Shiloh Attoun located the scarab-shaped amulet only two days into his study trip with the Jewish National Fund-USA's Muss High School Israel programme. Tel Aviv University's Professor Ido Koch determined the carving features two cobras, representing the protective uraeus symbol, above a hieroglyph signifying "lord." After the discovery was reported, the Israel Antiquities Authority secured the artefact and awarded Attoun a certificate of appreciation. Officials used the occasion to urge travellers to leave historic finds untouched so researchers can study them within their original geological context.
Key points
The ancient scarab provides direct physical evidence of Egyptian political authority and…: The ancient scarab provides direct physical evidence of Egyptian political authority and cultural influence in the Judean Lowlands.
Responsible reporting of archaeological relics ensures that rare regional artefacts are s…: Responsible reporting of archaeological relics ensures that rare regional artefacts are safeguarded by professional heritage conservators.
Public antiquities agencies emphasize that unearthing historic objects requires leaving t…: Public antiquities agencies emphasize that unearthing historic objects requires leaving them undisturbed to protect critical excavation contexts.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
A 17-year-old student from the United States discovered a 3,300-year-old Egyptian-style amulet during his first educational excursion in Israel, just two days after arriving in the country. Shiloh Attoun spotted the small artefact while visiting Tel Gezer National Park with students and instructors from Jewish National Fund-USA's Muss High School Israel programme.
The object, a scarab-shaped seal decorated with two cobra motifs, was subsequently examined by archaeologists and dated to the Late Bronze Age. Attoun and his teacher reported the discovery to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), which collected the artefact for preservation in the National Treasures of Israel.
What did the teenager discover?
The amulet depicts two cobras above a semi-ellipse. According to Professor Ido Koch of Tel Aviv University's Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures, who examined the object, the cobras represent the uraeus, a protective and royal symbol in ancient Egyptian culture.
The semi-ellipse beneath them represents an Egyptian hieroglyphic sign associated with the word 'lord'. The combination of these symbols gives the small object significance beyond its appearance as an ancient ornament or seal.
Researchers analyzing metabolic rates across global age groups found that demographic expansion, rather than changes in individual output, drove a 74 percent rise in metabolic emissions between 1985 and 2015. Although these figures will help climate scientists track localized emissions in crowded urban environments and refine overall carbon accounting, the biological process remains fundamentally distinct from fossil fuel combustion. Because this output circulates through the food chain, it does not add ancient ca…
Researchers analyzing millions of years of ecological records found that sunlit open woodlands and meadows naturally shaped the continent rather than thick canopy coverage. This shift in understanding directly challenges current conservation policies that subsidize planting dense tree lines. Experts warn that persisting with these misinformed reforestation programs risks harming native wildlife that evolved in open, grazing-maintained ecosystems.
Through Project Monarch Science, researchers and conservation groups are utilizing Bluetooth-like solar transmitters to map migration behaviors that have long eluded precise documentation. This cross-border initiative allows scientists to pinpoint previously unconfirmed travel corridors and resting patterns across thousands of miles. By collecting real-time flight paths, the research team aims to strengthen protections for the insects across North America.