JAKARTA - Turkish security forces have arrested a suspect who tried to sell the Roman-era sarkofagus for 5 million Turkish lira (IDR 4,165,730,587).
Gendarmerie's Command Force in Manisa Province launched an operation after receiving intelligence input that the suspect, identified as SD, would sell the ancient sarkofagus to someone in the capital Ankara, according to a statement from the Governor's Office, reported Daily Sabah December 26.
The suspect claimed he found a sarkofagus in an area in the wayezadeler District. Coupled with complicated details, the sarkofagus has dimensions measuring 82 centimeters long, 64 centimeters wide and 53 centimeters high.
The suspect was released after testimony, and sarkofagus was taken to the local museum directorate for analysis.
It is known that illegal treasure hunters had the opportunity to dig up artifacts buried throughout Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic, carrying out at least 3,365 illegal excavations in the last two years.
Meanwhile, Manisa is home to the ancient city of Sardis, the capital of the Kingdom of Lydia, which scored the first coin in history.
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