Archaeologists on an expedition delve in depth in uncovering corners of the deep history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the secrets of Al-Ula.

Beth: A documentary (produced and projected by Discovery Channel / the world's leading real-life media group) reveals corners of Saudi Arabia's deep history and secrets from Al-Ula. Academic Award-winning actor Jeremy Irons narrates hidden corners of the ancient history of Saudi Arabia, as a team of specialists works to trace the effects of a society that thrived more than 7,000 years ago.

Narrated by Academy Award winning Jeremy Irons®, the documentary is broadcast exclusively on Discovery Channel as follows:

Middle East and North Africa:

First show: March 31, 2021 - 10:40 PM KSA

Replay: April 4, 2021 (time to be announced)

 Discovery Channel - OSN Channel 500 in Saudi Arabia.

India:

First Show: March 31, 2021 - 7:00 PM India Time

Europe:

France Premiere: March 31, 2021 - 10:25 PM French local time

Premiere in Germany: April 01, 2021 - 10:30 pm German local time

Spain and Portugal Premiere: April 02, 2021 - 9:00 pm local time

Premiere in Italy: April 04, 2021 - 9:00 PM local time

Northern European Premiere: April 04, 2021 - 11:00 pm Northern European Time.

Russia Premiere: April 06, 2021 - 10:50 PM RST.

Australia and New Zealand:

First show: March 31, 2021 - 10:25 PM KSA.

United States of America:

Channel Premiere: March 31, 2021 - 10:00 PM local time.

Discovery Channel Premiere: April 02, 2021 - 08:00 AM local time.

The Discovery Channel takes a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important discoveries in modern history in the Saudi city of Al-Ula, as teams of archaeologists uncover evidence that re-establish global understanding and the importance of the ancient Arabian Peninsula in the new documentary "Architects of Ancient Arabia."

 Narrated with the voice of Jeremy Irons, winner of Academic Ward, Tony Ward, Golden Globe and Emmy Awards, the documentary "Architects of Ancient Arabia" takes viewers on a journey into the deep past of Saudi Arabia, following teams of prominent Saudi and international archaeologists. Accompanied by a local historian, they reveal new wonders in the land that had never been discovered before. Using multiple modern technologies to record tens of thousands of sites, specialists are choosing some of them to discover them with great accuracy, in order to form a new chapter in the story of human civilization.

 

Al-Ula is an unknown oasis in the desert of northwestern Arabia, which was once a thriving and important crossroads on the Incense Road and home to 3,000 years of successive, powerful civilizations. Some of the most important surveys and excavations in the recent history of the region have been undertaken, revealing Al-Ula's deep past.

The specialized archaeological excavation teams seek to decipher the activities related to the ancient rock structures that they are excavating around the area surrounding the Al-Ula Oasis, as the results obtained contribute to deepening the historical legacy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ancient Arabian Peninsula as a whole. In the documentary film, archaeologists reveal evidence of an unexpected ancient weather in this region as they continue to link the details of Al-Ula's rich history with events, so that these details are presented in time to visitors to the city from all over the world.

 

Henry Windridge, Head of Marketing, Digital Innovation, Pay TV, EMEA Markets and Global Brands at Discovery, commented: “Saudi Arabia - a kingdom untouched by its deserts - has preserved some of the most surprising evidence of ancient civilizations. The world leader in real-world entertainment will be able to continue its long-standing commitment to the region by uncovering the history of this ancient masterpiece and sharing it with viewers around the world. "

 

The documentary was produced by Discovery in cooperation with the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate and produced by the Powder House Production Company.

 Robert Kirwan, executive producer of the documentary commented: “The weeks we spent in AlUla filming alongside the archeology team were a life-changing experience for me and the rest of the staff. The stunning landscape is unlike anything you've seen before. The stone structures, literally thousands of which dotted the region, have remained intact for thousands of years. We were walking among the ruins of the unknown ancients, and we felt their presence and their longing to tell their story. "

 

"Architects of Ancient Arabia" sheds light on new discoveries that reset the timeline for the emergence of complex human societies. Thousands of mysterious stone constructions built over a barren desert may bear the missing link to show the share of AlUla as a major turning point in human history, and these discoveries have received great interest from the archeology community around the world and will be unpacked with more details during the coming months in the form of articles and scientific papers Published, will change the current understanding of the importance of the Arabian Peninsula.

 

As Rebecca Foot, Director of Archeology and Cultural Heritage Research at the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, commented: “We already know things about major sites like Hegra, but I hope that the team's work and this documentary will start filling in the gaps in our knowledge of the late prehistoric period, when I became Societies are more complex. "

"Archaeologists are just beginning to reveal the secrets and stories preserved in the desert of this amazing site," Foote added. "There is so much to discover and we are excited to be able to share our work and this place with the world through this documentary."