Oops! Boy smashes priceless 3500-year-old jar during visit to Israel’s Hecht Museum

A boy of four has accidentally smashed a 3500-year-old jar after curiosity got the better of him during a visit to a museum.

The jar, which dates back to the Bronze Age between 2200 and 1500 BC, had been on display at the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, for 35 years before the child pulled it over.

It wasn’t behind glass because museum bosses believe there is a “charm” in displaying archeological finds “without obstructions”, according to the BBC.

The boy “pulled the jar slightly” because he was “curious about what was inside’ causing it to topple over, the boy’s father, Alex, said.

He added that he was “in shock” when he saw his boy next to the smashed jar — and at first thought “it wasn’t my child that did it.”

Instead of criticising the mortified family, the museum was sympathetic and invited them to an organised tour of the exhibition.

“There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police,” Lihi Laszlo, a content manager for the museum, explained.

“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.”

Experts say the jar was most likely used to carry wine or olive oil.

It was discovered in central Israel and predates the time of Biblical King David. Conservationists will now try to restore the jar.

Experts say the jar was most likely used to carry wine or olive oil.

It was discovered in central Israel and predates the time of Biblical King David. Conservationists will now try to restore the jar.

It was discovered in Samaria in central Israel, and predates the time of Biblical King David and Jing Solomon, and is characteristic of the Canaan region of the eastern Mediterranean.

Other such finds are usually broken or incomplete when unearthed, making the ancient jar ‘an impressive find’ when it was discovered.