A young boy reportedly damaged a Bronze Age jar while visiting an archaeological museum in Israel.
Experts believe the object, which was around 3,500 years old, was in a display case near the museum’s entrance when the incident occurred.
In response to CNN, the museum noted that it had followed Reuben Hecht’s insistence on making artifacts more accessible by displaying them without protective glass.
In response to the incident, the museum noted that it has a special charm when it comes to finding ancient artifacts.
It vowed to continue its tradition of displaying them without obstructions.
According to the BBC, the boy’s father said that his son was curious about the jar when he visited the museum last week.
He then pulled it slightly, and his father initially thought that it wasn’t his child.
According to the Guardian, the boy’s father, Alex, said that he couldn’t believe his son had damaged the ancient artifact.
It’s believed that the jar was used to store and transport liquids, such as olive oil or wine, during the period between 2200 BC and 1500 BC.
Although archaeologists have previously unearthed similar vessels, most of them were incomplete or broken, the museum noted.
The fact that the object was intact made it an impressive find.
In response to a report by Ynet, the head of the museum, Inbal Rivlin, invited the boy and his mom to visit the museum.
According to Rivlin, the museum is not just a mausoleum but is an accessible and welcoming place where families can visit.
She also told the media that the museum would fix the jar and put it back in its display case.
She added that the facility had created new signs to inform visitors which items can be touched or cannot.
The Hecht Museum was established in 1984 on the University of Haifa’s campus.
It features various artifacts from the Chalcolithic era, which dates back to approximately 4500 BC to 3,500 BC.
In a statement, the museum said that it had been approached by a restoration expert who would restore the jar.
The facility stated that the public can expect to see the artifact back in its place within a short time.
The boy’s father expressed his regret to the BBC and said that the jar would no longer be the identical object.