The offenders also stole three historic crowns associated with the Virgen de las Virtudes and the Christ Child.  The smaller Tesorillo de Cabezo Redondo and the Arracada de la Condomina were not taken.

The robbery began at approximately 5.20 a.m., shortly after an alarm was triggered at Villena’s municipal sports complex. Investigators are examining whether that earlier incident was intended to divert police resources.  Several individuals, travelling in two vehicles, reportedly forced their way through a reinforced lateral window near a side entrance on Calle Madrid and completed the theft in approximately four minutes.  The Guardia Civil has not confirmed whether the offenders belong to a specialist heritage-crime group.

Based on the mayor’s statement that the thieves removed all the gold from the Treasure of Villena, if this is correct, the stolen archaeological material includes the following important pieces:

Of the entire grouping, three bracelets weigh less than 100 g, 22 weigh between 100 g and 300 g, three of them weigh more than 350 g, and one reaches a total of 459.96 g. The studies of B. R. Ambruster and A. Perea (1994) point out that these bracelets were made in the lost-wax casting method.

• Detailed illustrated catalogue of the Treasure of Villena, MARQ

The Bowls are: 

Some general descriptions refer to three gold bottles, but the detailed object inventory identifies two gold examples and three silver examples. Until the museum releases its post-theft inventory, the more specific catalogue count of two gold flasks should be used.

A single crown left behind was reportedly found in a museum corridor and is believed to have been dropped during the offenders’ escape.

On the information presently available, the stolen crowns comprise:

• Two crowns belonging to the Virgen de las Virtudes
• One crown belonging to the Christ Child

The following objects or groups have been reported as safe:

• Three silver flasks from the Treasure of Villena
• One bracelet, (believed to be the iron bracelet)
• At least part of the composite iron and gold fitting known as the Bastón del Reyezuelo
• One crown belonging to the Christ Child
• The Tesorillo de Cabezo Redondo, comprising 35 gold objects
• The Arracada de la Condomina

The public descriptions issued so far identify the principal classes of material stolen, but they are not a substitute for a complete loss inventory and were gathered by ARCA from various open source records.  The Treasure of Villena comprises 59 archaeological objects formed from 66 individually catalogued components. Statements that the thieves took “all the gold” do not establish the status of every small fitting, rivet, terminal, or composite element.

MUVI and the investigating authorities should consider circulating:

• Current, high-resolution photographs showing front, reverse, profile, and identifying marks
• Precise dimensions and weights
• Conservation records and records of previous damage

The thieves may have selected the objects for their gold content, but as we underscored yesterday, their value lies in the historical information preserved in their forms, materials, manufacturing techniques, and relationship to one another. If separated or melted, nearly ten kilograms of ancient metal would be transformed into an anonymous commodity, and one of Europe’s most important Bronze Age archaeological assemblages would be irreparably diminished.