Shocking Find Under One of the Seven Wonders: Skeletons Hidden for 2,000 Years

The burial chamber housed twelve well-preserved skeletons.

2,000-Year-Old Tomb Found Beneath Petra’s Treasury

A team of stunned archaeologists uncovered a 2,000-year-old burial chamber beneath Petra’s iconic Treasury, one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Hidden under the rose-red stone façade were at least a dozen skeletons untouched for centuries.

Hidden in Plain Sight

The discovery was made directly beneath the Khaznah, the ancient city’s grand, columned Treasury.

Despite Petra being a hub for archaeological study for over 200 years, no one had uncovered anything quite like this, until now.

Twelve Skeletons and Priceless Relics

The burial chamber housed twelve well-preserved skeletons alongside a cache of artefacts.

Experts believe the tomb dates back two millennia and contains the remains of locals who lived and were laid to rest during Petra’s ancient peak.

Petra Still Holds Big Surprises

Though Petra became a household name thanks to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, archaeologists say the site still has secrets.

“Even in front of one of the most famous buildings in the world, there are huge discoveries to be made,” said Discovery Channel’s Josh Gates.

Advanced Tech Pinpointed the Secret Tomb

Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman’s team used ground-penetrating radar to identify the hidden chamber.

The data matched patterns seen in known burial zones across Petra, prompting the Jordanian government to greenlight the dig.

Humidity and Floods Took a Toll on the Remains

While the artefacts were surprisingly intact, the human remains had suffered from Petra’s harsh elements.

Humidity, flooding, and porous sandstone had left some skeletons fragile and even mould-covered, according to Dr. Creasman.

A Tomb Left Undisturbed

Unlike many burial sites in Petra that were looted or disturbed by nomads, this tomb remained untouched.

The skeletons were still “articulated”, meaning their bones hadn’t been scattered, a highly unusual find for the region.

Why This Discovery Matters to Historians

Human remains offer a window into ancient life, health, customs, even migration patterns.

“We were hopeful to find anything that might tell us more about the people and the place,” Creasman said.

And with undisturbed remains, that hope now looks promising.