'I couldn't believe it was my son who did it': boy, 4, smashes bronze age jar in Israel museum
Category: Anthropology & Archeology
Via: john-russell • 3 months ago • 12 commentsBy: ashifa-k (the Guardian)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Instead of chastising family over breakage, director of the Hecht Museum invites them back
A rare bronze age jar - its history stretching back at least 3,500 years - had long graced the entrance of the Hecht Museum in Haifa, Israel, offering visitors a closeup look at an intact artefact believed to predate the biblical King David and King Solomon.
That is, until it was accidentally smashed by a four-year-old earlier this week.
"My initial reaction was denial," Alex, the father of the young child told the Guardian. "I couldn't believe it was my son who did it."
His son had been curious to see if there was anything inside of the jar, which was thought to have been used to carry local supplies such as wine and olive oil.
As the museum has a tradition of making its artefacts as accessible as possible, shunning glass displays cases and barriers, the four-year-old was able to grab the jar. He "pulled the jar slightly … that's how the jar tipped over and fell", said his father.
The young boy, gripped with fear, began to cry. His parents surveyed the scattered pieces on the floor, scrambling to figure out how best to handle the situation. "At first, I was in shock," said his father, Alex. "Then I felt a bit angry with him."
View image in fullscreenThe jars on display at the Hecht Museum in the University of Haifa are thought to have been used to carry wine or olive oil. Photograph: Hecht Museum
After he and his wife calmed the child down the family approached a security guard to own up to what had happened.
They were not expecting what came next, however. "Instead of imposing fines or punishment, they invited us to visit again," said Alex.
This time the visit would include an organised tour, in an attempt to "sweeten" the family's previous experience at the museum, the museum's director, Inbal Rivlin, said in a statement.
"There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police," said Rivlin. "In this case, however, this was not the situation. The jar was accidentally damaged by a young child visiting the museum, and the response will be accordingly."
In recent days the museum had begun working with a conservation specialist to repair the jar, which dates back to the bronze age between 2200 and 1500BC. The artefact was expected to be restored and back in place in time to greet the family when they return this weekend, said Rivlin.
The museum said it was still deciding whether the jar would be put back on display with additional protective elements. The museum, located on the grounds of the University of Haifa, and which is free to enter, has long taken pride in making archaeological discoveries dating back as far as the Chalcolithic period as accessible as possible.
"The museum believes that there is a special charm in experiencing an archaeological find without any obstructions," said Rivlin. "And despite the rare incident with the jar, the Hecht Museum will continue this tradition."
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I have a feeling this museum has a good supply of bronze age jars down in the basement. Most museums only display a portion of their holdings.
Toss up another jug will you, Moses.
It’s nice to see people be kind, for a change. I’m sure the parents were mortified. You always try to monitor your kids out in the world (museums, stores, etc.), but even the most attentive parent can’t control a toddler every second. Besides, who would have guessed a museum would display an object that could be broken so easily?
I understand the museum's wish to provide a greater accessibility to the artifacts, in order to encourage a closer and fuller learning experience, which is both unusual and commendable, but maybe they should glue the jug to its stand.
I am glad to see something positive about Israel for a change, not only for the reaction of the museum's staff, but for the honest forthright admission by the parents. What if the same thing had happened at a museum in the USA or Canada? Personally, I think there would have been denial and a lawsuit.
I like to think that most people regardless of where they are from would take responsibility for their actions or the actions of their children
I might not have felt the way I do had I not known that people who spill a cup of coffee on themselves will sue the restaurant that provided it.
They did an episode of Seinfeld around that coffee burning incident.
I just looked that up, it was so long ago. This was a 79 year old woman who spilled the coffee in her lap and suffered third degree burns. Liebeck vs. McDonalds'. McDonald's was found 80% liable. The woman needed hospitalization and burn treatment and skin grafts.
I like to believe those people do not represent the majority or even a significant number. I know I've burned myself with coffee a time or two and was more angry with myself than the establishment.
Having just read this LINK -> Liebeck v. McDonald’s (tortmuseum.org) I have to say that I stand corrected about that case. I was as fooled as most others were about it. But that is not to negate that trivial legal cases are being brought before the courts.
Yeah, I hadn't thought about it since you mentioned it and looked it up just now and there were the usual stories that go around when things like that happen. It's nice to know the actual facts.
I agree about trivial, frivolous law suits - I think there should be severe penalties involved for those things for wasting the courts' time.
Yeah, I understand. Who would knowingly pour boiling hot coffee into their lap just to sue someone? Just sued for the hospitalization and follow up care and punitive damages, of course.
Frivolous cases are rarely brought to the courts in Canada because other than their being laughed out of court, the judges impose penalties not just upon the claimants but also upon the lawyers who represent them, such as requiring the lawyers for the claimants to PERSONALLY pay all the legal and court costs of the defendant. Even if a lawyer is paid in advance for bringing such cases, he/she could end up not only having wasted their own time but making it cost them financially as well. It would be hard for a claimant with a trivial matter to find a lawyer to represent them.