Why was Al Khazna at Petra made?
   Sophie, 8, Merrionette Park, Illinois

Dr. dig responds:
Petra, situated in a deep valley in modern Jordan, was once the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. The Nabateans were a tribe of nomad shepherds who developed into wealthy traders respected throughout the Mediterranean world for their honesty. Petra, with its abundant supply of drinking water and its many caves that could be used for storage and habitation, became a famous trading center. A spectacular building was carved into the pink rock of the valley. Known today by its modern name of Khanzna al Faraun or Al Khazna (literally, "pharaoh's treasury"), this building was once a temple and has a starring role in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!