An over 1,700-year-old ancient statuette fragment was discovered during a paratrooper reservist team’s family trip to the Ramon Crater area of southern Israel over the weekend.
The fragment is small, measuring approximately 6×6 cm, and depicts a partial human figure wrapped in carefully sculpted folds of fabric that appear to be a cloak, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
Dor Wolynitz, an eight-year-old boy from Rehovot, found the fragment by accident.
“I was looking for special things on the ground that I could show in class,” Wolynitz shared. “ 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 [Goldenhersh], an archaeologist and my Dad’s friend, who was with us on our trip.”
Wolynitz handed the fragment over to the National Treasures Department and, in return, received a certificate from the IAA for his good citizenship.
Akiva Goldenhersh, a supervisor at the IAA's Theft Prevention Unit, said that he’d originally thought the fragment was a fossil until he noticed the detailed folds of the garment carved into the sculpture.
After a geological examination of the fragment, IAA geologist Dr. Nimrod Wieler found that it is made of a light phosphorite mineral common to the Negev region.
“Being made of local material reasonably indicates the statuette was made in Israel and not imported,” Goldenhersh explained. “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 quality of the garment’s depiction indicated that it was made by a highly skilled artist, Goldenhersh said, adding that even so, the fragment lacks any other characteristic markings, which makes complete identification of the depicted figure difficult.
Among the possibilities for who the figure may be are Jupiter, the Roman god of the sky, or Zeus-Dushara, a Nabataean god who merged with the Greek deity Zeus, whose depictions can also be seen in Petra.
“This tiny find thus reflects the combination of local traditions with influences from the classical world,” Goldenhersh said.
The international Spice Route, a major causeway during the Roman and Nabatean periods, passes through the area of the Ramon Crater. The fragment’s discovery is further evidence of human activity along the route.
“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,” Goldenhersh added. “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.”
Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu added that the discovery is “a moment that illustrates how much history is right under our feet.”
“I congratulate Dor for his vigilance and responsibility,” Eliyahu said. “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.”