Josh Gates, along with Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman, Dr. Fares Braizat, and Fadi Balawi, examine the recently uncovered tomb in Petra. CNN
In the ancient city of Petra, Jordan, a fascinating discovery has been made beneath the famed Khaznah, commonly known as the Treasury. Recently, a team of archaeologists uncovered a tomb containing the remains of at least 12 individuals alongside various artifacts estimated to be over 2,000 years old. This significant finding sheds light on the rich history of Petra and its ancient inhabitants.
Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman, the executive director of the American Center of Research, led the excavation team that made this remarkable find. The team had long speculated about the existence of additional tombs hidden below the Treasury, particularly since two had been discovered on the left side of the monument back in 2003. However, it wasn’t until this year that their theory was confirmed.
Using ground-penetrating radar, a technique that allows researchers to identify underground structures, the team discovered similarities between the left and right sides of the Treasury. This evidence was crucial in obtaining permission from the Jordanian government to dig deeper. Excited by their findings, Creasman reached out to Josh Gates, the host of the show "Expedition Unknown," to share the news. "I think we've got something," Creasman told him.
In August, with a film crew documenting the excavation, the team began to uncover the tomb. What they found inside was astonishing. Unlike many other tombs in Petra that are often empty or disturbed, this chamber contained well-preserved skeletal remains and grave goods crafted from bronze, iron, and ceramic. According to Creasman, this intact burial provides rare insights into the lives of the Nabataeans, the ancient nomadic people whose civilization thrived in the region from the fourth century BC until AD 106.
“This is a hugely rare discovery — in the two centuries that Petra has been investigated by archaeologists, nothing like this has been found before,” Gates remarked. The tomb is believed to house the largest collection of human remains discovered in a single location within Petra, making it a vital find for understanding the area’s past.
Petra, recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, drawn to its unique architecture and rich history. The Treasury, in particular, has become iconic, appearing in films such as "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" as the site of the Holy Grail.
Inside the tomb located beneath the Treasury, archaeologists discovered a ceramic container that looks like the Holy Grail. CNN
Among the artifacts found in the tomb was a ceramic vessel resembling the Holy Grail itself, which Gates described as a remarkable moment of history meeting art. The artifacts were well-preserved, although the human remains showed signs of delicate condition, possibly due to the humidity and seasonal floods affecting Petra. Some skeletons were even found with mould, indicating the challenges of preservation in such an environment.
The tomb unearthed beneath the Treasury may provide critical information about Nabataean burial practices, which remain somewhat mysterious. While historical texts suggest that Nabataean society was more egalitarian than others, the team has not yet determined if the newly found tombs were intended for royalty. Interestingly, many typical burial items, such as textiles and jewelry, may have been lost over time due to moisture exposure.
As the research continues, Creasman hopes to uncover more details about the individuals interred in the tomb. Plans include dating the remains and artifacts and conducting DNA analyses to see if the skeletons are related. Further investigations may also reveal details about their diets and lifestyles, helping to paint a clearer picture of who these individuals were and their significance in the broader narrative of Petra.
