The first formal excavation in Petra was spearheaded by British archaeologists Agnes Conway and George Horsfield, who served as the Chief Inspector of Antiquities in Transjordan between 1928 and 1936. Since their groundbreaking expedition, a variety of international and local teams have undertaken extensive research efforts. However, it's estimated that only about 20% of Petra's sprawling site has been explored archaeologically to date.
Petra Archaeological Park has provided assistance and facilitation for around 22 foreign and local archaeological excavations in Petra and Bayda, which included the following excavations:
Petra Garden and Pool Complex
Conducted by: American Mission / Pennsylvania University
Under the direction of Dr. Leigh-Ann Bedal
Jabal Haroon Excavations
Conducted by: Finland Mission / University of Helsinki
Under the direction of Prof. Jakko Frösen
Qasr al-Bint Excavation
Conducted by: French Mission
Under the direction of Dr. Christian Auge and Dr. François Renel
Abodes Chapel
Conducted by: French Mission / Kiel University
Under the direction of Dr. Lorant Toulbeq
Petra Great Temple
Conducted by: American Expedition / Brown University
Under the direction of Dr. Martha Joukowsky
Winged Lion Temple
Conducted by: American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR)
Under the direction of Dr. Maria Elena Ronza
Wadi Farasa
Conducted by: French Expedition / Montpellier University
Under the direction of Dr. Stephan Schmidt
Shkarat Msaied
Conducted by: Danish Expedition / Copenhagen University
Under the direction of Dr. Ingulf Thueson
Wadi Mataha
Conducted by: American Expedition / Brigham Young University
Under the direction of Dr. David Johnson
AL Waayra / Habis
Conducted by: Italy Expedition / Florence University
Under the direction of Dr. Guido Vannini
Ba’ja Village
Conducted by: Germany Expedition / Berlin University
Under the direction of Dr. Hans Jebel
Ez-Zantur
Conducted by: Swiss Expedition / Basel University
Under the direction of Dr. Bernhard Kolb
The Treasury Courtyard
Conducted by: Department of Antiquities
Under the direction of Dr. Suleiman Al-Farajat and Sami Al-Nawafleh
Wadi Al-Jarra Dam
Conducted by: Petra National Trust (PNT)
Under the direction of Dr. U. Bellwad
North-Eastern Petra Project Survey
Under the direction of Dr. Stephan G. Schmid, Zbigniew T. Fiema, and Bernhard Kolb
Neolithic Village in Bayda
Conducted by: Council for British Research in the Levant
Under the direction of Dr. Bill Finlayson
Petra North Ridge
Conducted by: East Carolina University
Under the direction of Dr. Megan Perry
Ad-Dayr Surveying
Conducted by: Brigham Young University
Under the direction of Dr. Cynthia Finlayson
Islamic Bayda Project
Conducted by: Cardiff University
Under the direction of: Dr. Micaela Sinibaldi