Authorities Seize $8.5M in Etruscan Artifacts From Illegal Dig

Italian authorities have seized artifacts from an illicit excavation of an Etruscan burial site in Umbria, valued at approximately $8.5 million. Two individuals face investigation for allegedly stealing urns, sarcophagi, and other items earmarked for the black market. The illegal operation was uncovered next to an Etruscan site first found by a farmer while tilling his land in 2015. Officials acted on a tip-off regarding photographs of artifacts circulating in illicit markets that closely matched items from the farmer's land.

Employing a drone for aerial imagery and phone surveillance, authorities identified the illicit site on property belonging to a local businessman who had access to earthmoving machinery. At the scene, they discovered two sarcophagi presumed to belong to Etruscan princesses. One sarcophagus still contained a skeleton. Additionally, a burial collection featuring urns with battle and hunting illustrations, perfume jars, and a bone comb were found. The Etruscan civilization thrived from 900 BC to 27 BC in central Italy, particularly between the Tiber and Arno rivers in regions now known as Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)