13-Year-Old Yair Whiteson Finds 1,800-Year-Old Ring on Mount Carmel
A 13-year-old Israeli boy named Yair Whiteson made an incredible discovery while hiking with his father on Mount Carmel. Yair found an 1,800-year-old bronze ring engraved with the image of the Roman goddess Minerva.
Yair, who loves collecting fossils and rocks, initially thought the green item was a rusty bolt. Upon closer inspection at home, he realized it was a ring with an image of a helmeted figure holding a shield and spear.
The discovery was made in Khirbet Shalala, an area known for its Roman farmstead remains and ancient rock quarry. Yair’s father had just returned from a four-month stint in the army reserves, and they were hiking together when they found the ring.
Recognizing the potential value of the ring, Yair’s family contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority. Dr. Eitan Klein and Nir Distelfeld from the Authority identified the figure on the ring as Minerva, the Roman goddess of war, military strategy, and wisdom. The ring dates back to the Late Roman Period, around the 2nd-3rd Century CE.
The ring’s origins are still a mystery. It could have belonged to a woman living on the farm, a quarry worker, or it might have been a burial offering from nearby graves. The ring will be displayed in Jerusalem.
Doubts Revealed
Yair Whiteson -: Yair Whiteson is a 13-year-old boy who found an old ring while hiking.
1,800-Year-Old -: 1,800 years old means the ring is very, very old, almost two thousand years old.
Bronze Ring -: A bronze ring is a ring made from a metal called bronze, which is a mix of copper and tin.
Mount Carmel -: Mount Carmel is a mountain in Israel, a country far away from India.
Roman Goddess Minerva -: Minerva is a goddess from ancient Roman stories, known for wisdom and war.
Khirbet Shalala -: Khirbet Shalala is a place in Israel where many old Roman things have been found.
Israel Antiquities Authority -: The Israel Antiquities Authority is a group of people who study and take care of old things found in Israel.
Late Roman Period -: The Late Roman Period is a time long ago when the Roman Empire was still around but starting to change.
Jerusalem -: Jerusalem is a very old and important city in Israel where the ring will be shown to people.
