Several bullet holes on the facade of the Treasury were caused hundreds of years ago by Bedouin tribesman hoping to uncover riches that they believed were hidden within. The giant urn carved above the Treasury bears the most bullet marks as it was believed to be holding riches inside.

The bullet holes visible on the façade of Al-Khazneh (The Treasury) in Petra are the result of a local Bedouin legend that lasted for generations. According to the folklore, an ancient Egyptian pharaoh had hidden a massive treasure—gold, jewels, and coins—inside the giant stone urn located at the very top of the building's central "tholos" (the circular structure on the second level). Believing that the urn was made of clay or wood and could be broken open to reveal the riches inside, local tribesmen would frequently fire their rifles at the urn in hopes of shattering it and showering themselves with treasure. In reality, the entire façade, including the urn, is carved directly out of the solid sandstone cliffside, meaning there is no hollow space inside for treasure to be hidden. Today, the " Treasury" urn is peppered with dozens of small pockmarks from these shots, serving as a permanent scar and a testament to the myths that surrounded the site during its "lost" years before it was rediscovered by the West. These bullet holes are now preserved as part of the monument's complex history, highlighting the transition of Petra from a mystical "hidden" city to a protected UNESCO World Heritage site.