Ancient Artifacts: Student Finds Egyptian Scarab in Judean Lowlands

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) confirmed on Tuesday that a 3,300-year-old Egyptian amulet has been added to the National Treasures of Israel. The artifact, a scarab seal, was discovered by Shiloh Attoun, a 17-year-old American student, while he was walking in Tel Gezer National Park in the Judean lowlands.

Attoun was participating in the Jewish National Fund-USA’s Muss High School study-abroad program. He arrived in Israel just two days before the discovery. While hiking toward an ancient altar with Benji Hain, the program's dean of students, Attoun was throwing rocks to pass the time. One rock struck another, revealing a small, spherical object on the ground.

Attoun picked up the item and turned it over. He saw two faces shaped like the Hebrew letter Nun. He showed the object to Hain, who recognized it immediately. Hain told Attoun, "Oh my god, you don't understand what you found." The pair reported the find to the IAA right away. This prompt action allowed archaeologists to collect the item for the national collection. Attoun received a certificate of appreciation for his careful handling of the artifact.

Prof. Ido Koch of Tel Aviv University examined the scarab and dated it to the Late Bronze Age. The seal is decorated with two cobra motifs, known as the uraeus. In ancient Egypt and the southern Levant, these cobras served as protective and royal symbols. The scarab also features a semi-ellipse representing the hieroglyphic sign for "lord." A similar object depicting three snakes was previously excavated at Tel Megiddo.

These artifacts illustrate the cultural influence of ancient Egypt over the region during its rule of Canaan, a period that began roughly 3,500 years ago. In Egyptian culture, the scarab beetle was sacred. Egyptians observed the insect rolling balls of dung and laying eggs inside them. This process symbolized new life and creation. The name for the beetle comes from a verb meaning "to be formed" or "to come into being."

Tel Gezer was a major Canaanite city during the Late Bronze Age. It controlled a strategic crossroads in the Shephelah region. Today, the site is a national park managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. It remains a key location for understanding the area's historical dynamics. Amit Melman, the IAA’s Central Region educational director, described the discovery as a charming example of the connection between young students and the country's history.

Melman noted that Shiloh’s story demonstrates the link forged between young people studying in Israel and the country’s archaeology through firsthand experience. The IAA emphasized that while the discovery was fortuitous, objects found in the field should generally be left in place and reported immediately. This practice allows experts to document the original context of the find. Attoun’s case serves as a model for how responsible reporting can preserve national heritage.