A curious three-year-old girl made an extraordinary discovery while on a family walk at Tel Azeka in Israel. She found an ancient Canaanite scarab seal dating back 3,800 years at the very biblical site where David fought Goliath.
A Child’s Amazing Discovery
During a family hike last month, Ziv Nitzan bent down and picked up what looked like an ordinary stone. Her sister, Omer Nitzan, described what happened next:
“When she rubbed it and removed the sand from it, we saw something was different about it. I called my parents to come see the beautiful stone, and we realized we had discovered an archaeological find!”
The family quickly reported their discovery to Israel’s Antiquities Authority (IAA). Experts identified the object as a Canaanite scarab seal from the Middle Bronze Age, about 3,800 years old.
What This Ancient Treasure Means
Dr. Daphna Ben-Tor, who studied the artifact, explained why it matters: “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.”
These scarab-shaped amulets came from ancient Egypt, where beetles were considered sacred.
The IAA explained, “This beetle, considered sacred in the eyes of the ancient Egyptians, was a symbol of new life, because of the dung ball it created and then laid its eggs into it, from which new life would hatch.”
Where David Met Goliath
The location adds another layer of meaning to this discovery. Tel Azeka appears in the Bible as the place where David faced Goliath.
In 1 Samuel 17:1, Scripture tells us this was where the Philistine army gathered before young David defeated the giant with his sling and five smooth stones.
Professor Oded Lipschits from Tel Aviv University, who leads excavations at Tel Azeka, provided context: “The excavation findings show that during the Middle Bronze and Late Bronze Ages [2000-1000 BCE], here in Tel Azeka, thrived one of the most important cities in the Judean Lowlands.”
“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.”
Researchers from Tel Aviv University have been studying this site for 15 years. Ziv’s scarab adds another piece to our understanding of the connections between Canaan and Egypt during this important time.
Israeli Minister of Heritage Amichai Eliyahu commented on the significance: “The scarab Ziv found also reminds us that in the Land of Israel, even children can be a part of discovering history.”
Eli Escusido, director of the antiquities authority, praised the Nitzan family for recognizing the importance of their find and reporting it quickly. The IAA gave Ziv and her family a certificate of appreciation for their contribution.
The scarab will be displayed in a special exhibition alongside other Egyptian artifacts found throughout Israel.
Tel Azeka sits about 25 miles west of Jerusalem. This area was home to many biblical events.
The Canaanites appear often in the Bible as people who lived in the Promised Land before the Israelites arrived.
Finds like this scarab help scholars better understand how these ancient people lived and worshipped.
Scarabs often held religious meaning and were sometimes used as personal seals to mark documents or belongings.
While reports didn’t detail the specific markings on Ziv’s scarab, such amulets typically featured inscriptions or patterns that were meaningful to their owners.
What makes this discovery remarkable is how it happened. Out of thousands of stones a child might pick up during a family walk, Ziv somehow selected this particular artifact that had remained hidden for nearly 4,000 years.
WATCH: 3-Year-Old Discovers 3,800-Year-Old Seal Where David Battled Goliath
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