3-Year-Old Girl Discovers 3,800-Year-Old Scarab Amulet in Israel

A 3-year-old girl in Israel has stumbled upon a rare ancient artifact believed to be nearly 4,000 years old while on a family outing at an archaeological site.

Israel’s Antiquities Authority announced on April 1 that Ziv Nitzan, just three years old, discovered a carved scarab amulet likely dating back to the Canaanite civilization, during a visit to the Tel Azekah archaeological site, located about 80 kilometers southeast of Tel Aviv.

The artifact will go on display in a special exhibition later this month, the authority said.

According to her older sister, Omer Nitzan, the family was walking through the area earlier in March when Ziv picked something unusual off the ground.
“We were walking along when Ziv suddenly bent down,” Omer recalled. “Out of all the stones on the path, she picked up this one. After brushing off the dirt, we realized it looked different.”

The family immediately notified the Israel Antiquities Authority. Tel Azekah is an ancient mound built atop centuries of layered settlements and is even mentioned in the Bible.

Daphna Ben-Tor, curator of Egyptian archaeology at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and an expert on amulets, believes the scarab dates back to the Middle Bronze Age — around 2100 to 1600 BCE.

This era marked the height of the Canaanite civilization, which thrived in the Levant region — encompassing modern-day Israel, Lebanon, and parts of Syria. The Canaanites were among the earliest Semitic peoples in the region.

Scarab-shaped amulets are thought to have originated in ancient Egypt, where the dung beetle symbolized rebirth, protection, and was even associated with divine power.

“Scarab amulets were used as seals and charms during this period,” Ben-Tor explained. “They’ve been found in homes, graves, and temples — often engraved with religious symbols or inscriptions reflecting the owner’s beliefs or status.”

Archaeologists have uncovered numerous finds at Tel Azekah, including fortifications and agricultural structures from the Iron Age kingdom of Judah.

Professor Oded Lipschits of Tel Aviv University, who led past excavations at the site, noted the significance of Ziv’s discovery.
“The scarab joins a long list of Egyptian and Canaanite artifacts unearthed here, highlighting the deep cultural and political ties between the Canaanite cities and ancient Egypt,” he said.

(Sources: CBS News, The Jerusalem Post, Times of Israel)

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