3,500-year-old Bronze Age jar smashed by 5-year-old boy in museum
A five-year-old boy accidentally broke a rare Bronze Age urn at the Hecht Museum, located within the University of Haifa in Israel. The incident occurred on Friday when the ancient artifact, which dates back to between 1130 and 1500 BC, was on display. Alex, the boy's father, stated that his son "pulled the jar slightly" because he was "curious about what was inside," causing it to fall.
Museum director's surprising response
The Hecht Museum said the boy has been invited back to the exhibition with his family for an organized tour. "There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged...such cases are treated with great severity...including involving the police," Lihi Laszlo from the museum told the BBC. "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."
Broken urn
Artifact's historical significance and future plans
The artifact, unearthed during excavations in Samaria, central Israel, has been part of Hecht Museum's collection for 35 years. The museum described the urn as a rare and "impressive find," noting that most similar artifacts from that era are usually found broken or incomplete. Predating the reigns of David and King Solomon, the jar was used to store and transport local goods like wine and olive oil. The museum plans to restore the artifact and return it to display.
Museum's display policy and future precautions
The museum clarified that the urn was not placed behind a display case due to its founder, Dr. Reuven Hecht's vision of making archeological items as accessible as possible to visitors. However, the museum's director, Dr. Inbal Rivlin has now advised parents to guide their children not to touch exhibits unless explicitly permitted. Notably, the museum, which is free to enter, houses several archeological exhibits spanning the Chalcolithic to Byzantine periods.
