Unknown: The Lost Pyramid

Max Salomon's 2023 documentary follows excavations underway at Saqqara in Egypt. The archaeologist Zahi Hawass is pursuing a pyramid long spoken of but never located, and the teams uncover tombs and objects more than four thousand years old. The film shows the daily reality of a dig: moving sand, hundreds of workers, months of waiting and finding nothing much of the time. A second line follows young Egyptian archaeologists, and women researchers in particular, trying to establish themselves in the field. Hawass's manner on camera sets the tone and that manner is contested; he is both well known and criticised in Egyptian archaeology. The presentation is popular and built around excitement. Who it's for: viewers curious about archaeology documentaries and Egyptian history. Who it's not for: anyone wanting detail on scientific method; the film concentrates on the moment of discovery.