12-year-old makes stunning discovery beneath ancient Galilee ruins

What began as an ordinary school excavation ended with an extraordinary discovery when a 12-year-old boy uncovered a rare gemstone believed to be at least 1,500 years old beneath the ruins of Korazim, an ancient Jewish village in the Galilee.

The mysterious blue “Nicolo” stone, a prized gemstone associated with Roman-era wealth and prestige, was found just minutes before the dig ended. Archaeologists believe it was once set in an expensive piece of jewelry, offering a glimpse into the lives of the village’s affluent residents nearly two millennia ago.

Buried beneath the ancient village for centuries, the precious gemstone remained hidden from the world until a young Israeli boy uncovered one of its long-lost secrets.