Italian authorities announced the seizure of the illegal excavation of an Etruscan burial site in the Umbria region and are investigating two people suspected of stealing urns, sarcophagi and other artifacts, valued at 8 million euros, that were to be sold on the black market, writes AP News.
The illegal excavations were taking place near another Etruscan burial site discovered by a farmer working his land in 2015, authorities said. They received photographs of the artifacts and site that were circulating on the black market that resembled the items found on the farmer’s land.
Using a drone and wiretapping, authorities located the second site on land belonging to a local businessman who had access to earthmoving equipment.
The Etruscan civilization existed between 900 BC. and 27 BC in central Italy
In the new site they found two sarcophagi, which are believed to have belonged to Etruscan princesses. One of them still had the skeleton inside. Authorities also found a burial kit complete with urns depicting battle and hunting scenes, perfume jars and a bone comb.
The Etruscan civilization existed between 900 BC. and 27 BC in central Italy, mainly between the Tiber and Arno rivers, covering parts of present-day Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio.
Source: www.descopera.ro
