A tiny talisman protected families from harm 1,700 years ago

Among the ruins of Shivta, an ancient Byzantine settlement in the Negev Desert, archaeologists have discovered an amazing artifact. This is a miniature bronze figurine depicting a seated child. Study showedthat it serves as a kind of bridge between the Roman and Byzantine eras.

Shivta was a prosperous city that survived the Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic periods. The excavations have given us insight into the daily life of Shivta’s inhabitants: houses, churches, streets and even advanced agricultural systems. The discovery of the figurine, dating from the 2nd or 3rd century AD, was another piece of the historical puzzle of the site.

The bronze figurine, just 3.2 centimeters high, was found in the ruins of a house next to the southern church – an area associated primarily with the Byzantine era. Surprisingly, no traces of Roman presence were found in the settlement – no significant buildings, no pottery. A natural question arises: how did this thing get there?

The figurine depicts a baby who seems to be asking to be held. Despite the features characteristic of Hellenistic and Roman images of children, he does not have the attributes characteristic of child deities. Perhaps the baby was part of the composition – for example, with the figure of the mother.

Analysis showed that the figurine was cast from copper mixed with lead and tin – a common technology at that time. Most likely, it was made in a specialized workshop somewhere in Egypt or the eastern Mediterranean.

But this is not just decoration. The context of the find suggests that it had special significance for its owners. Perhaps it was a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation, or even a talisman that protected against troubles and brought good luck.

The reuse of Roman artifacts in the Byzantine era is not unique to Shivta. For example, a Roman coin turned into a pendant was previously found here. This suggests that ancient objects were valued for their connection to the past and perhaps imbued with spiritual meaning.

The bronze child from Shivta is not just an archaeological find, it is a tiny slice of history, reflecting the transition from one culture to another. In the Byzantine world, deeply imbued with Christianity, the presence of such a pagan object emphasizes that folk beliefs and syncretistic practices persisted despite religious and cultural changes.

The figurine may have been brought from another settlement in the Negev and used in Byzantine Shivta as an amulet or decorative ornament. It could be a family heirloom, an antique, or both—an heirloom perceived as a link to a bygone era. This bronze figurine likely had special meaning for its owner, who lived in Byzantine Shivta, the researchers conclude.