On a recent family trip to Tel Azekah in Israel, 3-year-old Ziv Nitzan walked alongside her relatives. During their visit, she found a pebble that was actually an old scarab amulet from about 3,800 years ago.
"Among the approximately 7,000 stones surrounding her, she selected just one. After brushing away the sand, she noticed that this particular stone was distinct," explained Omer Nitzan, who is Ziv's elder sibling, in a subtitled clip.
When she scrubbed it and removed the sand, we noticed that something was unusual," Omer went on. "I asked my parents to come take a look at the pretty stone, and then we realized we had stumbled upon an archaeological discovery!
Tel Azekah, the location where the young child discovered the artifact, is an renowned archaeological site situated in Israel’s Shephelah region, having been under excavation for approximately 15 years now. If the term Azekah rings a bell, then your dedication to biblical study certainly pays off; this ancient locale is mentioned in the tale of David and Goliath as recorded in the First Book of Samuel.
They promptly "reported this" to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), who consequently shared on Facebook that the young Ziv had actually stumbled upon an significant object.
Daphna Ben-Tor, an expert in ancient amulets and seals, explained the importance of the artifact—it is a Canaanite scarab from the Middle Bronze Age period.
She mentioned that Canaanite scarabs served as seals and amulets, discovered in "tombs, public structures, and residential areas." Occasionally, these items feature "symbolic representations and inscriptions reflecting spiritual convictions or social standing," she further noted.
As Ben-Tor pointed out, scarab beetles were considered sacred in ancient Egypt, representing rebirth—since the Egyptian term for scarab derives from a verb that means "to come into existence." Consequently, ancient Egyptians saw the scarab as an emblem of divine manifestation.
Archaeologists have discovered many artifacts at Tel Azekah, such as old city walls and farming buildings from the time of the kingdom of Judah.
"Archaeological discoveries indicate that during the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze Ages, Tel Azekah was home to one of the most significant cities in the Judean lowlands," stated Oded Lipschits, who leads the excavation project at Tel Aviv University.
The scarab uncovered by Ziv adds to an extensive collection of Egyptian and Canaanite artifacts unearthed in this area, highlighting the strong connections and mutual cultural impacts between Canaan and Egypt at that time.
In recognition of her discovery of the ancient amulet, Ziv Nitzan received an award for exemplary civic duty.