Native America

Cities of the Sky

Discover the cosmological secrets behind America’s ancient cities. Scientists explore some of the world’s largest pyramids and 3D-scan a lost city of monumental mounds on the Mississippi River; native elders reveal ancient powers of the sky.

Cities of the Sky

53m 30s

Discover the cosmological secrets behind America’s ancient cities. Scientists explore some of the world’s largest pyramids and 3D-scan a lost city of monumental mounds on the Mississippi River; native elders reveal ancient powers of the sky.

Previews + Extras

  • Extended Interview: Religion at Teotihuacan: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Extended Interview: Religion at Teotihuacan

    S1 E3 - 2m 38s

    Harvard professor of Religion David Carrasco speaks on religion in general and Teotihuacan in particular. He finds common elements that address the creation of the world, otherworldly powers, and peoples relationship to those powers.

  • Extended Interview: Ian Thompson on Ancient Earthen Mounds: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Extended Interview: Ian Thompson on Ancient Earthen Mounds

    S1 E3 - 3m 35s

    Choctaw scholar Ian Thompson reflects on the ancient American tradition of earthen mounds and mound cultures. They are an underrepresented major feature of people who have lived in the Americas for over ten-thousand years.

  • Extended Interview: Ian Thompson on the Trail of Tears: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Extended Interview: Ian Thompson on the Trail of Tears

    S1 E3 - 4m 28s

    Choctaw scholar Ian Thompson reflects on the bitter chapter of history commonly called the Trail of Tears. From a deeply personal perspective he recounts one of US history’s most notorious injustices against Native peoples who were actually allies of the US.

  • Inca Huacas: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Inca Huacas

    S1 E3 - 2m 32s

    Harvard Archaeologist and Quechua shaman demonstrate historical and contemporary spiritual importance of Incan Huacas.

  • Lidar Mapping: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Lidar Mapping

    S1 E3 - 2m 23s

    Cahokia researchers uses new LiDAR technology to map the layout of this ancient city.

  • The Governor’s Palace: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Governor’s Palace

    S1 E3 - 3m 7s

    Art historian Mary Miller uncovers why this magnificent structure is built at an angle to the rest of the city.

  • Mound 72: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Mound 72

    S1 E3 - 2m 29s

    Archaeologists investigate Cahokian human sacrifice.

  • Episode 3 Preview | Cities of the Sky: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Episode 3 Preview | Cities of the Sky

    S1 E3 - 30s

    Discover the cosmological secrets behind America’s ancient cities. Scientists explore some of the world’s largest pyramids and 3D-scan a lost city of monumental mounds on the Mississippi River; native elders reveal ancient powers of the sky.

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