A rare stamp seal carved from mother-of-pearl is offering new insight into life in the ancient Land of Israel during the Assyrian period, according to a study published in the journal Levant.
Archaeologists discovered the artifact at Tel Hadid in central Israel. This site became part of the Neo-Assyrian Empire after the kingdom’s conquest of Israel in the late eighth century B.C.
A rare find from a distant ocean
The small oval-shaped seal stands out because it was crafted from mother-of-pearl, the iridescent inner layer of certain mollusk shells. Researchers identified the material as coming from Pinctada margaritifera, or the black-lipped pearl oyster, a species native to the Indo-Pacific region thousands of kilometers from Israel.
The seal was uncovered in 2019 inside a rock-cut refuse pit containing Iron Age pottery, animal bones, and other discarded materials. Although the artifact was broken into two pieces, its shimmering surface immediately caught researchers’ attention.
Researchers say no other stamp seal made from mother-of-pearl has been documented in the archaeological record of the southern Levant.
“To the best of our knowledge… this is the only known stamp seal from the southern Levant produced from this material,” wrote study author Ido Koch of Tel Aviv University.
Symbols linked to an Assyrian deity
The seal’s imagery may be just as significant as the material from which it was made.
Researchers believe the engraved design depicts symbols associated with the moon god of Harran, a deity whose worship originated in northern Mesopotamia. Similar imagery appeared widely across the Neo-Assyrian Empire during the eighth and seventh centuries B.C.
A tiny seal discovered in central Israel is revealing a surprisingly global story from 2,600 years ago. Archaeologists found the rare artifact at Tel Hadid and traced its mother-of-pearl material to an Indo-Pacific oyster shell. pic.twitter.com/STaOOiSykl
— Tom Marvolo Riddle (@tom_riddle2025) June 18, 2026
The emblem typically features a crescent mounted on a pole or ceremonial standard. On the Tel Hadid seal, a triangular figure may represent a worshiper facing the symbol, while another shape may depict an altar or ritual object.
The imagery suggests the owner was familiar with cultural traditions that spread throughout the Assyrian world.
Evidence of an amulet rather than a seal
Microscopic and chemical analyses indicate that the seal was likely engraved using a bronze tool. Researchers also found a carefully drilled hole running through its center. The perforation was made from both ends and aligned almost perfectly in the middle.
That feature suggests the object was intended to be worn rather than used primarily for administration. “Most stamps of this sort functioned as amulets in antiquity,” Koch said. “It’s kind of like wearing a pendant today.”
Researchers cannot determine where the seal was produced. It may have been imported as a finished object, crafted locally from imported material, or engraved in the region using a prepared shell blank.
A glimpse into life under Assyrian rule
Regardless of its place of manufacture, the artifact highlights the cultural changes that followed the Assyrian conquest of the Kingdom of Israel.
According to the biblical account in 2 Kings 17, Assyrian king Sargon II deported much of the local population after conquering the northern kingdom in 722 B.C. and resettled people from other regions of the empire.
Archaeological evidence from Tel Hadid points to Assyrian influence in the area. Previous excavations uncovered cuneiform tablets documenting economic transactions conducted under Assyrian administrative practices.
Researchers say the seal may have belonged either to a migrant from another part of the empire or to a resident who adopted Assyrian religious imagery. While its exact origins remain uncertain, the artifact reflects a society shaped by migration, imperial rule, and cultural exchange more than 2,600 years ago.
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