A documentary that follows archaeologist Dr Tony Spawforth as he travels through South America and the Caribbean in search of the kingdom coveted by 16th-century European conquistadors.
The gold-seekers, working on the rumourthat somewhere in the continent's mountains and jungle heartland lay an embarrassment of riches, called their elusive prize El Dorado. On their trek, they encountered sights that both amazed and appalled them: armies led by mummified ancestors, children sacrificed to the sun and gods appeased with gold.
Four hundred years after the conquistadors' quest, Dr Spawforth travels to Colombia to undertake a new search for the kingdom. His investigations take him to the lost land of the Muisca, where he discovers fresh evidence about theirgods, their sacred lakes and their extraordinary use of gold. Gaining an insight into their spiritual world leads to new revelations about El Dorado that eluded the conquistadors.
Producer Graham Judd
Series producer Christopher Mann
TRANSCRIPT: for an illustrated transcnpt of the programme, send acheque for £3.99. payable to BSS to [address removed]