Ancient Egyptian amulet found by 12-year-old in Jerusalem

A 12-year-old Israeli girl named Neshama Spielman recently discovered a rare Egyptian amulet that is about 3,200 years old. The amulet is said to have the name of a pharaoh on it, and it was found by Spielman while sifting through dirt as part of the Temple Mount Sifting Project. In a statement today, the Ir David Foundation announced the results of an analysis of the amulet, saying it features the name of Pharaoh Thutmose III.

Pharoah Thutmose III had a notable part in Egypt's history, having conducted 17 military campaigns in Syria and Canaan, as well as overthrowing some Canaanite kings, among many other things. The amulet's discovery isn't terribly surprising, as Jerusalem had at one time itself been under the rule of Egypt during a time period in which Thutmose III had been notable.

The amulet was discovered as part of a project that sifts through mounds of earth that had been moved from a holy Judaic site in 1999, the goal being to discover any artifacts like this one. The amulet is only partial, missing its bottommost section; it is 16mm long, 4mm thick, and 21mm wide. It was designed in such a way that it could be strung up like necklace.

Speaking of her discovery, Spielman said:

While I was sifting, I came across a piece of pottery that was different from others I had seen, and I immediately thought that maybe I had found something special. It's amazing to find something thousands of years old from ancient Egypt all the way here in Jerusalem! Celebrating Passover this year is going to be extra meaningful to me.

SOURCE: The Jerusalem Post