An estimated 3,500-year-old jar valued for its “impressive” intact condition and large size was recently smashed to pieces inside an archeological museum in Israel after being inspected by a child.
The ancient jar, which dated to the Middle Bronze Age between 2200 and 1500 B.C., accidentally fell while on display at the University of Haifa’s Hecht Museum, the museum’s general manager, Dr. Inbal Rivlin, said in a statement.
“It predates the time of King David and King Solomon and is characteristic of the Canaan region,” Rivlin said about the artifact, noting that the “impressive find” was used to transport supplies like wine and olive oil. “Similar jars have been found in archaeological excavations, but most were found broken or incomplete.”
Hecht Museum
The jar had been on display among others near the museum’s entrance and wasn’t protected by glass, with Rivlin explaining the museum believes there’s a “special charm” in having items on view without obstructions.
The boy’s father, Alex, told the BBC that his 4-year-old was “curious about what was inside” and “pulled the jar slightly,” causing it to fall. (The father was identified by only his first name in the report.)
Upon seeing his son standing next to the pieces, he said he was shocked and immediately thought that “it wasn’t my child that did it.” He then consoled his son and spoke with a security guard about the incident.
Hecht Museum
The museum said it has already contacted a conservation specialist to repair the jar and that the child and his family have been encouraged to come back to the museum and see it once repaired to help “sweeten” their previous experience.
“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,” Rivlin said in her statement.
The damage will also be used as a learning opportunity, she said, with plans to document its repair for the public to see.
