Here’s what you’ll learn as you read this story:
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A new tomb has been discovered in the Treasury of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
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The discovery of the tomb, as revealed Discovery Channel‘s “Unknown Expedition” also included 12 skeletons dating back 2,000 years.
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In addition to being a true archaeological wonder, the ornate facade of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan has served as a backdrop in several movies, including “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.”
The sandstone rock faces of the ancient city of Petra (one of the New Seven Wonders of the World) have long been in archaeological light. They also spent time Hollywood Limelight as a location for many scenes in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. But in a recent on-screen appearance – and no offense to Harrison Ford’s iconic professor – they were the site of a very real discovery.
Discovery Channel The popular show “Expedition Unknown” was at the site to document the discovery of 12 human skeletons and artifacts at least 2,000 years old, all of which had long been hidden beneath Petra’s famous Khazneh (or “treasury”). The massive discovery was made by a team led by archaeologist Piers Paul Chrisman.
It turns out that, if he were real, Indiana Jones would surely be proud.
“This is a very rare find,” said Josh Gates Discovery ChannelAccording to the program CNN. “In the two centuries that archaeologists have explored Petra, nothing like this has been found before. Even in front of one of the most famous buildings in the world … there are still great discoveries to be made.”
Chrisman, executive director of the American Center for Research, previously used ground-penetrating radar to confirm that it was possible that additional graves existed at the site. The data collected is consistent with data collected from areas where tombs have been found in the past, and the Jordanian government gave approval for excavations beneath the world-famous site.
The team was delighted to see the actual tomb, and was truly amazed by the fact that it was full of remains and artefacts – many tombs in the ancient city have been found empty, having been cleaned out long ago.
Along with 12 skeletal remains – many bones that had mold, caused by porous sandstone allowing moisture to accumulate in the flood-prone area – the team found a mix of bronze, iron and ceramic artifacts. It consisted of a ceramic chalice resting on the lap of one of the dead, reminiscent of the ironically depicted “Holy Grail”. The Last Crusade. “It was really this wonderful moment,” Gates said, “of the history of art imitating.”
Located near the main entrance of the city, the treasury is believed to be at least 2,000 years old. It is a fascinating mausoleum carved into a sandstone cliff that has long attracted tourists, but dating the iconic monument has proven difficult because no tombs have been found inside.
“We were hoping to find anything that could tell us more about the ancient people and the place,” Chrisman said. For example, Gates believes that the people buried in the newly discovered tomb show must have been of very high status because of the prime real estate used for the tomb. “Human remains,” Chrisman continued, “can be a really valuable tool in that regard. The burials in this cemetery are articulated, so the bones are moved around. Rare.”
A deeper exploration of the remains and artefacts found in the tombs can reveal more about Khazneh, Petra and the lives of the Nabateans who lived in the area. “I think learning who they are,” Gates said, “is really going to help unlock part of the Treasury story.”
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