Guided by astrophysicist, Dr Thebe Medupe, a group of modern researchers engage in the first exploration of the scientific contents of the great manuscripts archives of Timbuktu. they discover how astronomers back then tracked the position of the sun, moon and the stars to determine direction, tell the time and propose a model of the Universe.
As this amazing information is uncovered the film highlights the painstaking work done by manuscripts owners and conservators as they face the daunting task of preserving the brittle and damaged manuscripts before their contents is lost forever in the sands of the Sahara.