A Bronze Age jar, estimated to be 3,500 years old, has been restored and returned to its display after an unexpected incident involving a young visitor.
The artifact, which was accidentally damaged by a child, has been incorporated into the museum's narrative, rather than leading to punitive measures against the family involved.
The jar, a prized possession of the Hecht Museum, hails from a period predating the Bronze Age collapse, according to Straight Arrow News. It is speculated that the jar was originally used for transporting commodities such as wine and olive oil. The accidental damage to the jar, which could have been seen as a catastrophe, was instead viewed from a different perspective by the museum.
Dr. Inbal Rivlin, the Director of the Hecht Museum, extended an invitation to the family for a unique tour and a workshop on the restoration of ceramic jugs. Ariel Geller, the four-year-old who inadvertently damaged the jar, was presented with a hat and a miniature ceramic jug as a memento of the incident.
The jar has now been meticulously restored, with some of the crack marks intentionally left visible. A small piece of the jar was deliberately not replaced, with the museum curator asserting, everything that happens to an object is part of its history, even the missing part.
The Geller family, initially apprehensive about the potential repercussions, expressed gratitude for the museum's understanding approach. Following the incident, the museum's Facebook page garnered significant attention, with messages pouring in from individuals worldwide expressing interest in the restoration process.
The jar will remain on display without a protective barrier, in line with the museum's commitment to making history more accessible to the public. This incident serves as a reminder of the museum's dedication to education and understanding, even in the face of unexpected challenges.
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