In 1936, American archaeologist Indiana Jones recovers a golden idol from a booby-trapped Peruvian temple. Cornered by rival archaeologist René Belloq, the idol is stolen and Jones escapes in a waiting seaplane. After returning to America, Jones is approached by two Army Intelligence agents. They reveal Nazis are excavating Tanis, and one of their telegrams mentions Jones's old mentor Abner Ravenwood. Jones deduces the Nazis are searching for the Ark of the Covenant, which Adolf Hitler believes will make their army invincible. The agents recruit Jones to recover the Ark first.