Objects found at archaeological sites reveal unsuspected truths about the past, but risk destruction without expert preservation; follow scientist Philippe Walter to France, Egypt and Greece as he uses new technology to analyze antiquities.

Technological innovations allow analysis of ancient skeletons, revealing more about people's diverse ancestry; isotope and DNA analysis from bones and dental plaque can determine skin, eye and hair color, as well as genetic ancestry and gender.

Exploring how cutting-edge technology can protect at-risk archaeological sites to help preserve the past; from the bottom of the ocean to deep inside pre-Inca temples, LIDAR, robots and digitization create virtual archives for the future.

From reconstructing an ancient Neanderthal cave, to retracing an ancient woman's footprints, to decoding the Herculaneum scrolls, scientists decipher the past by examining traces of history that have disappeared.