A remarkable archaeological find has come to light on Mount Carmel in Israel, thanks to the keen eye of 13-year-old Yair Whiteson from Haifa. During a casual hike near his home, Yair stumbled upon an ancient ring dating back approximately 1,800 years. This ring, adorned with an engraving of the Roman goddess Minerva, has sparked significant interest in the archaeological community.

Yair was exploring near the ancient quarry below Khirbet Shalala, also known as the Mishmar HaCarmel farm, when he noticed something unusual. While walking, I noticed a small green object and picked it up. It was corroded, and at first, I thought it was just a rusty bolt. I considered heating it, but then, fortunately, I realized it was a ring. At home, I saw an image on it. At first glance, I thought it was a warrior, Yair recounted.

The Whiteson family contacted Nir Distelfeld, an inspector with the Theft Prevention Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). The ring was subsequently transferred to the National Treasures Department, where it was examined with the help of Professor Shua Amorai-Stark, an expert in ancient rings and amulets from Kaye Academic College.

Detail of the image engraved on the ring
Detail of the image engraved on the ring. Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

To honor their contribution, Yair and his family were invited to visit the new Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Archaeology Campus and received a commendation for good citizenship.

Nir Distelfeld and Dr. Eitan Klein from the IAA Theft Prevention Unit explained the significance of the find. This beautiful ring, perfectly preserved, features an image of a nude figure wearing a helmet. In one hand, the figure holds a shield and in the other a spear, they explained.

Yair’s initial thought of the figure being a warrior was not far off. The figure is likely Minerva, the Roman goddess also known as Athena in Greek mythology. Minerva was highly revered during the Roman period in the region, representing war, military strategy, and wisdom.

The ring and its discoverer
The ring and its discoverer. Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

The small bronze ring probably belonged to a woman or girl during the late Roman period, between the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. The discovery site beneath Khirbet Shalala is located on a hill with remnants of Roman-era farms and an ancient rock quarry nearby.

There are two burial caves on the edge of the quarry, suggesting several possible origins for the ring. It might have belonged to a resident of the farm, a quarry worker, or could have been a funerary offering from the nearby tombs, as proposed by the researchers.

Khirbet Shalala, the archaeological site near where the ring was found, is situated on a hill in the central Carmel Mountains. It is bordered on three sides by Nahal Oren, with Ein Alon, a perennial water source, nearby.

Another view of the ring found on Mount Carmel
Another view of the ring found on Mount Carmel. Credit: Israel Antiquities Authority

This site has been previously explored and documented by 19th-century surveyors from the Palestine Exploration Fund, renowned Israeli archaeologist Prof. Ruth Amiran, and a Bar-Ilan University expedition led by Mount Carmel expert Prof. Shimon Dar.

Distelfeld and Dr. Klein noted that the ring adds valuable information to the data collected from previous excavations and studies at Khirbet Shalala.

The ring now connects with the data gathered here in excavations and previous studies and sheds more light on this site, they concluded.

SOURCES

Israel Antiquities Authority

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