A four-year-old boy who accidentally broke a rare 3,500-year-old jar at the Hecht Museum in Haifa has been welcomed back by the museum staff.
Ariel Geller and his family were visiting the Hecht Museum, where the Bronze Age jar had been on display for 35 years.
The jar, which dates back to between 2200 and 1500 B.C., was likely used to store wine or oil.
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His mother, Anna Geller, had looked away for just a moment when she heard a crash.
“It was just a distraction of a second,” Ms Geller said. “And the next thing I know, it’s a very big boom boom behind me.”
Despite the mishap, the Hecht Museum, associated with Haifa University, saw this as an educational opportunity.
The Geller family was invited back, and Ariel gifted the museum a clay vase of his own.
The museum’s director, Inbal Rivlin, said the museum’s open exhibit policy encourages a hands-on approach to history, even if it sometimes leads to accidents.
“In a similar manner to the repairs currently under way on the ancient jar, this is exactly what professionals do.”
Roee Shafir, a restoration expert at the museum, assured that the jar would be relatively easy to repair as it broke into large pieces.
“I like that people touch. Don’t break, but to touch things, it’s important,” Shafir said.
The restoration process, using 3D technology and high-resolution videos, is expected to be completed soon.
The jar is expected to be back on display next week.
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