During the weekend trip of an IDF reserve unit from the Paratroopers Brigade and their families in the Ramon Crater area, 8-year-old Dor Wolynitz from Rehovot discovered a rare and remarkable fragment of an ancient figurine that is more than 1,700 years old.
“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,” Dor said.
“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 find is a small figurine fragment, measuring about 6 centimeters by 6 centimeters, depicting part of a human figure with carefully sculpted folds of fabric that create the appearance of a cloak draped around the body in soft, flowing lines. Testing conducted by geologist Dr. Nimrod Wieler in the Israel Antiquities Authority laboratories found that the figurine was carved from phosphorite, a lightweight mineral common in the Negev region.
4 View gallery
The 1,700-year-old small figurine fragment
(Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority)
“Being made of local material reasonably indicates the statuette was made in Israel and not imported,” says Goldenhersh, who continued the investigation. “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.”
According to Goldenhersh: “The absence of characteristic markings on the fragment make identification difficult, but stylistically, it might be of the god Jupiter, or Zeus-Dushara – a Nabatean god who was identified and merged with Zeus in the context of the encounter between the Nabatean culture that was widespread in the Negev region, and the Hellenistic-Roman world; it is also found in Petra. This tiny find thus reflects the combination of local traditions with influences from the classical world.”
4 View gallery
Reverse side of the ancient statuette
(Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority)
The international Spice Route passes through the Ramon Crater region and served as a major transportation route during the Roman and Nabataean periods. The figurine fragment joins other evidence of human activity that took place along the route.
Dor handed over the intriguing find to the state treasures collection and received a certificate of appreciation from the Israel Antiquities Authority for his 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,” says Goldenhersh. “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.”
4 View gallery
Examining the fragment of the ancient statuette
(Photo: Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority)
4 View gallery
Akiva Goldenhersh, a supervisor at the Israel Antiquities Authority's Antiquities Theft Prevention Unit
( Emil Aladjem, Israel Antiquities Authority)
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu was excited about 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," he said. "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.”