8-year-old boy discovers ancient statuette in southern Israel

Israeli boy stumbles on 1,700-year-old artifact during family outing near the Ramon Crater in southern Israel.

By World Israel News Staff

An 8-year-old boy from Rehovot discovered a rare ancient statuette fragment during a family weekend in the Ramon Crater area, the Israel Antiquities Authority said on Monday.

Dor Wolynitz found the object while taking part in a paratrooper reserve team family trip in southern Israel.

“I was looking for special things on the ground that I could show in class. Suddenly, I noticed an interesting stone with stripes lying on the ground and picked it up. It seemed like an unusual object to me, so I showed it to Akiva, an archaeologist and my dad’s friend, who was with us on our trip.”

“At first I thought it was a fossil,” said Akiva Goldenhersh, a supervisor at the Israel Antiquities Authority’s Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit, “but then I noticed the sculpted folds of the garment – and I was very excited!”

The fragment, measuring about 6 by 6 centimeters, depicts part of a human figure with carefully carved folds of fabric resembling a cloak wrapped around the body. Tests by geologist Dr. Nimrod Wieler in the Israel Antiquities Authority laboratories found that it was made of phosphorite, a light mineral common in the Negev.

“Being made of local material reasonably indicates the statuette was made in Israel and not imported,” Goldenhersh said.

“The style of clothing and sculpture is appropriate for the Roman period. The figure is depicted wearing a type of heavy mantle called a himation, with no visible chiton, or undergarment. The manner of sculpting the folds and the choice of such a delicate material indicate a very high level of skill on the part of the artist,” he added.

Goldenhersh said the fragment’s missing identifying features make it difficult to determine whom the figure represented. However, he said it may have depicted Jupiter or Zeus-Dushara, a Nabatean god identified with Zeus.

“This tiny find thus reflects the combination of local traditions with influences from the classical world,” he said.

The Ramon Crater area lies along the ancient Spice Route, which linked the Far East with Mediterranean ports and served as a major travel and trade route during the Roman and Nabatean periods.

Dor turned the find over to the National Treasures Department and received a certificate from the Israel Antiquities Authority for good citizenship.

“Every archaeological find is part of our joint heritage in this land. Handing it over to the National Treasures allows us to study it, preserve it, and make the knowledge accessible to the general public,” Goldenhersh said.

“The responsible conduct of Dor and his family is an example of proper civic responsibility and the preservation of our country’s cultural assets. Dor is a role model for us all.”

Heritage Minister Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu also praised the discovery.

“On a family trip of reservists, a curious child discovered a piece of our past. It’s a moment that illustrates how much history is right under our feet. I congratulate Dor for his vigilance and responsibility – thanks to him, the find was discovered, will be preserved, and will be able to tell us all the story of the people and cultures that passed through here thousands of years ago.”