Digging for the Truth - DVD

Digging for the Truth - The Complete Season 1 (History Channel)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Pure Bliss for the Armchair Historian/Archeologist 5 out of 5 stars.
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For three years, real-life survival expert and explorer Josh Bernstein had what I considered to be the coolest job on TV. I'm an avid historian, so probably a lot of people won't award the same number of cool points to the job or Bernstein that I do, but I'm okay with that. When I was a kid, and even now, I dreamed of doing what Bernstein got to do on The History Channel's DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH.

As a kid, I grew up on the novels of H. Rider Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and reprint pulp magazines of DOC SAVAGE. All of those books, at one time or another, featured lost civilizations or historical conundrums that experts have argued over and wondered about for hundreds and thousands of years. Josh Bernstein got to saddle up horses, camels, motorcycles, and jeeps to ramble around the world in an effort to bring light to several of these puzzles. These explorations weren't without peril, though. Bernstein risks his life through long, high climbs, flash floods, and the real threat of bandits.

I think part of what really makes DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH work for me is Bernstein's obvious enthusiasm for what he's doing and what he's working on. Even before The History Channel discovered him, Bernstein had been involved with survivalist schools and was a double major in anthropology and psychology. He worked his way up from a student at Boulder Outdoor Survival School (BOSS) to CEO.

Throughout all of the episodes, Bernstein remains eager and attentive, a teacher to the television audience as well as a student of the people he meets while researching a subject for the show. He is extremely intelligent, educated, and reachable. I always got the impression that if I ever met him, he'd sit down and talk and be just one of the guys. That's the same quality that makes Mike Rowe, the host of DIRTY JOBS, so appealing.

This first season DVD collection offers 13 adventures. As always, Bernstein sets up the question he wants to answer, ascertain, or illuminate for his audience. He doesn't always get answers, but the journey is fun and a lot is learned along the way.

"Who Built Egypt's Pyramids?" and "Nefertiti: The Mummy Returns" first aired on the same night. I wish they'd broken them up on the DVD set because they seem too similar in some ways. In fact, some of the people Bernstein talks to are the same people. It probably made sense to shoot them at the same time, or close to each other, and maybe sitting through them in a single sitting when the show was new was all right, but they do have a degree of sameness that may led uninitiated viewers into believing the shows are all going to be about the same. That's a disservice to the DVD collection.

In "Who Built Egypt's Pyramids?", Bernstein travels to Egypt (and really strikes a chord for all the Indiana Jones fans out there, which I'm sure didn't sit well with Bernstein) to speculate on the construction of the pyramids. A lot of the footage is breathtaking, and Bernstein gets permission to go to areas in the pyramids that aren't open to the public and haven't been seen in years. Seeing the history scrawled on the walls is amazing. He even brings in the extra-terrestrial angle, but that's not touched on too much. The stone splitting bit was fascinating.

When I was a kid in school, we learned about Queen Nefertiti in history class. Tutankhamen hadn't been found at that point (which, I suppose, dates me a little), so this famous Queen was the high point of the class. We even made makeup out of egg whites as I recall. But I didn't know there was as big a mystery to her as there obviously was. Until Bernstein revealed that someone had tried to erase her history in the Egyptian culture, I hadn't a clue. Then I was hooked on the mystery as he started chasing down clues.

"Pompeii Secrets Revealed" was beautiful and grotesque at the same time. The volcano looked wonderful, as did the caldera and the outlying lands. Bernstein's historical facts were as interesting as ever, especially when I realized that this was where Pliny the Elder had gotten killed while his son watched. But the plaster casts that were made of the bodies of the people who'd burned to death were macabre. I enjoyed the recreation of what had been happening there the last few days before the volcano finally blew. I was also surprised to learn how the lava stone was used to construct the buildings, and that the underground could be gotten to through an opening inside a small grocery story. These are just some of the things I love about this series.

The episode "Hunt for the Lost Ark" sounds too familiar. But Bernstein's real-life adventures are anything but. The climb up the side of the mountain to the monastery (where even the animals are only male) was dangerous, and Bernstein didn't try to hide the fact that he struggled with the climb. I like his honesty. The idea of the bandits scaring them enough to try to get across a flash flood area added more suspense to the tale, even though I knew they had to get out alive. Bernstein traveled more in this episode than in any other.

"The Holy Grail" is another one of those historical objects that so much has been written about. Despite the fact that it was supposed to be the cup (or bowl) that Jesus Christ drank out of at the Last Supper, it was lost. Add to that the fact that it was supposed to be used to catch the blood of Christ as he hung dying on the cross, and you have a hard time believing anyone could misplace it. Even as much as I thought I knew about the Grail, Bernstein wrapped even more stories into the mix.

In "The Iceman Cometh", Bernstein sets out to solve a 5000 year old mystery. The frozen man discovered in 1991 had been the object of much speculation - especially after it was discovered that he was probably murdered. The exploration of the Iceman's clothing and weapons is awesome. Bernstein also had some hair-raising adventure along the way with the blizzard and near-crash of the helicopter.

H. Rider Haggard wasn't the only author who was fascinated with the legendary lost mines of King Solomon. Edgar Rice Burroughs renamed it Opar and used it in a few of his Tarzan novels. "Quest for King Solomon's Gold" brings up a lot of the history of Ophir (what is now - most experts agree - is Pakistan or India). Still, as Bernstein points out, a number of questions remain.

"The Lost Tribe of Israel" involves a lot of Biblical history and ends up merging with the - relatively - new science of DNA linked to the discovery of possible ancestors. Again, this is a topic fantasy and science fiction writers have played with for years. Bernstein's search takes some unexpected turns which still has archeologists and historians arguing.

I have to admit, I either didn't know about Nazca lines or I had forgotten. But once Bernstein started elaborating on the "Secrets of the Nazca Lines", I was hooked. These people created huge, elaborate drawings of stones (geoglyphs) in the desert that no one at that time could really see. It was at least another 1200 years before the airplane was invented. Bernstein covers all the possible reasons, but his explanation of how the people of that time were able to create those lines was what really sucked me in.

El Dorado is another famous legend that's been lost in history. In "The Search for El Dorado", Bernstein looks for the lost city of gold. I didn't know about the new document that Bernstein worked with, and the last I'd heard, everybody generally assumed El Dorado was somewhere in the United States. The search, and Bernstein's conjectures, was fascinating as always. I'd really thought this episode would only cover stuff I was already familiar with, but Bernstein always ferrets out more information and legend.

"Giants of Easter Island" was great. I can remember looking at pictures of those giant statues (moai) when I was a kid and wondering what the people who'd made them had sculpted them for. The moai have a look like nothing else I'd seen before this program. Bernstein's participation in the Birdman practices was awesome. I'd heard of them before, but there were supposed to be closed to outsiders.

"Mystery of the Anasazi" isn't as interesting, to me, as most of the other episodes. Again, this was a mystery that too many people are familiar with. They're also familiar with most of the theories about what happened to them. Still, Bernstein does a good job with the presentation and the landscapes were filmed beautifully.

One of the things that I like best about the DVD set is that my son can enjoy the shows as well. History is one of the most ill-treated subjects in the public school system. I never had a really good history teacher until I was in college. Bernstein is bringing history to life for my ten-year-old in ways that excite and thrill him, and leave him with questions and a desire to learn more. In the end, I believe that's the mark Bernstein and The History Channel wanted to leave with this set, and they achieved it.

DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH: THE COMPLETE SEASON 1 is a great addition to the armchair archeologist's collection. It's also good to have on the shelves for home schools and for parents who want to expose their kids to history that's not just found on the pages of books that don't carry that same excitement and enthusiasm Bernstein brings.

Editorial Review:

This History Channel presentation travels to some far-flung reaches of the globe in a quest to solves some of the biggest mysteries about the planet we live on. All 13 episodes from the first season of the show are collected here with an expert team venturing to places such as Ethiopia and the Andes Mountains in a valiant attempt at cracking some puzzling facts about the world.System Requirements:Running Time 50 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. Rating: NR UPC: 733961758047 Manufacturer No: AAE-75804

Digging for the Truth - The Complete Season 2 (History Channel)

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Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In his quest to solve some of the world's most elusive archaeological puzzles of all time Josh Bernstein's passion for history takes him on exhilarating adventures to some of the most remote corners of the earth.In the action-packed second season of the acclaimed original program from THE HISTORY CHANNEL® DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH follows this renowned explorer and survival expert as he tackles an all-new cache of history's best-kept secrets. Along the way Josh tracks down the “untraceable” Roanoke Island colonists who disappeared four hundred years ago journeys in search of the Amazon's lost cities and uncovers the truth behind the Stonehenge monument. Using the latest technical advances as well as ancient clues Josh unearths some of history's most powerful mysteries.Combining modern forensic science and majestic cinematography with exhilarating globetrotting exploits DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH: THE COMPLETE SEASON 2 reveals all 13 episodes of archaeological discovery and trailblazing adventure.DVD Features:New Interview with Josh Bernstein; Biography of Josh BernsteinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 733961770025 Manufacturer No: AAE-77002

History -- Digging For The Truth : Giants of Easter Island

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Interesting Look at Incredible Easter Island 4 out of 5 stars.
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Having been in Easter Island in late 2008, I purchased this DVD in order to get another perspective and, of course, to enjoy again the fascinating scenery of this place. The narrator does a solid job of laying out the theories concerning the moai and of raising questions that people have been trying to answer for years. You have to admire this guy for going wherever the situation demands. Of particular interest to me was the network of caves on the island, given that I did not have the opportunity to see them during my visit. The program is relatively short in light of the complexity of the subject matter. Nevertheless, it presents a decent overview of the issues, particularly those dealing with the construction and movement of the moai and the ultimate failure of the civilization there. Anything relative to Easter Island holds a certain fascination for me, and I hope that you find the same level of interest.

Editorial Review:

On the remotest island on the face of the planet stand the massive, enigmatic stone statues of Easter Island. Who carved them? And why? Ever since Easter Island was first discovered, this tiny pinprick of land in the middle of the Pacific Ocean has baffled scientists. How did the ancients who peopled this place even find it? Host Josh Bernstein sets out to unveil the mysteries of the island and of the remarkable stone heads that its first inhabitants left behind. Delving into the world of ancient PacificIslanders, he relearns the lost art of Polynesian navigation, recreates the techniques of Easter Island masons, and participates in dangerous ancient rituals--all to solve one of the greatest enigmas of our time: the mystery of Easter Island.

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History - Digging For The Truth : New Maya Revelations

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Editorial Review:

For nearly a century archaeologists place the height of the Maya civilization during the First Millennium AD. However, revolutionary discoveries in Guatemala are now challenging those views. When did the Maya Civilization truly reach its peak? Join host Josh Bernstein as he tracks the origins of the Maya throughout Mexico and the Central American rainforest. He climbs the tallest Maya pyramid, shovels muck from a jungle swamp, and reveals the known oldest mural in the Maya world.

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History - Digging For The Truth : City Of The Gods

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Editorial Review:

There was only one ancient city in the Americas that ever truly rivaled the size, scale, and power of its Old World counterparts--Teotihuacan, the City of the Gods. And today, it's the largest ghost town in the world. Still home to the world's third largest pyramid, this mysterious city was once a metropolis many times larger and more populous than the biggest Mayan and Aztecan cities ever built. Now, Josh Bernstein heads to central Mexico to check it out. He'll soar above the ancient city, explore its ob

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History - Digging For The Truth : Lost Treasures Of Petra

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Editorial Review:

The "red-rose" city of Petra stands as one of the most glorious and mysterious archaeological sites on earth. Created over 2,500 years ago, the ornate Petra cityscape was literally carved into the rose-colored walls of Jordan's Shara Mountains. The builders of Petra, the Nabataeans, were thought to be some of the wealthiest people ever to inhabit the Middle East, but they, along with their riches, simply vanished. What was Petra and could the Arabian site be still hiding precious treasure? Join host Josh Bernstein as he examines Petra's only surviving parchment manuscript, and goes underneath the ancient "Treasury" in search of hidden riches.

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History - Digging For The Truth : The Aztecs: Of Blood And Sacrifice

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Editorial Review:

The Aztecs were the largest civilization to ever rule Mesoamerica. Archaeology and modern science are now shedding new light on the blood rituals they practiced. Join host Josh Bernstein as he travels to Mexico City to investigate and use forensic science to examine the bones of sacrificial rituals. Next he'll try his hand at the weapons of the Aztecs, sample the potions of the priests and even cut through flesh using the technology of the ancients.

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History - Digging For The Truth : Lost Treasures of the Copper Scroll

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Editorial Review:

In the depths of an Israeli cave, archaeologists found rolls of dusty manuscripts dating to the 1st century AD, and they are inscribed on a copper scroll! Scholars believe the copper scrolls represent a detailed treasure map--a list of hiding places where the priests of Jerusalem's Second Temple stored their most precious silver and gold artifacts during times of trouble. Join host Josh Bernstein in his search as he rappels into the caves outside Qumran. He then creates his own copper scroll, and uses ground-penetrating radar inside a newly excavated tunnel hundreds of yards beneath the ground.

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History - Digging For The Truth : Cleopatra: The Last Pharaoh

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Editorial Review:

She ruled over men, bedding the likes of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony, and led one of the world's greatest civilizations. Her name has been immortalized in myth and legend. So, how did Cleopatra become the last of the pharaohs? In the shadow of the pyramids, Josh Bernstein joins Zahi Hawass on a hunt for mummies from the time of Cleopatra. He'll come face to face with Cleopatra's killer, the Egyptian cobra, and sail down the Nile River searching for clues to her true history. In Alexandria, Josh will descend into the cisterns below the modern city to look for evidence of Cleopatra's reign. Finally he'll dive into the harbor of Alexandria, where a beautiful palace lies--possibly the last vestige of Cleopatra's legendary wealth--the only testament to a woman who was perhaps the wisest and most cunning of all of Egypt's pharaohs.

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History -- Digging For The Truth Mystery of the Anasazi

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Editorial Review:

In the American Southwest, there is no more puzzling mystery than the magnificent stone cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde. Why did the Anasazi Indians suddenly move their villages to these perilous cliffs in the 13th century--and then abandon them just decades later--and seemingly disappear from history? Was it drought? Invading tribes? Or an insidious "cancer" from within that may have caused them to turn to fierce warfare and even cannibalism? In search of answers, our host, the intrepid explorer and survival expert Josh Bernstein, travels from Mesa Verde, Colorado to remote canyons in Utah where the Anasazi took refuge. Piecing together the story from both archaeologists and Native Americans, he finally ends up, in his search for the truth, in the eerie and desolate ruins of the Anasazi's greatest cultural center--Chaco Canyon.

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