Jar, 3,500 years old, broken by curious 4-year-old

A young child accidentally broke an ancient jar while on a visit to the Hecht Museum in the University of Haifa in Israel, museum officials said. The jar is at least 3,500 years old, dating back to the Middle Bronze Age, the museum told CBS News.

The 4-year-old boy “pulled the jar slightly” according to his father Alex speaking to the BBC. The boy had been “curious about what was inside” and it was this, according to Alex, that caused it to fall and smash into several large pieces. The boy and his father spoke to the security guard immediately after the incident.

The jar was likely used for the storage and transportation of supplies including wine and olive oil. The lack of damage to it as well as its size made it “an impressive find” according to the museum. Until the middle of August, it had been on display at the entrance to the Hecht Museum besides similar antiques.

Despite the rarity, it had not been protected by any glass. The museum said that this was because its founder believed “that there is a special charm in experiencing an archaeological find without any obstructions.”

When display items are “intentionally damaged” the museum says it would respond “with great severity, including involving police” but that this would not be warranted due to the fact that it was an accidental.

A specialist has been hired to restore the jar, the museum announced. The process is expected to be short and the museum added that it “will be returned to its place in a short time.” IT will also document the conservation work, presenting that to the public along with the restored antique. It will not be kept behind glass as the accident was, according to the museum, a “rare incident.”

The child and his family are invited by the museum’s general director, Dr. Inbal Rivlin, to visit the museum and see it again once it has been restored. They will be given a tour of the building to “to sweeten together the previous experience at the museum.”