Plot Synopsis

In each half-hour episode of SECRETS UNLOCKED, host Adam Mastrelli explores remarkable relics that are full of secrets -- written in stone, gold, and blood -- while discovering the truths behind these mysteries. Adam journeys to hidden corners of the world, deciphers ancient documents, and applies groundbreaking research and forensic techniques in his quest to discover the truth about these fabled cities, monuments, and remnants. On Monday, March 9, 2020 from 8-9pm ET/PT, Smithsonian premiered SECRETS UNLOCKED, debuting back-to-back episodes:

"Garden of Eden" (8pm): The Garden of Eden, the Bible's most famous story, is considered by many to be an allegory about where humanity originated. But to some there is the possibility that this place exists on Earth. Now, the discovery of an archaeological wonder in southeast Turkey may hold the secret to the location of Adam and Eve's Paradise on Earth. Guided by host Adam Mastrelli, we investigate the oldest monumental structure ever built and see how it has revolutionized our understanding of prehistoric nomads.

"Jonah and the Whale" (8:30pm): On a mission to erase history, ISIS obliterated the shrine of the biblical prophet Jonah in Mosul, Iraq and may have inadvertently revealed the historical reality behind one of the Old Testament's most mysterious stories. Discover how an opportunity born out of the destruction of war helped archaeologists unearth new truths about the tale of Jonah and the Whale. Once dismissed as fiction, new evidence suggests that the prophet, the wicked king he warned to repent, and the original "Sin City" of Nineveh, may have been real.
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On Monday, June 15, 2020 from 8-9pm ET/PT, Smithsonian Channel premiered the season finale of SECRETS UNLOCKED, debuting back-to-back new episodes:

"Tower of Babel" (8pm): The Tower of Babel is one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible, an apocalyptic tale of the construction of a mighty stairway to heaven that was destroyed by the wrath of God. Now, an incredible discovery suggests that this immense structure wasn't simply a work of fiction, but existed in the legendary city of Babylon. Host Adam Mastrelli examines the mysteries of this lost wonder of the ancient world, the legendary King Nebuchadnezzar II who built it, and his prisoners of war, who may have inspired the biblical tale.

"The Pharaoh in the Suburbs" (8:30pm): Until recently, the Egyptian pharaoh known as Psamtik I was just a footnote in history. That all changed when archaeologists stumbled upon the remnants of a massive statue made in his honor in a Cairo suburb. Host Adam Mastrelli shows how this remarkable find has led to the rediscovery of a game-changing ruler, who rescued his crumbling country from vicious invaders and brought a new golden era to ancient Egypt. It's a discovery that has restored the great legacy of a forgotten pharaoh.