Unearthing the Past: A Toddler’s Discovery of a Bronze Age Scarab

In a recent New York Times article, Vivian Yee reports on the discovery of a 3,800-year-old Egyptian scarab amulet by 3-year-old Ziv Nitzan while hiking with her family near Tel Azekah in Israel. The article begins with a description of the unexpected find, then contextualizes it within the broader history of Canaanite-Egyptian exchange during the Bronze Age.

The scarab, shaped like a beetle and inscribed with symbolic markings, likely served as a personal amulet imported by the Canaanites, a Semitic people who lived in the region and were known to imitate Egyptian luxury items. The artifact was likely brought to the surface due to earlier excavations in 1898, when layers of ancient soil were unintentionally redistributed.

This incident highlights how archaeology is deeply embedded in landscapes and how even casual hikers, especially children, can contribute to the discovery and preservation of cultural heritage.