Discovery has announced plans to open an Egyptian sarcophagus for the first time on live TV this spring for an upcoming special titled “Expedition Unknown: Egypt Live.”
The two-hour live event is set to air Sunday, April 7. Per Discovery, the special “will take viewers to the inner chambers of an excavation site, where archeologists recently uncovered a network of vertical shafts leading to an underground network of tunnels and tombs with 40 mummies believed to be part of the noble elite.”
Archeologists will open a 3,000-year-old limestone sarcophagus found inside underground complex. The identity of the person inside remains unknown.
Adventurer and avid explorer Josh Gates will host the program alongside Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass and Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt.
“This is Discovery at its best, as we seek to uncover history that has been buried in the sands of Egypt for millennia,” said Nancy Daniels, chief brand officer, Discovery & Factual. “I’m excited as Josh Gates takes us on one of his most ambitious expeditions yet.”
Discovery Studios and Ping Pong Productions will produce in association with Big Dreams Entertainment.
Leslie Greif is executive producer for Big Dreams. EPs for Discovery Studios are Sandy Varo Jarrell, Peter Isacksen and Jason Sklaver. For Ping Pong Productions, Brad Kuhlman, Casey Brumels and Josh Gates; and for Discovery Channel, Howard Swartz.