A groundbreaking archaeological discovery beneath Al-Khazneh, Petra’s famous Treasury building, may unlock secrets about its construction and the mysterious Nabatean civilization that built it.
A team of researchers, including academics from the University of St Andrews, uncovered a 1st-century AD tomb containing 12 skeletons beneath the iconic structure. This extraordinary find, which was revealed in a documentary on Discovery Channel’s Excavation Unknown, sheds new light on the history of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Jordan.
Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, is one of the most recognizable monuments in the ancient city of Petra, carved into the rock by the Nabateans over 2,000 years ago. Petra itself, known for its intricate rock-cut architecture, attracts over a million visitors annually.
While Al-Khazneh is famous as the supposed resting place of the Holy Grail in the Indiana Jones movie The Last Crusade, its true purpose has remained enigmatic. Some historians believe it may have been a royal tomb, a temple, or a treasury, but no definitive evidence has yet confirmed these theories.
The team’s discovery was a result of a collaborative effort between the Jordanian Department of Antiquities, the Petra Development and Tourism Authority, the American Center for Research (ACOR), the University of St Andrews, and Discovery Channel. The project aimed to explore the site using non-invasive techniques like ground-penetrating radar and electromagnetic surveys.
Professor Richard Bates, from St Andrews’ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, played a key role in conducting these remote investigations around the Treasury and its surroundings.
One of the primary goals of the study was to assess the conditions around the Treasury for potential future work, such as flood control. However, during the survey, the researchers identified possible underground chambers beneath the Treasury, leading them to begin an excavation.
What they found was nothing short of extraordinary—a tomb, untouched for centuries, containing skeletal remains and burial goods that had remained in place since ancient times.
Professor Bates emphasized the international significance of the discovery, noting that very few complete Nabatean burials have ever been unearthed in Petra. The presence of these intact skeletons, along with pottery and other artifacts, offers archaeologists valuable insights into the early Nabateans’ customs, daily life, and their burial practices.
The find also has the potential to clarify the chronology of Petra’s development, helping to determine when and how the city’s most famous structures, including the Treasury, were constructed.
The dating of the tomb’s contents was carried out by Dr. Tim Kinnaird, another researcher from St Andrews. Through sediment analysis, he was able to pinpoint the construction of the tomb to the early 1st century AD. This discovery aligns with the reign of the Nabatean king Aretas IV Philopatris, suggesting that the tomb may have been built as a mausoleum for royal or elite individuals during his rule.
One of the more dramatic moments of the excavation occurred when the team found a skeleton holding a ceramic vessel that resembled the Holy Grail depicted in Indiana Jones. Although it turned out to be part of a broken jug from the 1st century BC, the find was a striking instance of life imitating art.
According to Pearce Paul Creasman, ACOR’s Executive Director, this excavation has brought researchers closer to solving the long-standing mysteries surrounding the Treasury.
While many questions remain about when and why the Nabateans built this iconic structure, the recent discoveries provide vital clues that may reshape our understanding of their civilization.
As research continues, the newfound tomb and its treasures could offer more answers about the Nabateans, their culture, and the architectural marvels they left behind.
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