For most people, the words "mummies" and "pyramids" will conjure up images of ancient Egypt, and indeed that's where the most spectacular pyramids and tombs are to be found. But the ancient Egyptians were neither the first nor the only people to mummify their dead and build elaborate tombs and temples to honor them. Mummies and Pyramids: Egypt and Beyond contains four separate documentaries, previously broadcast on television on the Learning Channel and Discovery Channel, which explore the mummies and pyramids not only of Egypt, but also of several different cultures in Central and South America.

The DVD includes four separate features, each 50 minutes long. First is "The Ultimate Guide to Pyramids," which takes a look at pyramid-building in civilizations widely separated in both time and space: ancient Egypt and the Moche, Maya, and Aztec cultures of the Americas. The program is well-structured, and though it switches between talking about Egypt and talking about the Americas several times during the course of the program, it's always a logical switch. Maps are also used very effectively throughout the program to give context and highlight important points. I was impressed with the amount of fresh and interesting information supplied in the program, ranging from new insights into the building methods used in the great pyramids of Egypt, to the hidden significance of the Mayan temple pyramids.

Next in line is "The Pyramid of Doom: An Ancient Murder Mystery." This feature concentrates on the question of whether or not the Moche of Peru conducted human sacrifice. I've always found the Moche to be fascinating, and this program highlights some of the most interesting Moche finds in Peru, including the "Lord of Sipan" burial with its rich funeral goods, as well as excavations at the ceremonial site Huaca de la Luna. Moche pottery, which is very detailed and sculpture-like, is also examined for the insights that it can shed on a civilization that had no written form of the language. The emphasis here is a bit sensationalistic (Did they perform human sacrifice! Or did they not!) and at times some of the interpretations are a bit stretched, but on the whole it's interesting.

The third program, "The Oldest Mummies in the World," is another tightly-focused piece, this time on the Chinchorro mummies of South America's Atacama desert, the driest place on Earth. This is a very interesting program that offers a wealth of information about the Chinchorro people, drawing from both archaeological and forensic evidence to determine what their daily lives were like, and even what illnesses they suffered. While the actual topic is quite focused, the presentation of the information is rather unstructured, leading to repetition of previously-mentioned material at times.

The final program,  "Desert Mummies of Peru," follows one archaeological team as they excavate tombs containing naturally mummified bodies in the Atacama desert. This feature highlights the tragic depredations of tomb looters, and shows the process by which artifacts are discovered, excavated, cleaned for conservation, and studied, but it's lighter in actual informative content than the others.

Rather oddly for what appear to be four parts of a single series, the programs are rather disconnected, with a different narrator for each feature, and some overlap of material. But as a whole, Mummies and Pyramids: Egypt and Beyond is interesting, with a substantial amount of information that moves beyond the well-known facts about the ancient Egyptians.

The DVD

Video

The first, third, and fourth programs are presented in a non-anamorphic 1.66:1 widescreen aspect ratio. Oddly, the second feature is in the 1.33:1 ratio; I suspect that it has been cropped.

The image has been very heavily compressed on this DVD, and it shows, with many glaring examples of pixellation. Another problem is the presence of fairly heavy edge enhancement, which gives the picture a soft appearance overall. Some grain is present as well.

Apart from these issues, the image looks quite good. Colors are excellent, and contrast is handled well also; the print is clean and free of flaws. I would have liked a higher bit-rate transfer, but for the purposes of this documentary, the image quality is adequate.

Audio

The narrator's voice is always clear and completely understandable in this Dolby 2.0 soundtrack, which is the key element here. The scientists who are interviewed throughout the program usually sound fine, though at times their voices are a bit muffled, probably due to the fact that many of the recordings were done in the field rather than in a studio.

Extras

There are no special features on this DVD. The menus are very straightforward and easy to use.

Final thoughts

While not as polished as other documentaries that I've seen, the interesting subject matter of Mummies and Pyramids: Egypt and Beyond will make it worthwhile for any viewer who is interested in archaeology and ancient civilizations. The research presented here is fairly up-to-date, and the focus on South American mummies means that most viewers will find the material fresh. With a satisfactory if not outstanding DVD transfer, I recommend it as a purchase.