Myth Hunters

19th-century explorers John L Stephens and Frederick Catherwood altered our view of the Maya civilisation and uncovered great wonders such as this El Castillo (Kukulkan) pyramid, Mexico. Stephens even bought the Mayan city of Copan for $50 with the mis-guided intention of moving it along the river to US museums. The Mayans were one of the greatest civilisations of all time, building incredible structures without the use of metal tools, horses or carts. Even with these constraints, their buildings are as large as, if not larger than, some of the astounding Egyptian wonders.

In the early 1800s a party of men headed by a Thomas Beale set out from Virginia to the Colorado Rocky Mountains where they discovered gold. After mining a fortune in gold ore they exchanged it for treasure, which they then buried in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. Beale recorded the secret location of the treasure in three numerical codes that when decoded would reveal the treasures value, its location and to who it belonged. Then in 1897 Clayton Hart discovered the three coded papers and soon after found out that they could reveal a great treasure in a pamphlet that revealed a deciphered paper revealing its value. With the help of his brother George, Clayton spent the next 50 years trying to uncover the location of Beale's treasure. They went to great lengths to break the ciphers, including assistance from America's top code breakers and even the supernatural!

The dying days of World War II. Hitler was in his bunker, unable to accept defeat. But most Nazis knew the game was up. It was time to start hiding evidence of their crimes. A unit of SS officers were instructed to transport boxes to the Salzgammergut lake district in the Austrian Alps. Their destination was one of the most remote and deepest lakes in the region: Lake Toplitz. On 1st May 1945, eyewitnesses still alive today saw the SS Officers throwing the boxes into the lake. Local rumours grew: the boxes were full of stolen gold. It was the biggest bank heist in history.

At the end of the 19th century, the Priest of Rennes-le-Chateau, Berenger Sauniere mysteriously and suddenly became fabulously rich. Rumours spread the priest had discovered buried treasure, but others claim Sauniere had uncovered a secret so profound, it could rock the foundations of the Catholic Church; evidence of a bloodline of Christ, the Holy Grail. Sauniere’s housekeeper, confidante and later lover, Marie Denarnaud was the only person who knew the truth, which she was going to reveal on her deathbed. However, she had a stroke and could not speak, leading many to this day to question what the truth is. Had the cup of Christ really been discovered?

A desert in California is said to hold something truly astonishing. According to the myth, somewhere in the Mojave Desert is a ship wreck with a precious cargo. In 1870 Charley Clusker, a Mexican War veteran, seasoned traveller and California Gold Rush prospector, would risk everything to find the legendary Lost Ship of the Mojave Desert. His search would cross one of the harshest environments on earth. But only around 10 miles from the ship's reported location Charley found himself in mortal danger. Despite narrowly escaping with his life Charley was determined to find the ship and set out into the desert once again. This time he ran out of food and water. After days in the desert with nothing to drink he was close to death. Just as he was about to turn back a second time something on the horizon caught his eye - a mighty Spanish galleon. Although he was desperate to get the ship Charley had no choice but to return to town.

While on holiday in Spain researching a book, American author and writer Janice Bennett, found herself looking at an exhibit in the cathedral in Valencia, which was claimed to be the Holy Grail. Although initially unimpressed she decided to find out more and her subsequent research took her on an exciting voyage of discovery, from first century Jerusalem to 21st century Spain. By tracing the history of this relic and examining all the supporting evidence, she has concluded that it could well be what claims believe it to be. The power and symbolism of the Quest for the Holy Grail has had a huge impact on western culture for centuries, and this programme sets out to understand what within biblical tradition and emerging Christianity was meant by the grail, and how historic events, myth and the Middle Ages turned it into something completely different.

A quest for buried treasure allegedly hidden on an island near Costa Rica is undertaken by a German adventurer in the late 19th century, which eventually went on to influence the novel Treasure Island.

This week’s episode turns to King Arthur who according to legend was Britain's greatest king. He led his Knights of the Round Table from Camelot, a vast, spectacular castle built on a hill, and was supposed to have bravely fought AngloSaxon invaders and united the country. But there's very little evidence he reallyexisted. In the 1960's a team of archaeologists, led by Leslie Alcock, set out to prove the myth was real. After five summers digging where tradition had the location Camelot to be, a hill just off the A303 in South Cadbury, Somerset they discovered Dark Age fortifications dated exactly to the time King Arthur was supposed to have lived, and a great hall, suitable for a King or leader of some kind. Proof, they believed, that Arthur, or someone very like him existed.

This week’s episode turns to history’s greatest story of war loot - the legend of Yamashita's Gold. During WW2, it's said the Japanese Imperial Army had a covert, systematic looting operation in place and amassed a huge fortune. But in June 1942, the tide of the war turned and the stolen gold was apparently hidden in 175 different locations throughout the Philippines. Yamashita’s Gold captivated Roger Roxas and after a decade of hunting he decided to risk everything to find it once and for all. Roger's quest led him to cross President Ferdinand Marcos - one of the most brutal dictators of the 20th century.

Yesterday’s fascinating series continues this week in America’s Rocky Mountains where according to legend, a fortune in gold bullion lies buried. The only clue to the treasure's location is a cryptic map, drawn by the sole survivor of a doomed French expedition. Colorado folklore states his descendants seek the gold for almost 200 years. But, just when it appears to be within their grasp, The Curse of Treasure Mountain strikes. Disease, violence, alleged supernatural forces - all have thwarted treasure-hungry adventurers seeking the hidden bullion. This is the incredible story of a fortune in gold, found and then lost in the Rocky Mountains.

In 1911, Hiram Bingham was a young scholar specialising in modern Latin American history at Yale University. He was 36-years-old, married to Alfreda Mitchell, an heiress to the Tiffany diamond empire, they had six children and lived in a thirty-roomed mansion on top of a hill. Bingham was a man who seemed to have all the comforts of life, but he was restless and driven. During a field trip to Peru in 1909, he was invited by his guide to see an ancient Inca site high up in the Andes Mountains. This set him on a path that would change his life forever. Bingham learned how in the sixteenth century, the great Inca Empire fled from the ferocious onslaught of Spanish Conquistadors and built a last stronghold deep inside the Amazon jungle. A place they named Vilcabamba. There, they made their final stand against their ruthless enemy, but with their death, the memory of where this last refuge was, disappeared.

Historically the 'face of God' has been linked to the one of the greatest Catholic relics - the Veil of Veronica - a similar miraculous image, created on the day of Christ's crucifixion. When stumbling under the weight of the cross His brow was mopped by St Veronica - and an imprint of his face was left on her cloth. Throughout the middle ages this image was revered and worshipped by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visiting Rome - and even created its own guild of artists, dedicated to selling reproductions of the image to pilgrims. But after the rebuilding of St Peter's basilica - designed as a new home for all the greatest Christian relics - suddenly and without explanation the veil disappeared from view was it lost, or even stolen? The Vatican claims to still have the veil but it is no longer on public view.

According to legend, somewhere in Texas lies buried a vast treasure of Spanish gold. At the turn of the 20th century, one man is on a mission to find it. His name is Dave Arnold. Guided by a cryptic map he unearths three mysterious stones.