A fresco from Pompeii is among 60
archaeological finds that have been returned from the United
States where they had been sold by international art
traffickers, Italy's crack art cops said Monday.
The works, worth over $20 million, have returned to Italy thanks
to the collaboration between the Carabinieri for the Protection
of Cultural Heritage (TPC), Italy's world-famous art cops, and
the New York County District Attorney's Office (DAO).
Among the recovered artifacts is a Pompeian fresco from
clandestine excavations in the Vesuvian area, showing the Baby
Hercules with Snake, dating back to the 1st century AD .
"This is a great success against illicit trafficking," commented
Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano.
The works were recovered from public and private American
collections and one top collector was banned for life from
buying antiquities as a consequence of the TPC's work.
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