Piers Morgan Uncensored

Episode: ‘Doing Awful, Terrifying Things’ — Graham Hancock On Pyramids and Ark of The Covenant

Date: December 23, 2025
Host: Piers Morgan
Guest: Graham Hancock

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking episode, Piers Morgan welcomes back renowned author and alternative history researcher Graham Hancock for an in-depth discussion on the mysteries of ancient civilizations. The episode primarily delves into Hancock’s theories regarding lost knowledge, the construction and purpose of the Egyptian pyramids, recent technological discoveries beneath Giza, and the enduring enigma of the Ark of the Covenant. Honest, lively, and often skeptical debate anchors the conversation, emphasizing the necessity of open-minded inquiry within historical study.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Open-minded Inquiry vs. Academic Orthodoxy

(00:05–06:00)

• Graham Hancock’s Journey: Hancock reveals his initial fascination with the Ark of the Covenant, emphasizing the uncanny biblical accounts of its destructive power.
  • Quote: “Every description of it in the Bible has it doing really awesome, terrifying things, like striking people dead.” — Hancock (00:17)
• Reception of Hancock’s Theories: Piers and Graham reflect on the reactions—both fervently supportive and critical—to their past interview, highlighting how Hancock's alternative views polarize audiences.
• Nature of Archaeological Science:
  • Archaeology’s reliance on limited evidence and informed conjecture is discussed.
  • “I don't think that archaeologists should have a monopoly on the interpretation of the past.” — Hancock (02:56)
• Cult Status and Criticism: Hancock downplays any cult-leader status, positioning himself as a provocateur for independent thinking.

2. Recent Debates About the Pyramids

(07:24–14:00)

• Godfather of Giza, Dr. Zahi Hawass:
  • Piers revisits a fiery debate featuring Hawass and two Hancock supporters regarding the ethics and necessity of drilling into the pyramids to probe new anomalies.
  • Hancock insists he has ‘no disciples,’ only fellow open-minded thinkers.
• Discovery Under Giza:
  • New technology combining tomography and sound detection has revealed enormous subterranean anomalies beneath the Giza plateau.
  • “All four independent satellite operators... all returned identical raw tomography data showing the same structures.” — Morgan (11:00)
• Technological Skepticism:
  • Hancock explains why archaeologists dismissed the findings, failing to understand the new methods involved.
  • “The only way to settle that is to drill.” — Hancock (12:31)
• Conservation vs. Curiosity: Drilling could be done safely; prior efforts haven’t damaged the monuments. Hancock believes safeguarding the pyramids should be paramount but doesn’t preclude prudent investigation.

3. The Spiritual Purpose of the Pyramids

(17:29–19:57)

• Initiation and the Afterlife:
  • Hancock shares how Egyptian texts connect pyramids to the mysteries of life after death and the soul’s journey through the underworld (Duat).
  • “The pyramids were connected in the minds of the ancient Egyptians with the mystery of life after death.” — Hancock (17:38)
  • The underworld mirrors the structural complexity found within and beneath the pyramids.
• The Allure of Giza:
  • Hancock recounts his awe standing at the pyramids, describing them as “a huge question mark... saying, figure me out.” (18:59)

4. Subterranean Architecture & Testing the Technology

(14:00–15:27)

• Turkey’s underground cities (e.g., Derinkuyu) provide validation points for the new subsurface imaging technologies.
• Accurate detection of known subterranean complexes could prove the method’s efficacy before drilling in Giza.

5. The Ark of the Covenant Mystery

(27:47–36:59)

• Biblical Descriptions & Power:
  • The Ark’s details and its ability to cause death and disease are discussed extensively.
  • “The Ark is a thing of fire.” — Hancock (31:03)
• Plausible Location:
  • Hancock shares his circumstantial case for the Ark’s presence in Axum, Ethiopia, guarded by tradition and secrecy.
  • The guardian monks suffer eye ailments and never leave their sanctum, attributed to the Ark’s ‘fire.’
  • “Once he is appointed, he can never again leave that chapel.” — Hancock (31:36)
• Skepticism and Faith:
  • While mainstream scholars dismiss this as unproven, Hancock emphasizes the passionate traditions within Ethiopia and historical indications.
  • “What happened to the Ark?…the Ark was taken out of the Temple long before the Babylonian invasion.” — Hancock (33:06)
  • Hancock admits: “My case in support of Ethiopia's claim is entirely circumstantial...I never did get into that chapel and nobody ever has.” (31:24)
• Analogy to Religious Secrecy: Comparisons are made to the inaccessibility of sacred sites elsewhere (e.g., the Kaaba in Mecca).

6. Human Prehistory & Archaeological Revelations

(24:01–27:47)

• Backdating Human Civilization:
  • New discoveries (e.g., evidence of fire 400,000 years ago in Britain) keep shifting the timeline for advanced human behavior and technology.
  • “Stuff just keeps on getting older.” — Hancock (24:46)
  • Discussion on Homo erectus, brain size, and ancient seafaring abilities.
• On Human Nature and Historical Impact:
  • Hancock remains even-tempered about such findings, expecting continued revelations.

7. The Bible as History and Myth

(37:55–40:54)

• Evaluating Ancient Texts:
  • Hancock asserts the Old Testament is invaluable for insight but is filtered through previous mythologies and should not be treated as literal fact.
  • “It has to be taken with a pinch of salt.” — Hancock (39:06)
  • Piers discusses his struggle with ideas of atheism versus faith, reflecting on the unknowable nature of existence.
• On the New Testament:
  • Hancock admires the teachings of Jesus but differentiates between the ethic of love and the sometimes cruel history of the institution.

8. The Mystery of Existence & Afterlife

(41:23–42:09)

• Hancock voices belief in the persistence of consciousness after death and the importance of living well.
• “When we come to the fulfillment and the end of our lives, we should be able to look back on it and say, yeah, I made some mistakes. But by and large, I tried to do the right thing.” — Hancock (41:50)

9. Light Moments & Conclusion

(42:22–42:55)

• The episode ends with football banter—Hancock predicts, for his Arsenal-loving son, that the team will win the league “before the world ends.”
• “Since my eldest son is a huge Arsenal fan, I have got to say yes.” — Hancock (42:53)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Ark’s Terrifying Powers:

“Every description of it in the Bible has it doing really awesome, terrifying things, like striking people dead.”
— Graham Hancock (00:17)

On Mainstream Archaeology:

“I don't think that archaeologists should have a monopoly on the interpretation of the past.”
— Graham Hancock (02:56)

The Giza Pyramids as a Challenge:

“The Great Pyramid is like a huge question mark, standing there on the Giza Plateau saying, figure me out.”
— Graham Hancock (18:59)

On Technology vs. Tradition:

“The only way to settle that is to drill.”
— Graham Hancock (12:31)

On the Ark’s Guardian Monks:

“Once he is appointed, he can never again leave that chapel.”
— Graham Hancock (31:36)

On Historical Inquiry:

“I'm offering this as an alternative point of view... I might not be right. The Ethiopians might not be right.”
— Graham Hancock (36:22)

On Bible and Myth:

“It has to be taken with a pinch of salt. We have to look at each individual case carefully.”
— Graham Hancock (39:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & The Ark of the Covenant Origin Story – 00:01–00:44
• Reaction to Hancock’s Theories & The Nature of Archaeological Debate – 01:12–03:18
• Pyramid Controversies & New Discoveries Under Giza – 07:24–13:37
• Spiritual Function of Pyramids & Subterranean Mysteries – 17:29–19:57
• The Ark of the Covenant: Ethiopia’s Claim & Legends – 27:47–36:59
• Shifting the Timeline of Civilization: Fire and Human Origins – 24:01–27:47
• The Bible as History & Spiritual Inquiry – 37:55–40:54
• Reflections on Death, Legacy, and Afterlife – 41:23–42:09
• Light-hearted Ending: Arsenal and Optimism – 42:22–42:55

Tone and Approach

The tone is lively, curious, and respectful of alternative perspectives. Morgan challenges but allows Hancock to elaborate. Hancock is earnest, thoughtful, and insistent on the value of questioning received wisdom, but never claims to possess absolute truth.

For Listeners: Key Takeaways

• While Hancock’s ideas aren’t widely accepted in mainstream academia, they are underpinned by extensive research, a skepticism of academic certainty, and a willingness to probe mysteries with new tools and interpretations.
• Advances in technology continue to challenge what we think we know about ancient civilizations—especially beneath Giza.
• The mysteries of the Ark of the Covenant endure, wrapped in both faith and historical ambiguity.
• The episode advocates for curiosity, respectful dissent, and openness to new evidence in exploring humanity’s lost chapters.

This episode is essential listening for those fascinated by ancient mysteries, the boundaries of scientific discovery, and the importance of open debate in understanding our past.