# 17-year-old American student finds 3,300-year-old Egyptian cobra amulet on ground during Israel tour · Mercy Herald

> Discovered at Tel Gezer National Park, the Late Bronze Age scarab highlights Egyptian influence in biblical Canaan.

Endereço: https://joinmercy.com/journal/en/17-year-old-american-student-finds-3-300-year-old-egyptian-cobra-amulet-on-groun
Atualizado em: 2026-11-05

[Photo: New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/11/03/science/us-high-school-student-discovers-3300-year-old-amulet-in-israel/)

Just two days after landing in Israel to begin a semester of study, 17-year-old American high school student Shiloh Attoun was walking with his classmates among the limestone ruins and grassy hillsides of Tel Gezer National Park in the Judean Lowlands. It was the very first field excursion for the group from Muss High School Israel, operated by Jewish National Fund-USA. As instructors explained the strategic geopolitical importance of the ancient Bronze Age fortified city, Attoun glanced down at the dirt trail and noticed a small, distinctively shaped stone resting loosely on the ground. Picking it up and gently wiping away the soil, he realized it was no ordinary pebble, but a 3,300-year-old Egyptian-style scarab amulet engraved with sacred serpents and ancient hieroglyphs.

The remarkable discovery occurred right during a hands-on history lesson. Attoun recalled that moments before his discovery, the tour guide was chatting with students about how unlikely it was to ever encounter an authentic ancient artifact lying right on the surface. The student immediately showed the object to his guide. Dean of students Benji Hain and Attoun promptly reported the find to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), as reported by the [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/11/03/science/us-high-school-student-discovers-3300-year-old-amulet-in-israel/). Archaeologist Adam William Asper, an IAA supervisor for the Central Region, arrived at the site to collect the artifact for Israel's National Treasures collection. Attoun was later awarded a certificate of appreciation for his responsible actions.