Boy Discovers ‘Unique’ Christian Pendant Covered in Gemstones

A 10-year-old boy accidentally discovered a “unique” Christian artifact that may be up to two centuries old. Nehorai Nir made the find during a class trip earlier this month to Ein Karem, a historic hillside village that is west of Jerusalem and renowned for its centuries-old holy sites. The village holds significant importance in Christianity as it is considered by tradition to be the birthplace of John the Baptist, a major figure in the religion. It is also identified with an event mentioned in the New Testament known as the Visitation, where the Virgin Mary is said to have met her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist at the time. The village is home to churches commemorating these events, including the Church of the Visitation and the Church of St. John the Baptist, making it an important pilgrimage site and drawing people from all over Europe. Pictured is the Christian pendant discovered this month by a 10-year-old boy in the ground at a historic hillside village west of Jerusalem. The artifact may be up to two centuries old. Pictured is the Christian pendant discovered this month by a 10-year-old boy in the ground at a historic hillside village west of Jerusalem. The artifact may be up to two centuries old. Emil Aladjem/Israel Antiquities Authority The artifact discovered by Nehorai in the village is a cross-shaped pendant, which is inlaid with tiny pieces of glass and colorful precious stones. “We were picking edible plants, and I was surprised to see on the slope below me…a beautiful red pomegranate lying there on the ground,” Nir said in a press release. He went on: “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. The staff told me to call the Israel Antiquities Authority, and when they came, they were very enthused.” While the artifact is not considered an antiquity by law because it is “only” 100 to 200 years old, it is a “unique” object, according to Amit Re’em, Jerusalem district archaeologist of the Israel Antiquities Authority. The manufacturing method would have required expert craftsmanship, with the glass and gemstones clearly placed with significant precision to form the desired patterns. This technique, known as micro-mosaic, was developed in Rome around the year 1800 or slightly earlier, and it persisted until the early 20th century. Experts believe that the pendant may have belonged to a Christian pilgrim who visited Ein Karem. “This cross is a testament to the personal story of a pilgrim who visited Ein Karem 100–200 years ago, reflecting the centrality of the Holy Land to the three monotheistic religions,” Re’em said in the press release. He continued: “People were willing to cross deserts, mountains, and seas, often over the course of years, just to touch the soil where it all began. The cross may have arrived with a pilgrim from Europe and fallen during their journey in the Land of Israel, or perhaps it was purchased here in Jerusalem. “When Nehorai shared the story of the discovery, one could almost imagine the moment the pendant was lost—only to be found by the boy about a century later,” Re’em said. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about archaeology? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.