There are more than a few places on earth that are full of archaeological remains, and while usually these sites have been explored and dug within an inch of their lives, there are still many mysteries waiting to be uncovered, tough usually not by accident. But this is exactly what happened in Tel Azeka, where an accidental discovery has been made that has left archaeologists in shock.
The Tel Azeka ruins are located in the heart of Shephelah, some 45km from Tel Aviv and 30km from Jerusalem. Considering its location, Tel Azeka was once a very important cross point for those who travelled from the Mediterranean coast to the west, through to the Judean Hills in the east. It was first settled during the Early Bronze Age, some 3500 years ago, and has gone through multiple iterations as both a city and a region, leaving behind traces of multiple civilizations that lived within its borders.
For the religious amongst us, it has been mentioned repeatedly in the bible and was populated up until at least the Byzantine period, after which it was eventually abandoned and forgotten. In the late 19th century, the history of the site was rediscovered when it became one of the first sites to be excavated in Israel.
The new treasure found that archaeologists missed
Because this area has been explored so thoroughly, it was unexpected for everyone when a mere three-year-old girl on a family trip picked up a stone and found something. Her brother, Omer, recounted the tale as to how the scene unfolded in an interview after the fact.
“She bent down and picked it up” after it caught her attention, noted Omer. “When she rubbed it and removed the sand, we saw that it was something different. I called my parents to come and see the stone, and we realised that she had discovered something amazing! We immediately notified the Israel Antiquities Authority.”
While the finding could have turned out to be nothing, or at least nothing that was noteworthy, it turned out to be an ancient Canaanite amulet that dates back 3,800 years. This is a once in a lifetime discovery for an archaeologist, but an even more astonishing find considering the accidental nature of the discovery. When the amulet was taken in for study, it revealed its true nature, a Middle Bronze Age seal, which was a small ornamental object originating in Egypt, designed in the shape of a dung beetle.
Considering the amount of civilizations that have settled in the area through the centuries, its appearance is not a rarity, what is concerning is that it was not found by one of the myriad of archaeologists teams that have been excavating the site for almost 200 years.
Professor Oded Lipschits of Tel Aviv University and director of the excavation explains “We have been excavating for almost 15 years, and the findings show that during the Middle and Late Bronze Age, one of the most important cities in the Judean Lowlands thrived here. The scarab found by Ziv adds to a long list of Egyptian and Canaanite finds discovered in the ancient city, which testify to the close cultural ties and influences between Canaan and Egypt during that period,” he added.
Of course, we all know that scarabs were considered sacred by the ancient Egyptians, but what we might not know is that they were also a symbol of new life, as explained by Dr. Daphna Ben-Tor, an expert on ancient relics: “in that period, scarabs were used as seals and amulets. They were found in tombs, public buildings and private homes. Sometimes they contain symbols and messages reflecting religious beliefs or status.”
Eli Escusido, director of the Israel Antiquities Authority is thrilled with the discovery and has praised the family for doing the right thing and tuning in the finding “Ziv and her family deserve praise for turning the find over to the National Treasures of the State of Israel. Thanks to her, everyone will be able to see it and enjoy it. In the special exhibition we are preparing, we will present for the first time impressive pieces such as Pharaonic seals, Egyptian statues, ritual vessels and evidence of Egyptian cultural influence in Israel.”