Middle School Discoveries in Israel: Scarab Amulet with Ancient Egyptian Seal
Eighth graders on a school trip near Tel Aviv made a striking discovery as they explored a dig site about seven kilometers from the modern city. A scarab amulet bearing a clear ancient Egyptian seal emerged from the soil, captivating the young explorers and prompting a cautious, professional assessment. The moment unfolded when the students were near the edge of an archaeological area, their curiosity sharpened by the stories of pharaohs and ancient daily life that their teachers had shared beforehand. Initially, the group’s leader, a student guide named Gilad Stern, mistook the artifact for a toy. Yet an inner impulse urged him to turn the object over for a closer look, and the realization sank in that something truly extraordinary had been found. The rest of the group was equally stunned, struck by the privilege of witnessing a tangible link to a distant past.
The amulet itself is shaped as a scarab, a form that carried deep symbolic meaning in ancient cultures. Scarabs were associated with protection and rebirth, symbolizing cycles of decay and renewal through the imagery embedded in their design. On the flat surface of this talisman, two figures are depicted. One figure has a long head and carries an air of royal authority, reminiscent of the crowns worn by rulers in ancient Egypt, while the other figure is bowed, suggesting reverence or subservience. The scene invites interpretation about power, ritual, and the movement of ideas across civilizations.
Archaeologist Amir Golani has assessed the amulet as dating to the Late Bronze Age, a period spanning roughly 1500 to 1000 BCE. This era saw local Canaanite communities living under the broader political and cultural influence of Egypt. Golani notes that the seal could have fallen from the hand of a person of importance, perhaps a traveler, or it might have been deliberately concealed. There is also a possibility that the amulet was crafted locally by artisans who imitated the popular Egyptian aesthetic, using regional materials and techniques to create a connection to a wider world of art and belief.
Historical artifacts from this region often reveal a complex web of cultural exchange. Earlier discoveries have included mummies of ancient Egyptian women who bore tattoos and other adornments linked to childbirth and medical beliefs. Such finds illuminate how ideas, symbols, and practices traveled across the Mediterranean and Levant long before modern borders were drawn. The recent discovery by the students adds another layer to this ongoing story, highlighting how education and fieldwork can bring history to life for young people while contributing to the broader mosaic of regional archaeology.