Ancient 3,500-Year-Old Jar Broken by Child During Museum Visit

A young child inadvertently shattered a 3,500-year-old jar into fragments while visiting a museum in Israel.

According to the Hecht Museum in Haifa, the crockery dates back to the Bronze Age, which lasted between 2200 and 1500 BC, and is a remarkable object due to its preservation.

It had been displayed near the museum’s entrance without glass because the museum feels there is a “special charm” in exhibiting archaeological artefacts “without obstructions”.

The boy’s father, Alex, stated that his son “pulled the jar slightly” because he was “curious about what was inside,” which caused it to fall.

Alex also stated that he was “shocked” to discover his son close to the busted jar and initially assumed “it wasn’t my child that did it.”

Alex told the BBC that after calming the kid down, he spoke with the security guard.

The Hecht Museum said the youngster, who is four or five years old, has been welcomed back to the exhibition with his family for an organised tour following the event 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,” museum spokesperson Lihi Laszlo told the BBC.

“In this case, however, it was not the case. The jar was accidently damaged by a little child while visiting the museum, and the response will be appropriate.”

A conservation specialist has also been hired to restore the jar, which will be returned to its original location “in a short time”.

The boy’s father, Alex, said they will be “relieved” to see the jar restored, but they are “sorry” since “it will no longer be the same item”.

According to the museum, “whenever possible, items are displayed without barriers or glass walls”.

And, “despite the rare incident,” the museum stated that it plans to maintain this tradition.

The jar was most likely used to hold local commodities like wine and olive oil.

It predates the Biblical Kings David and Solomon and is unique to the Canaan region on the eastern Mediterranean coast.

Similar pottery found during archaeological excavation is normally shattered or fragmentary, thus this whole jar was “an impressive find” when it was discovered, according to the museum.

The Hecht Museum, located on the grounds of the University of Haifa in northern Israel, houses archaeological and artistic collections.

Source: BBC