2,000-Year-Old Tomb Found Under Petra Treasury Reveals Mysteries of 12 Buried Skeletons

Brush Stroke By: Govind Tekale

A hidden tomb has been discovered recently in Petra, Jordan, buried deep beneath its sandstone cliffs.

[{"selector":"#anim-f06afa0a-77db-4767-9265-b1fb90b13251","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-941ad029-53e9-429e-980d-617b2ca6526d","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30e1b4d9-d617-469d-868a-760164509990","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63ad25ea-6854-4ece-8575-6f72ec16bd3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9751f00-8f60-44dc-b553-1f4eae9f178f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.06451%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d284d5b-ccfe-4eb0-8636-7206d9fd5740","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-042e0ac4-01ab-4beb-9508-a454ed839ed2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

The 2,000-year-old chamber is located directly underneath the city's infamous Treasury monument.

[{"selector":"#anim-3d28e8a0-9bcd-42aa-8f65-7158dff0d288","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c805fe09-4ef8-43b6-b742-4387b5615c6e","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b3257775-b8ab-4d69-936a-88cb41853267","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d07683af-ed4e-416a-b35b-7eaef3bddfd2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-682e3ba1-cbfc-41d0-b346-0758a9b6ab33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-61425321-f17d-4311-b9f7-60ef67d6bd90","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.45161%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55788060-e301-4695-8f7a-1abd7794204e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

The archeological team found the chamber contained the 12 skeletons along with a trove of well-preserved grave goods.

[{"selector":"#anim-4b3afbfc-4f78-4746-b3f9-1413b8593341","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ad31502a-875b-468b-a3f0-1dd9da5f95da","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-545791ec-db56-4bbe-abd0-029aae8df84e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-29108579-3f4e-4453-b260-61e20c4af11f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddcd770a-00f5-46b7-96ad-02937cfd71d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68e941be-638c-47d4-8cc8-a84f6e24cfd2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.45161%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7d2bd92-ef64-497d-99e2-fee7ca0b9558","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman, the executive director of the American Center of Research, led a team to employ state-of-the-art remote sensing techniques to dig up the find.

[{"selector":"#anim-b7afbe46-3c7c-45cd-8653-b3f3c1aad0c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7d11f6e-60ae-468c-9553-8bebdebd27a3","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec5fa709-8171-4b1d-aa1b-e106fd8ebeed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-59c5126b-6574-4d14-ba36-08aa5800a017","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da21c857-fdf3-4bad-9fa9-20186bd0d102","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5db492a-626c-4a09-9070-29baacea22a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.45161%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c6dff6b7-2997-409f-84cc-642f12685957","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

The remote sensing techniques allowed the researchers to peer through the thick layers of debris and rubble that had accumulated over the centuries, making it possible to pinpoint the exact location of the tomb.

[{"selector":"#anim-53146286-820d-402d-bcbf-3a6db20f2957","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ecd7d489-b9ed-45c3-b0f8-89d1fbcf47b6","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1dde872c-de62-4166-beb9-8450c36ae12a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8cce66b-d3be-4ebc-a1fe-e3dfc6c219c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b770e78-e00e-4c8d-b76a-ba5a98a9c724","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-661c01ff-ff44-4d57-947f-e784b50f54ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.74359%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0f04ac2-97f5-4b14-9a09-dd71af73d167","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

The ancient desert city of Petra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

[{"selector":"#anim-8480be39-8b22-4a56-be2d-55cf560b17a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc0549dc-a183-4372-a863-c65a02e13019","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1109a514-f195-4e95-9e77-abc96787b9c8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcbfbfad-fa47-45c8-a92c-cca7cc128dfe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d7ded53-3e0f-4c33-af5a-82b3cdbc5ae3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62e7562f-44fd-48b2-ae90-a501ed7f2fa9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.46541%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-489735bc-a329-4f0f-8462-8f8a46020589","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

The region was occupied by the Nabataean civilization from the 4th century BCE to 106 CE who lived a prosperous life in the city.

[{"selector":"#anim-880b75e0-e3d4-4138-8dd8-3def7fed92cb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7663c57c-d680-49f4-aec4-46e89d568a0f","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9277f791-5d66-4730-b704-49726a5ab9fd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-965c1ef7-7491-4cf7-97a5-091191d25314","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56e105b1-b0d9-4c80-a29d-62021f63df2d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00d2096a-f61b-4813-a7cf-6486d9dd6797","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.42007%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eaf0ca62-5596-4ff9-8522-42fc6ff842e3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

The researchers also found a ceramic vessel among all the goods that resembles the legendary Holy Grail featured in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."

[{"selector":"#anim-34feccef-05d7-4b83-8999-995237f6678b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4de66a71-d481-47f0-9472-07dde026fae0","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ff66975-08c2-4501-9aea-5c7349c240eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cea5f0ea-ef2f-4d22-9b77-25232cc6ab1f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d983850c-0800-4e1b-a41b-2035469d8879","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b74ae89f-f542-4aa4-b650-f6795a3441b0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.83871%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ecf8edb-c337-4017-922f-43e482b44a44","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

This new discovery offers up the opportunity to study the burial customs and everyday life in this once powerful kingdom.

[{"selector":"#anim-5fced907-46b5-4a4d-acfa-ad5a1c1afb94","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ff683d38-fd16-429c-9a88-7da9564a0c38","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ffadf523-c145-4d3b-8ecd-8aaab5ab9b76","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-437d9213-4372-4d94-b756-bc5ebaf52946","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe694439-d7c8-494d-a8c2-b86b425beec8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-abb29317-5152-4843-b196-e9ee730bc663","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.45161%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-83e99670-fc45-479c-b94a-7d946d32cfb4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google

Alongside Nabataean funerary practices, the excavations can also help draw a clear image of the environmental conditions that prevailed previously.

[{"selector":"#anim-5662ef3d-4299-44be-b1df-4be67c653a8b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7cb18f5c-1117-43c3-be42-5e46dbfb860b","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 134.36168%, 0) rotate(-105deg)","rotate(105deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(-105deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":7000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17500797-70bb-40c2-8d38-3a5e0dabfe43","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68b2c29b-e3ac-41d7-9941-1fb33e687b74","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(125.73529%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c399900a-8235-4b57-b18a-b58dcec33b08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-adcf94d3-ba68-48ff-98cb-57f44be0d708","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.45161%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64088b99-9c69-47f7-876c-a2d593414af0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Brush Stroke Photo Source: Google