(Update) Greek police arrest 55-year-old man over theft of 5.7 million-year-old footprints in Crete

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
(Update) Greek police arrest 55-year-old man over theft of 5.7 million-year-old footprints in CreteThe entire site and the footprints found have been accurately measured and recorded by research teams using laser techniques, so that every part of it is immediately identifiable and recognizable

Greek police arrested on Friday a 55-year-old man in connection with the theft of 10 fossilised footprints which were stolen on earlier this week from the site where they were uncovered in Kissamos, Western Crete, authorities announced.

The suspect faces charges of violating laws on protection of cultural heritage. Authorities were able to find quickly in regions of Kissamos and Thessaloniki all ten fossils. The objects will be send to Chania to be examined by experts. 

Ten of some 40 footprints on the site were cut away and removed from the rock where they were discovered by a Polish paleontologist in 2002. The 5.7-million-year-old fossils are believed to belong to a hominid ancestor of modern humans and their discovery could upend established theories of human evolution. 

The theft was reported by a member of the public that visited the site on Tuesday and alerted local police, and was later verified by the Natural History Museum of Crete. The investigation of the case is continuing.

Immediately identifiable and recognisable fossilised footprints

In an announcement published on Thursday, the Natural History Museum of Crete confirmed the theft and was sharply critical of those responsible.

".. Following information we received, a member of the research team, Charalambos Fasoulas, visited Kissamos on Wednesday and carried out an inspection. This confirmed that at some time, probably at the beginning of the previous week, unknown individuals acting selfishly and without conscience had proceeded to destroy and remove from the archaeological site sections of rocks that included 10 footprints out of a total of 40 that have been studied. Mr. Fasoulas went to the police station in the area and reported the incident, providing all information possible," the announcement said.

The announcement also noted that the entire site and the footprints found have been accurately measured and recorded by research teams using laser techniques, so that every part of it is immediately identifiable and recognisable. As a result, it added, it would be impossible to attempt to sell the footprints without this being immediately detected.

"Consequently, if anyone thought that they could profit from this act they are out of luck. The Museum unequivocally condemns this action, which is shameful for our country and for all of us. It accepts the share of responsibility that probably belongs to it and calls on all the agencies and services involved to take immediate action today to protect the site and the fossils from possible similar destructive actions, as well as to take the necessary action to showcase the finds, which was the desire of the entire research team."

Independent city from Classical era up to the Roman times

Kastelli Kissamou is located 36 km west of Chania in the area where ancient Kissamos (port of Polirrinia) used to be. Nowadays, it is the fourth largest port of the island and is connected by boats with Gythio and Kithira. The area is very popular for its port, history and wine. During antiquity, Kissamos was developed and flourished as an independent city – from Classical era up to the Roman times – and this is verified by the ruins of constructions that were preserved such as the baths, the water reservoir, the famous floor mosaics and the citadel located in Seli area. Scientists uncovered in the area findings of Mycenaean times. Many years later, during the Venetian occupation Kissamos was surrounded by fortified walls for protection from sea enemies. People also built the fort – castello, from which the town took its name. Nowadays, only ruins are saved from this massive wall as sieges and attacks of the Turks were so many that the wall could not endure.

In the small but organized city museum you will see findings from excavations in ancient Kissamos and its surrounding areas. The museum’s collection includes floor mosaics of 2nd and 3rd century houses found in Kissamos city, as well as findings from the archeological sites of Polirrinia and Falasarna (mainly statues, reliefs and ceramics dating back to the Hellenistic and Roman times).

RELATED TOPICS: GreeceGreek tourism newsTourism in GreeceGreek islandsHotels in GreeceTravel to GreeceGreek destinations Greek travel marketGreek tourism statisticsGreek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Olaf Tausch License: CC-BY-SA

Tornos
  1. 26/03 23:51

    St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ

  2. 26/03 21:59

    PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination

  3. 26/03 17:56

    Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros

  4. 26/03 11:45

    Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council

  5. 23/03 17:43

    New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31

  6. 23/03 16:49

    Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend

  7. 23/03 16:47

    Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm

  8. 22/03 21:54

    US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever

  9. 22/03 19:51

    High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece

  10. 22/03 19:32

    Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece

  11. 22/03 14:19

    Greece to take part in Earth Hour on Saturday

  12. 22/03 00:24

    Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress

  13. 22/03 00:02

    Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle

  14. 21/03 22:41

    Greek Finance Ministry tightens Golden Visa rules

  15. 21/03 15:33

    Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens

  16. 20/03 22:48

    Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries

  17. 20/03 21:52

    Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens

  18. 20/03 21:44

    Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote

  19. 20/03 20:55

    Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance

  20. 20/03 18:01

    Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece

  21. 19/03 22:28

    President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens

  22. 19/03 20:57

    Greek Tourism Minιster meets Hellenic Chamber of Hotels

  23. 19/03 20:25

    FinMIn: Moody’s analysis records significant progress in the Greek economy

  24. 19/03 11:15

    Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin

  25. 18/03 22:20

    American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association honors Past Supreme President

  26. 16/03 13:01

    Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens

  27. 16/03 12:56

    Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto

  28. 16/03 11:28

    Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres

  29. 15/03 21:50

    Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania

  30. 15/03 13:45

    PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece

  31. 15/03 12:55

    Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation

  32. 14/03 23:43

    President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava

  33. 14/03 22:58

    American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024

  34. 14/03 22:52

    Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures

  35. 14/03 22:49

    US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki

  36. 14/03 22:43

    Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos

  37. 14/03 19:32

    No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time

  38. 14/03 18:36

    Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday

  39. 14/03 14:48

    HRADF eyes bidders for Lavrio Port majority share

  40. 14/03 12:54

    Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May

  41. 13/03 22:23

    Chairman: 2023 was an exceptional one for AEGEAN Airlines

  42. 13/03 20:11

    Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece

  43. 13/03 19:15

    US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis

  44. 13/03 17:19

    Greece shines at 1st European Cruise Exhibition

  45. 13/03 12:26

    Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony

  46. 12/03 22:46

    Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’

  47. 12/03 21:38

    The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15

  48. 12/03 20:29

    First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki

  49. 11/03 23:58

    Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective

  50. 11/03 23:47

    Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March

  51. 11/03 19:40

    Amadeus acquires travel payments expert Voxel

  52. 11/03 18:49

    Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport

  53. 11/03 17:53

    Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece

  54. 09/03 22:23

    The future of travel planning is multimodal and interactive

  55. 08/03 14:27

    Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth

  56. 08/03 14:24

    Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests

  57. 08/03 14:24

    Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February

  58. 08/03 13:18

    Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday

  59. 07/03 14:12

    Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe

  60. 06/03 22:51

    WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals

  61. 06/03 20:28

    Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector

  62. 06/03 19:47

    Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday

  63. 06/03 18:43

    European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece

  64. 06/03 16:37

    'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved

  65. 06/03 14:40

    Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'

  66. 05/03 14:28

    Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida

  67. 05/03 14:21

    The 'Lent Basket' to be launched in Greece on March 13

  68. 05/03 14:11

    ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023

  69. 05/03 12:24

    Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'

  70. 04/03 22:02

    Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly

  71. 04/03 21:47

    Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary

  72. 04/03 20:27

    Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025

  73. 04/03 19:44

    Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday

  74. 04/03 15:12

    Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background

  75. 29/02 22:54

    Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday

  76. 29/02 21:44

    Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation

  77. 29/02 21:30

    Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points

  78. 29/02 21:03

    Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system

  79. 29/02 21:02

    Greek Tourism Minister meets with Ambassador of Qatar

  80. 29/02 20:47

    Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition

  81. 29/02 19:58

    Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals

  82. 29/02 19:49

    Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF

  83. 29/02 15:39

    'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament

  84. 29/02 12:39

    Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds

  85. 28/02 21:34

    Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night

  86. 28/02 17:31

    CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe

  87. 28/02 17:04

    New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe

  88. 28/02 12:21

    Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024

  89. 28/02 11:57

    24-hour strikes halt trains and ferries in Greece

  90. 27/02 17:25

    UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists

  91. 27/02 15:00

    Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive

  92. 27/02 14:26

    Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world

  93. 27/02 13:15

    Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1

  94. 27/02 12:46

    Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion

  95. 26/02 18:30

    Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April

  96. 26/02 18:27

    Culture Ministry: Schwartz Mansion in Ampelakia near Larisa to get new lighting

  97. 26/02 17:25

    Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion

  98. 26/02 16:33

    Trapped rack-railway passengers returned safely to Diakopto in Peloponnese

  99. 26/02 16:21

    Public transport, ferry and taxi strikes in Athens on Wednesday

  100. 25/02 12:30

    Greek island of Ikaria among the Blue Zones for Health Eating and Longevity