A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman, executive director of the American Center of Research, has discovered a hidden tomb beneath the iconic Treasury building in the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. The tomb, which contains at least 12 human skeletons and artifacts estimated to be over 2,000 years old, was found using ground-penetrating radar technology. The discovery was made earlier this year, but the team had to wait for permission from the Jordanian government before they could begin their excavation.
The Treasury, or the Khaznah, is carved into pink sandstone cliffs and is one of the most famous landmarks in Petra. The city, known for its unique architecture and many mysteries, was voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in the 2000s. The Treasury itself has been featured in several movies, most notably as the site of the Holy Grail in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Unlike many tombs found in Petra, which are often empty or disturbed, this newly discovered tomb was filled with complete skeletal remains and grave goods made from bronze, iron, and ceramic. The intact burial provides rare insight into the lives of the Nabataeans, ancient Arabian nomads whose desert kingdom thrived from the fourth century BC to AD 106.
Josh Gates, host of Discovery Channel’s Expedition Unknown, described the find as a "hugely rare discovery." He added, "In the two centuries that Petra has been investigated by archaeologists, nothing like this has been found before."
The researchers believe this may be the largest collection of human remains found in one place within Petra. As they continue to study the skeletons, they hope to learn more about who these people were in life. They plan to date the skeletons and artifacts, extract DNA to determine whether the skeletons are related, and conduct other analyses to assess their diets and whether they had physical jobs.