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Secrets of the Dead

Ben Franklin's Bones

Season 14 Episode 1 | 54m 41s

When skeletal remains of at least 10 people turned up in the basement of Benjamin Franklin’s British residence, people wondered if the Founding Father might have had a much darker side. Franklin was aware of the bodies in his basement, but they weren’t the victims of violent acts. Rather, they were used for the purposes of an illegal anatomy school that helped shaped modern medicine.

Aired: 01/27/15 | Expires: 02/14/24
SECRETS OF THE DEAD is made possible, in part, by public television viewers.
Extras
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Secrets of the Dead
Preview | Picturing Shakespeare
Could the discovery of a third portrait of William Shakespeare be a genuine article?
Preview: S23 E2 | 0:32
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Secrets of the Dead
Preview | China's Bronze Kingdom
The chance discovery of a jade artifact unearths an ancient Chinese city.
Preview: S23 E1 | 0:32
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Secrets of the Dead
Preview | Cracking the Queen's Code
See how secret letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots, were finally decoded.
Preview: S22 E9 | 0:32
Watch • 0:32
Secrets of the Dead
Preview | Cleopatra's Last Temple
An unprecedented discovery could reveal new information about Cleopatra’s reign.
Preview: S22 E8 | 0:32
Watch • 0:32
Secrets of the Dead
Preview | The Rise & Fall of the Colosseum
The spectacular arena showcasing Ancient Rome’s power also contributed to its downfall.
Preview: S22 E7 | 0:32
Watch • 3:08
Secrets of the Dead
What the First Gladiator Bones Can Tell Us About How They Lived
The first gladiator bones ever found reveal a small but unmistakable detail about how they lived.
Clip: S22 E7 | 3:08
Watch • 3:23
Secrets of the Dead
The Gladiator Match Rome Couldn’t Get Enough Of
Ancient Rome’s retiarius vs secutor: inside the colosseum’s most popular fight.
Clip: S22 E7 | 3:23
Watch • 0:32
Secrets of the Dead
Preview | Chasing the Plague
Scientists study medieval bubonic plague victims in hopes of preventing future outbreaks.
Preview: S22 E10 | 0:32
Watch • 0:32
Secrets of the Dead
Fall 2025 Season Preview
Catch new episodes of Secrets of the Dead on Wednesdays starting October 8 at 10/9c.
Preview: S22 | 0:32
Watch • 0:32
Secrets of the Dead
Preview | Plunderer: The Life and Times of a Nazi Art Thief (Part Two)
Historian Jonathan Petropoulos investigates the post-war life of former Nazi art dealer Bruno Lohse.
Preview: S22 E6 | 0:32
All
  • All
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 23
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 22
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 21
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 20
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 19
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 18
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 17
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 16
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 15
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 14
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 13
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 12
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 11
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 10
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 9
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 8
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 7
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 6
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 5
  • Secrets of the Dead Season 4
Secrets of the Dead
China's Bronze Kingdom
The chance discovery of a jade artifact unearths an ancient Chinese city.
Episode: S23 E1
Secrets of the Dead
Chasing the Plague
Scientists study medieval bubonic plague victims in hopes of preventing future outbreaks.
Episode: S22 E10
Secrets of the Dead
Cracking the Queen's Code
See how secret letters written by Mary, Queen of Scots, were finally decoded.
Episode: S22 E9
Secrets of the Dead
Cleopatra's Last Temple
An unprecedented discovery could reveal new information about Cleopatra’s reign.
Episode: S22 E8
Secrets of the Dead
The Rise & Fall of the Colosseum
The spectacular arena showcasing Ancient Rome’s power also contributed to its downfall.
Episode: S22 E7
Secrets of the Dead
Picturing Shakespeare
Could the discovery of a third portrait of William Shakespeare be a genuine article?
Episode: S23 E2
Watch • 54:25
Secrets of the Dead
Plunderer: The Life and Times of a Nazi Art Thief (Part Two)
Historian Jonathan Petropoulos investigates the post-war life of former Nazi art dealer Bruno Lohse.
Episode: S22 E6 | 54:25
Watch • 54:50
Secrets of the Dead
Plunderer: The Life and Times of a Nazi Art Thief (Part One)
Historian Jonathan Petropoulos investigates the life of former Nazi art dealer Bruno Lohse.
Episode: S22 E5 | 54:50
Watch • 55:15
Secrets of the Dead
Lost Treasures of Angkor – King's Gold
Priceless artifacts in Laos reveal holy sites from the early days of the Khmer Empire.
Episode: S22 E4 | 55:15
Watch • 55:15
Secrets of the Dead
Lost Treasures of Angkor – The Discovery
The discovery of priceless artifacts in Laos sheds light on the ancient Khmer Empire.
Episode: S22 E3 | 55:15