
3-Year-Old Finds 3,800-Year-Old Canaanite Seal on Family Trip Near Beit Shemesh
During a family walk at Tel Azeka near Beit Shemesh, 3½-year-old Ziv Nitzan picked up a small stone that turned out to be a Middle Bronze Age scarab amulet—about 3,800 years old. Her sister, Omer, recalled how Ziv bent down and chose that one stone among many, rubbing away the sand to reveal something special. The family reported the discovery to the Israel Antiquities Authority and received a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship.
The IAA plans to display the find at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel during Passover, alongside artifacts from Egypt and Canaan. Expert Dr. Daphna Ben-Tor identified the item as a Canaanite scarab, noting that such pieces served as seals and amulets in graves, public buildings, and homes, often bearing religious symbols and messages.
Scarab seals—tiny, ornate objects shaped like the dung beetle—symbolized new life in ancient Egypt. Tel Azeka itself is a layered site with finds from many eras, including the Judahite Kingdom; it is traditionally associated with the David and Goliath battlefield described in 1 Samuel 17. Officials praised the family for contributing the seal to Israel’s national treasures so that the public can enjoy it.
(INN/VFI News)
He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. – Psalm 111:4
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