Last week, a five-year-old child accidentally broke a rare Bronze Age clay vessel on display at the Hecht Museum in Haifa, but ended up being invited back, along with his family, for a special tour of the museum.
The incident occurred on Friday, when the curious child “slightly” tugged on the large jar, causing it to fall and shatter, his father Alex told the BBC, adding that he was “in shock” when he saw what had happened.
The Canaanite jar, dated to 3,500 years ago, was likely used “for the storage and transport of local supplies, mainly wine and olive oil,” and predated “the time of King David and King Solomon,” the museum said in a statement.
In keeping with the philosophy of the Hecht Museum, which “places special emphasis on making archaeological items accessible to the public,” many items at the museum are “displayed without barriers or glass walls,” the museum said.
The jar in question had been on display at the museum’s entrance for decades, and will soon be restored by a professional team and returned to its accustomed place, the museum said. The tradition of open displays will continue, despite the “rare incident with the jar.”
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Because the artifact was “accidentally damaged by a young child visiting the museum,” there will be no legal proceedings or other repercussions, unlike “instances where display items are intentionally damaged,” which are treated with “great severity,” the statement said.
Ancient clay jars on display at the Hecht Museum in Haifa. The jar on the far right was shattered by a young child, but is to be restored by the museum, in an image released on August 27, 2023. (courtesy Hecht Museum)
Instead, Dr. Inbal Rivlin, director of the museum, said the family has accepted an invitation to return to the museum to view the jar when it is restored and receive a guided tour.
The boy’s father told the BBC that the family was sorry for the damage, as the jar “will no longer be the same item,” and will be relieved to see it restored.
The Hecht Museum, located on the campus of the University of Haifa, offers free admission and serves as a training facility for archaeology students at the university.
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