"Professional Equipment"

Movie producer Bruce Burgess provided the explorers with an investigative swivel camera which could be extended on a long support pole. This camera had a much brighter light and was moveable. The video from their second trip shows the camera descending into the ceiling of the tomb and then illuminating the figure of a knight, perhaps wearing armor, beneath the Templar shroud. Ben could see that there was a square tomb entrance on the left of the cave floor and that the grave goods seemed to have been somewhat scattered.

The third journey to the site was taken in the dark of night. It had been a few years since the first visit and the cave entrance was overgrown and difficult to find by torchlight. A wild boar crashing around in the brush near- by added to their apprehension. This time Bruce accompanied Ben and brought a more specialized camera on a flexible rod that could be moved to the left and right. With this new equipment they were able to see that the body was resting on a plinth of rose-colored marble. An open wooden chest revealed gold cups and chalices next to the body. Most intriguing of all, an old book or codex lay on another wooden chest to the right and they were able to make out a few of the Latin letters on the cover. One chest was covered with a white cloth bearing a large Star of David on it. This star was visible in both of the films and looked exactly like the wide star drawn by Sauniere on his diagram found inside of the wine bottle.

The cave appeared dryer on the third trip, there had been a bowl placed below a leak that was no longer holding water. A beam had fallen, as well as some loose rocks and dust. As Ben had suspected on the first visit, the roof of the tomb was unstable. At that time he had feared that it would cave in as they were standing there and it was only the presence of the previous footprints that had given him the confidence to remain and not flee an immanent collapse.

"The Treasure Awaits"

The newly discovered Templar tomb still awaits excavation and the explorers are anxious to examine its contents more closely. It is a controversial subject to be sure, but it is not a hoax. The question remains as to how the Abbe Sauniere was able to view inside the cave without special cameras. How did he see the large Star of David to draw it so exactly on his map? "Bloodline" the movie is just the introduction, there is much more to come. It is playing in select theaters now and will be available on DVD on Sept. 16.