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Stolen Archaeological Treasures Return To Italy Posted by on Apr 6, 2016 in News

As a trained archaeologist, articles relating Italian archaeology always catch my eye. Here’s a recent one that really pleased me:

Il 22 marzo sono rientrate in Italia dalla Svizzera 45 casse piene di beni archeologici appartenenti al nostro paese. Beni archeologici unici, per un valore stimato di ben 9 milioni di euro, provenienti da scavi illegali effettuati nel Lazio, in Sicilia, in Puglia, in Campania e in Calabria negli anni ’70 e ’80.

On the 22nd of March 45 crates full of archaeological artefacts belonging to our country returned to Italy from Switzerland. (The crates were filled with) unique archaeological artefacts, whose estimated value is 9 million Euros, originating from illegal excavations carried out in Lazio, Sicily, Puglia, Campania and Calabria in the 70’s and 80’s.

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Alcune delle 45 casse recuperate a Ginevra

Esportati illecitamente e acquistati dal mercante d’arte inglese Robin Symes per essere venduti in Inghilterra, Giappone e Usa, i reperti sono stati recuperati dai Carabinieri del gruppo Tutela Patrimonio Culturale, in collaborazione con le autorità svizzere. L’inizio dell’indagine risale al marzo del 2014, quando sono sorti i primi sospetti sul fatto che alcune opere trafugate potessero essere depositati nei caveau del Porto Franco a Ginevra. E proprio in quei locali dove erano racchiusi da tempo, dopo accurate analisi e minuziose perquisizioni, sono state trovate le opere rubate.

Illicitly exported and bought by the English art dealer Robin Symes to be sold in England, Japan and the USA, the artefacts were recovered by the Carabinieri division for Cultural Heritage Protection, in collaboration with the Swiss authorities. The investigation began in March 2014, when it was first suspected that stolen works of art may have been stored in the vaults of the Free Port in Geneva. And after careful analysis and exhaustive searches, it was in those very rooms that the stolen works of art were found, having been stored there for some time.

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Uno dei sarcofagi ritrovati

Ci sono statue, vasi, busti in marmo, un sarcofago romano e una coppia di sarcofagi etruschi dipinti. Ma soprattutto un gruppo di lastre dipinte assolutamente eccezionali, provenienti da un tempio etrusco di Cerveteri, il cui ritrovamento e restauro getterà nuova luce sulla pittura e sulle decorazioni dei templi etruschi del VI secolo avanti Cristo.

There are statues, vases, marble busts, a Roman sarcophagus and two painted Etruscan sarcophagi. But above all, a group of absolutely exceptional painted wall plates originating from an Etruscan temple in Cerveteri (north-west of Rome), whose discovery and restoration will shed new light on the painting and decoration of Etruscan temples in the 6th century BC.

Necropoli di Cerveteri

La necropoli di Cerveteri

“Siamo di fronte a uno dei recuperi più importanti degli ultimi decenni. C’è stata una grande razzia negli anni 70-80 a Cerveteri – ha commentato il soprintendente dei beni archeologici del Lazio e dell’Etruria meridionale, Alfonsina Russo – Sarebbe opportuno effettuare immediatamente il restauro delle lastre templari, se possibile aperto al pubblico, e restituire poi i reperti ai musei etruschi di Cerveteri e di Villa Giulia a Roma”.

We are looking at one of the most important recoveries of the last decades. In the 70’s and 80’s there was a huge amount of looting at Cerveteri – commented the superintendent for archaeological works in Lazio and southern Etruria, Alfonsina Russo – It would be appropriate to carry out the restoration of the temple plates immediately, and if possible, open to the public, then return the artefacts to the Etruscan museums of Cerveteri and Villa Giulia in Rome.”

Non vedo l’ora di poterli ammirare!

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Comments:

  1. Patricia Sandler:

    Si`, anch’io non vedo l’ora di vedere questi bellissimi e importante reperti. Io vado pazza per tutte le cose etrusche.

  2. Kathy Gates:

    Wow, interesting to read the mention of Ceverteri – have just re-read The Garden of the Finzi Contini. Hope that it does re-open to the public.

  3. Suzanne Cerny:

    I am so glad to hear of this fortunate discovery and return of these archeological beauties to Italy. Sometimes one wonders where and how some museums accumulate antique art. As a museum goer, I am often very glad to see samples of antique art, but rarely wonder myself where it comes from as I am having other thoughts while viewing.


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