Switzerland will return to Italy, 4 400 stolen antique objects discovered in 2001 in the vaults of a couple of art dealers from Basel

Switzerland returns 4 400 ancient artifacts stolen from archeological digs in Italy. All the stolen items were discovered in 2001 in the vaults of a couple of art dealers from Basel, thanks to the instructions received from Italy. Over the last seven years of court litigation concerning the return of artifacts, and finally it was resolved in favor of the Italian side.

More than half of stolen antiquities were removed from the area of Puglia in the south-east of Italy, which at one time been heavily influenced by ancient Greek culture. This told the Swiss archaeologist Lassau Guido (Guido Lassau), took part in the work on the case. According to him, sumptuously decorated with vases, craters, and vessels for mixing wine had been stolen from the rich burials, dating from V - III centuries BC. E. A Swiss art dealer was also found very interesting female mask, preserving traces of the painting and dated to about the year 300 BC. E. «They are very well preserved, as in the past two thousand years were in the capsule until the robbers have been learned - explained Lassau. - It is sad that because of the autopsy had been destroyed a lot of valuable archaeological information».

Swiss vaults also are artifacts related to the pre-Etruscan culture Villanovy northern Italy, and several bronze figures, which presumably originate from the island of Sardinia. The oldest objects are bronze knives, age, probably around four thousand years.

Prosecution Meltsl Markus (Markus Melzl) difficult to name the value of stolen antiquities. «You can only sell them on the black market - he said. - This is like asking how much is the Mona Lisa. All subjects are of great historical significance. They are priceless ». However, if chete art dealers were able to sell all the artifacts, they «would earn millions», said Meltsl.

The couple, whose names are not disclosed in accordance with Swiss privacy laws, are under investigation. Woman charged in Switzerland in possession of stolen items, and a man - in the illegal exportation of cultural property, possession of stolen goods, and participation in a criminal association in Italy.

According to Guido Lassau stolen goods have been exported to Switzerland, because until recently it was a center of trade in stolen objects of antiquity. But in 2005 the country introduced new laws, after which the number of transactions on the black market has declined significantly.

material produced Catherine Onuchin

Source: news.yahoo.com , cbc.ca , artinvestment.ru