This Toddler Accidentally Breaks The Bronze Age Guci At 3,500 In Museums

The bags were broken at the Hecht Museum. (Source: Hecht Museum Staff)

JAKARTA - A 4-year-old boy accidentally destroyed a jar from the Bronze Age at an archaeological museum in Haifa, Israel.

The ancient artifact, which experts say is at least 3,500 years old, was displayed without a glass box near the entrance to the museum at the time of the incident.

In a statement emailed to CNN on Wednesday, the Hecht Museum maintained its decision to present certain items without protective glass, adding its founder totaling Hecht had stressed making artefacts accessible to the public.

"Museum believes there is a special charm in undergoing archaeological discoveries without a hitch," the statement said, adding that the museum would "continue this tradition" despite the incident.

Meanwhile, speaking to the BBC, the son's father said his son had "slightly pulled the jars" during a visit to the museum on Friday last week, "wanting to know what's in it."

The man added that he was surprised to see his son beside the broken artifact and initially thought, "It wasn't my son who did it."

The boy's parents could not immediately be contacted by CNN.

The museum believes in the date of the artifacts from between 2200 BC and 1500 BC. Prior to the rule of King David and King of Jesus, who ruled the kingdoms of ancient Israel and Yehuda in the 10th century BC, the jars will be used to store and transport fluids such as wine or olive oil.

While archaeologists have found similar jars in the past, most of them are damaged or incomplete, according to the museum. The fact that the items displayed were found intact made them "an impressive discovery," the statement added.

Speaking to Israeli news outlet Ynet Tuesday, the head of the Inbal Rivlin museum invited the boy and his mother, who were also present during the incident, back to the museum for a private tour.

"This museum is not a mausoleum but a place to live, open to accessible families (and)," he told the news outlet.

"We beg parents: don't be afraid. Things like this happen. We will fix (the lock) and put it back," he added.

A 4 year-old boy accidentally smashed a 3500 year-old jar dating back to the Bronze Age at the Hecht Museum in Haifa, northern Israel (23/08/24) :

During a trip to a museum in Israel, a 4 year-old boy accidentally smashed a 3500 year-old jar into pieces. The Hecht Museum in… pic.twitter.com/mHt7vLgPmi

— Archaeo - Histories (@archeohistories) August 29, 2024

A 4 year-old boy accidentally smashed a 3500 year-oldjar dating back to the Bronze Age at the Hecht Museum in Haifa, northern Israel (23/08/24):

During a trip to a museum in Israel, a 4 year-old boy accidentally smashed a 3500 year-old jar into pieces. The Hecht Museum in... pic.twitter.com/mHt7vLgPmi