On August 28, CBS News reported that a child broke a 3,500-year-old vase, dating from 2200 to 1500 BC. The vase is considered a rare artifact because it is intact.
Alex's father said that his son "gently pulled the vase" out of curiosity about what was inside. This action caused the vase to fall and break into many pieces. After the incident, Alex said he was shocked. He and his son spoke to museum staff.
“There are cases where intentionally damaging exhibits will be dealt with very seriously, including reporting to the police. However, in this case, the situation is not like that. The vase was damaged by a child visiting the museum and we will take appropriate action,” said a museum representative.
A few days after the incident, the Hecht Museum invited the boy's family back to visit. Dr. Inbal Rivlin, the museum's director, invited them to see the vase after it had been restored. The museum sent a conservation expert to fix the problem. The vase will be returned to its original location shortly.
The boy’s father said the family was relieved that the vase had been restored, but also sad that the antique vase would no longer be the same.
The 3,500-year-old vase was displayed without its protective glass. According to the museum's representative, the founder believed that experiencing an archaeological discovery without any obstacles was appealing. Despite the incident, the museum decided not to put the vase behind glass, calling the accident a "rare incident."
The vessel is believed to have been used to store wine and olive oil. Similar pottery found during archaeological digs is often broken or incomplete, so the vessel is an impressive find because it is still intact, the museum added.
