The 2019 Science Channel series Unexplained + Unexplored had the distinction of becoming one of the least factually accurate and most fraudulent archaeology-themed shows to air on cable television. The series made use of false claims, fabricated evidence, dubious alleged experts, and nonsensical conclusions to overstate a wide range of imagined mysteries. This page collects my reviews of the archaeology-themed episodes of the series. Additional episodes explored more modern alleged mysteries, with the same poor results.
Season 1
3. Knights Templar in America
Show hosts Justin Fornal and Emilano Ruprah attempt to prove that the Knights Templar survived the suppression of the order in 1307 by using a Renaissance hoax map as evidence that a minor Scottish noble established a major colony in America in the late 1300s.
Show hosts Justin Fornal and Emilano Ruprah attempt to prove that the Knights Templar survived the suppression of the order in 1307 by using a Renaissance hoax map as evidence that a minor Scottish noble established a major colony in America in the late 1300s.
5. Hunt for the Ark of the Covenant
The hosts go in search of the Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia by misidentifying a map from a nineteenth century atlas as a secret medieval map. They retrace the path of several previous pseudo-documentaries about the Ark, often point for point.
The hosts go in search of the Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia by misidentifying a map from a nineteenth century atlas as a secret medieval map. They retrace the path of several previous pseudo-documentaries about the Ark, often point for point.
6. Mystery of the American Maya
Alleging that a well-known Maya codex is actually a secret map to Florida, the hosts claim that the Maya abandoned central America to establish a colony in Florida, which they attempt to prove by mistaking a Native platform mound for a Maya pyramid.
Alleging that a well-known Maya codex is actually a secret map to Florida, the hosts claim that the Maya abandoned central America to establish a colony in Florida, which they attempt to prove by mistaking a Native platform mound for a Maya pyramid.
7. Egypt's Land of the Gods
After falsely claiming that a nineteenth century atlas map of Egypt is a secret archaeological guide to unexplored ancient sites, the hosts travel to Ethiopia to falsely claim that a well-known Sabaean lunar temple is actually a prehistoric relic of a lost civilization that founded Egypt.
After falsely claiming that a nineteenth century atlas map of Egypt is a secret archaeological guide to unexplored ancient sites, the hosts travel to Ethiopia to falsely claim that a well-known Sabaean lunar temple is actually a prehistoric relic of a lost civilization that founded Egypt.
8. Finding the Fountain of Youth
After revising the myth of the Fountain of Youth to transfer the story from Juan Ponce de Leon to Hernan De Soto, the hosts travel to Arkansas to claim that a small creek is the true fountain because it contains silver, which the show falsely claims can regenerate and heal nerves.
After revising the myth of the Fountain of Youth to transfer the story from Juan Ponce de Leon to Hernan De Soto, the hosts travel to Arkansas to claim that a small creek is the true fountain because it contains silver, which the show falsely claims can regenerate and heal nerves.
