Face of Ancient Statue Recovered

Police have recovered fragments of an ancient Roman ivory statue of Apollo that were illegally excavated several years ago near the Italian capital, authorities said Wednesday.

The most significant find was the face of the statue, estimated to be from around the 1st century A.D., police said. The fragments were recovered in London after a six-year investigation that led authorities through Germany, Switzerland and Cyprus.

``Given the fragility of the material, there are very few ivory statues left from the age of antiquity,'' said Col. Ugo Zottin of the police art theft squad. ``No comparable works exist'' in Italy.

Officials said a group illegally excavated the face of the sculpture and about 100 fragments of it and another statue seven years ago near Lake Bracciano, 10 miles northwest of Rome. Police said the excavation site is in an area containing Roman baths and villas, but gave no further details.

Two people have been arrested in the case.

The Culture Ministry said the market value of the statue fragments had not been established.

The original ivory statue stood about six feet high.

Police said the latest seizure was part of a larger international investigation that had already turned over thousands of ancient art fragments.