Ancient Greek well yields rare wooden statue

The wooden statue was found during an excavation of ancient wells in central Piraeus

where a new subway line will be built [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture]

The statue, about half-metre tall, depicts a dressed male figure and dates to the

first half of the first century BC [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture]

TANN

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Archaeologists in Greece have uncovered a rare wooden statue preserved in the muddy depths of an ancient well in Piraeus, the port of Athens.A Culture Ministry statement said Tuesday that the roughly half-metre (20-inch) high dressed male figure was found without its head, hands and feet, together with broken pottery dating to about 100-86 B.C. It was unclear who the statue might depict.The piece was found during an excavation of ancient wells in central Piraeus, where a new subway line will be built.Ancient wooden artefacts are uncommon discoveries in Greece as climate conditions do not favour their preservation.The ministry statement said the well also contained part of an ancient marble statue of a woman seated on a deer.