In the heart of the ancient city of Petra, Jordan, an intricate monument known as the Khaznah, or the Treasury, is carved into stunning pink sandstone cliffs. Recently, archaeologists made a remarkable discovery beneath this grand structure: a tomb containing at least 12 human skeletons along with artifacts that date back over 2,000 years.
The excavation was led by Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman, the executive director of the American Center of Research. His team was investigating the Treasury after years of speculation that the two tombs found on the left side of the monument in 2003 were not the only hidden chambers.
Until now, that theory had remained unverified. Earlier this year, Creasman and his team utilized ground-penetrating radar, a technique that employs radar pulses to identify underground objects, to compare the physical features on the left side, where the original tombs were located, with those on the right.
Their findings showed significant similarities between the two sides, providing the evidence needed to obtain permission from the Jordanian government to dig beneath the Treasury. At this point, Creasman reached out to Josh Gates, the host of Discovery Channel’s “Expedition Unknown.”
“I think we’ve got something,” he recalled telling the explorer during their phone call. In August, with a film crew in tow, the team began excavating the newly discovered tomb. However, the true surprise awaited them inside. Unlike many tombs in Petra that are often found empty or disturbed, this chamber was filled with complete skeletal remains and grave goods made of bronze, iron, and ceramic.
The intact burial discovered beneath the Treasury offers a rare glimpse into the lives of the Nabataeans, ancient Arabian nomads whose desert kingdom flourished from the fourth century BC to AD 106, according to Creasman.
This is an incredibly rare discovery — in the two centuries that Petra has been studied by archaeologists, nothing like this has ever been found,” Gates remarked. “Even in front of one of the most iconic buildings in the world … there are still significant discoveries waiting to be uncovered.”
According to researchers, this remarkable finding may represent the largest collection of human remains discovered in a single location within Petra, and it was highlighted on the season premiere of “Expedition Unknown” on Wednesday. (Discovery Channel is owned by CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery.)
Petra was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in the 2000s due to its unique architecture and the many enigmas that continue to surround the city. While experts have debated the purpose of the Treasury for centuries, the most widely accepted theory is that the monument served as a mausoleum, although no skeletal remains have been located within the building itself, Gates noted.
The Treasury attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year and has been featured in several films, most notably as the location of the Holy Grail in the 1989 movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Among the artifacts discovered were several vessels, with one skeleton found holding a ceramic chalice that resembled the shape of the Holy Grail.
“It truly was a remarkable moment of history reflecting art,” Gates commented. Creasman stated that the artifacts are exceptionally well-preserved. However, the human remains, while intact, are in a more fragile condition than anticipated.
This may be due to the humidity and seasonal flooding in Petra, as well as the porous sandstone surrounding the tomb that has trapped moisture, he explained. Some of the skeletons were found with mold. Creasman mentioned that only a few tombs uncovered in Petra over the past several decades have revealed untouched burials. The disturbances in graves were likely caused by travelers seeking shade and shelter in the desert, he added.
Two decades ago, archaeologists from the Jordan Department of Antiquities uncovered two tombs beneath the left side of the Treasury, revealing partial skeletal remains. However, the findings were not published, leaving the number of individuals discovered unclear, according to Creasman.
“We were hopeful to find anything that might tell us more about the ancient people and place — human remains can be a really valuable tool in that regard,” Creasman noted. “The burials in this tomb are articulated, meaning the bones haven’t been disturbed or moved, which is exceedingly rare.”
One ongoing mystery about the Nabataeans involves their burial practices. Literature often describes Nabataean society as more egalitarian, with the king being more connected to the lower classes compared to leaders of other civilizations, Creasman explained. So far, the Nabataean tombs that have been found do not show a significant difference between royal and common burials, making it challenging to determine if the recently discovered tombs beneath the Treasury were intended for royalty.
The researchers also believe that many of the textiles and jewelry typically found in Nabataean burials, such as cloth wrappings and necklaces adorned with beads, may have been lost due to humidity and floodwaters infiltrating the tomb, Gates mentioned. As the researchers continue their examination of the skeletons, Creasman expressed hope that more information will emerge about the lives of these individuals.
They aim to date the skeletons and artifacts, as well as analyze extracted DNA to see if the dozen skeletons are related. Additional analyses may also provide insights into their diets and whether they held physical jobs, Creasman added. “They must be hugely important people, because where they’re buried is such prime real estate; it really is the main entrance to the city,” Gates remarked. “I think learning who they are is really going to help unlock part of the story of the Treasury.
