A 4-year-old boy accidentally smashed a Bronze Age jar, which is now back on display at an Israeli museum.

The jar in question is older than the time of Kings David and Solomon.

A 4-year-old boy accidentally smashed a Bronze Age jar, which is now back on display at an Israeli museum.
A 4-year-old boy accidentally smashed a Bronze Age jar, which is now back on display at an Israeli museum.

The ancient jar, which was accidentally smashed by a 4-year-old visitor last month, is now back on display at a museum in Israel.

The jar, dating back to the Bronze Age, between 2200 and 1500 B.C., and predating the time of Kings David and Solomon, was completely intact, making it a rare find and a valuable artifact.

At the Hecht Museum in Haifa, a small visitor accidentally knocked over and shattered an artifact while trying to examine it.

Alex Geller, the boy's father, described his son, the youngest of three, as exceptionally curious. When Geller heard the crash, his first thought was, "Please let that not be my child."

Broken 3,500-year-old jar at Hecht Museum in Haifa
A young preschooler accidentally shattered a nearly 3,500-year-old jar that was not behind glass at the Hecht Museum in Haifa. (Hecht Museum)

The museum promptly named a restorer to revive the jar, allowing it to be repositioned near the entrance.

The jar was restored and put back on display on Wednesday.

Ancient-Jar-Finished-Product
A rare bronze-era jar, newly reassembled, returned to public exhibition after a four-year-old accidentally broke it in August during a visit at the Hecht Museum of the University of Haifa, Israel, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024.  (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Frequently, archaeologists must sort through numerous shards of various objects when reconstructing artifacts.

Roee Shair, a museum restoration expert, stated that the repairs were anticipated to be straightforward since the components were from a single and whole jar.

Replacing-Ancient-Jar
A rare bronze-era jar, newly reassembled, returned to public exhibition after a four-year-old accidentally broke it in August during a visit at the Hecht Museum of the University of Haifa, Israel, on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

The large jar was reconstructed using 3D technology, hi-resolution videos, and special glue by experts.

Despite some missing pieces and hairline cracks, the jar's impressive size remains.

Ancient-Jar-In-Place
Bronze-era jar. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

A new sign has been added near the jar, requesting that people refrain from touching it.

The museum director and the museum invited the Geller family back for a special hands-on visit to illustrate the restoration process after the incident was back on display.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

by Greg Wehner

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