By Mirac Kaya
BALIKESIR, Turkey (AA) – A suspect was arrested and a funerary stele dating back to the Roman period was recovered in northwestern Turkey, authorities said on Thursday.
The residence of a suspect involved in smuggling of historical artifacts was raided in Balikesir province’s Altieylul town, the provincial governorate said in a statement.
A funerary stele, believed to be nearly 2,000 years old and worth 1 million liras ($139,000), was found in the operation, the statement said.
Procedures have started against the arrested suspect for deliberately causing damage to assets of cultural value, it added.
* Writing by Dilan Pamuk in Ankara
