Archaeology Amid the war, Israeli boy finds ancient ring depicting Roman war goddess near Haifa

An Israeli boy recently discovered a Roman ring dating back to the 2nd or 3rd century A.D. in the Carmel mountains of Israel while hiking with his father.

The ring, which in antiquity likely belonged to a pagan individual, depicts a war-like figure.

Yair Whiteson, a 13-year-old from Haifa, went on a hike near his home on Mount Carmel to spend quality time with his father, who had recently returned from four months of service in the army reserves.

During their exploration of the “ancient quarry” site below Khirbet Shalala (Mishmar HaCarmel Farm), Yair came across an intriguing object.

"I am interested in fossils and rocks and love to collect them," he said. "During the hike, I noticed a small green item and picked it up. It was corroded, and at first, I thought it was a rusty bolt. I considered leaving it, but then I realized it was a ring. At home, I saw it had an image on it. Initially, I thought it was a warrior."

The family contacted Nir Distelfeld, an inspector at the Theft Prevention Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), who then transferred the ring to the National Treasures Department.

Khirbet Shalala, the archaeological site near where the ring was found, is located on a hilltop in the central Carmel Mountains. It is bordered on three sides by Nahal Oren and close to Ein Alon, a perennial water source.

This area was primarily inhabited by a pagan population during the Roman period, especially in the 2nd century A.D., while the Jewish population was concentrated further inland, in the Galilee region and the Golan Heights.

The site of Khirbet Shalala was previously explored and documented by 19th-century Palestine Exploration Fund surveyors, renowned Israeli archaeologist Prof. Ruth Amiran, and a Bar-Ilan University expedition led by Mount Carmel expert Prof. Shimon Dar. "The ring now connects to data gathered from earlier excavations and surveys, shedding additional light on this site,” explained Distelfeld and Dr. Eitan Klein.

The IAA, along with Prof. Shua Amorai-Stark, an expert on ancient rings and amulets from the Kaye Academic College, examined and researched the ring. According to the design and the typology of such kinds of rings, it was dated to the 2nd or 3rd century A.D.

Yair and his family were invited for a tour of the new Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel and were commended for their good citizenship.

“This beautiful ring, preserved in its entirety, features the image of a helmeted naked figure. She holds a shield in one hand and a spear in the other," said Distelfeld and Klein from the IAA's Unit for the Prevention of Antiquities Robbery.

"Yair's initial identification of the figure as a warrior is quite accurate. The figure is likely the goddess Minerva from Roman mythology, also known as Athena in Greek mythology. This goddess, popular during the Roman period in the Land of Israel, was revered as the goddess of war, military strategy and wisdom."

"The small ring, appearing to be made of bronze, likely belonged to a woman or girl during the Late Roman Period. The spot below Khirbet Shalala is a hilltop site with Roman-period farmstead remains and an ancient rock quarry. Two burial caves are located at the quarry’s edge. The ring might have belonged to a woman who lived on this farm, a quarry worker, or it could have been a burial offering from the nearby graves. There are many possibilities,” the researchers explained.

Although it is likely purely coincidental, the discovery of a ring depicting a war goddess during a time of conflict in Israel, by the son of an Israeli soldier, is quite a remarkable situation.

The ring discovered by Yair will be showcased to visitors as part of the IAA summer tours at the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem.