Teotihuacán's Lost Kings

Gr 7 Up—This episode centers on the ancient city-state of Teotihuacán, located in modern-day Mexico, and the imposing pyramids that flourished before the rise of the Aztec civilization. The program focuses on the discovery of a tunnel leading beneath the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpent. Archaeologists follow this tunnel, excavating bit by bit, discovering wood, obsidian, and jade artifacts. The explorers employ the latest technology in their work, including 3-D laser scans to visualize the dark, narrow space, and scientists explain their forensic work on recovered human and animal bones. The documentary includes extensive commentary from Mexican archaeologist Sergio Gómez Chávez, providing an important Mexican archaeological perspective. It is important to note that this film discusses human sacrifice, an important rite in Mesoamerican cultures, and contains brief but mildly graphic re-creations of the ritual. The program attempts to offer cultural context, avoiding much of the sensationalism found in other documentaries. It also covers Teotihuacán's relationship with neighboring polities, such as rival city-state Tikal.