Theft of Vix’s treasure: a suspect taken into custody after the burglary of the Châtillonnais museum

This is information slipped through the Minister of Culture’s press conference on museum security. Three days after the spectacular theft of a Celtic gold torque from the Châtillonnais-Trésor de Vix museum, a “no one was taken into custody” explained the minister Friday afternoon. However, neither his identity, nor his exact role, nor the reasons for his arrest have been specified. “The investigation continues,” however, clarified Catherine Pgard.

In this type of case, the first hours of investigation often prove decisive. The burglary of the Châtillon-sur-Seine museum took place in broad daylight, Friday morning, shortly after the museum opened. The thugs, two men posing as simple visitors and proceeding with their faces uncovered, broke the window and took their loot as simply as possible, through the front door of the museum.

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480 grammes d’or pur

The object of their lust: a rigid necklace in solid gold, weighing 480 grams, from the so-called tomb of the Lady of Vix. Unearthed in the 1960s, this Celtic burial under tumulus is among the most remarkable excavated. It had remained intact, with all of its funerary furniture, which includes an enormous bronze krater weighing 220 kilos, a chariot, Greek-style vases and pottery and a set of jewelry in bronze, gold or pearls. By the finesse of its construction, the torque itself constituted a centerpiece of the whole, of which little is known.