It was like discovering an alien on the set of “Independence Day.”
Archaeologists have revealed the origin of the iconic “Holy Grail” cup discovered along with 12 human skeletons at the exact same spot in Jordan. “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” was filmed.
Not actually a vessel for the immortality elixir, the chalice is actually a standard drinking cup used by the ancient Nabataeans, an advanced people who lived in the ancient Jordanian city of Petra thousands of years ago.
British archaeologist Claire Isabella Gilmour wrote, “This is an ordinary jug, not a cup conferring eternal life on the drinker.” ConversationRejected comparisons to reputed Biblical relics.
Ceramic artifacts, along with the aforementioned Dead Dozen and other artifacts, were excavated in August in a 2,000-year-old tomb beneath the Khazneh, the famous ancient treasure in Petra, Jordan.
The unprecedented discoveries were made by Dr. Pierce Paul Cressman, Executive Director of the American Center for Research (ACOR), in collaboration with Josh Gates of Discovery Channel’s “Expedition Unknown.” According to ancient origins.
When the so-called “Grail” was found, it was held by one of 12 skeletons – reminiscent of the Chalice. which jesus drank At the last supper.
However, perhaps to the dismay of Bible lovers, experts revealed that the beverage container was actually a textbook example of Nabataean pottery.
This ancient dinnerware is very fine – often only 1.5 mm thick – suggesting that the dinnerware was best suited for formal and local purposes, as it could not travel as well as its sturdier Roman counterparts.
“Nabatean pottery is often painted with images such as flowers, figures, and geometric motifs,” the archaeologist wrote. “These styles reflect Petra’s status as an important trading point and the Nabateans’ skill in construction and invention.”
Perhaps more interesting was the fact that the cup was discovered at the iconic filming location Steven Spielberg’s 1989 adventure film – The alleged “Grail” is very similar to the Spartan-looking prop used in the film.
Despite the similarities, Gilmour wrote, the horrifying discovery “is not a case of art imitating life”.
He said the similarities were not coincidental, but were the result of “painstaking research into Nabataean pottery conducted by Deborah Fine, who was director of archives at Lucasfilm Ltd.”
Meanwhile, the identities of the 12 people in the tomb remain an “Indiana Jones”-worthy mystery.
However, the fact that they were buried in separate coffins and their presence in Khazneh suggests that they were elite.
“This may be the largest discovery of human remains at any single site in Petra,” Gates said. told CNN“The presence of at least 12 skeletons suggests that the tomb may have served as a burial place for prominent individuals, potentially members of the Nabataean elite.”
He added, “They must be extremely important people, because where they are buried is such prime real estate; This is actually the main entrance to the city. I think learning who they are will really help unlock some of the treasury story.
Archaeologists also hope that pottery, sediments and skeletal material will help them pinpoint the dates of construction of the deposit.
Petra was built during the peak of the Nabataean civilization, from the 4th century BC to the 1st century AD, the Times of Israel reports. At its peak, the mecca of trade and commerce was home to 20,000 people, becoming an anomaly in the otherwise desolate Arabian desert.
Today, the ancient metropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site visited by millions of people every year.
While Petra has been studied for two centuries, this latest discovery proves that “there are still great discoveries to be made”, according to Gates.
