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LOST KINGDOM OF THE BLACK PHARAOHS

PREMIERING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 AT 9PM

(NEW YORK) – A late dynasty of Ancient Egypt that ruled for 100 years beginning in 744 B.C was led by pharaohs including Piye, Shabaqo, and Taharqa, who won battles, powered the last great pyramid building boom, and gave the Egyptian empire its final golden age. Many scholars believed that these powerful pharaohs were black, but outdated stereotyping dismissed the idea as myth. In recent years, new evidence has shown that the 25th dynasty was indeed ruled by these great black pharaohs who were conquerors from Egypt’s southern neighbor Nubia, now Sudan. The latest research on the Kush Empire from leading archaeologists is revealed in a new two-hour Science Channel special, LOST KINGDOM OF THE BLACK PHARAOHS, premiering Sunday, December 1 at 9pm.

For most of the last century research on ancient Nubia had been limited, but in the last few years, as war in Sudan died down, there has been an explosion of exploration there with more than 30 teams of archaeologists working along the Sudanese Nile. Large scale excavations are taking place that are uncovering new evidence that Nubia was a great civilization equal to that of Egypt’s. LOST KINGDOM OF THE BLACK PHARAOHS tells this incredible story of the Kush Empire’s 100-year reign over Egypt while also going back further to detail the overall history of Nubia.

“This is unique and special program with rare and privileged access, that sets out to right a wrong perpetrated by early archeologists who refused to see or acknowledge the contributions of the black pharaohs to the glory of ancient Egypt,” said Neil Laird, Executive Producer, Science Channel.

LOST KINGDOM OF THE BLACK PHARAOHS follows research teams that include Geoff Emberling of the University of Michigan and Pearce Paul Creasman of the University of Arizona, who are unearthing a lost fortified city, opening newly discovered pyramids, and extracting DNA from the ancient dead, to show how this African culture, home to fabulous wealth, monumental architecture, and a rich culture, all led by a black dynasty, should now be given its place alongside the great revered ancient civilizations.

LOST KINGDOM OF THE BLACK PHARAOHS is produced by Alleycats Films for Science Channel. The producer/director is David Starkey and executive producers are Emma Parkins and Ed Stobart. Neil Laird serves as Executive Producer for Science Channel.

About Science Channel
Science Channel, a multi-media business unit of Discovery, Inc. is the home of all things science around the clock, including series such as MYTHBUSTERS, OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF SCIENCE, WHAT ON EARTH?, HOW THE UNIVERSE WORKS, UNEARTHED, and MYSTERIES OF THE ABANDONED. Science Channel’s programming also includes timely, expert-driven specials covering breaking science news and discoveries. Science Channel is the premiere TV, digital and social community for those with a passion for science, space, technology, archeology, and engineering, providing immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment across all Science Channel assets including: Science Channel television network, available in more than 63 million homes in the U.S; complimentary Video On Demand offering; SCI Go app allowing viewers to catch up on full episodes of their favorite shows anytime; deep video, interactive storytelling and virtual reality at www.sciencechannel.com; and conversations on Science Channel’s popular social platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat via @ScienceChannel.

About Discovery
Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as Eurosport Player and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discovery’s portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, and Science Channel, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.