Pompeii's archaeological park has welcomed the return of six fresco fragments stolen from the ruins of Roman villas, recovered thanks to an investigation by the Italian carabinieri unit tasked with cultural heritage protection. Three of the fragments were stolen, probably in the 1970s, from the Villa Arianna and Villa S. Marco in Stabiae, an ancient city located about four km south-west of Pompeii.

The looted artefacts were then exported illegally and purchased in the 1990s by American, British and Swiss antique dealers, according to the press release from the archaeological park. The fresco panels feature a dancing female figure carrying a tray, a flute-playing cherub, and a woman's face.