The Holy Grail? Mysterious chalice discovered in 2000-year-old burial chamber

Petra (Jordan) - A 2000-year-old burial chamber has been discovered in the legendary desert city of Petra. In addition to twelve skeletons, the researchers also found a mysterious chalice.

At the "treasure house" of Petra - the Khazne al-Firaun - researchers discovered a previously unopened burial chamber.
At the "treasure house" of Petra - the Khazne al-Firaun - researchers discovered a previously unopened burial chamber.  © Khalil MAZRAAWI / afp

The "Treasure House", the monumental mausoleum in the heart of the ancient desert city of Petra, served as the backdrop for "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". Now archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery there of all places.

Right next to the "treasure house", the researchers found an unopened burial chamber, around 2000 years old, reportsthe Daily Mail. It contained twelve skeletons. There were also plenty of grave goods made of pottery, iron and bronze. The finds are electrifying archaeologists worldwide.

A film crew from the Discovery Channel was present when the chamber was opened by scientists. For TV archaeologist Josh Gates, one thing is certain: "This is perhaps the most important tomb ever found in Petra and a discovery of historic proportions."

The archaeologists also found a mysterious chalice. The resemblance to the "Holy Grail" from the third Indiana Jones film is striking. Just like in the movie, the inconspicuous vessel is only a few centimetres in size and extremely simple in design - and just like in the movie, the chalice was found in the ruins of the ancient desert city.

Coincidence or miracle? What is the object all about?

Mysterious vessel found during excavation

"Indiana Jones chalice" raises questions

Anyone who drinks from it is assured of eternal life. The search for the Holy Grail has preoccupied people for hundreds of years. (symbolic image)
Anyone who drinks from it is assured of eternal life. The search for the Holy Grail has preoccupied people for hundreds of years. (symbolic image)  © 123rf/zelmabrezinska

While leading archaeologists are grappling with the question of whether the latest grave find is actually a discovery of "historic proportions", speculation about the "Holy Grail" chalice continues unabated.

"In fact, it is a modest jug, not a cup that promises eternal life to the drinker," writes archaeologist Claire Gilmour on the specialist portal"The Conversion". She does not consider the chalice to be the authentic "Holy Grail", but a ceramic work by the Nabataeans - an Arab ethnic group that ruled Petra 2000 years ago and led it to great prosperity.

Archaeologist Claire Gilmour can say exactly why the 2000-year-old chalice from the "Treasure House" looks so similar to the "Indiana Jones" grail that disappears into a crevice at the end of the 1989 film classic: "This is the result of careful research into Nabataean ceramics by Deborah Fine (1942 to 2019), who was head of archives at Lucasfilm at the time."

The object and the other grave goods are being thoroughly examined by specialists. It is still completely unclear who the twelve dead from the chamber were.