Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
A 1,200-year-old baptismal font has been seized by the police after receiving a tip off about it being sold online for GBP 9,500 by a Turkish farmer who found it in his field.
The ancient historical monument was recently confiscated in the district of Ortakoy in the Turkish province of Corum.
A farmer, identified only by the initials M.K., found the stone basin while working in his field and brought it home where he used it as a water trough for the animals to drink out of.
After a while, the farmer learned that the stone basin was a valuable historical artefact and published an online advert for a price of TRY 100,000 (GBP 9,500) to buy it.
Provincial police teams took immediate action when they learned about the artefact being sold online.
Consequently, M.K. was detained and the artefact was seized and taken to the Corum Archaeological Museum.
After examining the stone object, museum officials determined that it was a 1,200-year-old baptismal font.
Corum Museum director Metin Cakar said: “The historical artefact which we believe to be from the 9th or 10th century is a stone font used for baptising children during a Christian ceremony of the time.
“We will exhibit this work in a suitable area in the garden of the museum.”
Ortakoy mayor Taner Ispir said: “As is well known, Ortakoy District served as the capital of the Hittites for around 7,000 years.”
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