Artifacts from ancient history hold incredible value for understanding the past.
Sometimes, these treasures find their way into private hands, where they are almost lost to scholars and the public.
In Odessa, authorities recently stopped an attempt to sell a rare fibula from the 1st-2nd centuries AD, reports Ukrinform.
This piece dates back to the Marcomannic Wars during the Roman Empire's time.
Law enforcement officials, guided by the Primorsky District Prosecutor's Office of Odessa, seized the artifact during an operation to stop its illegal sale.
The fibula, a decorative brooch often used to fasten clothing, is considered a significant cultural and historical object.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the artifact was up for auction on the internet.
The listing described it as a "Golden Merovingian Barbarian Fibula" weighing 18.6 grams. The starting price was set at 170,000 UAH.
A representative from the National Museum of History of Ukraine discovered the auction and alerted the prosecutor's office.
The piece is tied to Germanic cultures of Central Europe and linked to the conflicts between Germanic tribes and the Roman Empire during the Marcomannic Wars.
Authorities identified the seller and confiscated the fibula during the operation. The item will undergo expert analysis to confirm its authenticity and cultural significance.
After verification, the fibula will be placed in the National Museum of History of Ukraine for safekeeping and study.
The investigation continues under criminal proceedings. Officials are working on charges of unlawful appropriation of found property, as specified in Article 193 of Ukraine's Criminal Code.
This incident isn’t the first of its kind in Ukraine. In another case, law enforcement in the Khmelnytskyi region stopped the illegal sale of a silver artifact from the Great Migration period.
Such operations play a vital role in preserving the cultural heritage of Ukraine and ensuring these pieces remain accessible to historians and the public.
