It’s back to school time, even if remotely, around the world! With all the uncertainty and frustrations surrounding school right now (and just about everything else!), one benefit has presented itself… parents are able to be more involved in the what their children are learning! What better time to spur an interest in kids in Israel and its history?
We think this is an excellent time to teach your kids to love Israel, and highly encourage you to do so! One way to do this is to get them excited about the adventure that waits for all who visit, even adventure for kids in Israel!
One thing that is unique about Israel is the exciting discoveries made every day. Just below the surface, and sometimes above it, ancient discoveries are made by ordinary people. Sometimes even kids in Israel make these discoveries.
Here are archeological discoveries made by kids in Israel!
Photo by Arik Halperin
3000 Year Old Fertility Goddess Head
8-year-old Itai Halperin was hiking with his family in Beit Shamesh when he noticed a little ball like shape sticking from the ground. When he picked it up, it was clear this was no mere rock. When his family surrendered it to the Antiquities Authority, they confirmed that this was part of a 3000 year old fertility goddess from the 1st Temple period in the Kingdom of Judah. Remember, idol worship and high places were a great downfall of the First Temple period.
Itai wants to be just like Indiana Jones when he grows up, and he is well on his way!
Photo Credit: Israel Antiquity Authority
3400 Year Old Statue
7-year-old Ori Greenhut was playing with friends on Tel Rehov when he found a small figurine of a woman. Ori’s mother said he came home excited with it hand. The law states that all antiquities discovered belong to the government, so they turned it in. This was a clay figure made with a mold. It could be a Canaanite goddess or perhaps just a figure of a woman.
In honor of Ori’s good citizenship of turning his discovery over, archeologists came to his school and gave him a certificate and showed all the students the figure and taught them what they know about it.
3500 Year Old Tablet
Today, most kids think of a tablet and think of an Ipad, but 6-year-old Imri Elya was hiking with his family in Tel Jemmeh, in the Negev desert when he found an ancient, small tablet that depicted a man with a captive. It is thought to be 3,500 years old and of the Canaanites. Imri received a good citizenship award for his discovery and relinquishment.
This image released by the Ir David Foundation
3200 Year Old Egyptian Amulet
8-year-old Neshama Spielman, was working at the City of David archeological site in a sifting project with her family when she noticed an interesting shape while sifting through the dirt. It was another four years before her family received a call letting them know she’d actually discovered an Egyptian amulet that had been a necklace and inscribed with the name of Pharaoh Thutmose III, an important pharaoh from the 18th Dynasty. Jerusalem was under Egyptian rule during his reign.
Photo Credit: Karem Said / Israel Antiquities Authority
1500 Year Old Byantine Slab
When you live in an area rich in ancient history, it’s no surprise that it becomes a normal possibility to eventually find one yourself. The Antiquities Authority actually teaches children in schools about how to identify relics and what to do if they find one. 13-year-old Stav Meir who lives in Caesarea, an area known for being an early growth area for the Christian church, wasn’t looking for artifacts out with his dad after a rain storm, they were looking for mushrooms. Instead, he discovered a marble slab with greek writing on it.
In a true only-in-Israel moment, a boy who went foraging for mushrooms following recent rains stumbled upon an archaeological artifact that was brought to the surface by the downpour.
Thirteen-year-old Stav Meir from Caesarea was hunting for wild mushrooms with family members when he noticed a stone slab with a Greek inscription protruding out of the ground.
“I immediately recognized that it was something ancient,” the seventh-grader said. “I studied archaeology in school with the Israel Antiquities Authority, so I can easily identify antiquities when I see them.”, said Stav.
It was confirmed as a burial slab and reads “The grave of … and of Anastasius, or Anastasia …”. It also included a cross, indicating the deceased was Christian.
Next time you are in Israel, take a look where you are walking! You never know what even kids might find. Here are also ways you can incorporate archeology into your tour! Today is a great time to start planning a future tour. Contact our tour operators to start today!
