MADRID, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Civil Guard is investigating the theft of the renowned Treasure of Villena, one of Europe's most important prehistoric gold collections, from a museum in the southeastern province of Alicante early Thursday.
Local media reported that thieves broke into the Villena Museum through a window and stole all 66 original pieces of the collection within minutes. Police and Civil Guard officers sealed off the museum as investigators collected evidence and reviewed security footage. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the extent of the loss.
Discovered by archaeologist Jose Maria Soler in 1963, the Treasure of Villena comprises 66 pieces made of gold, silver, iron and amber.
Research has also found that two objects in the collection were made from meteoritic iron. ■