National Geographic has launched a livestream bringing together fourteen full documentary episodes that follow archaeologists and explorers as they investigate some of history's most persistent mysteries across the globe. The marathon presentation draws from series including Lost Cities with Albert Lin, Lost Treasures of the Bible, Lost Treasures of the Maya, and several standalone specials, offering viewers an extended survey of active archaeological work on multiple continents.
Among the featured investigations, National Geographic Explorer and scientist Albert Lin travels to Acre, Israel, in search of the lost fortunes of the Knights Templar. In a separate episode, Lin heads to Colombia to examine the truth behind the legends of El Dorado, the fabled city of gold that has drawn treasure hunters for centuries. His Lost Cities Revealed series also takes him to the deserts of Sudan, where he searches for the lost capital of a warrior kingdom that once conquered and ruled the Egyptian empire, and to the mountains of Peru, where he seeks the lost city of the Cloud Warriors, a civilization whose legacy was nearly erased by the Incas.
The Lost Treasures of the Bible episodes focus on archaeological discoveries in the Middle East. In Iraq, archaeologists have uncovered new evidence that sheds light on the historical influences behind the biblical Tower of Babel story. Other episodes examine the age of King Solomon through excavations of ancient biblical kingdoms, and reassess King Herod through new discoveries and 3D computer-generated imagery that explain why he was known as «Herod the Great.»
Mayan archaeology features prominently as well. A new treasure map has revealed an undiscovered pyramid complex, while uncharted cenotes in Mexico and remote jungle caves unlock secrets of ancient Mayan rituals. Additional episodes follow divers searching for the entrance to lost caves and archaeologists uncovering a ceremonial royal drinking cup that points to the tomb of a lost king. The discoveries collectively illustrate the epic scale of Mayan civilization.
Two specials center on Egypt. In The Lost Tomb of Alexander the Great, archaeologist Pepi Papakosta excavates a public garden in the center of Alexandria, the city Alexander founded 2,300 years ago. Her team has found a rare marble statue of Alexander, Greek treasures, and secret tunnels, but the episode promises an unexpected discovery beyond those finds. In Cleopatra's Final Secret, lawyer-turned-archaeologist Kathleen Martinez continues a twenty-year search for Cleopatra's lost tomb. Her excavations have led in an unexpected new direction: a submerged site miles offshore in the Mediterranean. She has enlisted Titanic discoverer Bob Ballard, the Egyptian Navy, and a team of archaeologists and divers to explore the location.
Elsewhere, Lost Tombs of the Pyramids follows an elite team excavating a secret site in the shadow of the pyramids, hoping to reveal new evidence about the pharaohs who built them. A stone bearing the name of the pharaoh Khafre may finally address one of archaeology's greatest mysteries: what happened to the bodies of the pyramid pharaohs. Flooded Tombs of the Nile shifts attention to present-day Sudan, once the kingdom of Kush. Archaeologists have sought clues about this long-neglected culture for centuries, and recent breakthroughs are allowing two National Geographic grantees to get closer than ever to understanding the Nubians who filled Egypt with golden treasures.
The livestream format assembles these investigations into a single continuous presentation, reflecting sustained public interest in ancient civilizations and the scientific methods used to study them. The episodes combine fieldwork, remote sensing, diving operations, and digital reconstruction, showing how modern archaeology pieces together evidence from excavation sites, submerged landscapes, and archival records. For viewers, the marathon offers a broad introduction to the questions driving current research and to the international teams working to answer them.