Rome, Italy

Authorities in Italy have recovered nearly 800 stolen archaeological artefacts that cost nearly 11 million euros from a Belgian collector.

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Pieces of "exceptional rarity and inestimable value", the artefacts date back as far as the sixth century BC and include pieces such as stelae, amphorae and other similar works.

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The investigation that started in 2017 was prompted when a state archaeology lab in Apulia pointed out that a few decorative pieces in the European art catalogues by the Belgian collector were very similar to the ones that were found in a museum in southern Italy.

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"During the course of the search, a veritable 'archaeological treasure' was recovered, consisting of hundreds of Apulian figurative ceramic finds and other Daunian stelae, all illegally exported from Italy, which were then seized in Belgium," a police statement read.

The stolen collection included vases with red paintings, terracotta figurines, black gazed ceramics, amphorae and much more — everything dating back to the sixth and third centuries BC.