The ancient city of Abydos contains some of the oldest Egyptian tombs and a buried temple linked to the Cult of Osiris, a mysterious death cult; now, archaeologists use cutting-edge drone imaging to investigate long-hidden secrets behind the first pharaohs.

On the Tigris River, the ancient city of Samarra contains a series of medieval structures that hold secrets to one of the world's greatest empires, the Abbasid Caliphate; now, archaeologists use pioneering technology to investigate its astonishing rise to power and reveal its monumental downfall.