A 24 year old man has been arrested by the Spanish Civil Guard in an operation in which more than 2,000 archaeological objects (Iberian and Roman objects and coins as well as prehistoric stone mills) have been seized ('
Recuperan más de 2.000 piezas arqueológicas en la Sierra de Chiva', Laredcomarcal.com, 14.11.2013).
The confiscated items allegedly came from illegal diggings of sites aided by the use of a metal detector in the Sierra de Chiva (Valencia) which the man reportedly undertook, sometimes with the help of his father. The men, residents of Gestalgar, allegedly travelled by motorcycle by night or at weekends to about 60 sites throughout the Sierra de Chiva (beginning in 2010) and did damage to them, the repairing of which was estimated to cost 120,000 euros.
The sites visited were mainly in mountainous regions of Gestalgar, Bugarra, Pedralba and Chiva.
This operation (codename Sertorius) is the biggest action of the Civil Guard in the province of Valencia against plundering of archaeological sites since 2001.
The man and his father are accused of crimes against property and damage to archaeological sites and were arrested on Monday.
In the seizures marijuana was also found in the home of the man's brother. In their statement to the agents, the defendants have indicated that their purpose was not to sell the items but wanted to collect them and donate them to the City of Gestalgar.
Vignettes: Some of
the objects seized.
