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3-year-old girl discovers 3,800-year-old treasure at Tel Azekah
2025-04-03 08:39:09 / MISTERE&KURIOZITETE
A three-year-old girl made an extraordinary archaeological discovery during a family walk near Beit Shemesh last month, uncovering an ancient seal dating back some 3,800 years.
Ziv Nitzan from Moshav Ramot Meir came across the rare object while hiking with her family in Tel Azeka in early March. “We were walking along the path and then Ziv bent down – and out of all the stones around her, she picked up this special stone,” says Omer Nitzan, Ziv’s sister. “When she rubbed it and removed the sand from it, we saw that something was different about it. I called my parents to come see the beautiful stone and we realized that we had discovered an archaeological find! We immediately reported it to the Israel Antiquities Authority.”
The family immediately reported their find to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Semyon Gendler, the district archaeologist for Judea, congratulated Ziv and her family for their prompt reporting and awarded her a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship.
Dr. Daphna Ben-Tor, an expert on ancient amulets and seals, identified the object as a Canaanite scarab from the Middle Bronze Age. “Scarabs were used in this period as seals and as amulets. They were found in tombs, in public buildings and in private homes. Sometimes they carry symbols and messages that reflect religious beliefs or status.”
The small, scarab-shaped seals originated in ancient Egypt and were designed in the shape of a dung beetle. This beetle was considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians and symbolized new life, as it created a ball of dung in which to lay its eggs, from which new life emerged.
The artifact was discovered at Tel Azekah, an important archaeological site in the Shephelah region with evidence of multiple cultures throughout history. Excavations by Tel Aviv University researchers have uncovered finds from the kingdom of Judah, including city walls and agricultural installations. Tel Azekah is also known as the biblical battlefield where David faced Goliath.
“We have been excavating here for almost 15 years, and the excavation findings show that during the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, here at Tel Azekah, one of the most important cities in the Judean Lowlands flourished,” said Professor Oded Lipschits, director of Aviv University’s archaeological excavations at the site. “The scarab found by Ziv joins a long list of Egyptian and Canaanite finds discovered here, which testify to the close ties and cultural influences between Canaan and Egypt during that period.”
The ancient seal will be displayed in a special Passover exhibition organized by the IAA at the National Campus for Israel Archaeology in Jerusalem, along with other artifacts from the Egyptian and Canaanite periods, most of which are being presented for the first time.
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu praised the discovery, noting: “The seal that little Ziv found during a family trip to Tel Azekah connects us to a magnificent history, that of the ancient civilizations that lived on this land thousands of years ago. The Ziv scarab found also reminds us that in the Land of Israel, even children can be part of the discovery of history.”
"Ziv and her family deserve praise for handing over the find to the National Treasures of the State of Israel," says Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority. "Thanks to her, everyone will be able to see and enjoy it."
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