Turkey: Roman-era artifact recovered, suspect arrested

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.