A field trip for school to Ein Kerem, located in the Judean Hills in Israel, resulted in a 10-year-old boy making a once-in-a-lifetime discovery, according to a report released by the Israel Antiquities Authority. The Christian Post is reporting that information gleaned from an article put out by the Jerusalem Post says the discovery was a “golden medallion, which features a micro-mosaic technique, and was examined by Amit Re’em, the IAA’s Jerusalem District Archaeologist.”
The area of Ein Kerem is known to be a significant pilgrimage destination for followers of Christ who want to see the birthplace of John the Baptist, the prophesied forerunner for the Messiah, who we as Christians believe was Jesus Christ. This is the same location where Mary, Jesus’ mother, came to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, John’s mother, after the archangel Gabriel announced Mary would give birth to the Son of God.
The boy in question, Nehorai Nir, provided an explanation for how he found the artifact.
“I ran to pick it up and discovered a worm inside, so I reluctantly put it down, but on the way back up the hill, I suddenly saw a colorful object shining in the dirt. I pulled it out and was immediately very excited,” Nir recalled.
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In Israel, any unique or seemingly ancient item must be reported to the Antiquities Authority for verification, as archaeological finds, including those over 100 years old, are considered state property. Keeping such items without proper reporting is illegal and may result in legal penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The medallion is not considered an antiquity because it is “only between 100-200 years old,” according to IAA archaeologist Re’em. Although not from a more ancient era, the discovery still sparked considerable excitement.
Re’em explained that the craftsmanship of the medallion required great skill. “This technique was developed in Rome about the year 1800 or slightly earlier and continued until the early 20th century.”
He then stated, “This cross is a testament to the personal story of a pilgrim who visited Ein Karem 100 to 200 years ago, reflecting the centrality of the Holy Land to the three monotheistic religions.”
It was no small feat for people a couple of hundred years ago to traverse land and sea “just to touch the soil where it all began.”
“The discovery of the cross medallion pays homage all these years later to the dedication of Christian pilgrims,” the article concluded.
Pilgrimages are important aspects of the Christian faith. Getting to see the places where biblical events, critical happenings that have defined our world, society, and even our destiny, can make the text of Scripture come alive in a new way. More people should go on pilgrimages like this in order to experience the real world context in which the Bible took place.