Ancient Impossible Season 1 Episode 2 Moving Mountains

In the second episode of the first season of Ancient Impossible, titled Moving Mountains, the show explores the incredible engineering feats of ancient civilizations in building structures and monuments with massive stones.

The episode begins by discussing the challenges of moving giant rocks, such as the ones used to construct Stonehenge in England, or the temples of Machu Picchu in Peru. The show's hosts, Terry Jones and Alistair Moffat, demonstrate how difficult it would be to transport these rocks manually, and how ancient societies came up with innovative solutions to move them.

Throughout the episode, the hosts visit a variety of locations, each with its own unique story of ancient engineering. They travel to Lebanon, where they investigate the Baalbek temple complex, which features massive blocks of stone that are among the largest ever moved by humans.

They also visit the quarries of Aswan in Egypt, where they examine the techniques used to cut and transport the massive granite blocks used to construct the pyramids. The hosts demonstrate how these blocks, weighing several tons each, were likely transported on wooden sledges pulled by teams of laborers.

In Peru, the hosts visit the site of Ollantaytambo, an ancient Incan fortress that was constructed using massive boulders that were quarried from a nearby mountaintop. The hosts explain how the Incas used a system of ramps and pulleys to transport these rocks, which weighed up to 200 tons each.

The episode also explores the technology used by ancient societies to shape and carve these massive stones. The hosts visit the island of Sardinia, where they examine the curious Nuraghe structures, which were built using polygonal blocks of stone. Using advanced 3D modeling techniques, the hosts show how the blocks were shaped and fitted together to create these impressive structures.

Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize the incredible skill and knowledge possessed by these ancient engineers. They discuss the importance of trial and error in developing these techniques, and how each society built upon the knowledge of their predecessors to create even more impressive feats of engineering.

Overall, Moving Mountains is a fascinating look at the incredible engineering achievements of ancient societies. Through stunning visuals and insightful commentary from the hosts, viewers gain a newfound appreciation for the ingenuity and skill of our ancestors, and the incredible monuments they left behind.