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Discovery made by student during community excavation near the Sea of Galilee reveals a luxury agate, probably used in a ring by a member of a wealthy family in the Byzantine period about 1,500 years ago
A 12-year-old boy found a rare Nicolo stone, dated to the 6th century AD, during an excavation at Korazim National Park, near the Sea of Galilee. The artifact, probably used in a luxury ring, helps reveal aspects of wealth and trade in the ancient community.
Nicolo stone appeared minutes before the end of the excavation
Alon Horowitz, a sixth-grade student at Ramat Korazim Regional Elementary School, found the stone during a community excavation program organized by the Israel Nature and Parks Authority in partnership with Ariel University.
The student reported that he participated in the work for three days. About ten minutes before the end, he saw a blue, round, and different object while digging with a shovel.
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Horowitz handed the discovery to the responsible archaeologist. Upon realizing he had found something rare, he said he felt happy and proud, in addition to receiving thanks from friends, teachers, and family.
The small stone, announced by authorities in early June, has a light blue center. It was dated to the 6th century AD, corresponding to the Byzantine era.
Object found by the boy may have belonged to a wealthy family
Achia Kohn-Tavor, director of the excavations in Korazim, identified the object as a Nicolo stone, a rare variety of agate considered a luxury item during the Roman and Byzantine periods.
The archaeologist explained that the piece was probably part of an expensive ring. As it was found within a luxurious property, the assessment is that it belonged to a person from a wealthy family.
It was not possible to determine if the former owner was male or female. It is also unknown how the stone ended up buried in the location where it was found by the student.
Since the material is not locally sourced, archaeologists believe it arrived in Korazim through long-distance trade routes. These paths connected the region to other areas of the Roman and Byzantine worlds.
The presence of the Nicolo stone indicates, therefore, that wealthy residents of the ancient village had access to international luxury products.
Discovery of the precious stone occurred near Capernaum
The Korazim National Park is associated with the ancient biblical village of Chorazin, mentioned in the New Testament as one of the places whose residents would have witnessed Jesus’ miracles.
Korazim is approximately three kilometers north of Capernaum, an ancient fishing village that served as the center of Jesus’ ministry.
The discovery was made during an activity that allows local students to work alongside archaeologists and learn, in practice, about the lives of ancient populations.
Other children have also found archaeological pieces in Israel. In May, an eight-year-old boy found a fragment of a 1,700-year-old Roman statuette. The previous year, a three-year-old girl discovered a 3,800-year-old Canaanite amulet near Tel Azekah.
This article was prepared based on information from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and statements given to Fox News Digital, with data, numbers, and statements preserved as per the consulted material.
