Toddler Discovers 3,800-Year-Old Archaeological Relic
While out on a hike with her parents and two sisters at the archaeological site of Tel Azeka, Ziv Nitzan located a Canaanite amulet in the shape of a scarab while searching the ground for stones.
'We were walking along the path, and then Ziv bent down, and out of all the stones around her, she picked up this particular stone,' one of her sisters, Omer Nitzan, recalled in a statement released by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). 'When she rubbed it and removed the sand from it, we saw something was different about it. I called my parents to come see the beautiful stone, and we realized we had discovered an archaeological find! We immediately reported this to the Israel Antiquities Authority.' (via Ancient Origins).
Scarabs, otherwise known as dung beetles, were revered as a symbol of renewal and regeneration in ancient Egypt. 'Scarabs were used in this period as seals and as amulets. They were found in graves, in public buildings, and in private homes. Sometimes they bear symbols and messages that reflect religious beliefs or status,' said researcher Daphna Ben-Tor.Ben-Tor later determined that the artifact came from the Canaanites, a people who had longstanding economic and cultural associations with Egypt. Tel Azeka itself had immense historical and religious significance, featuring in the Bible as the location of the battle between David and Goliath. The latest discovery provides researchers with new information about the ancient land.
'The excavation findings show that during this period, Tel Azeka was one of the most important cities in the Judean Lowlands,' excavation director Oded Lipschits said. 'The scarab found by Ziv joins a long list of Egyptian and Canaanite finds discovered here, which attest to the close ties and cultural influences between Canaan and Egypt during that period.'Young Ziv's discovery can soon be seen by all at the IAA, located at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem. It will be displayed alongside other relics from ancient Egypt and Canaan. 'In our public tours, we will present impressive items for the first time, including seals of the pharaohs, Egyptian statues, ritual vessels, and evidence of the Egyptian cultural influence in the Land of Israel,' IAA Director Eli Escusido said.
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