A family hiking trip in Israel led to an extraordinary discovery when 12-year-old Dafna Filshteiner found an ancient Egyptian amulet dating back over 3,000 years. While exploring near the archaeological site of Tel Qana in Hod Hasharon, Filshteiner picked up what she initially thought was an ordinary stone but soon realized it was something special.
“I was looking down at the ground to find porcupine needles and smooth pebbles,” Filshteiner explained. “I picked up an interesting stone. I showed it to my mother, and she said it was just an ordinary stone or a bead” After insisting it was indeed something more, the mother-daughter duo did some research to discover it resembled other artifacts. The family contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
The amulet, shaped like a dung beetle, is known as a scarab—a sacred symbol in Ancient Egypt representing new life. Dr. Yitzhak Paz, a Bronze Age expert with the IAA, examined the artifact and explained that, “The scarab is indeed a distinct Egyptian characteristic, but their wide distribution also reached far beyond Egypt’s borders. It may have been dropped by an important and authoritative figure passing through the area, or it may have been deliberately buried. Since the find was discovered on the surface, it is difficult to know its exact context.”
Scarabs often traveled far beyond Egypt’s borders, sometimes carried by important figures or deliberately buried.
The scarab is decorated with two scorpions, representing the Egyptian goddess Serket, known for protecting pregnant mothers. Additional symbols include a “nefer,” meaning “good” or “chosen,” and a royal staff motif.
For her discovery, Filshteiner was awarded a certificate of good citizenship by the IAA. The scarab is now on display at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem, where visitors can view it.
“Dafna’s discovery shows that remarkable finds can happen anywhere,” said Eli Escusido, director of the IAA. “Her story inspires us all, and we encourage the public to report potential discoveries to help preserve history.”
