During a visit to the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, a four-year-old's curiosity led to an unfortunate accident involving a priceless artifact.
'Lightly Tucked' the vase
The child, eager to explore the contents of a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age vase, accidentally shattered the artifact into hundreds of pieces, according to Tag24.
The vase, dating back to between 2200 and 1500 BC, had been displayed at the museum's entrance without special protective measures.
According to the child's father, Alex, his son merely "lightly tugged" on the vase out of curiosity, and the resulting damage was a shock. “My first thought was, ‘That wasn’t my child,’” Alex told BBC.
Despite the incident, the museum’s response has been notably composed. Dr. Inbal Rivlin, the museum’s director, expressed a desire to remain a "dynamic place and not a mausoleum," choosing not to pursue any legal action against the family.
Plans to Repair the Vase
Instead, the museum has invited the family for a tour and plans to repair the damaged vase.
“There are cases where artifacts are intentionally damaged, and those are dealt with severely, sometimes involving the police,” a museum representative explained.
“However, this case involved an accidental mishap by a visiting child, so our reaction will be accordingly lenient.”
The museum has announced that specialists will restore the vase, and it will soon return to its place of honor.
Additionally, the Hecht Museum is considering the use of 3D printing to create tactile replicas of artifacts that children can safely handle, aiming to enhance educational experiences while preventing similar accidents in the future.
