Teen's Boredom in Judean Hills Yields 3,300-Old Egyptian Scarab

A casual act of throwing rocks on a hillside in Israel led to the unearthing of a 3,300-year-old Egyptian scarab. The discovery was made by Shiloh Attoun, a 17-year-old American student, while he was on a school trip to the Judean lowlands. The artifact, now cataloged by the Israel Antiquities Authority, offers a tangible link between ancient Egypt and the southern Levant.

Attoun was part of a Muss High School study-abroad program organized by the Jewish National Fund-USA. He arrived in Israel only two days before the find. While walking up a mountain toward an altar with Benji Hain, the program's dean of students, Attoun noticed a small, spherical object on the ground after a rock struck another. He picked it up, flipped it over, and saw two faces resembling the Hebrew letter Nun. In a video shared by the program, he said, "I was like, 'Ooh, look at this!'"

Hain recognized the object's potential value immediately. He told Attoun, "Oh my god, you don't understand what you found," and began jumping with excitement. The pair reported the discovery to the IAA right away. This prompt reporting allowed archaeologists to handle the artifact properly and ensure it was added to the National Treasures of Israel. Attoun received a certificate of appreciation for his careful handling and immediate notification.

Prof. Ido Koch of Tel Aviv University examined the object and dated it to the Late Bronze Age. The scarab is a seal shaped like a dung beetle and features two cobra motifs. Koch explained that these cobras, known as the uraeus, served as protective and royal symbols in ancient Egypt and the surrounding region. The object also includes a semi-ellipse representing the hieroglyphic sign for "lord." A similar scarab depicting three snakes was previously excavated at Tel Megiddo, reinforcing the evidence of Egyptian cultural dominance in the area about 3,500 years ago.

The scarab beetle held deep religious significance in ancient Egyptian culture. Egyptians viewed the insect as a symbol of new life because they observed it rolling balls of dung and laying eggs inside them. The name for the beetle comes from a verb meaning "to be formed" or "to come into being," associating the insect with the god who creates life.

Tel Gezer, the site of the discovery, was a major Canaanite city during the Late Bronze Age. It controlled a strategic crossroads in the Shephelah region. Today, the site is a national park managed by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. Amit Melman, the IAA’s Central Region educational director, called Attoun’s story a charming example of the connection between young students and the country's history. "Shiloh’s story is a charming example of the connection forged between the young people who come to study in Israel and the country’s history and archaeology, through firsthand experience in the field," Melman said.

The IAA noted that while the discovery was lucky, objects found in the field should generally be left in place and reported immediately. This practice helps archaeologists document the original context of the find. Attoun’s case serves as a model for how responsible reporting can preserve national heritage for future study.