Ancient 3,500-Year-Old Jar Accidentally Smashed by Child in Museum

An accident involving a four-year-old boy resulted in significant damage to a museum artifact.

During a recent visit to Israel’s Hecht Museum, the young boy, accompanied by his parents, accidentally smashed a 3,500-year-old jar from the Bronze Age that was not protected by glass, reported CNN.

The Hecht Museum explained that they choose to display certain artifacts without protective glass because their founder, Reuben Hecht, wanted the artifacts to be accessible to the public.

“The museum believes there is a special charm in experiencing an archaeological find without any obstructions,” said Dr. Inbal Rivlin, Hecht Museum’s general manager. Despite the jar being smashed, the museum will continue this practice.

There is hope for the broken artifact. The Hecht Museum informed PEOPLE that Roy Shafir, a conservation specialist from the University of Haifa’s School of Archaeology and Marine Cultures, will restore the jar.

“Given the photographic documentation and our familiarity with its form, the jar will return to its original place in a short time,” said Dr. Rivlin.

The museum will document the conservation process and present it to the public, showcasing the work that led to the artifact’s restoration.

In an interview with The Guardian, the boy’s father, Alex, explained the incident. “My initial reaction was denial. I couldn’t believe it was my son who did it,” he said.

The father recounted that his son was curious if anything was inside the jar and when he “pulled the jar slightly, it tipped over and fell.”

“At first, I was in shock,” added the boy’s father. “Then I felt a bit angry with him.” However, Alex said that instead of being scolded or punished, the museum staff reacted unexpectedly.

“Instead of imposing fines or punishment, they invited us to visit again,” he told The Guardian.

Dr. Rivlin told PEOPLE that they understood it was an accident. “There are instances where artifacts are intentionally damaged, and those cases are handled severely, including police involvement.”

“In this case, it was an accidental damage by a young visitor, and the response will be appropriate,” she added.

The Hecht Museum has publicly invited the child and his family to visit the museum again to witness the restored jar. The family agreed to visit the museum this weekend and will receive an organized tour to enhance their previous experience.

The jar, which was displayed at the museum entrance, dates back to the Middle Bronze Age, between 2200-1500 BCE. It predates the reign of King David and King Solomon and is characteristic of the Canaan region. Initially, it was used for the storage and transport of local supplies, mainly wine and olive oil.