It’s one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and an enduring archeological mystery that once served as the silver screen stand-in for the hiding place of the Holy Grail.
It’s the iconic monument known as the Khaznah, or Treasury, located in the center of the ancient city of Petra, Jordan. And we now know more about it thanks to a team of researchers, a TV show host, and ground penetrating radar.
Archaeologists led by American Center of Research Executive Director, Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman, recently discovered a tomb with at least 12 human skeletons and artifacts estimated to be at least 2,000 years old buried beneath the world-famous monument.
According to an article on CNN.com, the expedition was studying the Treasury to prove the validity of a years-long theory that two tombs found below the left side of the structure in 2003 were not the only secret underground chambers in the area.
Petra, and the Treasury specifically, have long captivated experts and novice archeologists alike who have debated its original purpose. The prevailing theory is that the monument serves as a mausoleum, but no skeletal remains have been found within the building itself.
Along with being a very popular tourist attraction, the Treasury has featured in several movies – the most famous being 1989’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” where it stood in for the final resting place of the Holy Grail.
To determine what’s really buried beneath the Treasury, Creasman’s team deployed GPR scanners to see whether the physical features where the original tombs were found to the left of the monument matched those on the right.
GPR is a non-destructive imaging technology that utilizes radio waves to identify subsurface anomalies. A GPR scanner sends a radio signal into the ground or a surface such as a concrete slab, then detects the interactions between this signal and any buried objects. These interactions – sometimes referred to as “bounces” – are displayed in a GPR readout as a series of hyperbolas that vary in size and shape depending on the type of material that has been located. A professional GPR technician can then interpret this data to determine what was located and estimate the depth of that buried object.
GPR was originally invented in the 1930s as a tool for measuring the thickness of glaciers. It has evolved to serve a variety of industries, including becoming a vital tool for locating buried utilities prior to excavation.
The GPR scans collected by Creasman and his team indicated strong similarities between the physical features of the left and right sides of the Treasury. This was enough proof for the archaeologists to take to the Jordanian government to obtain permission to dig beneath the site.
Creasman then contacted Josh Gates, host of Discovery Channel’s “Expedition Unknown” to inform him of his team’s findings. Creasman has appeared on Gates’ show in the past, and he believed the television host would be interested in what his team had found in Jordan.
“I think we’ve got something,” the archaeologist said he told Gates on the phone.
Gates and his film crew were on hand to capture the team’s excavation of the newly uncovered tomb, within which they were surprised to find complete skeletal remains and grave goods made from bronze, iron, and ceramic. The discovery was unusual in a region where tombs are often found empty or disturbed. The tombs discovered on the left side of the Treasury in 2003 contained partial remains, but because the data from that excavation was not published it is unknown how many individuals were buried there.
Creasman told CNN that the intact burial will provide rare insights into the lives of the Nabataeans, ancient Arabian nomads whose desert kingdom thrived during fourth century BC to AD 106.
“This is a hugely rare discovery — in the two centuries that Petra has been investigated by archaeologists, nothing like this has been found before,” Gates said. “Even in front of one of the most famous buildings in the world … There are still huge discoveries to be made.”
GPRS Utilizes GPR to Keep Your Construction Projects on Track
GPR is the cornerstone of the origin story of GPRS. We wouldn't be here today if Matt Aston hadn’t discovered a GPR unit in an ad in the back of a magazine.
Over the past two decades, GPRS has expanded to add video pipe inspection, leak detection, 3D laser scanning, drone imaging, and mapping & modeling to the list of services we provide. Yet GPR has continued to play a key role in allowing us to help clients Intelligently Visualize the Built World®.
GPR as a technology continues to improve by leaps and bounds. Combined with the knowledge and skill of our elite Project Managers, it can produce results that are clearer and more accurate than ever before.
What can we help you visualize?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ground penetrating radar have any limitations?
GPR is highly effective at locating subsurface utilities and other materials. However, it does have certain limitations. Performing locating services on suboptimal ground and soil conditions, inclement weather, and the material of the object being located are just a few potential limiting factors. Fortunately, GPRS Project Managers are specially trained to utilize alternative forms of utility locating technology, including electromagnetic (EM) locating, to compensate for these limitations.
Can GPR scanners be used on CMU walls?
Yes, we can use ground penetrating radar equipment on concrete masonry unit (CMU) walls and structures. GPR can also determine the presence or absence of grout, bond beams, vertical rebar, horizontal rebar, and joint reinforcing within the CMU structure.
Can GPR determine the exact size of a subsurface void cavity?
No. GPR equipment can identify the area where a void is occurring and the boundaries of that void. It cannot measure the void’s depth.
