The Treasure of Villena, one of the most important goldsmith collections of the Bronze Age in Europe, was stolen during the early hours of this Thursday from the Archaeological Museum of Villena (MUVI), in Alicante. The Civil Guard is already working to clarify what happened and locate those responsible for the robbery.
The museum has been cordoned off since early morning, while agents conduct an inspection inside the building to collect possible fingerprints and other evidence. The investigation is now trying to determine which pieces have been stolen and reconstruct how the assault occurred.
According to information published by El Periódico de Villena, the robbery was executed in just a few minutes and involved several vehicles. The perpetrators forced a window to access the building and acted quickly before leaving the premises. The alarm was activated at 5:16 AM.
Investigators are also collecting security camera footage from the museum and the surrounding areas to identify those involved. The Treasure of Villena was discovered in 1963 by archaeologist José María Soler and consists of more than fifty pieces, mainly of gold, with a combined weight of close to ten kilograms.
The collection, dated approximately to 1000 BC, includes bowls, bracelets, and containers, as well as pieces made with materials such as silver, iron, amber, and gold. It is considered the largest collection of golden tableware in Spain and one of the most relevant archaeological treasures in Europe.
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