Four-Year-Old Boy Who Accidentally Broke Bronze Age Jar Returns to Israeli Museum

Accidentally damaging a rare museum artifact that’s thousands of years old would usually result in serious consequences. However, a four-year-old boy who unintentionally knocked over a Bronze Age jar, breaking it into pieces, was warmly welcomed back to the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, just a week after the incident.

“It happened in just a split second,” explained Anna Geller, a mother of three from Nahariya in northern Israel. “Suddenly, there was a loud crash behind me.”

Her son, Ariel, was exploring the museum’s ancient artifacts when she briefly looked away. A sudden crash followed, and a rare 3,500-year-old jar lay shattered on the floor, with Ariel standing over it in shock.

The Bronze Age jar that Ariel accidentally broke had been on display at the Hecht Museum for 35 years. It was a unique piece, likely used to store wine or oil, dating back to between 2200 and 1500 BC.

On Friday, the Geller family returned to the museum. Ariel brought a clay vase of his own as a gift to the museum, and the staff and curators welcomed them with understanding and kindness.

Anna’s husband, Alex, recounted how, upon hearing the crash, his first thought was, “Please don’t let that be my child.” He admitted feeling embarrassed and shared that Ariel had been curious about what was inside the jar.

The jar was one of many artifacts displayed without protective glass, part of the museum’s approach to allow visitors to connect more closely with history, according to the museum’s director, Inbar Rivlin. She emphasized the importance of using the incident as a learning experience and ensuring the Geller family felt encouraged to return after their initial visit was cut short.

Alex recalled his shock when he realized it was Ariel who had caused the damage. He immediately informed the security guards, hoping the jar was a replica rather than an original artifact. He even offered to pay for the damages. However, after reviewing security footage and confirming it was an accident, the museum invited the family back for another visit.

Museum experts are now using 3D technology and high-resolution videos to restore the jar, which could be back on display soon. Roee Shafir, a restoration expert at the museum, noted that the repairs should be straightforward since all the pieces came from a single, intact jar. He added that despite the risks, keeping artifacts accessible to the public is vital because it fosters a deeper interest in history and archaeology.

“I encourage people to touch the artifacts. Just don’t break them,” Shafir said with a smile.