A young boy visiting the Hecht Museum in Haifa accidentally knocked over a 3,500-year-old jar, causing it to shatter.

“There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police,” Lihi Laszlo of the Hecht Museum . 

“In this case, however, this was not the situation,” Laszlo said. “The jar was accidentally damaged by a young child visiting the museum, and the response will be accordingly.”

The jar, dating back to the Bronze Age (2200-1500 B.C.), predates the time of Kings David and Solomon and was a rare find due to its intact condition. Experts believe it likely held local supplies such as wine and olive oil.

The museum had placed the piece near the entrance without any protection, aiming for an “unobstructed” display.

The boy, curious about the jar’s contents, pulled on it, causing it to fall and shatter. The museum immediately assigned a conservation specialist to restore the jar, which will be returned to its original place near the front entrance once restored.

The museum insists that the piece will be returned without any obstructions.

Israeli museums have encountered similar incidents involving the destruction of priceless artifacts. An American tourist allegedly smashed a sculpture in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem last October.

The tourist allegedly destroyed two Roman statues dating back to the 2nd Century, claiming they were “against the Torah.” However, his lawyer denied that he acted out of “religious fanaticism.”

One statue depicted Athena, daughter of Zeus, and the other depicted a griffin grasping the wheel of fate of the Roman god Nemesis, according to The Times of Israel.

Police apprehended the tourist at the scene, identifying him only as a 40-year-old Jewish American tourist.