Jordan | Amazing Archaeological Discovery Under the Treasury in Petra

2024-10-15 2024-10-15T08:48:28Z

Arab Weather - In the heart of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, carved into the pink sandstone cliffs, stands a famous monument known as "Al-Khazneh" or "The Treasury". Recently, archaeologists discovered a tomb beneath this monument containing at least 12 human skeletons, in addition to artifacts estimated to be at least 2,000 years old.

The research team was led by the executive director of the American Research Center, Piers Paul Cressman, who discovered the ancient tomb during a study of the treasury. The mission began after years of speculation about the existence of other underground tombs, in addition to the one found on the left side of the treasury in 2003. Despite this speculation, the existence of other secret chambers has not yet been confirmed.

Use of remote sensing techniques

Earlier this year, Cressman and his team used ground-penetrating radar, an advanced remote sensing technique that uses radar pulses to detect objects beneath the surface. The team focused on studying the geological features on the left, where the original graves were found, and compared them to those on the right. The finds showed a striking similarity between the two sides, which confirmed the need for permission from the Jordanian government to begin excavation.

After getting the necessary permission, Chrisman reached out to Josh Gates, host of Discovery Channel's "Expedition Unknown," who expressed his optimism, saying:

“I think we’ve discovered something important.” In August, the team, along with a camera crew, began excavating the newly discovered tomb.

The biggest surprise was what was found inside the tomb. Although many of the tombs discovered in Petra were empty or looted, this one contained the remains of complete skeletons, along with rare funerary goods made of bronze, iron and ceramics.

This unique discovery gives us a rare glimpse into the lives of the Nabataeans, the ancient Arab nomads whose desert kingdom flourished between the 4th century BC and 106 AD, Chrisman explained.