The discovery is "stunning," said Pearce Paul Creasman, executive director of the American Center of Research, who led the dig, in an email to The Washington Post. He expressed that this work will illuminate The Treasury’s construction and date, with the excavated materials having great potential to inform us about the early history of Petra and perhaps the origins of the Nabataeans too.
Creasman indicated that the human remains could help reveal how the Nabataeans, whose kingdom lasted from around the 4th century B.C. to 106 A.D., lived and buried their dead. He is hopeful that they could even recover ancient DNA from these remains, which could provide insights into the burial practices and life of these ancient people.
"We were absolutely stunned by the revelation of this hidden chamber,' said Josh Gates, host of the Warner Bros. television series Expedition Unknown. This discovery was so significant that it was featured on a two-part episode aired last week, indicating the depth of interest and potential scientific value of thisfind.
Creasman noted that beyond understanding the Nabataeans, the excavations could also advance our knowledge of the environment in which Petra’s people lived and thrived. He mentioned that while Petra is currently arid, it was once a comparatively lush place that has changed dramatically over centuries.
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