National Geographic Ultimate Explorer host Lisa Ling journeys to war-torn Iraq to investigate what happened to one of the greatest archaeological treasures of all time. Airs Oct. 11, Saturday, 9 p.m. ET
A National Geographic Explorer team, working with Iraqi and U.S. military authorities, has assisted in the recovery of one of the greatest archaeological treasure troves of all time. Compared by some experts to the discoveries in Tutankhamun’s tomb, the treasure of Nimrud — which dates from the eighth and ninth centuries B.C. — consists of over 100 pounds of solid gold jewelry, precious metals and other priceless artifacts, including a crown made from more than a kilogram of gold.
Discovered 15 years ago in northern Iraq, the exquisite objects had not been seen since before the first Gulf War. The Ultimate Explorer team in Baghdad organized the draining of over half a million gallons of water from the flooded vaults of the Central Bank of Iraq, enabling the treasure of Nimrud to be rescued and preserved.
National Geographic Ultimate Explorer host Lisa Ling ventures into the bandit zone to record the losses suffered in the birthplace of civilization. While Ling seeks answers in war-torn Baghdad, a team of National Geographic archaeologists travels to ancient sites outside the city to document the extent and scale of the looting in post-war Iraq.
Join Ling as she searches for one of the world’s greatest lost treasures…in a war zone.