On a hike not far from the Gaza border, the six-year-old Imri Elya discovered a rare clay seal showing a victorious warrior and his captive. Amanda Borschel-Dan describes the item:
The visceral scene—impressed upon a clay seal by an artisan whose fingerprints are still visible on [its] back—was found by Elya while walking on Tel Jemmah near the Gaza border. . . . Elya received a certificate of good citizenship for turning the artifact over to the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA).
The 1.1-inch square clay impression was likely a souvenir of victory, similar to an honor badge or medal, the IAA archaeologist Saar Ganor [said]. Since the impression was created from a mold, he said it’s possible there were many created and distributed. They may have been used as decorations, perhaps pressed inside other items—such as belts or furniture—that showcased the owners’ total victories.
Ganor believes the scene is of two Canaanites. The naked, rail-thin prisoner’s hands are so violently tied behind him that his back is ramrod straight. He is held captive by a clothed, somewhat plumper warden, with trimmed curly hair and a beard. . . . Through comparing and contrasting their find with others from the ancient world, the IAA researchers date the artifact to the late Bronze Age (between the 12th and 15th centuries BCE).
Read more on Times of Israel: https://www.timesofisrael.com/3500-year-old-canaanite-prison-scene-discovered-by-6-year-old-on-a-hike/