The archaeological discovery that rivaled Tutankhamun but was eclipsed by war
In short: While Tutankhamun captured the world's imagination, the lost city of Tanis remained a hidden masterpiece. This documentary explores the 1939 unearthing of intact royal tombs and the modern technology now being used to map this massive, forgotten capital.
In 1939, French archaeologist Pierre Montet discovered the tombs of pharaohs such as Sheshonq II and Psousennès I. These sites contained golden masks and perfectly preserved mummies, leading some to consider the find even more significant than that of Tutankhamun. However, the outbreak of World War II halted progress, leaving the site largely obscure for decades.
The site covers a vast 200 hectares, making it three times the size of Pompeii. Current excavations led by François Leclère utilize magnetometers and 3D mapping to explore the city of the last pharaohs, blending historical archives with modern research to reveal its full scale.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Lost City of Tanis: Secrets of the Forgotten Pharaohs - Full Documentary
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