3,500-Year-Old Egyptian Artifact Discovered Near Mount Arbel

A visitor to the Mount Arbel National Park in the Lower Galilee stumbled upon a 3,500-year-old Egyptian seal. This tiny ivory object, carved in the shape of a beetle with intricate engravings, offers a glimpse into ancient times.

The finder turned the seal over to the Israel Antiquities Authority, who identified it as a scarab amulet from Egypt's New Kingdom period. This artifact highlights Egypt's influence over the ancient land of Canaan.

The ancient seal (Photo: Clara Amit / Courtesy of the Israel Antiquities Authority)

Dr. Daphne Ben-Tor, curator of Egyptian archaeology at the Israel Museum, explained that the scarab features Pharaoh Thutmose III seated on his throne, with a cartouche—a rounded rectangle containing symbols that spell his name in hieroglyphs. Thutmose reigned for many years in the 15th century BCE, during which Egypt established administrative and governmental presence in Canaan, conducting numerous military campaigns, with the most famous being the Battle of Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley.

Scarabs, often carved to resemble the sacred dung beetle, were cosmologically significant to the Egyptians. "Numerous scarabs have been found in archaeological digs across the land, alongside other Egyptian-origin artifacts, evidencing Egypt's cultural, economic, and political influence in Canaan during the Late Bronze Age," added Dr. Ben-Tor.

The Israel Antiquities Authority awarded the finder with a certificate of appreciation for their good citizenship.