Archaeologists Find 12 Skeletons and 'Holy Grail' Cup Beneath Petra's Iconic Treasury
Researchers have taken one more step toward solving the mysteries of the ancient Nabataean civilization with their latest discovery in Petra, Jordan. Archaeologists have unearthed a hidden tomb from "The Treasury," an iconic building previously featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Newsweek reported. The tomb contained twelve skeletons and a vessel.
In the movie, the building was deemed to be the resting place of the Holy Grail, but in real life, its objective remains a mystery. The building is the centerpiece of an entire city carved out by the people of the Nabatean Kingdom by their hands, some 2000 years ago. These findings give experts a new angle to explore the Nabatean people and their past.
Survey of Al-Khazneh
The treasury building in Petra is also known as Al-Khazneh, the University of St. Andrews reported. Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is deemed one of the new 'Seven Wonders of the World.' The researchers examined the area to understand the ancient city better.
Richard Bates, from the St Andrews School of Earth and Environmental Science, who was part of the team said, "The main purpose of the survey was to assess the condition of the areas around the Treasury, its courtyard, the plaza, the exit of the Siq and the wadi into which they all feed, in advance of potential future works to divert and better control flood waters." The experts found a tomb inside the building and located the remains of 12 skeletons within it.
Discovery of Skeletons
The team was permitted to use a remote-sensing scan so that they could dig beneath the Treasury with as minimal of invasion as possible, the University of St. Andrews reported. The survey indicated to researchers that there were underground chambers in and around the building. Department of Antiquities and ACOR excavated in the locations pointed out by the team and found the tomb, with burials still in their ancient locations.
The team was ecstatic regarding the finding. Professor Bates 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 in our knowledge of how Petra came to be and who the Nabataeans were."
Sample Analysis from Petra
Dr. Tim Kinnaird, from the University of St Andrews School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, went to the site and collected samples of sediments around the burial as well as inside the tomb enclosure. The analysis of these samples revealed that the walls inside the tomb were built somewhere between the mid-first century BC and the early second century AD.
Kinnaird believes that the tomb was created as a mausoleum and crypt for Aretas IV Philopatris. The team was shocked to discover such a large amount of human remains inside the tomb, because that is not the usual occurrence.
"It's fantastic that we now have the pottery, ecofacts, and sediments to date when the Treasury was constructed. Previously we've worked on assumptions and conjectures—to have a definitive date will be a monumental achievement for us all," Kinnaird stated.
Discovery of the 'Holy Grail'
One skeleton in the chamber was found to be holding a ceramic vessel, the University of St. Andrews reported. The experts were a little stunned when they first laid their eyes on the vessel, as it looked like the mythical Holy Grail.
Adventurer and presenter Josh Gates said, "When we spotted what looked like a chalice, all of us just froze. It looked nearly identical to the Holy Grail featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, set in the ancient building directly above the tomb. It was the ultimate moment of life imitating art." Analysis has not been able to reveal whether the vessel is the Holy Grail, but has disclosed that it is possibly the top part of a broken jug from the first century BC.