A 110 million year old fossil fish found in Friuli.

The Carabinieri of the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Udine have returned a specimen of a fossil fish of the species "Racholepis Buccalis" (an extinct bony fish belonging to the crossognathiformes ) to the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Brazil ; this paleontological cultural asset of illicit origin was located in Italy without any authorization.

Last December, in the prestigious setting of Palazzo Pamphilj in Rome, the ancient artifact, including its original nodule dating back to the Cretaceous geological era, approximately 110 million years ago, was handed over by the Commander of the TPC Unit of Udine, Maj. Alessandro Volpini, directly to the Brazilian Ambassador, HE Renato Mosca de Souza, in the presence of the Head of the Cultural Office, Secretary Hudson Caldeira Brant Sandy, following an investigation coordinated by the Pordenone Public Prosecutor's Office. The investigation began last year by monitoring e-commerce sites, aiming to identify cultural assets illegally held by private citizens who advertise them for sale. Following the investigation, by order of the judicial authorities, the fossil was seized from a man resident in Pordenone.

The investigations highlighted that the owner of the property, unaware of the cultural value and nature of the fossil, had purchased it in a gift shop in the province. The find was also found to lack any documentation proving its legal export from Brazil, and consequently its illegal entry into Italy.

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The Racholepis , preliminarily examined by the specialized personnel of the ABAP Superintendency of Friuli Venezia Giulia , was further subjected to more in-depth investigations conducted with the assistance of the competent Brazilian Embassy.

When asked about the nature of the object, the Director of the Museum of Paleontology, Placido Cidade Nuvens, confirmed its authenticity, typology, and provenance from the Araripe Basin (Brazil), as well as the prohibition on exporting that type of fossil without the required ministerial authorizations. Based on this qualified opinion, the Brazilian diplomatic authority has asserted its cultural heritage status and requested its restitution.

The proceedings, already registered against unknown persons, ended with a dismissal in consideration of the recognized good faith of the owner and the impossibility of further tracing the previous owners (chain of receiving stolen goods). The competent Court of Pordenone subsequently ordered the return of the Racholepis Buccalis to the legitimate rightful owner.

Thanks to the operation conducted by the Carabinieri of the TPC Unit of Udine, this very ancient faunal testimony prior to the appearance of man on earth, in an excellent state of conservation, will be repatriated to the country from which it was illicitly excavated and exported, returning to enrich the cultural heritage Brazilian.

This demonstrates, in an even broader context, how the commitment of the Carabinieri to the Protection of Cultural Heritage remains constant and effective even in relation to foreign goods that are illicitly introduced into the Italian market; thanks also to the role that international cooperation plays in these circumstances, demonstrating the universal value of culture.