Petra is the ancient city famous for rock-cut buildings such as the Treasury. It is in present-day Jordan, where rose-coloured sandstone cliffs surround the archaeological site.
The Nabataeans established Petra as their capital and developed it into a major trading centre. Its position between Arabia, Egypt, the Levant, and the Mediterranean allowed merchants to move spices, incense, textiles, and other goods through the city. The Nabataeans also built sophisticated channels, cisterns, and dams to manage scarce water.
The Treasury, whose local name is Al-Khazneh, was carved into a cliff face and probably served as a monumental tomb rather than a literal storehouse of treasure. Petra declined after Roman annexation and changing trade routes. It was brought to wider Western attention in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.