What started as a routine family outing took an unexpected turn for the Nitzan family when 3.5-year-old Ziv picked up what seemed like an ordinary stone—only that remarkable “stone” turned out to be an ancient scarab amulet, dating back 3,800 years. Upon realizing its significance, the family promptly reported the discovery to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
“Once We Cleaned It, We Knew It Was Something Else”
“We were walking along the trail when Ziv bent down and picked up a stone. After cleaning it, we realized it was something entirely different,” said her sister, Omer. The family immediately contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority, which sent the artifact for examination.
Dr. Dafna Ben-Tor, an expert in ancient amulets, identified the object as a Canaanite scarab seal from the Middle Bronze Age. Such seals were often used as spiritual symbols or talismans, and It was attributed with the power to give new life.
From Ancient Egypt to Israel
Scarab seals, small intricately carved artifacts, originated in ancient Egypt and were shaped like dung beetles. The beetle was considered sacred by the Egyptians, symbolizing renewal and rebirth—since it lays its eggs in a ball of dung, from which new life emerges.
According to Prof. Oded Lipschits of Tel Aviv University, “The scarab fits well within a sequence of discoveries that highlight deep ties between Egypt and Canaan. Tel Azekah was an important city in that era”.
A Passover Exhibition of Ancient Finds
The Israel Antiquities Authority will display the scarab in a special exhibition at the National Archaeology Campus in Jerusalem during Passover. Alongside Ziv’s discovery, the exhibit will feature Pharaoh seals, Egyptian statues, and religious artifacts, many of which are being revealed to the public for the first time
Heritage Minister Amihai Eliyahu expressed his excitement over the discovery: “The scarab Ziv found during a family hike at Tel Azekah connects us to a much larger story—the ancient civilizations that lived in this land thousands of years ago. Ziv’s discovery reminds us that in Israel, even children can play a role in uncovering history.”
