The Nabataean city of Petra was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007, with archaeologists and visitors alike intrigued by the ancient settlement’s history. Little’s known about Petra and its inhabitants, and a recent discovery made while filming the Discovery Channel series Expedition Unknown (2015-present) may hold the answers to some long-standing questions.
The discovery was shown on the two-part season premiere of Expedition Unknown, hosted by Josh Gates, on October 9, 2024. It notably occurred at the same site that was made famous by Steven Spielberg‘s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
Around 2,000 years ago, the ancient Nabataean Kingdom was hand-carved into the sandstone cliffs of the Jordanian desert, with an enigmatic structure known simply as “the Treasury” situated in the middle. It’s been a source of wonder among archaeologists for much of history, with no one quite sure of its purpose.
As a result of its historical significance, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
The mystery surrounding the Treasury prompted a renewed excavation of the site, conducted by a joint Jordanian/American team led by the American Center of Research (ACOR) and involving the Jordanian Department of Antiquities.
Following a remote sensing scan, which was conducted with ground-penetrating radar (GPR), the team dug beneath the building, which led them to an unexpected discovery: a buried tomb containing the well-preserved remains of at least a dozen Nabataean.
“We were absolutely stunned by the revelation of this hidden chamber. Since nearly all of the tombs in Petra have been found empty, this is perhaps the most significant tomb ever found at Petra and a discovery of historic proportions,” Gates stated in a press release issued by Warner Bros. Discovery. “The breakthrough could not only reveal the secrets of The Treasury above, it could also offer an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of the early Nabataens who built Petra.”
One of the skeletons laid to rest within the tomb was discovered holding a ceramic vessel, which Gates described as being “nearly identical to the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Closer examination showed it to be a broken jug from around the first century BC.
“There is so much that we have yet to learn about The Treasury. When was this remarkable structure built, and why? Little did we know that this dig might completely change what we know about The Treasury and help solve the mysteries of the Nabataean people,” American Center of Research Executive Director Pierce Paul Creasman explained in the media release. “With the support of the Nabataean government, this excavation is bringing us closer than ever to answers.”
Speaking with The Washington Post, Creasman elaborated on this statement, saying the remains could provide insight into how the Nabataeans lived and buried their dead – there’s even the possibility of recovering ancient DNA. According to geophysicist Richard Bates, who spoke with NBC News, the skeletons likely belonged to women and men who ranged in age from children to adults.
More from us: Archaeologists Unearth Artifacts Dating Back to the Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
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Petra attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, with only a few tombs with untouched burials having been unearthed in recent decades.