Crash. Anna Geller had looked away for just a moment. That’s all it took for her curious four-year-old to tip over a Bronze Age jar at the entrance of an Israeli museum. Little Ariel stood over the broken pieces, horrified. The frightened boy told his parents he just wanted to see what was inside.
The jar was one of many artifacts out in the open. Dr. Inbal Rivlin is the director of the Hecht Museum in Haifa. She says open display is part of the museum’s vision of letting visitors explore history without glass barriers.
Mr. Geller heard the pottery shatter and thought, “Please let that not be my child.” He was shocked when he turned and saw his youngest of three.
Mrs. Geller quickly escorted her son outside while Mr. Geller informed security guards. He offered to pay for damages, hoping the jar was just a model.
It turns out the jar has been on display at the Hecht Museum for 35 years. It likely stored wine or oil and dates back to between 2200 and 1500 B.C. The piece was one of the only complete containers of its size from that period when it was discovered.
Museum staff members reassured the anxious Gellers that the jar was insured. Then they astounded the family by forgiving Ariel and inviting him back. Rivlin wants to use the restoration as an educational opportunity.
Experts use 3-D technology and high-resolution videos to accurately put broken pieces back together. They apply glue to connect just a few pieces at a time. Staff estimated the jar would be fixed in a matter of days.
Roee Shafir is a restoration expert at the museum. He says the repairs to the jar are fairly simple, as the pieces were from a single container. Archaeologists often face the daunting task of sifting through piles of shards from multiple objects.
Ariel returned to the Hecht Museum in late August. He offered staff members a clay vase of his own and was met with gracious smiles. He even got to apply glue to a different broken jar. His mom helped him plunge his fingertips into the sticky white goo to show him the repair process.
Shafir says artifacts should remain accessible to the public, even if accidents happen. Touching an artifact can inspire a deeper interest in history and archaeology.
“I like that people touch. Don’t break, but to touch things, it’s important,” he says.
Why? We point people to the gospel when we respond to accidents with mercy. Jesus glues us to Himself, touching and mending the broken pieces of our lives with His extravagant grace.
