A rare bronze age jar – its history stretching back at least 3,500 years – had long graced the entrance of the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, offering visitors a closeup look at an intact artefact believed to predate the biblical King David and King Solomon.
That is, until it was accidentally smashed by a four-year-old earlier this week.
“My initial reaction was denial,” the father of the young child told the Guardian.“I couldn’t believe it was my son who did it.”
His son had been curious to see if there was anything inside of the jar, which was thought to have been previously used to carry local supplies such as wine and olive oil.
As the museum has a tradition of making its artefacts as accessible as possible, shunning glass displays cases and barriers, the four-year-old was able to grab the jar. He “pulled the jar slightly … that’s how the jar tipped over and fell”, said his father.
The young boy, gripped with fear, began to cry. His parents surveyed the scattered pieces on the floor, scrambling to figure out how best to handle the situation. “At first, I was in shock,” said his father, Alex. “Then I felt a bit angry with him.”
After he and his wife calmed the child down the family approached a security guard to own up to what had happened.
They were not expecting what came next, however. “Instead of imposing fines or punishment, they invited us to visit again,” said Alex.
This time the visit would include an organised tour, in an attempt to “sweeten” the family’s previous experience at the museum, the museum’s director, Inbal Rivlin, said in a statement.
She said: “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. The jar was accidentally damaged by a young child visiting the museum, and the response will be accordingly.”
In recent days the museum had begun working with a conservation specialist to repair the jar, which dates back to the bronze age between 2200 and 1500BC. The artefact was expected to be restored and back in place in time to greet the family when they return this weekend, said Rivlin.
The museum said it was still deciding whether the jar would be put back on display with additional protective elements. The museum, located on the grounds of the University of Haifa and which is free to enter, has taken pride in making archaeological discoveries dating back as far as the Chalcolithic period as accessible as possible.
Rivlin said: “The museum believes that there is a special charm in experiencing an archaeological find without any obstructions. And despite the rare incident with the jar, the Hecht Museum will continue this tradition.”