Teen discovers 1,500-year-old 'magic mirror' in Israel

A 17-year-old volunteer, Aviv Weizman, uncovered a fragment of a Byzantine-era 'magic mirror' at the archaeological site of Usha near Kiryat Ata, Israel. The discovery occurred during a training course organized by Israel's Ministry of Education, involving 500 students in active excavations led by the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA). Weizman handed the ceramic fragment to Dr. Einat Ambar-Armon, director of the IAA's Northern Education Center, who identified it as part of a protective amulet dating to the 4th–6th centuries CE. The mirror, featuring a reflective glass center, was believed to ward off evil spirits by reflecting their own image. Similar plaques have been found in burial contexts. Other finds by students include pottery, coins, and decorated stone fragments. IAA director Eli Escusido emphasized the educational value of hands-on archaeology. The site is slated for public opening.