Latest news with #ZivNitzan
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A 3-Year-Old Discovered an Amazing 3,800-Year-Old Amulet
A 3-year-old girl on a family walk picked up an interesting-looking pebble that turned out to be a 3,800-year-old amulet. The Canaanite scarab amulet, which dates to the Middle Bronze Age, was camouflaged among a the gravel on a path nearby an archaeology site in Israel. The find was reported and will now go on display in a special exhibition. Children are always picking stuff up off the ground—dirt, bugs, rocks, anything shiny. And usually, it's just junk. However, 3-year-old Ziv Nitzan made the discovery of her young life when, on a walk with her family, she picked up a small stone that wound up being a scarab amulet more than one thousand times her age. '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,' Omer Nitzan, Ziv's sister, said in a translated statement from the Israel Antiquities Authority. '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.' The family brought in the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Daphna Ben-Tor, an expert in ancient amulets and seals, analyzed the amulet before declaring it a 3,800-year-old Canaanite scarab from the Middle Bronze Age. 'Scarabs were used in this period as seals and as amulets,' Ben-Tor said, 'They were found in graves, in public buildings, and in private homes. Sometimes they bear symbols and messages that reflect religious beliefs or status.' Popular in ancient Egypt, amulets in the shape of a dung beetle often come with ornate designs. The dung beetle was revered in ancient Egypt, considered sacred and a symbol of new life. Nitzan found the scarab at the foot of Tel Azeka, an archaeological mound near Beit Shemesh. Previous excavations in the area have revealed an ever-shifting mix of cultures across the site's history, from a Judahite Kingdom that featured city walls and agricultural installations to the possible site of the Biblical battle between David and Goliath found in the book of First Samuel. Unlike the archaeologists that have dug up the site over the years, Ziv needed no formal training for her find. Omer said in a translated video statement that out of the 70,000 stones around Ziv, she picked up the one that was an amulet and 'saw that something was different about it.' 'We have been excavating here for almost 15 years,' Oded Lipschits, professor and director of the Tel Aviv University archeological dig at the site, said in a statement, 'and the excavation findings show that during the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze ages, here in Tel Azekah, thrived one of the most important cities in the Judean lowlands. 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.' Lipschits said that the locally made artifact found by Ziv was inspired by Egyptian styles. Amichai Eliyahu, Israeli Minister of Heritage, said Ziv's find and the family's reporting of it deepens connections to ancient civilizations. 'Thanks to her, everyone will be able to see it and enjoy it,' he said. The scarab now joins additional artifacts from the era for a special public display at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in honor of Passover. Many of the items will be shown for the first time, including seals of pharaohs, Egyptian statues, ritual vessels, and now a scarab amulet discovered by an enthralled 3-year-old. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Toddler Discovers 3,800-Year-Old Archaeological Relic
A three-year-old child in Israel made a remarkable archaeological discovery in the form of a 3,800-year-old 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 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.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Toddler finds 3,800-year-old artifact while hiking with family
The Brief Ziv Nitzan, 3, discovered a 3,800-year-old Canaanite scarab amulet while hiking with her family. She found the seal while at Tel Azekah in early March. The seal will be displayed in a special exhibit in honor of Passover. A three-year-old girl is being celebrated after discovering what she thought was an ordinary rock was a legitimate archaeological find. Officials at the Israel Antiquities Authority shared that Ziv Nitzan, the toddler, discovered a 3,800-year-old scarab amulet while hiking with her family. The backstory While on a trip to Tel Azekah in early March, Ziv and her family were walking along a path when the girl picked up a stone. "Out of all the stones around her, she picked up this particular stone," Omer Nitzan, Ziv's sister, told the Israel Antiquities Authority. Ziv then rubbed off the excess sand from the stone to reveal the intricate pattern beneath. "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," Omer said. The seal was discovered at the foot of Tel Azekah, which used to be an important central point for a junction of roads, according to the site's official website. Tel Azekah is also believed to be where the biblical battle between David and Goliath took place, the authority said. Dig deeper The seal was a Canaanite scarab from the Middle Bronze Age, according to Dr. Daphna Ben-Tor, an expert in ancient amulets and seals. What they're saying "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," Ben-Tor said. Researchers have been digging in this area for almost 15 years and Ziv's discovery "joins a long list of Egyptian and Canaanite finds discovered here," Prof. Oded Lipschits, director of the Tel Aviv University archaeological dig, said. What's next In addition to the certificate of appreciation awarded to Ziv, the seal will be displayed at a special exhibition set up by the authority at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in honor of Passover. Ziv's discovery will be displayed alongside other findings from the same era. The Source Information for this article was taken from a Facebook post published to the Israel Antiquities Authority's account on April 1, 2025. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Toddler finds stone which turns out to be 3,800-year-old artifact with Biblical background
During a recent family outing to Tel Azekah in Israel, 3-year-old Ziv Nitzan strolled along a path with her family. She picked up a stone which turned out to be an ancient scarab amulet dating back 3,800 years. 'Out of the 7,000 stones around her, she picked up one stone. Then she brushed off the sand and saw that something was different about it," Omer Nitzan, Ziv's older sister, said in a translated video. 'When she rubbed it and removed sand from it, we saw that something was different about it,' continued Omer. 'I called my parents to come see the beautiful stone and we realised we'd discovered an archaeological find!' Tel Azekah, where the toddler unearthed the artifact, is a well-known archaeological site in Israel's Shephelah area where excavations have taken place for about 15 years. And if Azekah sounds familiar, your Bible studies do you justice: it features in David and Goliath from the First Book of Samuel. They then 'immediately reported this' to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), who subsequently shared on Facebook that the young Ziv had indeed come across an important item. Daphna Ben-Tor, a specialist in ancient amulets and seals, revealed the significance behind the item: it is a Canaanite scarab dating back to the Middle Bronze Age. She explained that Canaanite scarabs were used as seals and amulets, found in 'graves, in public buildings and in private homes.' Sometimes, they bear 'symbols and messages that reflect religious beliefs or status,' she added. Scarab beetles, as Ben-Tor noted, held sacred status in ancient Egypt, symbolizing new life – as the Egyptian word for scarab comes from the verb meaning 'to come into being.' As such, ancient Egyptians viewed the scarab as a symbol of the incarnation of god. Archaeologists have found numerous artefacts in Tel Azekah, including ancient city walls and agricultural structures from the Judahite Kingdom. 'Excavation findings show that during the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze Ages, here in Tel Azekah thrived one of the most important cities in the Judean lowlands,' said Oded Lipschits, director of the Tel Aviv University archaeological dig. '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.' For her efforts in discovering the ancient amulet, Ziv Nitzan was honored with a certificate for outstanding citizenship.
Euronews
04-04-2025
- General
- Euronews
Toddler finds stone which turns out to be 3,800-year-old artifact with Biblical background
ADVERTISEMENT During a recent family outing to Tel Azekah in Israel, 3-year-old Ziv Nitzan strolled along a path with her family. She picked up a stone which turned out to be an ancient scarab amulet dating back 3,800 years. 'Out of the 7,000 stones around her, she picked up one stone. Then she brushed off the sand and saw that something was different about it," Omer Nitzan, Ziv's older sister, said in a translated video. 'When she rubbed it and removed sand from it, we saw that something was different about it,' continued Omer. 'I called my parents to come see the beautiful stone and we realised we'd discovered an archaeological find!' Tel Azekah, where the toddler unearthed the artifact, is a well-known archaeological site in Israel's Shephelah area where excavations have taken place for about 15 years. And if Azekah sounds familiar, your Bible studies do you justice: it features in David and Goliath from the First Book of Samuel. They then 'immediately reported this' to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), who subsequently shared on Facebook that the young Ziv had indeed come across an important item. Canaanite scarab found at Tel Azekah Israel Antiquities Authority Daphna Ben-Tor, a specialist in ancient amulets and seals, revealed the significance behind the item: it is a Canaanite scarab dating back to the Middle Bronze Age. She explained that Canaanite scarabs were used as seals and amulets, found in 'graves, in public buildings and in private homes.' Sometimes, they bear 'symbols and messages that reflect religious beliefs or status,' she added. Scarab beetles, as Ben-Tor noted, held sacred status in ancient Egypt, symbolizing new life – as the Egyptian word for scarab comes from the verb meaning 'to come into being.' As such, ancient Egyptians viewed the scarab as a symbol of the incarnation of god. Tel Azekah Israel Antiquities Authority Archaeologists have found numerous artefacts in Tel Azekah, including ancient city walls and agricultural structures from the Judahite Kingdom. 'Excavation findings show that during the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze Ages, here in Tel Azekah thrived one of the most important cities in the Judean lowlands,' said Oded Lipschits, director of the Tel Aviv University archaeological dig. '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.' For her efforts in discovering the ancient amulet, Ziv Nitzan was honored with a certificate for outstanding citizenship.
