Three-year-old picks up "stone" and makes an incredible discovery
Beit Shemesh (Israel) - Anyone who is out and about with children from time to time knows that they like to pick up all kinds of things from the ground. However, if you happen to be near an archaeological site, this can sometimes lead to a sensational find.
This was also the case for a family who were at Tel Azeka in Israel at the beginning of March - the site of the famous battle of David against Goliath.
Three-year-old Ziv Nitza picked up a stone, and it was something very special.
"When she rubbed it and removed the sand, we saw that it was a little different," said her sister Omer Nitza.
The parents came along and saw that it was a potentially very important find, so they immediately informed the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Their discovery was gratefully received and examined. It will be shown at a special exhibition at the National Archaeological Institute of Israel in Jerusalem.
What had the three-year-old actually found there?
Dr. Dafna Ben-Tor, an expert in ancient amulets and seals, examined the find and determined that it was a Canaanite scarab seal from the Middle Bronze Age. This makes it around 3800 years old.
"Scarabs were used as seals and amulets during this period. They were found in graves, public buildings and private homes. Sometimes you can see symbols and messages on them that reflect religious beliefs or social status," she explained.
Canaan was a region in the eastern Mediterranean that essentially covered an area that today consists of parts of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan.
Originally, scarabs with dung beetle shapes came from ancient Egypt. There, the beetles were considered sacred and symbolized new life.