Where's Indiana Jones when you need him? Massive ancient monument discovered at Petra, hidden in plain sight

Surprising find discovered with satellite images.

Archaeologists have discovered a massive new shrine at the archaeological site of Petra in southern Jordan. Perta is a famous site with massive edifices cut into the faces of cliffs. Most Americans will recognize it from various movies including "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade."

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - Petra is the site of ancient ruins in southern Jordan. It has been well surveyed by archaeologists and receives visitors throughout the year. The city was built by the Nabateans, who left no written records. They inhabited the area during the time of Christ, and made fortunes in trade between the Persians and Greeks. The city eventually fell under Roman control, and later became part of the Ottoman Empire. It was abandoned in the sixth century and forgotten until its rediscovery in 1812.

The city is now one of the most famous sites in the Middle East, especially outside of Israel. It has been featured in movies, including the film "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade." However, despite all its attention, archaeologists have missed something big.

Literally hidden in plain site, less than a kilometer form the town's center is a massive platform with a smaller platform on top of it. Its function remains mysterious, but the feature is large enough to be spotted in satellite photos, which is how it was discovered.

Archaeologists Christopher Tuttle and Sarah Parcak discovered the feature while studying satellite images of the area. The feature had been noticed previously, but was routinely dismissed as nothing of particular interest. Nobody realized how large it was until it was seen in the satellite photos.

The platform likely served a display function, but nobody know what was displayed there. Nor is the purpose of the smaller platform on top of it known.

The discovery is humbling. It reminds us that as much as we think we know about the past, there is a lot that we do not know. Many mysteries remain hidden in plain site, and it is often our dismissive attitude that causes us to miss them and their significance.

Archaeologists are expected to study the platform in more detail.

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