Ep 2. America's Pyramids

In the second episode of season 2 of Digging for the Truth, titled "America's Pyramids," host Josh Bernstein sets out to explore the mystery of the ancient structures that have been dubbed the "pyramids of the Americas." While most people associate pyramids with Egypt, there are in fact similar structures located throughout the world, including in Central and South America.

Bernstein begins his journey in Mexico, where he examines the famous Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan. This enormous pyramid was constructed around 1 AD by a mysterious civilization that left behind no written records. Despite its impressive size and intricate construction, little is known about the people who built it or the purpose it served.

From there, Bernstein travels to the jungles of Guatemala to investigate the ruins of Tikal, one of the largest Mayan cities ever built. The centerpiece of Tikal is a towering pyramid known as Temple IV, which rises over 200 feet above the surrounding jungle canopy. Despite being abandoned for centuries, Tikal continues to hold many secrets for archaeologists and historians.

The episode then takes a detour to the United States, where Bernstein visits the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Illinois. Although not technically pyramids, these earthen mounds were built by a sophisticated indigenous culture that thrived in the Midwest over 1,000 years ago. The largest of these mounds, known as Monk's Mound, stands over 100 feet tall and covers an incredible 14 acres.

Finally, Bernstein heads south to Peru to visit the most famous of all the American pyramids: Machu Picchu. This iconic Incan city high in the Andes Mountains features several pyramidal structures, including the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Three Windows. Even today, the purpose of these buildings remains a mystery.

Throughout the episode, Bernstein speaks with experts in archaeology and Indigenous cultures to try and piece together the puzzle of these enigmatic structures. What he discovers is both fascinating and elusive, as the peoples who built these pyramids left behind few clues as to their identity and purpose.

"America's Pyramids" is a captivating exploration of the unknown worlds of ancient civilizations, and a testament to the incredible creativity and ingenuity of our distant ancestors.