2.700 year helmet saved

A bronze Corinthian helmet were illicit dealers in antiquities ready to sell in Pyrgos. They were arrested after the information the department of antiquities of Attica Security received, when they checked their car and the well-preserved helmet was found.

The operation took place in Thursday evening in Pyrgos. The officers of the competent department of antiquities had been told that two Greeks from the region, aged 48 and 53 years had a rare bronze helmet and they were trying to sell it to a trader. They set up a ”trap” to the dealers and during an inspection in their car, they found the archaeological find.

This is a well-kept, fully bronze helmet of Corinthian type, which has minimal damage on it and small holes in some parts of the dome. The helmet is estimated to be from the Archaic period, probably from the sixth century BC. Moreover, in an investigation to the house of the 53 year old dealer six silver coins of various sizes were found. The dealers haven’t confessed so far about where and when was the illegal excavation made that brought to light the specific findings.

The subjects were examined by an archaeologist of  Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Property of the Ministry of Culture, who said that they are under the protective provisions of the Law about “Protection of Antiquities and the overall cultural heritage.”
In the weeks a special committee of the Central Archaeological Council (CAC) is expected to consider the commercial value of the findings, whereby the two dealers are going to be accused. If the helmet costs over 150,000 euros, the two will be charged with a felony.

Source: http://krasodad.blogspot.com/