Ep 6. Egypt's Lost Skyscrapers

Unearthed season 4 takes viewers on a thrilling journey of discovery to uncover some of the world's greatest mysteries and unravel secrets that have been hidden for centuries. In episode 6, titled "Egypt's Lost Skyscrapers," the show travels to the land of the pharaohs to investigate one of the most fascinating puzzles in archaeology – the existence of ancient Egyptian high-rises.

The episode begins with a brief history lesson on the architecture of ancient Egypt. The towering pyramids and majestic temples built by the pharaohs are a testament to the incredible engineering capabilities of the civilization that lived along the Nile more than four thousand years ago. But what about the city buildings, the homes and offices of everyday Egyptians, where did they live and work? Were there any skyscrapers or high-rises in ancient Egypt? And if so, where did they go?

The experts on the show start to unravel this mystery by examining the ruins of the once great city of Tanis, located in the eastern delta of the Nile. It was once a major metropolis and the capital of Egypt during the 21st dynasty. But it was abandoned centuries ago, and the ruins have been largely forgotten by history.

As the show delves deeper into the mysteries of Tanis, the team tries to uncover the secrets behind some of the towering structures they have discovered. They explore the remains of ancient buildings that once stood up to seven stories high – an unheard-of feat of engineering that would have been considered quite revolutionary in the ancient world.

Through advanced technology and sophisticated archaeological techniques, the show uncovers new information about the nature of these structures. The team discovers clues that suggest that these structures may have been used for commercial purposes, such as markets or even multi-story apartments. They also reveal the engineering techniques that the Egyptians used to construct such magnificent structures. The building materials used for Tanis' towering structures have long passed into history, but through the use of digital models and reconstructions, the experts bring these lost buildings back to life.

The show also examines how the discovery of these high-rise buildings changes our understanding of ancient Egyptian society. The towering edifices of Tanis would have represented not just feats of engineering but centers of commerce and culture, where merchants, artisans, and citizens interacted with each other to create a vibrant, dynamic community.

As the team continues to dig deeper, they discover that there were other ancient Egyptian high-rises dotted throughout the country. Some of these ruins, found in the once-great city of Heliopolis, just outside of modern-day Cairo, appear to have had striking similarities to the ones uncovered in Tanis. The show suggests that these towers may have been interconnected, signaling the possibility of an urban network that extends across the Nile Valley.

In the final moments of the episode, the team reflects on how ancient Egyptian high-rises disappeared, seemingly without a trace. Some experts believe that the buildings might have fallen out of use over time, making them convenient targets for building materials. Others suggest that natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods may have been responsible for the vanishing of these tall edifices. Whatever the reason, the lost skyscrapers of Egypt remain a fascinating, albeit imperfectly-understood mystery.

"Unearthed" Season 4 Episode 6, "Egypt's Lost Skyscrapers," is a must-watch episode for fans of archaeology and history. The show illuminates a unique perspective on the world of ancient Egypt, showing a thriving urban society replete with towering structures and bustling commerce. By the end of the episode, viewers will be left fascinated by the wonders of the past, and eager to learn more about the mysteries that still await discovery.