The Ancient Astronomers of Timbuktu

A fictitious, mysterious city to many except the inhabitants who traded in gold and salt between the Niger River and the North of the African continent and to the followers of Islam who made the pilgrimage to Mecca. Returning years later laden with manuscripts filled with knowledge from distant parts of the Islamic world. European explorers risked disease and death crossing the Sahara desert in search of this legendary place. The existence of these ancient papers was unknown to the outside world until a few decades ago.

Miraculously thousands of documents have survived and their contents remain a mystery. This is the unfolding story of the secrets of the manuscripts of Timbuktu as told by ancestors of the traders, academics and scribes who safeguarded them through the tumultuous past few hundred years and the men and woman involved in their conservation and research today.

The Ancient Astronomers of Timbuktu takes us from the edge of the Sahara Desert, to Addis Ababa in the East and Cape Town on the Southern tip of Africa. We follow investigative and collaborative research - from initial hurdles to illuminating discoveries - revealing details of daily life and the importance and relevance of Islam to scientific knowledge in medieval Timbuktu. As the information is uncovered we highlight the painstaking work done by conservators as they face the daunting task of preserving the brittle and damaged manuscripts before their contents is lost forever.

An intriguing mix of stories, both ancient and modern, move smoothly between past and present with dramatic recreations of life in old Timbuktu and graphic depictions of the night sky, bringing to life the work and achievements of these African astronomers, scribes and academics.

Filmed in High Definition format to highlight the textures and detail of the manuscripts for an accurate portrayal of their unique character and beauty. We complement the visuals of this mystical desert city with an original score taken from the musical heritage of both Mali and South Africa. Added extras on the DVD include interviews with renowned scholars from The Ancient Astronomers of Timbuktu.