A four year old accidentally smashed a 3,500-year-old jar at the The Hecht Museum in Haifa.
The rare and intact artefact dated back to the Bronze Age (2200 – 1500BC), characteristic of the Canaan area on the Mediterranean coast.
It had been on display near the entrance of the museum without glass.
The museum’s policy involves showing archaeological objects without obstructions, as it is the hallmark of its “special charm” – a tradition that the museum will continue, despite public misgivings.
The boy’s father said his son “pulled the jar slightly” because he was “curious about what was inside”, causing it to fall.
He admitted that he was “in shock” to see his son next to the smashed jar and at first thought “it wasn’t my child that did it”.
The Hecht Museum said the child has been invited back to the exhibition with his family for an organized tour after the incident happened a few days ago.
“There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police. […] In this case, however, this was not the situation. The jar was accidentally damaged by a young child visiting the museum, and the response will be accordingly.”
A specialist in conservation has also been appointed to restore the jar, and it will be returned to its spot shortly.
