Boy SMASHES ancient 3,500-year-old jar while trying to peer inside – but museum officials have surprising reaction
A LITTLE boy accidentally shattered a rare 3,500-year-old jar after trying to peer inside it at a museum.
The family visited the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, which has a unique policy of displaying artefacts without glass for tourists' accessibility.
The remarkable jar dates back to the Bronze Age - between 2,200 and 1500BC and stood in the museum for 35 years before Friday's clumsy accident.
His dad Alex told the BBC that his son "pulled the jar slightly" because he was keen to inspect the item but it instead toppled and broke into several fragments.
He was shocked to see his child stood by the smashed jar and initially thought he wasn't responsible.
However, in an unlikely turn of events, Museum Director Dr. Inbal Rivlin told him: "Don't be afraid, we have no claim against you", according to Sky News.
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Lihi Laszlo, the museum's content manager, explained their nonchalant approach.
"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."
Staff at the Hecht Museum believe the jar, which appears to be made of clay was probably used to carry wine and olive oil.
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It was found in Samaria, western Israel and typical of the Canaan region of the eastern Mediterranean.
The hefty jar is so old that it predates King David and King Solomon from the Bible.
It was particularly valuable as similar finds were broken upon discovery.
An expert has since been tasked with restoring the ancient relic and the family are "relieved" it will return to the museum's display shortly.
The young boy's father apologised profusely for his son's actions and was saddened to hear the jar would never had to be refurbished.
Despite last week's chaos, the museum are keen to uphold their unique tradition of displaying items "without barriers or glass walls" in a bid to make history more accessible.
However Dr Rivlin urges parents to be mindful of not touching objects unless permission is given explicitly.
