The artifact was identified by archaeologist Anne Skogsfjord while cataloguing coins from the Mørstad Hoard, which was discovered by metal detectorists Vegard Sørlie and Rune Sætre in Rena in April.
The fortress, located in the heart of the Guvrin Forest in the Judean Lowlands, was discovered during 2018-2019 excavations by IAA archaeologists Dr. Saar Ganor and Dr. Itamar Weissbein.
Amphorae found during the excavations date back to the Bronze Age, approximately 4,400 to 4,700 years ago, shedding light on ancient maritime trade along the coasts of Anatolia.
Sabu and Ptahshepses’s tombs had originally been discovered between 1858 and 1860 by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service
Among the objects stored inside was a necklace comprising at least 24 tiny objects made of bone, glass paste, earthenware and rock crystal.
Remains of the lighthouse were found in 1994 by a group of French archaeologists, and in 2025, parts of its threshold and foundation paving stones were resurfaced.
Pottery appeared in the region during roughly the same broad period in which fires, erosion and clay deposition reached their peak.
The study focused specifically on the late Middle Paleolithic period, when ancient hunter-gatherers attempted to navigate intense environmental shifts in the South Caucasus region.
The findings revealed a surprising paradox: Even though the hunter-gatherer communities were relatively small and sparsely located, they were not isolated.
The radar team had come from the US, Atila said, but due to heavy rain and other constraints, only had seven days to work on the site. He noted that the team is expected to return in 2027.
Alongside the statue fragments, a pink granite block bearing several hieroglyphic inscriptions, including two of Ramesses’ titles: “Nesu-Bity,” meaning “King of Upper and Lower Egypt,” and "Sa Ra."
