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More than 27,000 historical artefacts seized from French collector
Sun Lan
Europe;France
Some Roman fibulas, part of 27,500 archaeological items seized in Metz, eastern France. /JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP

Some Roman fibulas, part of 27,500 archaeological items seized in Metz, eastern France. /JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP

 

French authorities have seized 27,500 archaeological artefacts from a man in the east of the country, who had illegally dug them up and kept them.

The hoard includes Bronze and Iron Age bracelets and neck rings, thousands of Roman coins, and a rare Roman dodecahedron of which there are only around 100 known examples in the world.

 

 

French customs officials have said the suspect, who hasn't been named, searched for the items on his own, using metal detectors. Unlike many other countries, the use of metal detectors is strictly controlled in France and local permission is needed for individuals to search for artefacts that could be of national historical importance. 

The suspect had at one point allegedly tried to dodge the authorities by taking the collection to Belgium, buying a piece of land and claiming he had discovered them all there.

 

A French expert inspecting a Roman dodecahedron, part of 27,500 archaeological items seized in Metz, eastern France. /JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN /AFP

A French expert inspecting a Roman dodecahedron, part of 27,500 archaeological items seized in Metz, eastern France. /JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN /AFP

 

Belgian authorities rebuffed his claims using archaeological soil analysis, which showed the coins could not have been found in the country.

French customs officers said the haul had gradually been built up by the suspect during searches at various sites across France. They conceded that he possessed deep archaeological knowledge and skill. 

The case has been referred to the French prosecutor. The suspect faces a heavy fine or possible jail time.

Source(s): AFP

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