Carabinieri return million years old fossil to Lebanon
MILAN - A plate of 13 fossilised fish dating back to the Cretaceous period (145.5 - 65.5 milion years ago) in Lebanon has been returned to the Consul General of Lebanon in Milan, Dr. Khalil Mohamad, by the commander of Monza's Carabinieri Nucleus for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (TPC), Major Francesco Provenza.
The investigations were started after the Opera Diocesana Istituto San Vincenzo of Milan, a legally recognised religious body, had delivered the slab to the Monza Carabinieri on the bequest of a Swiss woman who died in Milan. Inquiries conducted by specialized Brianza Core soon ascertained that the fossil was not present in the "Database of Cultural Heritage unlawfully stolen", the largest database of stolen works of art in the world managed by the TPC, within which over a million and three hundred thousand assets are listed for searching.
The investigations aimed at verifying the authenticity of the fossils were entrusted to the Department of Earth Sciences 'A. Desio' at the University of Milan.
The fossils, on the order of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Court of Monza, have been returned to their State of origin.
