(Photo By: Oren Shmueli, Israel Antiquities Authority)
By: TOI Staff - March 9, 2021
An 11-year-old boy discovered a rare figurine from around 2,500 years ago during a family hike in the south of Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Tuesday.
The figurine, depicting a bare-breasted woman wearing a scarf, is an amulet that was believed to protect children or increase fertility.
The authority said that only one similar example, also from the northern Negev Desert, has been previously found and is now housed in the National Treasures collection.
Zvi Ben-David from the southern city of Beersheba was on a family trip to Nahal Habesor a few weeks ago when he found the figurine. His mother, a professional tour guide, realized the significance of the discovery and contacted the IAA.
Read More: Times of Israel