The Civil Guard recovers 13 Roman amphoras that decorated a frozen store

The amphoras, dated from the 1st century, were found by the agents in an inspection of a frozen seafood establishment

Among the objects found there is a metal anchor probably from the 18th century

The Civil Guard, with the collaboration of the Valencian Community Department of Education, Culture and Sports, has recovered 13 Roman amphoras, possibly from the 1st century, as well as an 18th century metal anchor in a frozen fish products store.

The investigation began after the SEPRONA agents of the Civil Guard carried out a routine inspection in an establishment for the storage and sale of frozen fish products in Alicante. The agents observed several ceramic amphoras in different points of the facilities, a metallic anchor and a limestone plate with an inscription that, at first glance, could be of considerable age.

The Civil Guard is now investigating the owner of the establishment and his son as alleged perpetrators of a crime against historical heritage and another against heritage and socioeconomic order.

Given this finding, we proceeded to review all the objects found and the precautionary intervention of all of them.

SEPRONA contacted the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and, in a first viewing of the images provided by the agents, it was determined that they could be Roman amphoras from the 1st century, of great heritage value and, especially, one of them could be of significant importance, due to its exclusivity.

After this first assessment, the objects were transferred to the Santa Pola Sea Museum, for deposit and authentication. There, a more exhaustive survey of the intervened pieces was carried out, determining, in a preliminary manner, by different experts in the field, that they were a total of 13 Roman ceramic amphoras, possibly from the 1st century, which are found in different states of conservation, in addition to a metallic anchor, foreseeably from the 18th century and a limestone plaque with the inscription “ESTE”.

The amphoras could come from the looting of wrecks, being these part of the historical heritage of underwater archeology, so present on the Mediterranean coast and, therefore, they would be protected.

For the most part, they would be olive-growing amphoras, which were used to transport oil from the Betic zone of the peninsula and shipped in the Portus Ilicitanus, for its transfer to Rome. Others were also used to transport wine and fish sauces. Due to the morphology they presented, they could be amphorae dedicated to the storage and transport of these products.

The Civil Guard proceeded to instruct proceedings to this neighbor Santa Pola and his son, for alleged perpetrators of a crime against historical heritage and another crime of reception (that is, the acquisition and / or possession of objects knowing their doubtful or illegal origin).

The proceedings are in the Investigating Courts of Elche. Likewise, the different inspection acts will be delivered to the Ministry of Public Health and Universal Health and the Ministry of Agriculture.

For more information you can contact the Peripheral Communication Office (OPC) of the Civil Guard in Alicante on the phone 965 145 660, extension 446.

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