Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Italy unveils record haul of antiquities from Swiss raids

Antiquities recovered by Italian Carabinieri, military police, are displayed at Terme di Diocleziano museum during a press conference in Rome, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015. Italian authorities have unveiled what they said was a record haul of rare antiquities illegally looted from Italy and discovered during raids on Swiss warehouses belonging to an accused Sicilian art dealer. The carabinieri police's art squad estimated the value of the 5,361 vases, kraters, bronze statues and frescoes at some 50 million euros. The works, from the 8th century B.C. to the 3rd century A.D., were laid out Wednesday at the National Roman Museum and may go on public display. Carabineri Gen. Mariano Mossa said it was "by a long shot the biggest recovery in history in terms of the quantity and quality of archaeological treasures." They were found during an investigation into Basel-based art dealer Gianfranco Becchina, accused by prosecutors of being part of a huge trafficking network. (AP Photo/Claudio Peri, Ansa) ROME (AP) — Authorities have unveiled what they said was a record haul of rare antiquities illegally looted from Italy and discovered during raids on Swiss warehouses belonging to an accused Sicilian art dealer.








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