“Great ruined cities lost in the jungles of Central America and Mexico. Who built these great cities? And why?”

Relics of the civilisation which disappeared 500 years before Columbus landed in the New World. They would tantalize explorers for hundreds of years. Great ruined cities lost in the jungles of Central America and Mexico. Who had built these great cities? And why? It would take more than a century to unlock the secrets of the ancient Maya.

Two extraordinary people would lead the way. Separated by a hundred years, they would unveil one of the greatest mysteries of archaeology. This National Geographic ‘Treasure Seekers’ documentary focuses on the explorations of the 19th century American, John Lloyd Stephens and on the life and work of Tania Proskouriakoff.

John Stephens opened the era of serious Mayan archaeology, whilst Alberto Ruz, a Mexican archaeologist, discovered the tomb of Lord Pacal. Stephens disproved the generally held view that native Americans were savages who were incapable of any form of civilisation. His contemporaries believed that the ancient ruins in the Central American jungle had been built by Egyptians, Carthaginians or even the Lost Tribes of Israel!

Stephens travelled with Fred Caterwood, an artist specialising in architecture, and together they discovered one of the most majestic and important ancient, native American civilisations.

Caterwood recorded their discoveries of intricately carved stone faces and hieroglyphs in a series of very finely detailed and accurate drawings. Many of his drawings are now the only record of the ruins and carvings that have gradually weathered away since they were discovered in Chichen Itza, Copan and Palenque.

Artist, architect, and archaeologist, Tatiana began her career in Maya archaeology in 1936 when she was asked to serve as surveyor and draftsperson for the University of Pennsylvania expedition to the lush rainforest in the Yucatan and on the border between Mexico and Guatemala.

She was to measure and survey the existing ruins of Piedras Negras and from this, make reconstruction drawings of how the site may have appeared during the height of the Maya Civilization one thousand years before. She discovered the ruins of over 40 cities in the jungle and provided evidence that the hieroglyphics found at ruins across Mexico and Guatemala all originated from the same civilisation.

For the rest of her life, Tania worked hard to understand and interpret the ancient Maya, making major contributions along the way. It was a remarkable life - it was her work that helped bring a new understanding of the ancient Maya.

Produced and directed by Graham Townsley & Ann Carroll.
This documentary is part of the highly acclaimed ‘Treasure Seekers’ series, produced for National Geographic.