All language subtitles for Ancient.Superstructures.S03E03.Tikal.1080p.NOW.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-RAWR_track3_[eng]

NARRATOR:
The Pyramids of Tikal, in Guatemala,

are the tallest of all the
ancient American civilisations.

- Tikal was really pushing
the levels.

- Tikal was really pushing
the levels.

NARRATOR: Impressive
and vibrantly-coloured monuments,

in the centre of the most
powerful Maya city of its time.

in the centre of the most
powerful Maya city of its time.

A true tropical metropolis.

TRANSLATOR: Its scale and the level
of political and cultural power

TRANSLATOR: Its scale and the level
of political and cultural power

make it a remarkable site.

- They really created a masterpiece
of art and architecture.

NARRATOR: This
archaeological World Heritage site

NARRATOR: This
archaeological World Heritage site

is a chronicle in stone.

A story of the skill of its builders
and their complex society.

A story of the skill of its builders
and their complex society.

- They have a very open
scientific knowledge

to be able to sustain those
buildings and we still see them.

NARRATOR: By exploring these giants
and the thousands of nearby ruins,

NARRATOR: By exploring these giants
and the thousands of nearby ruins,

archaeologists can now decode
their construction.

- This is our time machine,
and every time we go deeper,

- This is our time machine,
and every time we go deeper,

we go deeper in time as well.

- The end result
is a bit of a trompe-l'oeil.

- The end result
is a bit of a trompe-l'oeil.

NARRATOR: So how could such
soaring pyramids be created

with such basic tools?

What technology
made the water drinkable?

What technology
made the water drinkable?

How was this vast
and hostile territory tamed?

- The internal structure
is fascinating.

- The internal structure
is fascinating.

TRANSLATOR: There were
seven hidden rooms in the crest

of Temple number 1
to lighten the weight.

- When the water entered the tank,
it would be potable water.

That's really an amazing finding.

- They were using materials
that the Romans started to use

- They were using materials
that the Romans started to use

200 years later.

NARRATOR: With the archaeologists'
laser scanners,

we're going to X-ray
these stone colossi.

we're going to X-ray
these stone colossi.

To reveal their hidden structures,
and the genius of the Maya builders

who created a magnificent city
in the heart of the jungle.

who created a magnificent city
in the heart of the jungle.

- (bird and animal calls)

NARRATOR: Hidden in the heart
of the Central American rainforest,

towering stone structures
emerge above the treetops.

towering stone structures
emerge above the treetops.

These spectacular pyramids
defy time and nature.

These spectacular pyramids
defy time and nature.

The remains of Tikal,

an ancient city whose history
stretches back thousands of years.

But which for over 800 of those,
was forgotten.

But which for over 800 of those,
was forgotten.

The work of one of
mankind's most fascinating

and mystical civilisations -

the Maya.

the Maya.

- (trilling)

NARRATOR: Buried in the jungle,
these ruins once formed

a vast urban centre of around
two square kilometres,

a vast urban centre of around
two square kilometres,

with roads,
squares and huge buildings.

Located in present-day Guatemala,

Located in present-day Guatemala,

Tikal was founded
over 2,000 years ago

in southern Mesoamerica,

the heart of what was then
Maya territory.

the heart of what was then
Maya territory.

The largest pyramids,
built between 325 and 900 AD,

sit around the Great Central Square.

sit around the Great Central Square.

The 45-metre-high
Temple of the Jaguar

faces the 38-metre-high
Temple of the Masks.

faces the 38-metre-high
Temple of the Masks.

Further west, Temple 4 is
the city's highest at 67 metres,

the size of a 20-storey building.

the size of a 20-storey building.

- Architecture is so well placed
and designed

that Tikal is really very beautiful.

It doesn't matter where you
turn your head around -

It doesn't matter where you
turn your head around -

temples, palaces, small houses.

Architecture is very nicely done.
It has like a fine touch.

Architecture is very nicely done.
It has like a fine touch.

We can say that.

NARRATOR:
For almost 200 years,

archaeologists have been excavating

archaeologists have been excavating

both the built
and the buried in Tikal

to find the secrets
of this unique architecture.

- What you're seeing now
is like a gigantic theatre.

- What you're seeing now
is like a gigantic theatre.

This is the stages
of the theatre state.

And in them,
they held these enormous pageants.

And in them,
they held these enormous pageants.

You might have
40,000, 50,000 coming in,

not just...
coming in from all over.

Including leaders
and nobles from other places.

Including leaders
and nobles from other places.

TRANSLATOR:
This whole square in Tikal,

the central
and the northern acropolis,

Temple 1 and Temple 2,

Temple 1 and Temple 2,

the placing of it
is designed to impress.

NARRATOR:
French archaeologist Julien Hiquet

NARRATOR:
French archaeologist Julien Hiquet

surveys ancient Maya sites

to determine how much labour
and material its builders used.

Tikal is his favourite place
to study.

Tikal is his favourite place
to study.

In the 8th and 9th centuries AD,
Tikal radiated splendour and colour.

There was never
a Maya empire as such.

Forty or so city-states stood
as either allies or enemies.

Forty or so city-states stood
as either allies or enemies.

The city then called Yax Mutal

was the capital of a powerful
and rich kingdom.

- This was a very driven society,
a very driven city.

One of the more important
cities in the Maya world.

- It was a very alive city,

- It was a very alive city,

full of people, ideas,
innovation, arts, music.

Tikal would be the place to be.

Tikal would be the place to be.

- It's a city that architecturally
speaking is also extremely dynamic.

NARRATOR: How this city
evolved on marshy

and difficult jungle land
fascinates the experts.

- (expert speaks Spanish)

- (expert speaks Spanish)

TRANSLATOR: Tikal's
natural environment is complex,

very lush and also very hostile.

But the Maya managed to tame it.

But the Maya managed to tame it.

- If we see these big buildings
it has to be because they have

a very open scientific knowledge,

a very open scientific knowledge,

not just in mathematics
but engineering.

They will know how to be able
to sustain those buildings

and we still see them.

and we still see them.

NARRATOR:
Many of Tikal's buildings

are still covered by tropical forest
or damaged by centuries of neglect.

are still covered by tropical forest
or damaged by centuries of neglect.

But the restored pyramids
bear witness

to the ingenuity of Maya architects
and builders.

These ancient structures
may look unsophisticated.

These ancient structures
may look unsophisticated.

But they're built
with perfectly straight lines,

in the correct proportion
and with precise measurements.

in the correct proportion
and with precise measurements.

Many wonder how the design
of these tall stone structures

enabled them to withstand
incessant rain and landslides.

enabled them to withstand
incessant rain and landslides.

The stepped pyramids at Tikal, like
Temple 1, the Temple of the Jaguar,

are all built on the same model.

are all built on the same model.

- (Julien speaks French)

TRANSLATOR: Temple 1,
even though it's not the tallest

or grandest at Tikal,
it's still the most emblematic

or grandest at Tikal,
it's still the most emblematic

because it's been
well restored and preserved,

and because it has
a slender overall shape.

- (trilling)

- (trilling)

NARRATOR:
The Temple of the Jaguar

sits centrally to the east
of the main square.

The stone base
has nine superimposed platforms,

The stone base
has nine superimposed platforms,

each just over three metres high,

which rise to form
a 28-metre pyramid.

On top of this pyramidal base
is a covered temple,

a row of three vaulted rooms.

a row of three vaulted rooms.

A large stone crest, typical
of classical Maya architecture,

brings the total height
of the building to 45 metres.

brings the total height
of the building to 45 metres.

On the west side, a grand staircase
with a slope of over 50 degrees

On the west side, a grand staircase
with a slope of over 50 degrees

links the square
to the temple entrance.

- They definitely practised various
rituals at the top of the pyramid.

- They definitely practised various
rituals at the top of the pyramid.

These were extremely narrow,
cramped and dark rooms,

These were extremely narrow,
cramped and dark rooms,

certainly not living spaces.

- Let's say pyramids
are like the sacred mountains.

We know that all societies
have a sacred mountain,

because all societies
place their gods in the skies.

because all societies
place their gods in the skies.

So it's a way to be
reaching up to them.

NARRATOR: For the Maya,
the pyramid is a sacred passageway

NARRATOR: For the Maya,
the pyramid is a sacred passageway

connecting the earthly world
of living beings

with the celestial home of the gods

with the celestial home of the gods

and with the subterranean world
inhabited by the dead

and the lords of the Underworld.

These pyramids often contain a tomb,
just underneath the structure.

These pyramids often contain a tomb,
just underneath the structure.

It took archaeologists many years
to find the burial chamber

It took archaeologists many years
to find the burial chamber

in the Temple of the Jaguar.

They first dug a tunnel through the
central axis, then along the side,

They first dug a tunnel through the
central axis, then along the side,

before finally finding
a buried cavity.

Dug into the limestone, this
five-by-three-metre vaulted pit

Dug into the limestone, this
five-by-three-metre vaulted pit

contained human remains,

as well as a number of precious
jade stones and ceramics.

as well as a number of precious
jade stones and ceramics.

This discovery
dates the pyramid's construction

to the mid-8th century AD,

to the mid-8th century AD,

and also identifies the deceased,
Jasaw Chan K'awiil.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

TRANSLATOR: Temple 1
is clearly a royal burial place

for one of Tikal's most militarily
and politically powerful rulers.

It's a monument that celebrates
this person as an ancestor

It's a monument that celebrates
this person as an ancestor

who's basically been deified.

NARRATOR:
The story of this ruler of Tikal

NARRATOR:
The story of this ruler of Tikal

is told by glyphs
engraved on the city's many stelae.

Decoded, these Mayan writings
describe Jasaw Chan K'awiil

Decoded, these Mayan writings
describe Jasaw Chan K'awiil

defeating his sworn enemies

in neighbouring Calakmul
around the year 711.

in neighbouring Calakmul
around the year 711.

His reign brought Tikal
out of its 130-year slumber.

The start of
a 200-year golden age

of increasingly
impressive construction.

of increasingly
impressive construction.

Jasaw Chan K'awiil was a warlord,
and also a builder.

In 734 he was buried
in the Great Square's Temple 1

In 734 he was buried
in the Great Square's Temple 1

and for 1300 years has lain in rest

opposite the mausoleum
he had built for his wife.

opposite the mausoleum
he had built for his wife.

Today known as Temple 2,
or the Temple of the Masks.

To understand the secrets
of the Tikal pyramids,

To understand the secrets
of the Tikal pyramids,

you need to go to Temple 4.

It's the tallest Mesoamerican
structure still standing.

It's the tallest Mesoamerican
structure still standing.

The pyramid is recognised
around the world

after appearing in
the first Star Wars film in 1977.

Situated a few hundred metres
west of the Great Square...

Temple 4 is a giant 70 metres high,

Temple 4 is a giant 70 metres high,

with a base
larger than a football pitch,

144 metres long
and 108 metres wide.

144 metres long
and 108 metres wide.

Seven other storeys sit on the base,
as well as the temple and its crest,

making around
160,000 cubic metres of stone -

making around
160,000 cubic metres of stone -

almost 300,000 tonnes in all.

- The enormous volume of Temple 4

- The enormous volume of Temple 4

demanded extremely careful
and precise construction,

otherwise it probably
would have collapsed.

NARRATOR: This pyramid was built for
the son of King Jasaw Chan K'awiil

who took over the throne of Tikal.

With such a tall temple,
the ruler was closer to the gods,

With such a tall temple,
the ruler was closer to the gods,

and also glorified his own reign.

The engineering techniques Maya
builders used to reach such heights

The engineering techniques Maya
builders used to reach such heights

were discovered by experts
digging into the bowels of Temple 4.

Leopoldo Gonzalez Heredia,
in charge of restoring Tikal,

Leopoldo Gonzalez Heredia,
in charge of restoring Tikal,

is one of the few archaeologists
authorised to enter

these excavated tunnels.

these excavated tunnels.

At the core of the foundations
built just over 1200 years ago,

he has several hundred thousand
tonnes of stone above his head.

he has several hundred thousand
tonnes of stone above his head.

TRANSLATOR: As we excavated,
we realised that the platforms...

TRANSLATOR: As we excavated,
we realised that the platforms...

and construction system
in the temple

and construction system
in the temple

was what we call "encapsulated".

- (speaks Spanish)

TRANSLATOR: This means
that boxes were made

and then filled with small stones.

and then filled with small stones.

NARRATOR: To create the foundations,
and each platform,

NARRATOR: To create the foundations,
and each platform,

walls were built around an irregular
layout of separate capsules.

Each capsule has thousands
of cubic metres of infill,

a coarse mixture of crushed stone,
earth and mortar.

a coarse mixture of crushed stone,
earth and mortar.

The entire grid is
surrounded by thick stone walls,

with a layer of plaster on top.

with a layer of plaster on top.

Then, floor by floor,
the base is raised.

By filling the grid with a mix
of hard materials and loose earth,

By filling the grid with a mix
of hard materials and loose earth,

the pyramid is stable
but not too rigid.

With this slight elasticity
of the load-bearing structures,

With this slight elasticity
of the load-bearing structures,

the compartments absorb vibrations,

and the monument can withstand
ground movement.

and the monument can withstand
ground movement.

In the depths of Temple 4,

Leopoldo Gonzalez Heredia
noticed another detail.

Leopoldo Gonzalez Heredia
noticed another detail.

- This was used as a hook
to attach to the next wall.

And they continued until
they reached the right dimensions

And they continued until
they reached the right dimensions

for the temple foundations.

NARRATOR: As each compartment
is interlocked with those around it,

the load-bearing grid becomes
ever more strong and compacted.

the load-bearing grid becomes
ever more strong and compacted.

- The internal structure
is fascinating

and it has interlocking masonry

and it has interlocking masonry

in a way that is
just brilliant engineering.

The construction was one
that's found in a lot of places,

The construction was one
that's found in a lot of places,

but they really did it well here.

And that was to have those
nice walls with plaster in them,

making a big cell, big square,
and maybe, you know,

making a big cell, big square,
and maybe, you know,

could be anywhere from a metre

to four or five metres high,
depending.

NARRATOR: It would have taken
a big workforce

NARRATOR: It would have taken
a big workforce

to fill all the chambers
of such a colossus.

Archaeologists believe that
Tikal's inhabitants were mobilised

in large numbers
to build their leaders' tombs.

in large numbers
to build their leaders' tombs.

These chambers aren't the only
trade secret behind the solidity

of Tikal's largest pyramids.

of Tikal's largest pyramids.

The foundations may have
cushioned movement of the ground,

but how did
the slender structure above

but how did
the slender structure above

withstand the forces
of the wind?

TRANSLATOR: A common architectural
practice in Mesoamerica,

particularly among the Maya,

particularly among the Maya,

was to superimpose
the different stages

in the construction
of monumental buildings

like temples and pyramids.

In other words,
they'd first build a temple,

In other words,
they'd first build a temple,

then a few years later
would build on top of it,

nesting one in another,
a bit like Russian dolls.

nesting one in another,
a bit like Russian dolls.

NARRATOR: The construction
techniques of this temple

by the edge of the North Acropolis
were studied in detail.

by the edge of the North Acropolis
were studied in detail.

As archaeologists dismantled the
7th-century temple stone by stone,

two other buried structures emerged,

two other buried structures emerged,

the oldest of which
dated back to the 5th century.

These earlier substructures
were like the skeleton

These earlier substructures
were like the skeleton

of the more recent pyramid.

A few traces of these interlocking
pyramids are still visible today,

A few traces of these interlocking
pyramids are still visible today,

at the heart of Tikal's
Mundo Perdido,

a magical Lost World

where many ruins remain hidden
under thick vegetation.

where many ruins remain hidden
under thick vegetation.

This is the oldest part of Tikal.

Edwin Roman Ramirez guides us
through this Lost World,

Edwin Roman Ramirez guides us
through this Lost World,

where the very
first inhabitants settled

almost 2,600 years ago.

- Over here we have the last layer.

- Over here we have the last layer.

And over here
you have this structure.

And you can see
how goes all the way.

This is the earliest version
of this building.

This is the earliest version
of this building.

And that's how you can see
how they were putting

one to another one.

NARRATOR: Close by,
archaeologists have just discovered

NARRATOR: Close by,
archaeologists have just discovered

a new structure,

where the traces of this building
system are even more spectacular.

where the traces of this building
system are even more spectacular.

Exploring this tunnel is like
plunging back through the centuries.

- This is our time machine
and every time we go deeper,

- This is our time machine
and every time we go deeper,

we go deeper in time as well.

And over here we have another layer

And over here we have another layer

that was earlier than that layer
that was destroyed.

And over here in the top, we can see
another layer of the building.

NARRATOR:
Deep inside the structure,

NARRATOR:
Deep inside the structure,

the original plaster
covering the stone

has been preserved
in virtually its original state.

- We are in the middle
of two buildings.

- We are in the middle
of two buildings.

1,600 years ago,
we would be outside

of the building.

Here also we still have
the original stone.

Here also we still have
the original stone.

Sometimes in archaeology
you don't see everything,

but with here, this give you the
idea how every building will look.

but with here, this give you the
idea how every building will look.

NARRATOR: At Tikal,
one pyramid often conceals another,

NARRATOR: At Tikal,
one pyramid often conceals another,

or even more.

Tracing the timeline
of the work isn't easy.

TRANSLATOR: Today
when we build a bigger building

TRANSLATOR: Today
when we build a bigger building

we immediately destroy the old one,
but not them.

- So sometimes the result is a bit
confusing, a bit of a trompe-l'oeil.

because you end up with
a very tall, very bulky building.

because you end up with
a very tall, very bulky building.

But it will have needed
only relatively modest efforts

spread over long periods of time.

spread over long periods of time.

NARRATOR: To date the construction
of the original pyramids,

they had to be investigated
or excavated one by one.

- (trilling)

NARRATOR: Located just above
the main square,

the North Acropolis is a complex

the North Acropolis is a complex

built on
an 8,000-square-metre platform.

From 350 BC
until the 9th century AD,

From 350 BC
until the 9th century AD,

dozens of temples and pyramids
were built on top of each other,

particularly from the year 60,

when the first King of Tikal
installed his tomb there.

when the first King of Tikal
installed his tomb there.

Each ruler would then build
ever larger buildings

to establish his aura and authority.

to establish his aura and authority.

Excavations at the North Acropolis,
and stelae carved in the town,

show there were 33 rulers of Tikal
over a period of 800 years.

show there were 33 rulers of Tikal
over a period of 800 years.

Including one queen,
the Lady of Tikal,

Including one queen,
the Lady of Tikal,

thought to have reigned
in the 6th century.

These lofty superstructures
aren't dedicated to the many gods

of the Maya pantheon,
such as the Sun, the Moon

of the Maya pantheon,
such as the Sun, the Moon

or the Feathered Serpent God.

They honour deceased rulers

and perpetuate
the glory of the ruling dynasty.

and perpetuate
the glory of the ruling dynasty.

- You can imagine
how important that was.

How much effort
the King puts building

the largest building
that he could imagine

to claim how powerful
was Tikal in the region.

That was a statement
he wanted to make.

That was a statement
he wanted to make.

Not just for his society,

but also for the rest of the
Maya kingdoms around Tikal.

but also for the rest of the
Maya kingdoms around Tikal.

NARRATOR: So how did
the builders of Tikal

push back the limits of height
to go beyond their rivals?

They crowned their temples
with grandiose ornaments,

the ridge crests.

- (Julien speaks French)

- (Julien speaks French)

TRANSLATOR: You can see
the importance of the ridge crest

in the overall appearance
and shape of the temple.

If you try and imagine it
without the ridge,

If you try and imagine it
without the ridge,

you immediately see that the temple

is much more compact,
shorter and lower.

But this masonry element
really lifts

But this masonry element
really lifts

the overall outline of the pyramid.

NARRATOR: The masonry is today
very damaged, but 1300 years ago,

NARRATOR: The masonry is today
very damaged, but 1300 years ago,

a ridge crest 17 metres high,

weighing around 300 tonnes,

weighing around 300 tonnes,

crowned
the Temple of the Great Jaguar.

It is the hallmark
of every royal pyramid at Tikal.

Directly opposite, the better
preserved ridge crest of Temple 2

gives an idea of how fine
this ornamentation was.

gives an idea of how fine
this ornamentation was.

- Here, we have a ridge that raises
the overall height of the building

by a good ten metres.

You can still make out a head

You can still make out a head

sculpted in bas-relief,
and its earrings.

- They were used to display a
portrait or to show that someone

- They were used to display a
portrait or to show that someone

was really very important.

If you want to give a message,
like a mass message,

you use iconography in architecture.

you use iconography in architecture.

So it's a very powerful statement

to be able to...to build
all these huge buildings

to be able to...to build
all these huge buildings

and to put all these masks

and...and all this discourse
that people will understand.

NARRATOR: The ridges
were made more visible

NARRATOR: The ridges
were made more visible

by being coloured to stand out
against the green surroundings.

Experts have reconstructed
the crest of Temple 2.

The finely sculpted motifs
in the stone

were covered with an undercoat
of plaster, then painted in red,

with a few bright colours
to bring out the details.

with a few bright colours
to bring out the details.

The builders needed to add
these extra tonnes of limestone

without threatening
the rest of the building.

- This raises a number of questions
about the structural stability

- This raises a number of questions
about the structural stability

of the building,
particularly this several hundred

cubic metres of masonry.

It's a big extra weight
on the temple,

so the Maya architects created a
number of voids in the ridge crests.

Vaulted rooms with no access, no
windows, that were completely empty.

Vaulted rooms with no access, no
windows, that were completely empty.

NARRATOR: Inside a ridge crest
like that of Temple 1,

NARRATOR: Inside a ridge crest
like that of Temple 1,

several hidden
and inaccessible chambers

lighten the weight
of the ornamental structure.

These triangular spaces
are formed by stepped vaults,

These triangular spaces
are formed by stepped vaults,

where the stones of two walls
are staggered to gradually meet.

- (speaks French)

- (speaks French)

TRANSLATOR: There were seven hidden
rooms in the crest of Temple 1,

to lighten the weight.

NARRATOR:
These large colourful ridges,

which crowned the highest pyramids
of the Maya civilisation,

which crowned the highest pyramids
of the Maya civilisation,

made Tikal gleam.

- (speaks Spanish)

TRANSLATOR:
17 kilometres from Tikal,

TRANSLATOR:
17 kilometres from Tikal,

there's a viewpoint from which
you can see the jungle,

and above it the peaks of Tikal.

In other words,
it was a geographical reference

In other words,
it was a geographical reference

that identified the big cities, in
the way we have skyscrapers today.

NARRATOR: To satisfy their political
leaders' thirst for glory and power,

the builders of Tikal applied
their skills to creating monuments.

the builders of Tikal applied
their skills to creating monuments.

A remarkable feat in the middle
of a tropical forest.

Because despite
their advanced knowledge

of mathematics and architecture,
the Maya had no metal tools,

of mathematics and architecture,
the Maya had no metal tools,

animals or machines to help them.

But then the question remains:
how many people were used

But then the question remains:
how many people were used

on the construction sites for these
superstructures, and for how long?

Julien Hiquet's research
aims to find an answer.

Julien Hiquet's research
aims to find an answer.

The archaeologist
is currently exploring

a complex of twin pyramids
with a highly unusual architecture.

a complex of twin pyramids
with a highly unusual architecture.

The nine twin pyramid complexes
discovered at Tikal

were all built on the same model.

A platform housing
a small enclosure to the north,

a building to the south, and
two pyramids facing each other

a building to the south, and
two pyramids facing each other

with a precise orientation
from east to west.

In this complex,
one of the twin pyramids

In this complex,
one of the twin pyramids

is still hidden
under the vegetation.

- This pyramid is exactly the same
as the restored one to the east.

- This pyramid is exactly the same
as the restored one to the east.

Except that here,
nature has taken over

and virtually swallowed
the architecture.

You can see this in the
overall shape of the mound.

You can see this in the
overall shape of the mound.

NARRATOR: Archaeologists
have excavated and restored

the eastern pyramid
of this complex,

identical in every way
to its buried twin.

identical in every way
to its buried twin.

Square, with a flattened shape
and no temple at the top.

The two pyramids formed
a single area for worship.

The two pyramids formed
a single area for worship.

It's been determined that
a new complex of this type

was built every 20 years
to celebrate a religious festival.

was built every 20 years
to celebrate a religious festival.

To estimate the number of workers
needed for this multi-year task,

Julien first had to carry out
a meticulous field survey.

Julien first had to carry out
a meticulous field survey.

The pyramid is 12 metres high,
with a first level 23 metres wide

The pyramid is 12 metres high,
with a first level 23 metres wide

and a top floor 13 metres square.

Not counting the stairs,

Not counting the stairs,

this represents 5,164
cubic metres of stone.

Although not huge,
this construction still needs

Although not huge,
this construction still needs

a large amount of raw materials.

To complete his data,

Julien also needs to work out the
length of each stage of the project.

Julien also needs to work out the
length of each stage of the project.

And what takes the longest
is extracting

and transporting the stone.

At Tikal, all the structures
are made of limestone.

At Tikal, all the structures
are made of limestone.

A raw material
that is found everywhere

in the subsoil of the forest.

- All the Maya lowlands
are limestone

that was formed in the...
in the bottom of the ocean.

that was formed in the...
in the bottom of the ocean.

It's a sedimentary stone.

It's hard enough to make buildings
stay for a long period of time.

It's hard enough to make buildings
stay for a long period of time.

But it's also a very noble material

that you can easily work
the way you want it to be worked.

NARRATOR:
Accomplished geologists,

the Maya dug quarries
all around the city.

Some of the quarries that supplied
the pyramid building sites

Some of the quarries that supplied
the pyramid building sites

over a thousand years ago
are still open.

Julien Hiquet meets up with
Leopoldo Gonzalez Heredia.

Julien Hiquet meets up with
Leopoldo Gonzalez Heredia.

TRANSLATOR: We're in a quarry
extracting the blocks

that will be used to restore the
temples in the archaeological zone.

Here you see the process involved
in extracting this material.

NARRATOR:
The Maya didn't use iron tools,

but rather primitive stone axes.

but rather primitive stone axes.

- We can really see how the stones
were extracted for construction.

And above all we can quantify it,

And above all we can quantify it,

to see how long it takes
a worker to extract that block.

- From what we've done here,

we think each worker
extracts one block a day.

NARRATOR:
Once the stone has been dug out,

it needs to be transported.

Without animals
to carry the loads,

the strength of several people
was needed for this operation.

The 200-kilo blocks were
moved on wooden platforms.

The 200-kilo blocks were
moved on wooden platforms.

- And here we have the same
materials that were used

- And here we have the same
materials that were used

by the Maya in the classical period.

It's really the techniques
they used.

We can calculate the time
and number of workers needed

to transport this size of block
over several hundred metres,

from the quarries
to the construction site.

from the quarries
to the construction site.

NARRATOR: To make their way
more easily through the jungle,

the Maya also carried the smaller
stones one by one on their backs,

the Maya also carried the smaller
stones one by one on their backs,

using the strength
of their foreheads,

with what is known as a mecapal.

According
to the archaeologists' calculations,

a worker equipped with a mecapal

a worker equipped with a mecapal

carried an average of 500 kilos
of stone per day,

but over a distance
of just 200 metres.

but over a distance
of just 200 metres.

By re-enacting the work, what's
called experimental archaeology,

Julien gathers data on every stage
of the twin pyramids' construction,

Julien gathers data on every stage
of the twin pyramids' construction,

from the shell
to the finishing touches.

Each variable is entered
into a programme

which determines
the energy output of the site,

which determines
the energy output of the site,

the total working time, and then
the number of people involved.

- Here, the software details
each stage

- Here, the software details
each stage

of the technical
construction process

and then gives a total cost
for the twin pyramids complex

of...473,442 working days.

of...473,442 working days.

NARRATOR:
Rather more than 1300 years...

NARRATOR:
Rather more than 1300 years...

the question is: how many workers
were needed to complete

this 20-year project?

this 20-year project?

In the Maya civilisation,
community members

had to take part
in these construction sites.

A tax in kind to their leader.

A tax in kind to their leader.

- I don't think everybody
was part of it

because part of the population
will need to be in food production.

because part of the population
will need to be in food production.

They will have to be doing
agricultural tasks.

But some of them, I'm sure,
that when a king or a ruler

But some of them, I'm sure,
that when a king or a ruler

decided that he wanted a new
construction episode in a temple,

a huge part of the population
will take part in that.

a huge part of the population
will take part in that.

TRANSLATOR: We can assume
that the workforce was mobilised

for, let's say, two to three months,
maybe a year.

for, let's say, two to three months,
maybe a year.

If 400 people worked on the site,

the construction of this
complex of twin pyramids

could be completed in 19 seasons,
19 years.

could be completed in 19 seasons,
19 years.

NARRATOR: If the construction
of a modest-sized structure

involved almost 400 workers,

involved almost 400 workers,

this means that the monumental
pyramids required thousands.

Those in charge needed
a sizeable workforce to draw on.

Those in charge needed
a sizeable workforce to draw on.

But estimating the size of the town
and its population

But estimating the size of the town
and its population

has been difficult.

Technology now provides
a more accurate picture.

- (bird calls)

Lidar is an aerial laser scanner
which can reveal the tiniest detail

of the terrain
by erasing the vegetation.

of the terrain
by erasing the vegetation.

- Lidar is, so far,
one of the more effective tools

- Lidar is, so far,
one of the more effective tools

to understand the entire...city.

The jungle doesn't allow us
to see too much.

The jungle doesn't allow us
to see too much.

For so many years,
we don't really know

exactly where they were farming.

Now we can see it.

Now we can see it.

It is helping us to understand
the society in whole.

NARRATOR: Lidar exploration
of the Tikal region

NARRATOR: Lidar exploration
of the Tikal region

has revealed the outline
of a huge settlement.

The rainforest hides thousands
of remains unknown till now.

The rainforest hides thousands
of remains unknown till now.

Traces of agriculture, roads,
temples and even dwellings

have been identified over an area
of more than 110 square kilometres.

have been identified over an area
of more than 110 square kilometres.

- So it's giving us
a lot of trouble,

because before we can say,
"OK, Tikal is this big."

because before we can say,
"OK, Tikal is this big."

Now we can see that Tikal
does not have an end.

We went from 2,000 structures
to 12,000 structures.

We went from 2,000 structures
to 12,000 structures.

NARRATOR: So, at its height,
Tikal was a true metropolis,

NARRATOR: So, at its height,
Tikal was a true metropolis,

with thousands of structures

scattered around
its majestic pyramids.

TRANSLATOR: The hinterland,
the territory controlled politically

TRANSLATOR: The hinterland,
the territory controlled politically

and economically by Tikal,

may have had more than
100,000 or 200,000 inhabitants.

- People are living everywhere,
mostly peasants, small houses,

perishable structures,

perishable structures,

and then you have
larger houses made out of stone.

And in the surroundings, you cannot
see them because of the vegetation.

But there is a lot of households
living nearby.

But there is a lot of households
living nearby.

NARRATOR: Lidar is also
helping to fact-check

the history of this urban centre.

Experts spotted a shape on the
images that looked out of place.

Experts spotted a shape on the
images that looked out of place.

- In the beginning,
these three structures,

we thought they was a natural hill.

we thought they was a natural hill.

But what we know now,
like that actually is a building.

That you can see
the straight lines of them

and they'll get the attention
of our colleagues to say,

and they'll get the attention
of our colleagues to say,

"OK, this is not something natural.

These actually,
they are some type of buildings."

NARRATOR: These mysterious buildings
are in the lush forest

NARRATOR: These mysterious buildings
are in the lush forest

of the Mundo Perdido,
the Lost World.

Right next to
a very particular pyramid of Tikal,

with an architectural style
that is not of Maya origin:

the talud-tablero.

- What we are seeing here is
one utilisation of Talud-tablero.

- What we are seeing here is
one utilisation of Talud-tablero.

The talud is all of this.

From here you can see that comes
out, and here you have the tablero.

From here you can see that comes
out, and here you have the tablero.

They are the two parts of this
type of architecture that they use

They are the two parts of this
type of architecture that they use

and then repeat in each level.

NARRATOR: Talud-tablero
is a style found in a town

1200 kilometres from Tikal,
in Mexico:

Teotihuacan, the City of the Gods.

TRANSLATOR: Teotihuacan was
home to one of the most complex

societies in pre-Hispanic Mexico.

It's estimated that up to
200,000 people probably lived there.

It's estimated that up to
200,000 people probably lived there.

The city was made up of more
than 2,000 architectural units,

all following the same layout
and orientation.

all following the same layout
and orientation.

NARRATOR: One of the main monuments
in this powerful city,

quite separate
from the Maya civilisation,

quite separate
from the Maya civilisation,

is the Ciudadela, the citadel.

- The citadel was in fact designed
and built as a large ritual stage.

We also believe
the Citadel was probably

We also believe
the Citadel was probably

where the political ritual of
crowning new rulers took place.

NARRATOR: The Citadel pyramid
features vertical sides

that slope slightly,
topped by a projecting cornice.

The talud-tablero is the
signature style of local builders.

More evidence links Tikal
with the City of the Gods.

More evidence links Tikal
with the City of the Gods.

Teotihuacan's Citadel
appears to have the same

overall shape
as that in the Lost World.

overall shape
as that in the Lost World.

- This group over here,

is like a small version
of La Ciudadela de Teotihuacan.

is like a small version
of La Ciudadela de Teotihuacan.

You can see this area
is 15 degrees east.

And that's something that also
catch our attention to say,

And that's something that also
catch our attention to say,

"OK, here is something else
that's happening."

And also we know that most of
the architecture at Teotihuacan

is oriented 15 degrees.

is oriented 15 degrees.

NARRATOR: The same shape,
the same solar alignment...

an entire district of Tikal
appears to closely resemble

an entire district of Tikal
appears to closely resemble

the iconic monument
of a far away city.

- (speaks Spanish)

TRANSLATOR: The presence of
Teotihuacan has long been mentioned

TRANSLATOR: The presence of
Teotihuacan has long been mentioned

at numerous Maya sites,

but it was at Tikal
that evidence was discovered

to suggest that one of the rulers
who ruled Tikal

may have been the son
of a Teotihuacan sovereign.

may have been the son
of a Teotihuacan sovereign.

NARRATOR: At Tikal,
the engraved stelae mention

NARRATOR: At Tikal,
the engraved stelae mention

that a foreigner called
The Smoking Frog

took over the city
at the end of the 4th century.

The throne was then occupied
by The Spearthrower Owl,

son of a lord of Teotihuacan.

- Teotihuacan and Tikal have
a very long history of relations,

- Teotihuacan and Tikal have
a very long history of relations,

at least 300 years.

Now we can prove that people
from Teotihuacan were living here.

We know also the Maya people
were living there.

We know also the Maya people
were living there.

They were able to communicate,

and they share a lot of information
between these cultures.

NARRATOR: The City of the Gods seems
to have had a decisive influence

on the economic
development of Tikal,

which became one of
the main city-states

which became one of
the main city-states

of the Maya civilisation.

One material was essential,
both for urban growth

and the city's ostentatious look.

This is stucco, a traditional
plaster made from two raw materials

This is stucco, a traditional
plaster made from two raw materials

found everywhere around Tikal.

Limestone from the quarries
and wood from the forest.

In large holes used as furnaces,
limestone is burned

In large holes used as furnaces,
limestone is burned

and becomes quicklime,

a powder which is then mixed
with water, sand and tree sap.

a powder which is then mixed
with water, sand and tree sap.

- It becomes like a very fine paste

that you will cover stones
or any surface.

that you will cover stones
or any surface.

NARRATOR: This sticky paste
was used everywhere.

As mortar in joints, and as
a finishing plaster to cover walls.

As mortar in joints, and as
a finishing plaster to cover walls.

Deep in an excavated area are
traces of these layers of plaster.

- Limestone is good

- Limestone is good

but is very weak
when you put it in the environment.

Just the wind can damage it.

Just the wind can damage it.

The rain and the sun will cause
major, major damage to them.

- In the Maya area,
we have a dry and a wet season.

- In the Maya area,
we have a dry and a wet season.

The wet season is characterised by
very intense rain for months on end,

which attacks the architecture,
the stonework and so on.

which attacks the architecture,
the stonework and so on.

NARRATOR: Stucco has one essential
quality in such a tropical climate.

It's waterproof.

It's waterproof.

- The stucco
was really good for them.

It was a very simple and clever way
to protect the limestone.

It was a very simple and clever way
to protect the limestone.

- These limestone buildings

need extremely regular maintenance,
year after year.

All the surfaces need to be covered
to waterproof them

All the surfaces need to be covered
to waterproof them

and protect them from the elements.

NARRATOR: To coat
thousands of square metres,

builders produced stucco
on a massive scale.

builders produced stucco
on a massive scale.

But to make enough to cover
just one square metre,

they had to burn
no less than 20 tree trunks.

they had to burn
no less than 20 tree trunks.

This wood-intensive material
is central to the longevity

and beauty of Tikal.

As well as waterproofing
the limestone,

the stucco layer was painted
to colour these regal buildings,

mostly with red, but also yellow,
green, blue and black.

mostly with red, but also yellow,
green, blue and black.

Stucco was to play
a major role in the destiny

of this flamboyant
city-state's people.

of this flamboyant
city-state's people.

Torrential rain and vegetation
attack the stone of the pyramids,

and also the limestone underground.

and also the limestone underground.

The region's terrain is rugged,
marshy and sometimes unstable.

To fix this, the builders of Tikal
had to transform the landscape.

To fix this, the builders of Tikal
had to transform the landscape.

TRANSLATOR: You have to realise
that the entire landscape

of a Maya centre like Tikal
is artificial.

The smallest hill has been
filled in to form vast platforms

that then support the pyramids,
palaces and so on.

NARRATOR:
Over several hundred hectares,

after removing
the tropical vegetation,

the builders filled in
the three- to five-metre slopes,

adding layers of crushed stone
more than a metre thick,

covered by a layer
of waterproofing stucco.

covered by a layer
of waterproofing stucco.

- These earthworks
certainly can't be ignored,

as they're, in fact,
just as monumental, if not more so,

as they're, in fact,
just as monumental, if not more so,

and more costly in terms
of man-hours than the pyramids.

and more costly in terms
of man-hours than the pyramids.

NARRATOR: These earthworks
marked out the roads and squares

of the Maya metropolis.

Covered in stucco,
these raised platforms

Covered in stucco,
these raised platforms

protect the subsoil from erosion,

then serve as foundation slabs
for the superstructures.

- (speaks Spanish)

- (speaks Spanish)

TRANSLATOR: It's fundamental
to Maya architecture

that the ground is level.

So they moved
an enormous amount of earth

So they moved
an enormous amount of earth

to adapt the landscape
of their territory

and create the large esplanades
they were going to build on.

NARRATOR: The roads and squares
were places both of ceremony

and daily life
for the inhabitants of Tikal.

and daily life
for the inhabitants of Tikal.

The foundations
were also the reason

life continued
for 1,000 years in this forest -

a place with six months
of torrential rain

a place with six months
of torrential rain

and six months of drought each year.

But how was such an important city
built in a region

with no source of drinking water,

and no river
for dozens of kilometres?

and no river
for dozens of kilometres?

- If you don't live close
to a lake or to a river,

you depend on human technology
to make sure

you depend on human technology
to make sure

you will have water all year long.

- You have to create
a hydraulic system,

reservoirs -
ways to get water for construction,

reservoirs -
ways to get water for construction,

because without water
you can't build.

And you then need water to survive.

NARRATOR: The remains are now hard
to see, except to the trained eye.

This urban centre has been designed

as a remarkable system
to collect rainwater.

as a remarkable system
to collect rainwater.

- You don't see it here,
but the plaza has at least

seven degrees of inclination.

So you can walk
even in the rainy season

So you can walk
even in the rainy season

and you won't be stomping into water
because it's so well designed

that water will run in the places
they want it to run

that water will run in the places
they want it to run

and not to interrupt daily life.

- (trilling)

NARRATOR: Tikal's plazas,
roads and platforms all slope gently

NARRATOR: Tikal's plazas,
roads and platforms all slope gently

towards two large basins
carved out of the rock,

the bottoms of which are sealed
with a layer of stucco and clay.

the bottoms of which are sealed
with a layer of stucco and clay.

During the rainy season, water runs
down the walls of the structures

into these reservoirs, which can
hold around 100,000 cubic metres.

into these reservoirs, which can
hold around 100,000 cubic metres.

So Tikal's architects
were also hydraulic engineers.

So Tikal's architects
were also hydraulic engineers.

These reservoirs
provided inhabitants

with enough water to drink,
irrigate their crops

and produce the stucco
needed for their buildings.

and produce the stucco
needed for their buildings.

Downstream from the city's
two major reservoirs,

archaeologist Liwy Grazioso
recently helped to discover

an even more
impressive piece of technology.

1300 years ago,

the embankment she's standing on
was, in fact, a dam,

the embankment she's standing on
was, in fact, a dam,

separating it from a third reservoir
that no longer exists.

- This dam divides the palace
reservoir from the hidden reservoir.

- This dam divides the palace
reservoir from the hidden reservoir.

This is a net of three tanks
that interconnect,

and they are divided by dams
with some sluices

and they are divided by dams
with some sluices

that you can open and close them
to regulate the volume of water

and the speed of water.

and the speed of water.

NARRATOR: In this dam, around eight
metres high and 55 metres long,

some of the stones were slightly
out of line and movable,

some of the stones were slightly
out of line and movable,

so that the water
could flow through the wall.

Sediment taken from the ruins
was analysed in the laboratory.

Researchers then detected
an interloper.

Researchers then detected
an interloper.

- They start finding that
there are these foreign sands.

They're kind of crystals
and they don't belong here.

They're kind of crystals
and they don't belong here.

So they start analysing
what they were

and they happen to be zeolite.

They are these crystals
that can be...

that work like
a modern charcoal filter.

that work like
a modern charcoal filter.

NARRATOR: Inside the wall itself
was a purification system.

NARRATOR: Inside the wall itself
was a purification system.

Two braided mats contained a mixture
of sand, quartz and zeolite,

porous minerals that cleaned
the water of impurities.

porous minerals that cleaned
the water of impurities.

- When the water entered the tank,
it will be potable water.

That's really an amazing finding.

That's really an amazing finding.

NARRATOR: This extensive system
to collect rainwater

and innovative technology
to filter it

played a decisive role
in the development of Tikal -

played a decisive role
in the development of Tikal -

from 300 BC until the end
of the first millennium.

- They created filters.

They got that knowledge
and they were using materials

They got that knowledge
and they were using materials

the Romans started to use
200 years later.

NARRATOR:
The water in the reservoirs

wasn't meant for all inhabitants.

wasn't meant for all inhabitants.

The general population,
scattered throughout the forest,

mainly used small natural holes
known as "aguadas".

mainly used small natural holes
known as "aguadas".

The masters of Tikal
directly controlled

the drinking water supply, a further
means of strengthening their power.

the drinking water supply, a further
means of strengthening their power.

Their sumptuous residences
overlook the large reservoirs.

These interconnecting palaces,
two to five storeys high,

These interconnecting palaces,
two to five storeys high,

have not withstood the ravages of
time and nature like the pyramids.

But they give an idea
of how the Maya elite lived.

But they give an idea
of how the Maya elite lived.

You enter through a door
whose wooden lintels

have remained unchanged
over 13 centuries.

have remained unchanged
over 13 centuries.

- (speaks French)

TRANSLATOR: Here,
the wall is 74 centimetres thick.

So, in Maya buildings, the interior
space is often extremely narrow,

So, in Maya buildings, the interior
space is often extremely narrow,

very long, and the walls
are often very thick.

75, 80, sometimes a metre thick.

75, 80, sometimes a metre thick.

It's a room with a window, which is
a rare feature in Maya architecture.

It's a room with a window, which is
a rare feature in Maya architecture.

And even when there's a window,
you can see how narrow it is.

NARRATOR: The narrow size
of the room and the openings

NARRATOR: The narrow size
of the room and the openings

can be explained by how
the Maya constructed the ceilings.

- So here, on this part of the vault
that's better preserved,

you can clearly see the method
used to build the corbelled vault,

you can clearly see the method
used to build the corbelled vault,

where each stone
shifts a little inwards.

NARRATOR: The room also contains
furniture carved in stone.

NARRATOR: The room also contains
furniture carved in stone.

- Archaeologists call it a bench.

It's a sort of low, slightly raised,
masonry platform

It's a sort of low, slightly raised,
masonry platform

that could have been used
as a place to sit or act as a bed,

according to some theories.

according to some theories.

And they were repurposed,

possibly after the death
of the person that lived there,

possibly after the death
of the person that lived there,

and burials are often found
under these architectural elements.

NARRATOR: The level of comfort
may have been austere,

but the royal palaces
could also dazzle.

but the royal palaces
could also dazzle.

Situated at a strategic
crossroads in the city,

between the sacred temples,
markets and water reservoirs,

between the sacred temples,
markets and water reservoirs,

the lords of Tikal controlled
religion and the local economy.

But at its height, around 900 AD,
this prosperous city-state

But at its height, around 900 AD,
this prosperous city-state

suddenly collapsed, along with
the other Maya lowland cities.

What could have
brought about Tikal's demise?

What could have
brought about Tikal's demise?

It remains a mystery.

But it's possible
that Tikal fell victim

to its own delusions of grandeur:

to its own delusions of grandeur:

overpopulation, overexploitation
of resources like wood,

contamination of water reservoirs.

contamination of water reservoirs.

- We find these kind of relationship
between a time of crisis -

less water, more dryness,

less water, more dryness,

more pollution,
and a decrease in arts

and innovation
and architecture and all that.

NARRATOR:
The city fell into oblivion

NARRATOR:
The city fell into oblivion

for almost a thousand years,
swallowed up by the jungle.

Today, these stone remains
recount Tikal's rich history

and the genius of the Maya builders.

and the genius of the Maya builders.

With few resources
and under extreme conditions,

they created a jungle metropolis

whose story resounds
across the centuries.

whose story resounds
across the centuries.

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