 certain clues have led some to wonder if Cavità 254 549 00:29:11,625 --> 00:29:14,294 served a more carefully engineered function, 550 00:29:14,378 --> 00:29:18,215 woven into the city life above. 551 00:29:18,298 --> 00:29:20,133 Maybe Cavità 254 played a role 552 00:29:20,217 --> 00:29:23,220 in the management of Orvieto’s water supply. 553 00:29:23,303 --> 00:29:24,721 Living on a high plateau is all fine and dandy 554 00:29:24,805 --> 00:29:28,475 from a military perspective, but water doesn’t flow uphill. 555 00:29:28,558 --> 00:29:29,601 The Etruscans would have had to come up 556 00:29:29,685 --> 00:29:31,979 with some serious hydraulic ingenuity, 557 00:29:32,062 --> 00:29:33,772 and maybe that's what this is. 558 00:29:33,855 --> 00:29:37,234 Question is, though, could Cavità 254 have been part 559 00:29:37,317 --> 00:29:40,654 of a larger drainage or stabilization system 560 00:29:40,737 --> 00:29:44,157 hidden beneath the city? 561 00:29:44,241 --> 00:29:46,994 Many settlements were built on high tufa plateaus 562 00:29:47,077 --> 00:29:49,496 in central Italy, where the water table 563 00:29:49,579 --> 00:29:51,957 lay too deep to reach easily. 564 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:54,751 To survive, communities relied on collecting 565 00:29:54,835 --> 00:29:56,169 and storing rainwater, 566 00:29:56,253 --> 00:29:59,089 using carefully designed underground systems 567 00:29:59,172 --> 00:30:02,009 instead of tapping groundwater. 568 00:30:02,092 --> 00:30:05,345 Across southern Etruria, bottle-shaped cisterns, 569 00:30:05,429 --> 00:30:08,015 typically cylindrical with a narrow neck, 570 00:30:08,098 --> 00:30:09,349 became essential features 571 00:30:09,433 --> 00:30:13,395 between the 7th and 3rd centuries BCE. 572 00:30:13,478 --> 00:30:17,357 Many included pure clay rings for waterproofing, 573 00:30:17,441 --> 00:30:19,192 a detail specifically noted 574 00:30:19,276 --> 00:30:22,863 in Orvieto’s so-called Type I cisterns. 575 00:30:22,946 --> 00:30:25,907 These forms demonstrate a well-established tradition 576 00:30:25,991 --> 00:30:28,368 of adapting subterranean spaces 577 00:30:28,452 --> 00:30:32,456 for secure water collection and storage. 578 00:30:32,539 --> 00:30:34,291 In Orvieto itself, other cisterns 579 00:30:34,374 --> 00:30:36,043 connected to rock-cut basins 580 00:30:36,126 --> 00:30:38,503 created sophisticated storage networks 581 00:30:38,587 --> 00:30:40,338 designed to retain surface runoff 582 00:30:40,422 --> 00:30:43,216 and stabilize supply above the deeper aquifer. 583 00:30:43,300 --> 00:30:46,178 This layered hydraulic strategy highlights just how deeply 584 00:30:46,261 --> 00:30:49,890 water management shaped the urban fabric of Etruscan cities. 585 00:30:49,973 --> 00:30:53,435 But Cavità 254 lacks the defining features 586 00:30:53,518 --> 00:30:55,729 of true cistern systems. 587 00:30:55,812 --> 00:31:00,233 There are no catchment channels, draw shafts, or overflow drains. 588 00:31:00,317 --> 00:31:02,944 Besides, its lack of waterproofing rules out 589 00:31:03,028 --> 00:31:06,156 any original use as a water reservoir. 590 00:31:06,239 --> 00:31:08,575 So altogether, these clues suggest the space 591 00:31:08,658 --> 00:31:11,745 served an evolving function. 592 00:31:11,828 --> 00:31:15,582 Some look to the complete sealing of Cavità 254 593 00:31:15,665 --> 00:31:19,711 as an enduring intentional act. 594 00:31:19,795 --> 00:31:22,422 The upper layers of Cavità 254 were reshaped 595 00:31:22,506 --> 00:31:25,383 in later centuries, including a cellar floor. 596 00:31:25,467 --> 00:31:28,053 Just below, archaeologists found a dome-shaped deposit 597 00:31:28,136 --> 00:31:29,971 of mixed Etruscan materials, 598 00:31:30,055 --> 00:31:32,265 likely poured from an original top opening, 599 00:31:32,349 --> 00:31:35,560 and a thick pozzolana ash layer about three feet deep, 600 00:31:35,644 --> 00:31:38,188 intentionally sealing the Etruscan fills. 601 00:31:38,271 --> 00:31:40,190 So could this final, deliberate closure 602 00:31:40,273 --> 00:31:43,610 represent an ultimate act of ritual burial? 603 00:31:43,693 --> 00:31:46,905 Among 188 inscribed pieces of ceramic at that site, 604 00:31:46,988 --> 00:31:49,157 most are marked with a single letter 605 00:31:49,241 --> 00:31:53,120 or a short sequence of letters or symbolic signs. 606 00:31:53,203 --> 00:31:56,289 Those inscriptions almost always run right to left, 607 00:31:56,373 --> 00:32:00,627 and they show these deliberate standardized markings. 608 00:32:00,710 --> 00:32:02,462 This is not random. 609 00:32:02,546 --> 00:32:03,922 One of the most striking finds 610 00:32:04,005 --> 00:32:06,049 is a small terracotta relief, 611 00:32:06,133 --> 00:32:08,135 depicting a kneeling male warrior, 612 00:32:08,218 --> 00:32:11,138 vividly painted and detailed. 613 00:32:11,221 --> 00:32:14,099 The disheveled facial features, ungrained eyes, 614 00:32:14,182 --> 00:32:16,810 and half-open mouth evoke the astonishment 615 00:32:16,893 --> 00:32:19,479 of Capaneus from the Pyrgi Pediment, 616 00:32:19,563 --> 00:32:22,482 a rare Etruscan relief from the Temple of Pyrgi 617 00:32:22,566 --> 00:32:25,735 that illustrates hubris and its consequences. 618 00:32:25,819 --> 00:32:29,447 This reinforces the idea that objects deposited here 619 00:32:29,531 --> 00:32:32,993 {\an8}carry deep symbolic weight. 620 00:32:33,076 --> 00:32:35,453 {\an8} While selective pottery-rich fills do appear 621 00:32:35,537 --> 00:32:38,748 {\an8}at other Etruscan sites, no direct parallel 622 00:32:38,832 --> 00:32:42,669 to Cavità 254's deliberate multi-layered ceiling 623 00:32:42,752 --> 00:32:44,337 has been identified. 624 00:32:44,421 --> 00:32:48,175 What final message or purpose this act or this space 625 00:32:48,258 --> 00:32:52,679 was meant to serve ultimately remains unclear. 626 00:32:52,762 --> 00:32:56,349 Beneath the streets of Orvieto lies a hidden world 627 00:32:56,433 --> 00:33:00,353 carved from tufa, preserving traces of ancient labor, 628 00:33:00,437 --> 00:33:06,193 ritual, and intention, but defying any single explanation. 629 00:33:06,276 --> 00:33:10,488 Cavità 254 reflects this wider underground mystery, 630 00:33:10,572 --> 00:33:14,034 with 1,200 cavities still guarding secrets 631 00:33:14,117 --> 00:33:17,329 we’re only beginning to uncover. 632 00:33:26,421 --> 00:33:30,050 About 90 miles southwest of Yazd city, 633 00:33:30,133 --> 00:33:32,427 in central Iran's Golden Triangle 634 00:33:32,510 --> 00:33:35,639 stands Abarkuh, a Silk Road outpost 635 00:33:35,722 --> 00:33:40,894 that linked Persian trade for more than 1,500 years. 636 00:33:40,977 --> 00:33:42,979 Abarkuh is part of Yazd Province 637 00:33:43,063 --> 00:33:45,190 in Iran’s central plateau. 638 00:33:45,273 --> 00:33:49,236 This vast arid expanse is ringed by the Zagros Mountains, 639 00:33:49,319 --> 00:33:53,240 the Alborz Range, and the eastern Iranian highlands. 640 00:33:53,323 --> 00:33:56,952 {\an8}Historically, settlements formed along the plateau’s edges. 641 00:33:57,035 --> 00:34:00,413 {\an8}Thriving in pockets were rivers descending from the highlands, 642 00:34:00,497 --> 00:34:06,086 replenished groundwater, and allowed agriculture to flourish. 643 00:34:06,169 --> 00:34:08,004 Among the oldest of these settlements, 644 00:34:08,088 --> 00:34:12,384 Abarkuh was shaped by relentless drought, extreme scarcity, 645 00:34:12,467 --> 00:34:14,427 and blisteringly hot summers, 646 00:34:14,511 --> 00:34:18,139 often surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit. 647 00:34:18,223 --> 00:34:20,350 {\an8}Its endurance depended entirely 648 00:34:20,433 --> 00:34:23,436 {\an8}on careful stewardship of limited resources. 649 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:24,854 And over the generations, 650 00:34:24,938 --> 00:34:27,107 residents developed a sophisticated system 651 00:34:27,190 --> 00:34:28,525 of earthen architecture, 652 00:34:28,608 --> 00:34:30,902 water management, and spatial planning. 653 00:34:30,986 --> 00:34:34,322 And this allowed them to transform this harsh landscape 654 00:34:34,406 --> 00:34:38,201 into a sustainable city. 655 00:34:38,285 --> 00:34:39,703 During routine inspections 656 00:34:39,786 --> 00:34:43,123 of five historic homes in Abarkuh's old quarter, 657 00:34:43,206 --> 00:34:47,544 surveyors detect something unexpected beneath the ground. 658 00:34:47,627 --> 00:34:51,131 The homes had been built atop rocky foundations, 659 00:34:51,214 --> 00:34:53,800 {\an8}and the spaces between those rocky areas 660 00:34:53,883 --> 00:34:55,760 {\an8}had been turned into gardens. 661 00:34:55,844 --> 00:34:58,805 Using aerial photos and archaeological studies, 662 00:34:58,888 --> 00:35:01,725 they determined there were small stone chambers 663 00:35:01,808 --> 00:35:05,145 carved beneath the homes. 664 00:35:05,228 --> 00:35:06,980 After 18 months of excavation, 665 00:35:07,063 --> 00:35:09,649 they uncovered a vast subterranean network 666 00:35:09,733 --> 00:35:12,902 of corridors, pathways, and chambers. 667 00:35:12,986 --> 00:35:16,323 In some areas, the tunnels were just three feet high, 668 00:35:16,406 --> 00:35:19,492 while others reached nearly 10 feet. 669 00:35:19,576 --> 00:35:22,704 So far, roughly 650,000 square feet 670 00:35:22,787 --> 00:35:25,498 of the underground labyrinth has been documented. 671 00:35:25,582 --> 00:35:29,336 But estimates suggest that roughly 150 acres, 672 00:35:29,419 --> 00:35:32,172 about one third of Abarkuh's historic core, 673 00:35:32,255 --> 00:35:35,759 can seal subterranean corridors and chambers. 674 00:35:35,842 --> 00:35:38,178 The scale and the state of preservation here 675 00:35:38,261 --> 00:35:39,804 raise deeper questions. 676 00:35:39,888 --> 00:35:43,683 Why build such an extensive network beneath the city? 677 00:35:43,767 --> 00:35:46,436 And what purpose did these tunnels serve? 678 00:35:48,605 --> 00:35:50,106 Abarkuh's tunnel network's scale and precision 679 00:35:50,190 --> 00:35:52,317 hint at an urgent purpose, 680 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:55,320 possibly shaped by the pressures of its time. 681 00:35:55,403 --> 00:35:58,823 The meticulous stonework aligns precisely 682 00:35:58,907 --> 00:36:03,370 with known Qajar dynasty-era constructions above ground. 683 00:36:03,453 --> 00:36:08,166 Historical records confirm the Qajars' extensive investment 684 00:36:08,249 --> 00:36:10,377 in subterranean infrastructures-- 685 00:36:10,460 --> 00:36:13,880 reservoirs, cisterns, and tunnel networks-- 686 00:36:13,963 --> 00:36:16,383 indicating there's a possibility 687 00:36:16,466 --> 00:36:21,971 that Abarkuh’s tunnels were established during this era. 688 00:36:22,055 --> 00:36:24,557 The Qajars, originally a Turkmen tribe 689 00:36:24,641 --> 00:36:26,685 from present-day Azerbaijan, 690 00:36:26,768 --> 00:36:30,397 rose to prominence amid intense conflict. 691 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:35,402 After 1779, Agha Mohammed Khan launched a ruthless campaign 692 00:36:35,485 --> 00:36:39,906 to unify Iran, ultimately founding the Qajar dynasty 693 00:36:39,989 --> 00:36:44,077 sometime between 1785 and 1789, 694 00:36:44,160 --> 00:36:48,331 a dynasty that endured until 1925. 695 00:36:48,415 --> 00:36:51,584 This period was defined by violence and upheaval, 696 00:36:51,668 --> 00:36:54,546 with entire cities facing destruction. 697 00:36:54,629 --> 00:36:57,924 In such chaotic times, communities like Abarkuh 698 00:36:58,007 --> 00:37:01,010 may have naturally sought safety underground, 699 00:37:01,094 --> 00:37:03,430 away from open conflict. 700 00:37:03,513 --> 00:37:06,057 But so far, we just don't know if there were 701 00:37:06,141 --> 00:37:09,352 any clear defensive or fortification features 702 00:37:09,436 --> 00:37:11,104 such as gates, caches of weapons, 703 00:37:11,187 --> 00:37:13,773 or fortifications in Abarkuh. 704 00:37:13,857 --> 00:37:17,944 Instead, the tunnels appear designed for broader utility. 705 00:37:18,027 --> 00:37:20,780 They may have offered safety during a crisis, 706 00:37:20,864 --> 00:37:23,158 but security likely wasn't their sole 707 00:37:23,241 --> 00:37:25,785 or even their primary purpose. 708 00:37:27,370 --> 00:37:29,289 As the investigation progresses, 709 00:37:29,372 --> 00:37:32,292 archaeologists notice patterns in the layout; 710 00:37:32,375 --> 00:37:34,627 spaces within the tunnels that suggest 711 00:37:34,711 --> 00:37:38,631 deliberate and multifunctional design. 712 00:37:38,715 --> 00:37:41,593 The deeper, cooler chambers may have provided 713 00:37:41,676 --> 00:37:44,804 seasonal relief during the harshest months, 714 00:37:44,888 --> 00:37:48,892 offering residents comfortable areas to gather and rest. 715 00:37:48,975 --> 00:37:52,395 Some might have stayed underground for extended periods 716 00:37:52,479 --> 00:37:56,608 as surface conditions became too extreme. 717 00:37:59,068 --> 00:38:01,571 Similar approaches to subterranean living 718 00:38:01,654 --> 00:38:03,072 appear globally. 719 00:38:03,156 --> 00:38:05,116 On China's lowest plateau, 720 00:38:05,200 --> 00:38:07,327 communities have inhabited cave dwellings 721 00:38:07,410 --> 00:38:08,870 for thousands of years, 722 00:38:08,953 --> 00:38:14,667 showcasing parallel innovations in underground architecture. 723 00:38:14,751 --> 00:38:17,504 Dikengyuan, or sunken courtyard homes, 724 00:38:17,587 --> 00:38:22,008 offered insulation from severe winters and scorching summers. 725 00:38:22,091 --> 00:38:24,260 Each courtyard was accessed by ramps, 726 00:38:24,344 --> 00:38:27,013 seamlessly integrating underground spaces 727 00:38:27,096 --> 00:38:28,515 with surface life. 728 00:38:28,598 --> 00:38:31,309 Similarly, Abarkuh's tunnels feature stairs 729 00:38:31,392 --> 00:38:34,646 descending directly into the underground network. 730 00:38:34,729 --> 00:38:37,690 Larger chambers contain carved niches 731 00:38:37,774 --> 00:38:39,734 and deliberate access points, 732 00:38:39,818 --> 00:38:44,364 clearly designed for practical daily use. 733 00:38:44,447 --> 00:38:46,741 Over 3,000 miles to the west 734 00:38:46,825 --> 00:38:48,535 in the Mediterranean region, 735 00:38:48,618 --> 00:38:52,872 underground spaces also safeguarded vital resources, 736 00:38:52,956 --> 00:38:55,917 particularly food supplies. 737 00:38:56,000 --> 00:38:57,460 In the 15th century, 738 00:38:57,544 --> 00:39:00,713 Valencia became a major trading power, 739 00:39:00,797 --> 00:39:05,718 which prompted the construction of extensive subterranean silos. 740 00:39:05,802 --> 00:39:09,180 By 1573, the city built silos 741 00:39:09,264 --> 00:39:12,475 covering roughly 66,000 square feet, 742 00:39:12,559 --> 00:39:20,692 all built beneath a major square measuring only 240 by 230 feet. 743 00:39:20,775 --> 00:39:25,071 In 2015, a study used GPS and GPR to determine 744 00:39:25,154 --> 00:39:27,907 there were a total of 48 silos 745 00:39:27,991 --> 00:39:31,119 and hidden subterranean granaries. 746 00:39:32,620 --> 00:39:35,290 These silos, embedded in clay-rich soil 747 00:39:35,373 --> 00:39:36,916 on an elevated hilltop, 748 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:41,045 maintained consistent cool temperatures and low humidity, 749 00:39:41,129 --> 00:39:44,132 essential for long-term grain storage. 750 00:39:44,215 --> 00:39:47,927 Abarkuh, however, shows no signs of food storage 751 00:39:48,011 --> 00:39:50,179 or permanent occupation. 752 00:39:50,263 --> 00:39:53,766 Its layout suggests it may have had evolving purposes, 753 00:39:53,850 --> 00:39:57,395 like temporary refuge, seasonal usage, 754 00:39:57,478 --> 00:40:00,023 and perhaps eventual abandonment. 755 00:40:00,106 --> 00:40:03,026 Still, the scale and precision of the network 756 00:40:03,109 --> 00:40:08,114 prompt deeper questions about its full intent. 757 00:40:08,197 --> 00:40:10,742 Historically, subterranean construction 758 00:40:10,825 --> 00:40:13,536 reflects an ancient tradition of engineering 759 00:40:13,620 --> 00:40:16,456 adapted to environmental challenges. 760 00:40:16,539 --> 00:40:18,625 The city of Matera in southern Italy 761 00:40:18,708 --> 00:40:22,337 is a remarkable example of this ingenuity. 762 00:40:22,420 --> 00:40:24,130 Starting in the 9th century, 763 00:40:24,213 --> 00:40:27,467 Matera's residents carved elaborate homes and cisterns 764 00:40:27,550 --> 00:40:30,136 directly into limestone bedrock. 765 00:40:30,219 --> 00:40:33,264 This created a sophisticated and self-sufficient 766 00:40:33,348 --> 00:40:35,099 underground ecosystem. 767 00:40:35,183 --> 00:40:38,728 With no rivers nearby, the city relied on capturing 768 00:40:38,811 --> 00:40:41,981 spring water and rain through an extensive network 769 00:40:42,065 --> 00:40:44,776 of cisterns and filtration systems. 770 00:40:44,859 --> 00:40:48,655 Limestone gutters and clay channels guided water runoff 771 00:40:48,738 --> 00:40:51,074 into homes, transforming Matera 772 00:40:51,157 --> 00:40:56,829 into a highly effective water harvesting community. 773 00:40:56,913 --> 00:40:58,998 Like Matera, Abarkuh conceals 774 00:40:59,082 --> 00:41:02,460 a meticulously engineered subterranean world. 775 00:41:02,543 --> 00:41:05,004 And it's located in an area with limited access 776 00:41:05,088 --> 00:41:07,674 to fresh water inside the city. 777 00:41:07,757 --> 00:41:10,927 So could the complex beneath the city have been constructed 778 00:41:11,010 --> 00:41:15,056 to supply its citizens with much needed water? 779 00:41:16,599 --> 00:41:18,017 Based on the evidence at hand 780 00:41:18,101 --> 00:41:21,479 and historical engineering projects in the region, 781 00:41:21,562 --> 00:41:24,190 the researchers reach a consensus on the origins 782 00:41:24,273 --> 00:41:27,694 of Abarkuh’s subterranean complex. 783 00:41:27,777 --> 00:41:30,363 The network was likely built as an aqueduct, 784 00:41:30,446 --> 00:41:33,366 a part of Persia's ancient qanat tradition 785 00:41:33,449 --> 00:41:35,410 that has supported water infrastructure 786 00:41:35,493 --> 00:41:38,621 across the region for thousands of years. 787 00:41:38,705 --> 00:41:42,542 These sophisticated hand-dug systems of gently sloped shafts 788 00:41:42,625 --> 00:41:47,130 and tunnels were designed to tap groundwater beneath hillsides. 789 00:41:47,213 --> 00:41:51,009 Gravity would carry it for miles, sometimes up to 30, 790 00:41:51,092 --> 00:41:54,512 to sustain drinking, farming, and long-term survival 791 00:41:54,595 --> 00:41:57,557 through extended dry seasons. 792 00:41:57,640 --> 00:42:02,061 In Iran, a network of around 22,000 qanat systems 793 00:42:02,145 --> 00:42:05,773 stretching over 155,000 miles 794 00:42:05,857 --> 00:42:08,693 was fully operational until recently, 795 00:42:08,776 --> 00:42:12,405 with major cities like Tehran relying on them 796 00:42:12,488 --> 00:42:16,409 well into the 1960s and '70s. 797 00:42:16,492 --> 00:42:19,912 In Yazd alone, the qanat system still delivers 798 00:42:19,996 --> 00:42:25,084 about 12 billion cubic feet of water each year. 799 00:42:25,168 --> 00:42:28,463 That's roughly a quarter of the province's groundwater needs, 800 00:42:28,546 --> 00:42:33,885 despite only receiving around 2.5 inches of rain annually. 801 00:42:33,968 --> 00:42:36,262 Because it was built on rocky terrain, 802 00:42:36,345 --> 00:42:39,599 Abarkuh faced difficulty distributing surface water 803 00:42:39,682 --> 00:42:41,851 to farmland downstream. 804 00:42:41,934 --> 00:42:44,187 Engineers circumvented this by excavating 805 00:42:44,270 --> 00:42:48,775 extensive underground corridors, channeling vital water supplies 806 00:42:48,858 --> 00:42:53,112 through solid rock directly to agricultural areas. 807 00:42:53,196 --> 00:42:56,115 Traditional qanats often featured reservoirs, 808 00:42:56,199 --> 00:42:58,076 water mills, and rest stations, 809 00:42:58,159 --> 00:43:03,206 details that closely resemble Abarkuh’s niches and chambers. 810 00:43:03,289 --> 00:43:05,875 Some families built staircases connecting their homes 811 00:43:05,958 --> 00:43:07,460 directly to the tunnels, 812 00:43:07,543 --> 00:43:10,296 enabling easy water access and management, 813 00:43:10,379 --> 00:43:13,007 and a naturally cool environment. 814 00:43:13,091 --> 00:43:16,135 Over generations, the tunnels likely evolved and expanded 815 00:43:16,219 --> 00:43:21,641 into larger spaces, suited to various communal needs. 816 00:43:21,724 --> 00:43:24,060 After some of the aqueducts dried up, 817 00:43:24,143 --> 00:43:27,146 sewage systems were rerouted into the old channels, 818 00:43:27,230 --> 00:43:29,357 making full excavation impossible 819 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:33,319 {\an8}and obscuring whatever else might be down there. 820 00:43:33,402 --> 00:43:35,655 {\an8}We know roughly when the complex was built 821 00:43:35,738 --> 00:43:37,281 {\an8}and how it may have been used; 822 00:43:37,365 --> 00:43:38,616 {\an8}but how far it reached, 823 00:43:38,699 --> 00:43:41,452 {\an8}how long it operated, and why it disappeared, 824 00:43:41,536 --> 00:43:44,247 {\an8}all of that remains a mystery. 825 00:43:44,330 --> 00:43:47,166 {\an8} Beneath Abarkuh lies an enduring record 826 00:43:47,250 --> 00:43:49,919 {\an8}of ingenuity and adaptation, 827 00:43:50,002 --> 00:43:52,338 {\an8}capturing how communities survived 828 00:43:52,421 --> 00:43:54,173 {\an8}through resourcefulness. 829 00:43:54,257 --> 00:43:58,136 {\an8}But even now, only fragments have come to light. 830 00:43:58,219 --> 00:44:00,596 {\an8}The rest remains buried in stone, 831 00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:02,932 {\an8}waiting to be understood.