Exploring the Tunnels of Teotihuacán
Clip: Episode 1 | 3m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
John Leguizamo journeys into the tunnels beneath the great pyramids of Teotihuacán.
Teotihuacán was the great capital of Mesoamerica, and one of the cradles of Western Civilization. Alongside archaeologist Sergio Gómez Chávez, John Leguizamo explores the network of tunnels beneath the great pyramids of Teotihuacán that was unearthed in 2003 – originally built two thousand years ago, without the use of machinery or power tools.
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Funding for American Historia is provided, in part, by PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Anderson Family Charitable Fund, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The WNET Group’s Chasing the Dream initiative, the Ford Foundation/JustFilms, and Seton J. Melvin.
Exploring the Tunnels of Teotihuacán
Clip: Episode 1 | 3m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
Teotihuacán was the great capital of Mesoamerica, and one of the cradles of Western Civilization. Alongside archaeologist Sergio Gómez Chávez, John Leguizamo explores the network of tunnels beneath the great pyramids of Teotihuacán that was unearthed in 2003 – originally built two thousand years ago, without the use of machinery or power tools.
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Ben DeJesus, director of “American Historia,” and John Leguizamo, creator and host, discuss working with historical advisors and how AI technology supported their storytelling initiatives.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWe didn't dig the subway tunnels of New York until about 100 years ago.
Two thousand years earlier, the original scientists and rulers of Teotihuacan built this series of tunnels, dozens of feet beneath the ground, without the use of machinery or power tools.
These tunnels connected chamber holding treasures long forgotten until they were unearthed in 2003.
It was a groundbreaking discovery that changed our perception of the civilization that once thrived here.
And I'm here to meet the man who uncovered these wonders: archaeologist Sergio Gomez.
¡Qué placer!
¡Mucho gusto!
¿Donde estoy?
Estamos en frente del Templo de la Serpiente Emplumada, donde hace varios años descubrimos un tunel que nos conduce hasta casi el centro de la pirámida.
Es problamente uno de los descubriementos mas importantes que se han hecho en los ultimos años en Teotihuacán.
¿Y porque dices esto?
Tenemos una gran cantidad de objetos importados de la zona Maya, muchas cosas increíbles traídas desde Central America.
Y también tenemos pequeños fragmentos de turquesa, importada desde Arizona.
This monumental discovery of turquoise all the way from Arizona prove that the people of Teotihuacan had significant trade relationships with societies as far away as Arizona to the north, and Honduras to the south.
¿Qué tan profundo es?
Vamos a bajar casi quince metros.
¿Es peligroso?
- Es muy peligroso.
- ¿Por qué?
No puedes tocar las paredes, que es muy venenoso.
Pero vamos a entrar con mucho cuidado, sin tocarlo.
Si, si, tran- tranquilo.
- Un casco para tu... - Gracias.
... para precaution.
Vamos a pasar.
To put that into context, their network extended almost as far as the Roman Empire at about the same time.
¿To que es?
Esto es el hueco donde yo baje la primera vez.
Al fondo, encontramos cuatro ramos de flores, perfectamente conservados.
¡No!
- ¡Increíble!
- Increíble.
As we get further into the tunnel, I can feel how deep I a below the surface of the earth.
Estamos llegando a la parte finale del túnel, donde encontramos tres grandes cámaras.
La percepción que tienen del tiempo es distinta.
No importa si no la vi se terminada -- la proyectaste, y tal vez tres o cuatro generaciones después, lo terminaron.
Pero a nosotros, tenemos mucha prisa.
- Si.
- Quiere hacer cosas muy rápido.
Para ellos eran diferente.
Todo el universo gira en torno a este eje.
¿Cómo hicieron ellos, sin la tecnología?
¡Si, si!
¿Quién puede venir aquí?
- ¿Todo el mundo, el publico?
- No, no.
Este es un lugar muy sagrado, un lugar muy delicado, y nunca va a ser abierto al público.
Y por eso me da gusto que hayas venido.
Que honor.
Sergio, thank you for bringing me here.
I feel very honored, and it's so special to see this sacred space.
The Complicated Story of La Malinche
Video has Closed Captions
John Leguizamo and historians explore the complex story of La Malinche. (3m 36s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship
Funding for American Historia is provided, in part, by PBS, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Anderson Family Charitable Fund, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, The WNET Group’s Chasing the Dream initiative, the Ford Foundation/JustFilms, and Seton J. Melvin.