He arrived in Israel just two days earlier for a school programme; 17-year-old US student discovers a 3,300-year-old Egyptian amulet from the Bronze Age
A 17-year-old student from the United States discovered a 3,300-year-old Egyptian-style amulet during his first educational excursion in Israel, just two days after arriving in the country. Shiloh Attoun spotted the small artefact while visiting Tel Gezer National Park with students and instructors from Jewish National Fund-USA’s Muss High School Israel programme.The object, a scarab-shaped seal decorated with two cobra motifs, was subsequently examined by archaeologists and dated to the Late Bronze Age. Attoun and his teacher reported the discovery to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which collected the artefact for preservation in the National Treasures of Israel.
What did the teenager discover?
The amulet depicts two cobras above a semi-ellipse. According to Professor Ido Koch of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures, who examined the object, the cobras represent the uraeus, a protective and royal symbol in ancient Egyptian culture.The semi-ellipse beneath them represents an Egyptian hieroglyphic sign associated with the word ‘lord’. The combination of these symbols gives the small object significance beyond its appearance as an ancient ornament or seal.Koch dated the artefact to the Late Bronze Age, in the second millennium BCE. A scarab depicting a similar scene, although with three snakes, had previously been found during excavations at Tel Megiddo.
Why are scarab amulets significant?
Scarab amulets were shaped like dung beetles, which held religious significance in ancient Egyptian belief. The beetle became associated with creation and new life, making it a symbol used in amulets and seals.Similar scarab objects discovered in Israel provide evidence of Egyptian political control and cultural influence in the region around 3,500 years ago.Tel Gezer was an important ancient Canaanite and Egyptian city. Located at a strategic crossroads in the Judean Lowlands, known as the Shephelah, it played a significant role in the history of the region.
How the student reported the archaeological find
Attoun said he noticed the unusual object while learning about the site’s history and archaeology. Unsure of its significance, he showed it to his guide, and the group contacted the IAA.An IAA representative subsequently met the students and collected the artefact. Attoun received a certificate of appreciation for reporting the discovery responsibly.The IAA praised the student and programme instructors for handing over the object so that it could be preserved and studied. The authority also reiterated that people who discover archaeological objects should leave them where they are and report them immediately, rather than removing or disturbing them. This allows archaeologists to document the original context of a find, which can contain important historical information.For Attoun, the discovery came during his first days in a country he had travelled to as part of an educational programme intended to introduce students to Israel’s history, people and landscapes. What began as a school excursion became a direct encounter with an artefact from the ancient world.Source: Israel Antiquities Authority and Jewish National Fund-USA. The amulet has been dated to the Late Bronze Age by an archaeologist who examined it.
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