Police in Rome have put on display an astonishing haul of artefacts they say was plundered from archaeological sites in Italy by a 74-year-old man. Officers who raided the man's home found 9,000 antiquities stolen over a period of years as well a sophisticated restoration lab, metal detectors and other devices used by amateur archaeologists. Thousands of Etruscan and Roman terracotta vases, polychrome mosaic tiles, pieces of travertine and multi-coloured marble that once adorned Roman villas were recovered. Ancient copper and bronze objects, amphorae, goblets, masks, brooches, votary statuettes and oil lamps were also found. Art experts say it will take months to assess the value of the hoard. The man was arrested as he was delivering goods to clients who visit his stall in Rome's Porta Portese flea market, police said. He was caught with three bags of the antiquities in his car. Italy has recently stepped up its fight against the illegal removal of its works of art. According to Italian law, any ancient artefact found in a dig belongs to the state and cannot be sold or removed to another country. Carabineri from the art theft squad regularly target the flea market, where illegal items are sold by professional thieves. Several months ago thieves broke off pieces of a statue by the Baroque sculptor Bernini and tried to sell them at the same market, but the goods were recovered by police. The first-ever trial of a US antiquities curator opened recently in Italy's capital. She is charged with buying falsely certified artefacts allegedly stolen fom various Italian sites.