Reggio Calabria: 248 archaeological coins, 4 archaeological finds and 1 seized paleontological one returned to the state

On the morning of May 8th at the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria, the Commander of the Carabinieri Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Cosenza has delivered to the Superintendent ABAP for the metropolitan city of Reggio Calabria and the province of Vibo Valentia 253 cultural assets recovered as part of investigation activities coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Palmi (RC). The event took place in the presence of the Prefect of Reggio Calabria, the Chief Prosecutor of the Republic of Palmi (RC), the Provincial Commander of the Carabinieri of Reggio Calabria, the Director of the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria as well as the civil, military and religious authorities.

The investigation, which allowed the recovery of archaeological and paleontological assets for a total value estimated in the order of approximately 300.000,00 euros, was conducted in 2013 by the Carabinieri of the TPC Nucleus of Cosenza, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Palmi (RC), and originated from a customs check at the airport of Reggio Calabria on the baggage of two Italian passengers coming from Mexico. Following the investigative investigations, the seizure of 648 silver and bronze coins from the Magna Graecia, Roman and medieval periods as well as 37 finds of presumed historical-archaeological interest dating back to Magna Graecia and the civilisations of Central America, kept in the home of a Reggio professional.

With the collaboration of the archaeological officials of the Archaeological Superintendency of Calabria and of the National Prehistoric Ethnographic Museum "L. Pigorini" of Rome, it was ascertained that 28 seized archaeological finds were indisputably authentic, dating back to the "ancient preclassical (1100-900 BC) and postclassical (1300-1521 AD) periods" and from the cultures of the central plateau and the Gulf Coast of Mexico. For nine archaeological assets, kept in the baggage intercepted in Reggio Calabria, officials of the Mexican Ministry of Culture in 2016 requested and obtained the restitution as pertaining to the cultural heritage of that State.

For the remaining 253 cultural assets, following the sentence which became final on 20 February 2024, the Court of Palmi (RC) ordered the confiscation and restitution to the person entitled to it, identified in the Italian State, through delivery to the ABAP Superintendency of Reggio Calabria. These include: a group of 240 authentic copper coins and 8 silver coins attributable to the Greek and medieval ages, the highest concentration of which can be found in Roman coinage; two “dressels” – dating back to between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD – that is, wine containers for transport which were very common in the first half of the empire, whose first origins can be traced back to Greece (the island of Rhodes) but which later spread to various locations in Magna Graecia, including Calabria; a clay lamp, datable to the early Roman imperial age, with decoration on the disc; a fragment of a vase, datable to the 4th century BC, with red figure of Italic production; a tooth of an extinct proboscidean of the Gomphotheriidae family (commonly known as "mastodons"), widespread in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. In Italy the species Anancus arvernensis is known, widespread between the end of the Miocene (10 million years ago) and the initial phases of the Pleistocene (about 1,5 million years ago).

The return of recovered cultural assets to the state heritage is the result of complex activities, carried out in close synergy with the central and peripheral bodies of the MiC, as well as the commitment and professionalism of women and men, military and civilian, highly specialized in the specific sector , which have allowed us to save important testimonies of the community's identity which tell us their story and, consequently, ours.