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The artifact dates to approximately the 3rd or 4th century CE and depicts part of a human figure draped in a mantle.
By Shula Rosen
An 8-year-old boy discovered a rare 1,700-year-old Roman-era figurine fragment during a family hike in southern Israel’s Ramon Crater in May 2026, and the artifact was later turned over to the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Dor Wolynitz, from Rehovot, found the small stone fragment while hiking near Khan Saharonim, an ancient trade stop in the Negev Desert.
According to the Israel Antiquities Authority, the artifact dates to approximately the 3rd or 4th century CE and depicts part of a human figure draped in a heavy himation, or mantle.
The figurine fragment measures about 6 centimeters by 6 centimeters and preserves carefully sculpted folds of fabric designed to resemble a cloak falling in soft, flowing lines around the figure’s body.
“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 told Ynet.
The artifact was identified as being made from local Negev phosphorite stone rather than imported material.
Akiva Goldenhersh of the Israel Antiquities Authority said the use of local stone suggests the object was likely produced locally in Israel during the Roman period.
The figurine is believed to represent a pagan deity, according to the authority.
The discovery joins several recent archaeological finds in Israel made by children.
In 2025, a 3-year-old found a 3,800-year-old Egyptian scarab amulet.
In 2024, a 13-year-old discovered a Roman-era ring engraved with the goddess Minerva on Mount Carmel. In 2021, an 11-year-old uncovered a 2,500-year-old Iron Age fertility tote.
The figurine fragment discovered by Dor was transferred to the Israel Antiquities Authority for examination and preservation.
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