Spanish police seized the Iberian sword, manufactured over 2,000 years ago, which was sold on the online auction, reports 9news.
According to the government, the Iberian Sword, presumably dated III-II century BC, was put up for sale on the “well-known social networking site” together with 202 other archaeological exhibits.
“The investigation began after the police found that one of the users of social networks published a message about the abduction of Iberian Falcates with a handle in the form of a bird’s head,” the Spanish National Police statement says.
Described as “Iberian Falcate”, this type of sword was a personal weapon and, as a rule, buried with the owner after his death. When burial, the blade was usually bent or damaged so that robbers could not take advantage. However, this copy was found with an intact blade, which, according to the police, could give him a significant value in the event of a sale.
After attempts to confirm the existence of an archaeological exhibit to determine its location and return his investigators managed to find a person who proposed him for sale, which was a citizen of Spain, living in the province of Haen (Andalusia).
Sword and other artifacts were withdrawn by the police, and a man was arrested on suspicion of illegal assignment and crime against archaeological heritage.