Turkish authorities have seized a 1.500-year-old floor mosaic dating from the late Roman period during an operation against the smuggling of antiquities in the Mardin province. Two people have been arrested as part of the investigation.
The operation was carried out in coordination between Gendarmerie units from three provinces and the Directorate for Combating Smuggling and Organized Crime, with the aim of protecting cultural heritage and cracking down on illegal excavation and antiquities trafficking networks.
During the search, in addition to the rare mosaic with figures from the late Roman period, authorities also seized a coin of historical value, two rings, 13 other archaeological objects, three precious stones, as well as a reference book titled "Coins of Ancient Rome".
The seized mosaic has been handed over to the Mardin Museums Directorate, where it will undergo specialized examinations and the conservation process. Turkish authorities stressed that the operation is part of efforts to protect the country's cultural heritage and combat the smuggling of objects of historical importance.
