Last year, while studying AP Art History, I vividly remember learning about Petra, the ancient city carved into the rose-red cliffs of Jordan. Petra's Treasury stood out to me as one of the most iconic monuments with its elaborate facade and mysterious history. It always struck me how much we still didn’t know about this ancient city and the people who built it.
So, when I stumbled upon an article from The New York Times titled “In Jordan, a ‘Stunning’ Discovery Under Petra’s Ancient Stone” by Ali Watkins, I felt a deep sense of awe and curiosity.
The article details an extraordinary recent discovery, the unearthing of twelve human skeletons and a chamber of grave offerings beneath Petra’s famed Treasury building. This site is a UNESCO World Heritage treasure and has long been shrouded in mystery. Excavations have revealed that these remains date from the height of the Nabatean civilization, which flourished between 400 B.C. and A.D. 106. These tombs, previously hidden for centuries, offer a glimpse into the ancient practices of the people who built Petra as their capital.
I was fascinated by how this discovery deepens our understanding of Petra’s history and its people. From an anthropological perspective, this find highlights how archaeology and modern technology, such as ground-penetrating radar, continue to uncover new layers of human history. This powerful linkage between modern technology and the past provides invaluable insights into how ancient civilizations, like the Nabateans, interacted with their environment, challenging our assumptions about their daily lives, work, and social interactions.
Through discoveries like these, I am reminded of the power of archaeology to reshape our understanding of the past, and I look forward to learning about more excavation efforts and exploring their potential impact on our knowledge of the ancient world.
Image from "In Jordan, a ‘Stunning’ Discovery Under Petra’s Ancient Stone" by Ali Watkins, The New York Times. Courtesy of Discovery's Expedition Unknown.
