Many kids enjoy exploring and getting their hands dirty, making them great potential archeologists.
This is particularly true for 3-year-old Ziv Nitzan.
After closer inspection, the stone turned out to be a 3,800-year-old Egyptian amulet.
Photo: Israel Antiquities Authority
When she rubbed it and removed the sand from it, we saw something was different about it.
The scarab amulet, which dates to the Middle Bronze Age, has its origins in ancient Egypt.
The amulet is thought to have belonged the Canaanites, a Semitic-speaking civilization with close ties to Egyptian culture.
They often imported Egyptian jewelry to be worn as personal amulets, among other decorative goods.
It’s likely the stone found by Ziv was created in Egypt and was later brought to modern-day Israel.
They were found in graves, in public buildings, and in private homes.
Sometimes they bear symbols and messages that reflect religious beliefs or status.
