By Parker Soughers
The historic monument known as Khaznah, or The Treasury‒located in Petra, Jordan‒has become the center of attention in many archaeology circles.
Al-Khaznah, or Khaznah el Far’oun, which translates to treasury of the pharaoh, was discovered by Swiss explorers in 1812. Since then, the city of Petra has been a central focus for many archaeologists and a prime tourist spot since the 1920s.
The structure of the Treasury is carved into a pink sandstone cliff, similar to many of the tombs in Petra. The ancient crypt dates back to the 1st century AD, during the reign of Aretas IV Philopatris at the time of the Nabatean kingdoms.
Al-Khaznah has been used as a filming location in several Hollywood films, including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade–the Treasury served as the hiding place of the Holy Grail.
In 2003, two tombs were found below the famous monument. This discovery led to speculation of more subterranean tombs hidden within the structures of the Treasury. This theory, while worthwhile, hasn’t resulted in any new discorvers—that was until earlier this year.
Dr. Pearce Creasman, executive director of the American Center of Research, discovered a new tomb by using a ground penetrating radar. A technique that uses radar pulses to sense openings and objects beneath the earth.
After obtaining permission from the Jordanian government to dig at the ancient burial site, Creasman and his team unearthed the tomb. The contents inside the tomb were a huge discovery for the investigation into the Nabataean Kingdom. The tomb contained intact skeletal remains, along with several undisturbed burial items.
Unlike many tombs in Petra which have been disturbed or contained only partial skeletal remains, the tomb beneath the Treasury proved to be a prime example of the burial practices of the Nabataean Kingdom. One skeleton discovered in the tomb was found holding a ceramic chalice, mimicking the movie that had been filmed just above the skeleton’s resting place.
Current investigative efforts are focused on dating the artifacts, as well as analyzing the DNA of the skeletons in order to determine whether or not the people buried together were related. Creasman and his team are hopeful that more details about these individuals’ lives will come to light.
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