A long-buried secret has been uncovered at Petra’s world-famous Treasury monument in Jordan. Archaeologists have discovered a hidden tomb beneath the iconic site, revealing the remains of 12 ancient skeletons and grave offerings that could unlock new insights into the mysterious Nabataean civilization, reported The Sky news.
The discovery was made possible through the use of remote sensing technology, more than two decades after similar tombs were uncovered on the other side of the monument. The Treasury, a hand-carved masterpiece, stands as the focal point of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, attracting over a million visitors annually.
Carved into the desert canyon walls by the Nabataeans around 2,000 years ago, the true purpose of the Treasury remains unclear. However, this latest find could bring archaeologists closer to understanding the secrets it holds. British and American researchers, working in collaboration with the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, used electromagnetic conductivity and ground-penetrating radar to assess the area around the monument. What they uncovered, however, was far beyond their expectations.
The team discovered underground chambers, and upon excavation, found the tomb containing skeletons ranging from children to adults, along with ancient grave goods. Among the artifacts was a skeleton clutching the top part of a broken jug, believed to date back to the first century BC.
Professor Richard Bates, a geophysicist from the University of St Andrews, shared the significance of the find, said, “The discovery is of international significance as very few complete burials from the early Nabataeans have ever been recovered from Petra before. The burials, their goods, and the human remains can all be expected to help fill the gaps of our knowledge in how Petra came to be and who the Nabataeans were.”
The walls inside the tomb have been dated to between the mid-1st century BC and the early 2nd century AD, providing further clues about the time period in which the tomb was built.
This remarkable discovery was featured on a two-part episode of the Discovery Channel’s reality series Expedition Unknown, bringing the hidden wonders of Petra’s Treasury to the attention of a global audience.
About Author
Leave a Reply