Israeli Toddler Discovers Amulet Tied to Genesis
In a remarkable discovery highlighting Israel’s rich Biblical heritage, three-and-a-half-year-old Ziv Nitzan stumbled upon an extraordinary piece of history dating back approximately 3,800 years to the end of Genesis.
The young girl’s discovery of an ancient scarab amulet during a family hike at Tel Azekah near Beit Shemesh in the Valley of Elah was purely accidental, according to her sister, Omer. “We were walking along the path when Ziv bent down and picked up a particular stone,” she said, according to a press release published by the Israel Antiquities Authority. “After rubbing off the sand, we saw something was different about it. We immediately reported it” to the IAA, she continued.
Judah Region District Archaeologist Semyon Gendler commended the family for their prompt reporting and awarded Ziv a certificate of appreciation for her good citizenship. The discovery adds to a growing list of significant Biblical artifacts found in recent years, as noted by heritage experts.
Daphna Ben-Tor, an expert in ancient amulets and seals, identified the object as a Canaanite scarab from the Middle Bronze Age. “Scarabs were used during this period as seals and amulets, often found in graves, public buildings, and homes,” she said, according to the release.
Scarabs are artifacts originating in ancient Egypt, shaped like a dung beetle. The beetle held religious significance in ancient Egypt as a symbol of creation and renewal, believed to represent the incarnation of the creator God.
This scarab was discovered at the foot of Tel Azekah, an important archaeological site with evidence of multiple cultural shifts throughout history. Tel Azekah is also most famously linked to the biblical battle between David and Goliath, as described in the Book of Samuel but was on the route of Abraham to Be’er Sheva.
“This seal connects us to the grand civilizations that lived on this land thousands of years ago. It is a reminder that even children can play a role in uncovering history,” said Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu.
IAA Director Eli Escusido praised the family’s decision to hand over the artifact to the National Treasures of Israel.
–Dwight Widaman with JNS.org
