Police in Spain have recovered a 2000-year-old sword which was allegedly stolen from a grave and put up for sale online.
Authorities say the Iberian sword is believed to date back to between the 3rd and 2nd century BC and was being offered on a "well known social media site" alongside 202 other archaeological pieces.
Described as an "Iberian falcata", this type of sword was a personal weapon and tended to be buried with its owner when they died.
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The blade would typically be bent or damaged when it was buried to prevent graverobbers from using them.
This one however, was found with the blade intact, something police say would have added significant value if it were to be sold.
"The investigation began after officers discovered that a social media user had posted on a well known site about an Iberian falcata, with a bird's head hilt, that had been plundered," the Spanish Policía Nacional said in a statement.
"Following various efforts to confirm the existence of the archaeological piece, determine its location and recover it, investigators managed to track down the person offering it for sale, who turned out to be a Spanish citizen living in the (Andalucían) province of Jaén."
The sword and the other artefacts were seized by police and the man was arrested on suspicion of misappropriation and a historical heritage offence.
