Content from ZDF Studios

From prehistoric times to our technologically accelerated present, this exciting and entertaining journey through time explores the thousands of ways in which mankind has perceived, measured and passed time over the course of its history.

One of the most significant cases in European archaeology is the grave of the shaman woman of Bad Dürrenberg, a key finding of the last hunter-gatherer groups. From a time when there were no written records, this site was first researched by the Nazis, who saw a physically strong male warrior from an ‘original Aryan race’ in the buried person. It was, in fact, the most powerful woman of her time. The latest research shows that she was dark-skinned, had physical deformities, and was a spiritual leader. The documentary – using high-end CGI and motion capture – compares the researchers of the Nazi era, who misrepresented and instrumentalised their findings, to today’s researchers, who meticulously compile findings and evidence, and use cross- disciplinary methods to examine and evaluate them. It also substantiates the theory of the powerful roles women played in prehistoric times. The story of this woman, buried with a baby in her arms, still fascinates us 9,000 years after her death.

In 2017, a routine archaeological dig is taking place on the site of a proposed housing development in the village of Fenstanton in the Cambridgeshire Fens. When human remains are found alongside a variety of Roman artefacts, none of the team at Albion Archaeology see anything out of the ordinary. But once the bones are washed back at HQ, something highly unusual is uncovered: a nail through the heelbone of one of the individuals. Could this be evidence of a Roman crucifixion? When they do some research, they find that only one confirmed example has ever been unearthed before, discovered in the 1960s in Jerusalem. To find out more, they call in renowned Osteoarchaeologist Dr Corinne Duhig to investigate.

In the middle of the Indian Ocean, more than 1.500 km from the nearest continent, lies an untouched, mysterious archipelago – the Chagos Islands. This group of 60 islands is one of the last pristine wildernesses on Earth. The Chagos Archipelago is one of the world’s largest marine national parks, and is strictly protected. A scientific expedition has been granted access to this politically disputed territory for the first time. In times of climate change, as global reef communities face a growing crisis, the researchers seek to show how coral reefs fare in places with minimal human interference. During a journey into the unknown, we follow in the footsteps of internationally renowned scientists, who aim to unlock the secrets of a lost world and gain astonishing insights into one of the last true wildernesses on Earth.

A German BKA agent and a Spanish Civil Guard sergeant reluctantly team up to investigate a crime in the Canary Islands' German community, navigating cultural differences.

Clash of Ancient Warriors is a series that uses modern science to investigate the mysteries of the most legendary battles from ancient times. Spartans vs Persians in the battle of Thermoplyae, Hannibal vs Rome in the battle of Cannae, The Knights Templar vs Saladdin’s riders at Mongisard, Greeks vs Trojans in the siege of Troy...Military genius and epic battles have led the greatest civilisations to the pinnacle of glory...or the brink of collapse. Join scientists as they hunt for the hidden clues and traces of titanic clashes that could unlock the truth about how one army triumphed and changed the course of history. Unfolding s a countdown to annihilation, each episode builds on the scientist’s investigation to retrace, hour by hour, the dramatic chain of events that ultimately led one side to a bloody victory.

David (Jiří Macháček) has one task: to investigate paranormal cases. But he doesn't feel like it. It's the 1980s, and there are a lot of annoying people who call each other "comrade." He doesn't believe in anything paranormal anyway. He prefers to sit in his office, pretending to work on research into satanic references in Western music, and enjoys listening to LPs that no one else in the country has. The world would be beautiful, but his superior assigns him a new colleague, Vojta (Jan Cina). This overzealous newcomer talks about pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and how science doesn't have answers to all the mysteries of the world yet. This mismatched duo has no choice but to cooperate in investigating bizarre cases that all other security forces in the state can't handle. To make it harder, they are constantly monitored by a pair of StB agents – the tough agent Snížková (Anna Fialová) and the sweetheart Hora (Leoš Noha).

January 1943: Admiral Karl Dönitz, head of the Nazis’ U-boat fleet, has brought Britain to the brink of starvation by ruthlessly destroying close to a thousand of their merchant ships. If the transatlantic shipping route is cut off, the Allies will lose their last foothold in Western Europe. The Royal Navy turns to retired war gamer Gilbert Roberts. Roberts is to use war gaming to try to decipher and combat Dönitz’s tactics. To do this, he needs a team, but the Navy can’t spare any men. Instead, he risks the ridicule of high command by turning to the Women’s Royal Navy Service (WRNS) to war game the U-boats’ tactics. In partnership with Jean Laidlaw, one of Britain’s first female chartered accountants, and a small team of resourceful female mathematicians, Roberts acts out naval battles and games the U-boats’ moves on a linoleum floor, using chalk and wooden model ships.

Since the dawn of time, geography has shaped the fate of nations. This three-part documentary explores how mountains, rivers, seas, and deserts have influenced the decisions of governments, as well as the rise of civilisations. Geography remains a constant force in history, from determining a nation’s location on the world map to its access to natural resources. While the USA’s ascent as a global power was driven by its unique position between two oceans, Russia’s history has been defined by its relentless search for warm-water ports. China’s geopolitical importance stems from its historical position as the hub of Eurasian trade, from the ancient Silk Road to its current maritime dominance in the Pacific. Today’s global powers owe their status and significance to natural forces. Geography is the ultimate creator of nations.

The adventures of teenage dinosaur/madcap inventor DINOMITE and his wild and unruly human pet, LUCY in the sleepy but eccentric dinosaur town of Fernham.

After leaving the Caribbean to join the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School, 11-year-old Maya is unaware that her destiny is about to change forever… How will she deal with the ups and downs of her new life so far away from home? Around Maya evolve a colourful gallery of characters, including her best friend and unlikely dancer Bilal. What’s it like to be an ordinary kid in such an extraordinary school?