![Turkey: Roman-era artifact recovered, suspect arrested](https://cdnuploads.aa.com.tr/uploads/Contents/2021/02/25/thumbs_b_c_fc9828b867e900a02685fa0ea4c88211.jpg?v=132917)
BALIKESIR, Turkey
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