Free Republic

A curious four-year-old boy visiting the Hecht Museum in Israel with his family inadvertently smashed a jar that predates the time of Biblical main characters King David and King Solomon. The boy’s father told the BBC that his son was simply “curious about what was inside,” so he pulled at the large piece of ceramic crockery to get a better look. To the family’s credit, they quickly owned up to the boy’s folly and spoke to a nearby security guard. To the museum’s credit, Dr. Inbal Rivlin, the institution’s general director, invited the boy and his family to visit the...

A 4-year-old accidentally knocked over and shattered a 3,500-year-old Bronze Age jar during a visit to the Hecht Museum at the University of Haifa in Israel on Friday. The museum said the artifact, which is dated from 2200–1500 B.C.E., was designed to store and transport goods, such as olive oil and wine, and was characteristic of the ancient Canaan region. The jar, the museum said in a statement, predated the Biblical kings Solomon and David. Though similar jars have been discovered in archaeological excavations, many are found in pieces or incomplete, making this jar rare for having been unearthed intact,...

A 3,500-year-old jar has been accidentally smashed into pieces by a four-year-old boy during a trip to a museum in Israel. The Hecht Museum in Haifa told the BBC the crockery dated back to the Bronze Age between 2200 and 1500BC - and was a rare artefact because it was so intact. It had been on display near the entrance of the museum without glass, as the museum believes there is "special charm" in showing archaeological finds "without obstructions". The jar was most likely originally intended to be used to carry local supplies, such as wine and olive oil. It...