An unexpected incident occurred at an Israeli museum: a child accidentally damaged an ancient Bronze Age amphora. Despite this, the museum will maintain its policy of open access to exhibits.
Museum Incident
Unexpected Incident
An unfortunate event occurred at the Hecht Museum at the University of Haifa in Israel: a small visitor accidentally damaged a rare artifact of the Bronze Age. The boy's father told the BBC that at first he couldn't believe what had happened. However, after the child calmed down, the man informed the museum security about the incident.
Museum's reaction
The administration of the institution decided not to impose sanctions on the child, given the unintentional nature of the incident. Lihi Laszlo, public relations representative for the University of Haifa, which oversees the museum, said:
“There are situations where exhibits are damaged on purpose. Such cases are treated with particular seriousness, even to the extent of involving law enforcement agencies.”
Artifact value
The damaged amphora had been part of the museum's display for 35 years. Experts date it to the Bronze Age, the period between 2200 and 1500 BC. This antiquity predates the era of King David and was used to store and transport local products, mainly wine and olive oil.
Uniqueness of the find
Archaeologists have discovered similar vessels during excavations, but most of them were broken or incomplete. That is why this complete copy was of particular historical value. Inbal Rivlin, the museum's director, explained the amphora's lack of glass protection:
“Our museum adheres to the principle of direct interaction with archaeological finds. Despite this rare occurrence, the Hecht Museum will continue to follow this tradition.”
Consequences and Invitation
Rivlin publicly invited the boy and his family on a specially organized tour of the museum for a week, and they accepted the invitation. A restoration expert has already been commissioned to restore the amphora.
Glossary
- The Hecht Museum is a museum at the University of Haifa in Israel, specializing in archaeological finds
- University of Haifa is one of the leading universities in Israel, located in the city of Haifa
- The Bronze Age is a historical period characterized by the development of bronze metallurgy
- King David is the legendary ruler of the Kingdom of Israel, who lived around 1000 BC.
- BBC (BBC) - British Broadcasting Corporation, the largest broadcaster in the UK
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Discussion of the topic – Little archaeologist: how a child accidentally changed history at the Israel Museum
An unexpected incident occurred at the Hecht Museum in Israel: a small visitor accidentally broke an ancient amphora that was 3,500 years old. This case has brought attention to issues of artifact safety and children's interactions with historical artifacts.
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Sofia
Oh, poor child! I can imagine how scared he was when he broke this amphora. It’s good that the museum was understanding. 😊
Hans
Yes, Sofia, the museum did the right thing. But it’s still a pity for such a valuable artifact. I wonder how long the restoration will take? 🤔
Amelie
I think this is a great lesson for the museum. Maybe we should reconsider the policy of open access to exhibits? Safety is more important than tactile experience. 🧐
Sofia
Amelie, I disagree. It is the opportunity to touch history that makes the museum special. There is always a risk, but it's worth it!
Giovanni
Guys, did you know that such amphorae were used to store wine and olive oil? Can you imagine what it tasted like 4000 years ago? 😋🍷
Victor
Ugh, we started a discussion here. Previously, children were more educated and respected the work of others. And now they can do anything, and this is the result. No discipline! 😠
Hans
Victor, don't be so strict. Children remain children at all times. The main thing is that the family reacted correctly and reported what happened. 👍
Amelie
And you know what? I would love to visit this museum. I wonder how they will restore the amphora? Maybe we can organize a virtual tour? 😃🖥️