Sometimes, the greatest discoveries are made through pure accident. That seems to be the case when a three-year-old picks up a weird rock that turns out to be a historical discovery.
Ziv Nitzan was going on a hiking trip with her family in Israel when she showed the strange rock to her mother. Archeologists analyzed the rock and found that it was a scarab amulet that was around 3,800 years old. The artifact was likely crafted during the Middle Bronze Ages of Egypt, as scarabs were symbolic of existence and growth. These amulets were usually worn by the living but also brought protection to the dead as they passed on to the afterlife. The very fact that this amulet survived for so long is a marvel within itself.
The exact location of the find was at Tel Azekah, which has been home to many excavations for many years now. The site is known to be biblically tied to the place where David and Goliath fought. The fight famously ended with David killing the mighty giant with one shot of his slingshot, showcasing the power of faith and courage. The location of the artifact only enhances the potential stories and history that the amulet is linked to, making the discovery even more impressive.
Ziv Nitzan is perhaps the youngest ever to make such a discovery, though many youths have also found such treasures in the past. Our time on Earth has largely been forgotten as the years pass by, but discoveries like this remind us of how far we have come.
