Josh Gates ventures into the Cambodian jungle to investigate Koh Ker, a mysterious ancient capital that thrived for just 20 years before being abandoned in the 10th century. King Jayavarman IV moved the seat of the mighty Khmer Empire from Angkor to this remote location, constructing dozens of temples, reservoirs, and the tallest pyramid in Cambodia, all adorned with exceptional sculptures. Gates teams up with American attorney Brad Gordon and an international team of investigators combining archaeologists, cutting-edge technology, and even former looters to locate and restore priceless statues that have been relentlessly plundered over the centuries. These masterpieces hold crucial clues to understanding why this grand city was built in such isolation and why it fell so suddenly.
The Khmer Empire ruled as an ancient superpower for 800 years, controlling nearly 400,000 square miles of Southeast Asia from its traditional capital at Angkor. Jayavarman IV's decision to relocate the capital deep into the jungle remains one of the great archaeological mysteries of the empire, with the city mysteriously abandoned after only two decades and swallowed by vegetation. What makes this episode compelling is Gates's approach to piecing together both literal fragments—recovering looted sculptures as part of what he calls "the greatest art heist in history"—and historical fragments, working with experts who are using modern technology alongside knowledge from those who once looted the sites to recover and restore Cambodia's cultural heritage and finally answer why this magnificent city rose and fell so quickly.
Cambodia National Museum, Phnom Penh
Cambodia · historical
Gates visits the National Museum to examine repatriated statues from Koh Ker, including a Shiva and Skanda sculpture, and learns about the scale of looting from attorney Brad Gordon.
Koh Ker
Cambodia · archaeological
Gates investigates the ruins of Koh Ker, the remote 10th-century capital of the Khmer Empire, exploring its pyramid, temples, and ongoing excavations to understand why it was built and why it was suddenly abandoned.
Mekong River, Cambodia
Cambodia · historical
Gates travels by boat up the Mekong River, framing it as the lifeblood of the Khmer Empire and the starting point of his investigation into the lost capital of Koh Ker.
Phnom Penh
Cambodia · historical
Gates arrives in the Cambodian capital to begin his journey toward the lost city, exploring local markets and absorbing the city's complex history before meeting his first contact Nick Ray.
Prasat Krachap Temple, Koh Ker
Cambodia · archaeological
Gates joins archaeologists in excavating the entrance plaza of Prasat Krachap, uncovering inscribed columns, carved sandstone pediment fragments, and a lion guardian statue fragment, and helps reassemble portions of the temple's ornate entryway.
Prasat Pram Pyramid, Koh Ker
Cambodia · archaeological
Gates climbs the tallest pyramid in Cambodia and descends into its 50-foot central shaft to search for a missing giant golden linga statue said to have once crowned the structure.
Scandinavia
Norway · archaeological
Josh searched through Scandinavian forests for the lost tomb and treasure of legendary Viking king Harald Bluetooth Gormsson, following clues from a mysterious gold artifact.