In Israel, a 4-year-old boy decided to see what was inside a 3,500-year-old vase

At the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, a curious four-year-old boy broke a 3,500-year-old vase: “He was interested in seeing what was inside.”

The broken artifact dates back to the Bronze Age, between 2200 and 1500 BC, and was found intact when excavated, reports BBC News The vase was displayed at the entrance without protective glass because the museum believes there is a “special charm” in displaying archaeological finds “without barriers”.

The toddler's father said his son “pulled the vase a little” because he was “curious about what was inside,” causing it to fall. He said he was shocked to see his son next to the broken vase and initially thought “it wasn't his child.” However, after calming the boy down, he engaged the security guard.

The Hecht Museum said the child was invited back to the exhibit with his family for a tour after the incident a few days ago. A museum spokesman said:

“There are cases where exhibits are deliberately destroyed, and such cases are taken very seriously, including with the involvement of the police. However, in this case, this did not happen. The vase was accidentally destroyed by a small child visiting the museum, and the reaction will be appropriate.”

A specialist restorer has been assigned to restore the vase and will return it to its place “soon”. The boy's father said they would “feel better” when they saw the restored vase, but added that they were “sad” because “it is not the same object anymore”.

The museum said it “displays objects without barriers or glass walls whenever possible” and intends to continue that tradition. The vase, which was apparently originally intended to carry wine and olive oil, dates back to the time of the biblical kings David and Solomon, and is typical of the Canaan region.

The museum noted that similar ceramic objects found during archaeological excavations are usually broken or incomplete when discovered, making this intact vessel “an impressive find.”

The Hecht Museum is located on the campus of the University of Haifa in northern Israel and displays archaeological and artistic objects.

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