The historian presents a guide to ancient artefacts from around the world. The first episode focuses on Greece, including a visit to the archaeological dig at the site of Alexander the Great's birthplace in Aegae. Her journey also takes her to Athens, Nafplio, Sparta and Olympia, and to a dig at Epidaurus, where an underground snake pit used for healing has been discovered and an ancient theatre turns out to still be acoustically perfect.

The historian travels to Malta in search of ancient artefacts, and leads the first TV crew to be allowed to film in the Hypogeum, a recently discovered underground temple that provided a burial place for up to 7000 individuals. Before a major restoration project starts, Bettany is invited to film in the Queen and Prince Philip's romantic hideaway, the Villa Guardamangia, and explores in a series of underground tunnels from the Second World War.

The historian explores Gibraltar, encountering the world's first evidence of Neanderthal art, and handles the first report of Admiral Nelson's death in the Gibraltar Chronicle. She also explores the colourful natural formations of the underground pleasure gardens, and discovers where Victorian officers left messages carved into cave walls.

Bettany embarks on a Mediterranean voyage, beginning at its mouth with a recently discovered mask of Medusa, identified from fragments in Gorham's Cave on Gibraltar. Charting a course east, Bettany journeys to the strategic Island of Malta, where a Punic tomb has just been discovered. She reveals contents that prove these Phoenicians originated from North Africa. In the countryside, Bettany discovers how farmers grow three citrus crops a year with a special tour of an ancient Arabic underground irrigation system called `The Invention of Summer'.

The historian visits a dig in Istanbul containing artefacts from multiple eras, and follows in the footsteps of one of her heroes, Byzantine empress Theodora. She visits the restoration of the 6th-century Basilica Cistern, a marble-columned water reservoir under the city's streets, Topkapi Palace, and Europe's largest wooden building, Prinkipo Orphanage, which was once home to more than 1000 children.

Bettany visits the Red Sea, with its outstanding corals and marine life, the desert camps of Bedouin tribes, and Petra, the stunning city of temples and tombs carved into the rose-tinted rock.

Bettany explores three biblical sites in Jordan: Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the Dead Sea, and Machaerus, where John the Baptist was imprisoned and killed

Bettany explores Aphrodite's cult, and visits her sanctuary at Palaepaphos. And in the stunning Troodos Mountains, she also discovers Byzantine churches linked to the Crusaders.

In Bodrum, Bettany gains unprecedented access to the tomb of a 4th century BCE dynasty leader, and investigates exciting new developments at the world-famous site of Troy.

In Turkey, Bettany visits the underground cave cities of Cappadocia and the 10,000-year-old temple and settlement at Göbeklitepe. In the east of the country, she visits Urfa, one of the most significant pilgrimage cities of the Middle East, believed by some to be the birthplace of the Biblical figure Abraham, and hikes up to Mount Nemrut, the highest open-air museum in the world.

In mountainous Albania, Bettany visits epic fortress towns and breath-taking archaeological sites and finds a richly diverse history and culture

Bettany uncovers a society which grew rich by selling copper, and visits the crowning glory of Bronze Age Oman: mysterious 5000-year-old beehive-shaped tombs

In Gobustan, Bettany uncovers 40,000-year-old rock art. Then she heads to Shaki, an important stop for merchants travelling on the ancient Silk Road.