A 4-year-old boy accidentally damaged a Bronze Age jar at the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, last Friday. The jar, believed to be at least 3,500 years old, was displayed without protective glass near the museum’s entrance, as part of an initiative to make artifacts more accessible to the public.
According to the child’s father, the boy was simply curious and accidentally knocked the jar over, causing it to break. The father initially did not realize his child was responsible for the damage and was shocked to see the broken artifact.
In response to the incident, the Hecht Museum defended its practice of displaying certain items without glass cases, emphasizing that its founder Reuben Hecht valued making artifacts accessible for public engagement. Despite the mishap, the museum plans to continue this approach.
The damaged jar, dating from between 2200 BC and 1500 BC, was notable for being found intact, which is rare for such ancient artifacts. The museum’s head, Inbal Rivlin, invited the boy and his mother to return for a private tour and assured that the jar would be restored and put back on display. New signs have been added to guide visitors on which items are touchable.
The Hecht Museum, which opened in 1984 on the University of Haifa’s campus, houses archaeological finds from various periods. The broken jar will be repaired with the help of photographs, and the restoration process will serve as an educational opportunity for the public.
