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Basement #006: w/ Scott Wolter on The Kensington Runestone, Templar Treasure, and the Green Jar (Transcript)

Editor’s Notes: In this deep-dive interview on The Why Files: Operation Podcast: Basement #006, forensic geologist and investigator Scott Wolter shares his transition from solving criminal cases to researching America’s most controversial historical anomalies. Wolter explains how his geological findings on the Kensington Runestone opened a path toward uncovering secrets of the Knights Templar and suppressed artifacts in North America. The discussion highlights the revelations in his latest book, The Greatest Templar Tale Never Told, while exploring the mysterious significance of an enigmatic “green jar.” This episode offers a thought-provoking look at history and religion, challenging established narratives through a unique scientific lens. (March 9, 2026)

TRANSCRIPT:

Introduction

AJ GENTILE: Okay, I’m excited about this one. We’re going deep with Scott Wolter, forensic geologist, TV host, and one of the most controversial researchers in America. Scott made his name by solving murders with rocks, using geological evidence to date concrete and crack cold cases. But then he applied those same scientific methods to the Kensington Runestone, and everything changed.

His research led him down a path that started with medieval runes, moved through Knight’s Templar treasures hidden in North America, and ended up somewhere nobody expected. In a Little Green Jar. Scott’s newest book just dropped — The Greatest Templar Tale Never Told. And the story he tells me today about the Green Jar, it’s going to challenge everything you think you know about history, religion, and who we really are.

This conversation gets heavy, and I mean really heavy. Some people are going to be offended. But that’s not Scott’s intention. I think we should hear him out. Let’s go down to the basement.

Scott, welcome to the basement. Before we get to the fun stuff, can you tell us how your TV — because we all know you’re from TV — how your TV journey started right here in Las Vegas with a murder case.

Scott Wolter’s Background in Forensic Geology

SCOTT WOLTER: Yeah, yeah. You’ve done your homework. Good for you. Well, I do material forensics for a living. I’ve run a materials forensic laboratory. I’ve been doing the work since 1985, but I started my own lab in 1990, and in 2004 — essentially, what we do is, for the most part, autopsies on concrete and rock. And we try to solve problems, mostly in the concrete industry. Why did it crack? Why did it have low strength? What happens if it’s exposed to fire damage, or what happens if —

AJ GENTILE: A plane hits it?

SCOTT WOLTER: If a plane hits it, like at 9/11. That is true. We did that as well. But one time I received a call from a guy by the name of Lieutenant Tom Monahan, and he called from the Las Vegas Homicide Department. He said — I said, “Why are you calling me?” He said, “Well, we have a murder victim that was found buried in a shallow grave in the desert outside of Las Vegas,” which I found out is not a rare thing.

AJ GENTILE: Nope.

The Las Vegas Murder Case

SCOTT WOLTER: But what was unusual about this case was this person was totally encased in concrete. And of course, the first question I asked is, “How was this person found? How did that happen?” And he said that a man was out jogging with his dog, and he stepped on what turned out to be the thinnest part of the concrete, which was between the pubic region and the belly button of this deceased female, and it collapsed. And the dog immediately went into the hole. And this guy starts reaching in the hole and was pulling out bones.

AJ GENTILE: Oh, my God. And apparently this wasn’t in a drum or something.

SCOTT WOLTER: No, it was in the ground. He didn’t know what it was, right? And it collapsed under the weight of his foot. And if he had stepped anywhere else, it wouldn’t have collapsed. It was that spot. So maybe it was meant to be.

But anyway, so once he started pulling out what he thought were human bones, he called 911. So I said, “Well, that’s crazy. But what do you want from me?” And he said, “Well, we really don’t have anywhere else to go. But we had heard about your work on the Runestone and relative age dating. Can you do the same thing with concrete?” And I said, “Well, we’ve never done anything like that before.”

The reason they wanted that — to try to establish the age of the concrete — was to establish a time of death, and then they could go back and look at the missing case files. To nail it down would have been helpful. So the timing was what they were looking for.

And I said, “Look, I’ve never done anything like this before, but I have a couple of ideas. If you’re willing to try, I’m willing to try.” And he said, “We have nowhere else to go.” And I said, “When do you want me to come out?” He said, “As soon as possible.” So I got a flight the next day and flew out here.

I remember Detective Rob Wilson picked me up at the airport. It was a beautiful sunny day like it always is in Vegas, right? And he drove me to the coroner’s lab, which was cold and kind of dark. And I remember when I walked in the building the first time, there were five gurneys lined up with dead bodies on them, naked, and with various trauma. And I remember walking by, looking at them, and I thought to myself, “We’re not in Minnesota anymore.”

AJ GENTILE: “I’m a rock guy. What am I doing here?”

SCOTT WOLTER: What am I doing here? Anyway, so then they pulled out another one of these gurneys with a big, large, oversized yellow body bag. And they unzipped it, and there was the concrete, and it was in two pieces.