A man discovered an ancient statue, dating back to the Hellenistic Period (4th-1st century BC), in a black envelope next to a garbage container in Thessaloniki, the Greek AMNA agency reports, News.bg reports.
Immediately after the discovery, he submitted the find to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Thermaikos Municipality.
Authenticity Confirmed by Archaeologist
An archaeologist from the Ephorate of Antiquities was called to the scene, who confirmed the authenticity of the statue and identified it as an ancient monument. The statue was seized by the Bureau for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Department for Combating Illicit Trafficking in Persons and Goods of the Thessaloniki Police.
Investigation into the Origin of the Statue
Investigations are currently underway to establish the origin of the ancient artifact and its possible connection to the illicit trafficking of cultural property. The statue will undergo laboratory tests at the Forensic Science Department of Northern Greece. After the tests are completed, it will be handed over to the Ephorate of Antiquities for further evaluation and preservation.