3-year-old finds 'beautiful stone' on nature walk — it turns out be 3,800-year-old artifact

During an ordinary nature walk with her family at the foot of Tel Azekah in southern Israel, three-year-old Ziv Nitzan made a discovery that stunned everyone, including archaeologists. The site, a major archaeological area mentioned in the biblical story of David and Goliath, has been under excavation for more than 15 years. Her sister, Omer Nitzan, said, "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," as per the Israel Antiquities Authority Official Channel.

She continued, "I called my parents to come see the beautiful stone, and we realized we’d discovered an archaeological find!" The object was confirmed to be a Canaanite scarab from the Middle Bronze Age, dating back around 3,800 years. Ziv’s parents, Shahar and Sivan Nitzan, said this kind of curiosity was nothing new for their daughter. Her father told Oregon Live, "She picks everything up off the ground." Her mother added, "She always finds small things and brings [them] with her." When they noticed the markings on the object, they ran it through Google Lens before contacting the Israel Antiquities Authority the next day.

Daphna Ben-Tor, curator for Egyptian archaeology at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, verified the scarab’s authenticity. She said, "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." Oded Lipschits, director of the Tel Azekah excavation for Tel Aviv University, said in a statement shared by Oregon Live, "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."

Israeli tour guide Yoel Rotem gave further context in an interview with CBN News. He said, "This area was a key point that the Egyptians wanted to control. They used the symbol of little beetles as a symbol of holy things." Rotem also noted, "The time of the finding is around the time of Abraham. This finding shows us the importance of the land of Israel as the center of the world between empires, and where the most famous God is becoming known." Ziv’s mother, Sivan, reflected on how unlikely the discovery was. She said, "There are thousands of stones over there and it was upside down, but somehow out of all those stones, she picked this one."

While children in Israel sometimes stumble upon archaeological objects, each case still stands out. Yoli Schwartz, spokesperson for the Israel Antiquities Authority, explained, "We are full of history. We have more than 35,000 archaeological sites in Israel, and those are just the ones that we know of." The authority awarded Ziv a certificate of appreciation for good citizenship. Her scarab will be displayed in a special Passover exhibit. Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement, "Thanks to her, everyone will be able to see it and enjoy it." Though Ziv is still too young to grasp the importance of her find, her older sisters, ages 8 and 11, were thrilled. Archaeologists plan to visit their school to discuss the discovery and what it means.