A 3,500-year-old Bronze Age jar on display at the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, was accidentally broken by a 4-year-old boy last Friday.
The incident occurred near the museum’s entrance, where the ancient artefact was exhibited without a protective glass case.
The Hecht Museum, which is located on the University of Haifa campus, defended its policy of displaying certain items without glass protection.
According to CNN, the museum explained that its founder, Reuben Hecht, believed in making artefacts more accessible to the public.
“The museum believes there is a special charm in experiencing an archaeological find without any obstructions,” the statement read. Despite the recent incident, the museum intends to continue this tradition.
The child’s father recounted the event to the BBC, explaining that his son was curious about the jar and had “pulled the jar slightly” to look inside.
“I was shocked to see my son beside the broken artefact and thought at first, ‘It wasn’t my child that did it,’” he said.
The artefact, believed to date back to between 2200 BC and 1500 BC, would have been used for storing and transporting liquids such as wine or olive oil.
Although similar vessels have been discovered in the past, most were either broken or incomplete, making this particular jar a significant find due to its intact state before the accident.
The museum’s head, Inbal Rivlin, spoke to Israeli news outlet Ynet, inviting the boy and his mother back for a private tour. “The museum is not a mausoleum but a living place, open to families and accessible,” she said. “We are appealing to parents: Don’t be afraid. Things like this happen. We will fix the jar and put it back.”
The museum has since added new signs indicating which artefacts can be touched and which cannot. Restoration efforts are already underway, with a specialist enlisted to repair the jar using photographs as a guide.
The museum sees this as an opportunity to educate visitors about the restoration process and plans to return the jar to display soon.
The boy’s father expressed his regret over the incident, stating to the BBC, “I am sorry that the jar will no longer be the same item.”
