Boy accidentally breaks 3,500-year-old jar in museum
A four-year-old boy accidentally smashed a 3,500-year-old jar in a museum in Israel.
According to Alex, the boy's father, the kid was "curious about what was inside" and "pulled the jar slightly," causing it to fall.
Alex was "in shock" to see the damaged jar and at first couldn't believe it was his child's doing. After calming his son, he spoke to the guard about the incident.
Hecht Museum's director Inbal Rivlin said that while there were cases when display items were "intentionally damaged," police involvement in this particular case was unnecessary.
"There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police," Rivlin said. "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.
Rivlin said the jar will be restored by a specialist in conservation and will be back in the museum "in a short time."
The museum told BBC that the family was invited back to the museum for an organized tour and to see the repaired jar.
Alex is "relieved" that the jar will be restored but "sorry" because "it will no longer be the same item."
The rare crockery, which dates back to the Bronze Age between 2200 and 1500 B.C. Hecht Museum, where it had been on display, emphasized that the jar's pristine condition was a rare find, given that pottery unearthed in archaeological excavations is usually broken or incomplete.
The jar had been on display without a glass near the entrance. It was displayed as such because the museum believes archaeological artifacts are more "charming" "without obstructions."
Despite what happened, the museum intends to keep it that way.