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The Worst Episodes of America Unearthed

Every episode of America Unearthed ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of America Unearthed!

Forensic geologist Scott Wolter explores mysteries, artifacts and relics to reveal a history of the North American continent not taught in school.
Genre:Documentary

Worst Episodes Summary

"Grand Canyon Treasure" is the worst rated episode of "America Unearthed". It scored 5/10 based on 24 votes. Directed by N/A and written by N/A, it aired on 12/28/2013. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Captain Kidd's Pirate Code".

  • Grand Canyon Treasure
    5.0/1024 votes
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    #1 - Grand Canyon Treasure

    Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 12/28/2013

    Legend has it that Egyptian treasure was discovered in a Grand Canyon cave in 1909. Against the beautiful backdrop of America's most grandiose natural spectacle, Scott Wolter embarks on a search to find out whether the legend is true. Along the way, he investigates legends of more caves found throughout the U.S. where similar rumors of buried Egyptian treasure persist. Examining artifacts, climbing into caves and separating fact from fiction and fake artifacts from the real deal, Scott Wolter comes out of this adventure with a clear opinion on whether Egyptians really did bury treasure in America long ago.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Captain Kidd's Pirate Code
    5.2/1017 votes
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    #2 - Captain Kidd's Pirate Code

    Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 12/13/2014

    Scott Wolter receives an intriguing tip from a published author on pirate's treasure troves and business magnates that may involve one of the richest men in America's history--John Jacob Astor. Scott learns that Astor made a fortune in real estate and the fur trade, but records show he may have really gotten his start from a lost treasure belonging to the famed pirate Captain Kidd. Scott heads to the east coast where he pieces together clues from Boston, New York, and Maine to determine if this claim is true. One of the main clues he investigates are a set of mysterious numbers likely provided by Captain Kidd that may be connected to a buried treasure. Could there still be a treasure that still needs to be unearthed along the coast of Maine? How did Astor truly get his fortune started?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Vikings in America
    5.3/1025 votes
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    #3 - Vikings in America

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 12/21/2013

    In 1000 AD, the Vikings made it to North America, establishing a base camp in Newfoundland at a site called L'Anse aux Meadows. But could they have made it further South to what is now the United States to build a permanent settlement called Vinland, which has been documented in legend, but has never been found? Forensic Geologist Scott Wolter thinks so. Now, he's hot on the trail of never before seen evidence and geologic clues that could prove it--including a message discovered off the coast of a forbidden island in Massachusetts that may have been left by famous Viking Voyager Leif Ericson himself.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Mystery of Roanoke
    5.4/1036 votes
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    #4 - Mystery of Roanoke

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 2/1/2013

    In the late 1500s, years before Jamestown, the English sought to create their first settlement in America at Roanoke. A party of 119 colonists came over and settled but ultimately vanished. The fate of the Lost Colony of Roanoke has eluded archaeologists, historians and North Carolina locals, but as forensic geologist Scott Wolter discovers, a series of 48 stone clues that have been largely ignored and considered frauds may in fact hold the answer to America's oldest cold case.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Ark of The Covenant
    5.4/1019 votes
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    #5 - Ark of The Covenant

    Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 11/30/2013

    Scott Wolter gets a call from a man who has a mysterious stone on his property. He's convinced that it's the "Stone of Destiny"--the stone that Jacob from the Bible rested his head on when he dreamed of a stairway to Heaven. As Scott investigates, he discovers the stone was once kept with something even more valuable. It was once kept with the Ark of the Covenant and both are rumored to have been brought to America. Scott's quest for the truth leads him to a sacred site in Ireland called the Hill of Tara and to a mysterious site in Arizona where a petroglyph depicting what could be the Ark could suggest its final resting place is right here in the United States. And, as for who brought it here, a tablet inscribed with the Ten Commandments found with a series of other artifacts could suggest a likely group of candidates--the Lost Tribes of Israel.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Lincoln's Secret Assassins
    5.5/1018 votes
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    #6 - Lincoln's Secret Assassins

    Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 2/15/2014

    When Scott Wolter gets a call from his friend John DeSalvo, an avid collector of Abraham Lincoln memorabilia, he has no idea that he's about to embark on a quest to learn whether there were a lot more people than just John Wilkes Booth behind the assassination of one of America's most influential presidents. Evidence Wolter uncovers suggests Booth was part of an infamous group of Confederates who formed a secret society called the Knights of the Golden Circle; a group that included influential politicians and rogue raiders like Jesse James. The evidence Scott complies suggests a new twist on the motives behind Lincoln's killing, and takes him on a wild ride through the history of the South at the time of the Civil War as seen through the eyes of the Knights of the Golden Circle.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The New World Order
    5.6/1023 votes
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    #7 - The New World Order

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 12/7/2013

    Deep beneath the Denver Airport, conspiracy theorists say a revolutionary group that calls itself the New World Order is operating a secret base from which they'll eventually obliterate our central government. Scott Wolter is determined to get to the truth about this wild allegation. Along the way, he uncovers secrets about the New World Order that suggest the group is connected not just to one, but two mysterious sites in America where coded messages portending the end of the world continue to mystify and even terrify the general public. What's the truth behind the New World Order--and, will a tour of underground tunnels beneath the Denver Airport and the words of the only man who knows the truth offer new clues to suggest whether the NWO claims have merit or is just part of a modern day myth?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Underwater Pyramids
    5.6/1019 votes
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    #8 - The Underwater Pyramids

    Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 1/18/2014

    Scott Wolter receives a tip that there are pyramids at the bottom of a lake in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. As he investigates, he learns local legend suggests they were built by Aztecs and over time, they've been buried as land and water have shifted. Could the Aztecs really have a connection to the American Midwest? Scott dives into the mystery, quite literally--taking a personal submarine called a Fugusub down to the depths of Lake Mills to investigate the underwater pyramids. His quest then leads him to other sites in the Midwest including the pyramids in nearby Aztalan State Park. Could it be more than coincidence that the park shares the same name as the legendary ancestral home of the Aztecs? In the end, the key to proving whether there's truth in the legend of Aztecs in America could be in the discovery of shared practices, symbols and language between north and south of the U.S. border.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Chamber Hunting
    5.7/1033 votes
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    #9 - Chamber Hunting

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 2/8/2013

    There are 800 very old, very mysterious, man-made stone sites in the Northeastern part of the United States. Forensic geologist Scott Wolter heads to rural Pennsylvania to investigate one of them--a meticulously crafted stone chamber buried underground in the woods. When he realizes it may have been a ritual bath chamber for a secret society, he embarks on a quest for answers as to who built, when and why.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Plot to Steal America
    5.7/1019 votes
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    #10 - The Plot to Steal America

    Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 12/27/2014

    Before the US declared its independence, its destiny hung in the balance with the vast lands of America up for grabs to anyone willing to stake a claim. Called to examine a possibly ancient land claim, Scott Wolter is drawn into an epic quest to prove whether French fur traders were actually here on a secret mission to steal pre-Columbian land claims placed at a much earlier time. The key to this whole mystery could lie in tracking down a long-lost artifact, allegedly found with strange carvings that only those with hidden knowledge could understand. On this adventure through America's little-known early history, Scott uncovers a high stakes game of land grabbing where only the winner comes in first--and the only way to win might be to cheat.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Tracking Bigfoot
    5.7/1017 votes
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    #11 - Tracking Bigfoot

    Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 1/17/2015

    Scott Wolter does not believe in Bigfoot--but he sure hears about it a lot. That's because the earliest Bigfoot sightings were supposedly recorded in--guess what? Rocks. Bigfoot sightings are pervasive along the West coast, but lately, reports of the big beast have started popping up in Minnesota--his home state--and he heads to investigate. Entering into the investigation as a skeptic--which is not a role we often see Scott in--he decides to tackle the question of whether Bigfoot is real. He goes in search of proof, checking out rock paintings of Bigfoot in California and even traveling to Nepal where he meets with a Sherpa who tells him he's seen the Yeti, an Asiatic "cousin" of Bigfoot that still roams the Himalayas, with his own eyes. So in the end, will Scott become a believer?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Motive for Murder
    5.8/1033 votes
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    #12 - Motive for Murder

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 2/15/2013

    After his famous expedition to map the American West with William Clark, Meriwether Lewis recorded details of the adventure in a journal and intended to publish it. Before he could, he was shot and killed in an inn on the Natchez Trace. His death has been classified as a suicide, but as forensic geologist Scott Wolter discovers, there's reason to think he may not have killed himself. As Wolter investigates the death of America's most famous explorer he uncovers details that suggest President Jefferson himself may have had ulterior motives for the Lewis and Clark expedition that have never made it into the history books and may have led to his violent death.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Secret Blueprint of America
    5.8/1016 votes
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    #13 - Secret Blueprint of America

    Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 1/11/2014

    What might Washington D.C. have in common with ancient sites like Stonehenge? It is thought by some to be constructed using an ancient unit of measurement called the megalithic yard. Thought to be used by some of the greatest civilizations of all time, this antiquated unite of measure could be the key to understanding the hidden meaning behind D.C.'s streets and structures. Scott Wolter investigates whether its use in the design plans of our nation's capitol created a sanctuary for people practicing goddess worship; people, like George Washington himself.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Tracking the Templars
    5.9/1029 votes
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    #14 - Tracking the Templars

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 3/1/2013

    When Scott Wolter began investigating mysterious artifacts, he started to notice one unique symbol appeared on many of them. The symbol, now known as the "Hooked X", baffled researchers who couldn't make sense of it. As Scott's investigation into the origins of the symbol unfolds, he realizes its use is unique to just two notoriously secret groups--the Knights Templar and their modern day brethren, the Freemasons. Used in secret codes, cryptic ciphers and even the alleged tomb of Jesus himself, the symbol could be the key to understanding two of the biggest mysteries of all time--exactly what the Holy Grail is, and where it's hidden today.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hunt for the Holy Grail
    5.9/1025 votes
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    #15 - Hunt for the Holy Grail

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 3/15/2013

    The Holy Grail is one of the most sought after treasures of all time, and one treasure hunter thinks he knows exactly where it is. He invites Scott Wolter along on his quest to find it, and the result is a North American treasure hunt of epic proportions. Legends, a treasure map and the results of ground penetrating technology all point to the Grail being in a single location--a holy well on the property of a rumored Templar Prince. What Scott finds in and around the well will shock even the skeptics in this edge-of-your-seat season finale.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Giants in Minnesota
    6.0/1042 votes
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    #16 - Giants in Minnesota

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 1/11/2013

    Geologist Scott Wolter visits a Minnesota farmer who wants to investigate the possible existence of bones from a giant he unearthed in his yard. The bones raise the question of whether Vikings could have traveled all the way to America.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • America's Oldest Secret
    6.0/1030 votes
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    #17 - America's Oldest Secret

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 3/8/2013

    The Newport Tower is considered by many to be the most mysterious structure in the United States. Some people think it's a colonial era windmill or perhaps all that's left of an early water tower, but Scott Wolter is convinced it's something far more significant. Because of the archaeoastonomy and solstice illuminations that take place inside of the meticulously planned stone structure, he believes the Knights Templar came to America and built it centuries ago. Now, he's dead set on proving his theory. While planning an elaborate laser light show designed to illustrate the Tower's miraculous features, Scott discovers something else significant that ties this structure--and the Templar's modern day initiates--to one of America's most visited and most treasured icons.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Great Wall of Texas
    6.0/1029 votes
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    #18 - Great Wall of Texas

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 12/14/2013

    Since the 1800s, the City of Rockwall, Texas has had a mystery it's been trying to solve. Allegedly, the town was built on a massive rock wall that was constructed by some ancient civilization...or even giants. Could it be true? Scott Wolter conducts a massive excavation of the wall to figure out who--or what--created this wall and the controversy surrounding it.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Ripper Unmasked
    6.0/1018 votes
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    #19 - The Ripper Unmasked

    Season 4 Episode 4 - Aired 6/18/2019

    Scott Wolter investigates a sensational new theory about the identity of Jack the Ripper. He also uncovers a connection between the ritualistic patterns of the Ripper murders and the Freemasons.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Lost Tribe of Menehune
    6.1/1017 votes
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    #20 - Lost Tribe of Menehune

    Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 1/4/2014

    America's 50th state has a "little" mystery that's persisted since ancient times; did an ancient race of tiny people called Menehune really exist? Scott Wolter can't resist weighing in on the possibility while on vacation with his family in Hawaii, and as he discovers, geology could be key in solving the mystery.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Mystery of the Serpents
    6.1/1015 votes
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    #21 - Mystery of the Serpents

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 1/25/2014

    In Ohio, a massive mound in the shape of a serpent snakes it's way across the landscape and no one knows who built or why. Thousands of miles away, a similar serpent mound of unknown origins slinks across the landscape of Loch Nell. Could there be a connection between the two sites? As Scott Wolter investigates, he discovers evidence that both sites were constructed using the same type of archaeoastronomy. Not only that, but a number of other animal shapes have been constructed as effigies across the Midwest. In a search for answers, he discovers there could be a connection between all the sites and one of America's biggest pre-Columbian mysteries--what led to the disappearance of the people of Cahokia, America's largest city in pre-Columbian times.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Lost Relics of the Bible
    6.1/1015 votes
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    #22 - Lost Relics of the Bible

    Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 2/1/2014

    Forensic geologist Scott Wolter investigates artifacts featuring ancient Hebrew writing. Could they be tied to the Lost Tribes of Israel, who disappeared from the Bible in 722 B.C? Scott Wolter is bound for Tennessee to study the Bat Creek Stone, a controversial artifact with old Hebrew script found in the late 1800s. Intrigued, he then travels to Ohio to learn about an ancient mound shaped like a Hanukkah Menorah, which fascinated Thomas Jefferson. Finally, Wolter goes to New Mexico where petroglyphs feature a script that may pre-date Hebrew. All across America, Wolter finds many signs that suggest Jews made it here long ago--long before Columbus.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Custer's Blood Treasure
    6.1/1018 votes
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    #23 - Custer's Blood Treasure

    Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 12/6/2014

    In 1874, Lt. Colonel George sent Custer on a scouting mission to the Black Hills area. He reportedly found something while he was there--gold. This sparked off a gold rush of settlers flooding the sacred Native American lands, which in turned sparked off a war. In response to the uprising, Custer led his forces into the ill-planned Battle of Little Big Horn, where he made his infamous Last Stand. But, before the battle, some say there was treasure to be had--gold coins, paper currency, and other valuables brought to the battlefield. So, what happened to the treasure after the battle? Piecing together a series of clues, Scott uncovers evidence suggesting Chief Two Moons who'd led the tribes against Custer, disclosed that he and his men may have looted the bodies. Only on his deathbed did he reveal it's secret location. Can Scott figure out where Custer's lost treasure might lie today?

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Medieval Desert Mystery
    6.2/1038 votes
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    #24 - Medieval Desert Mystery

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 12/28/2012

    Scott Wolter investigates a burial site in the mountains of Arizona, only to discover it may belong to a medieval Englishman.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Desert Cross
    6.2/1033 votes
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    #25 - The Desert Cross

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 2/22/2013

    Heading to Tucson, Arizona with his son Grant, Wolter is eager to investigate a mysterious cache of crosses, swords and other relics pulled from the desert in the 1920s. One sword has a date--800 AD--written in Latin, which would suggest a group of Europeans was in the American Southwest hundreds of years before Columbus made it to America. Wolter's investigation is particularly important for one man--the grandson of the man who helped discover the items. The investigation could determine whether the artifacts are part of an elaborate hoax or part of a find that could change history.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A