Authorities in Greece announced Wednesday the discovery of a headless marble statue of a woman, estimated to be over 2,000 years old, discarded in a trash bag near Thessaloniki.

An 80-centimeter (31-inch) statue was found near a garbage bin in Neoi Epivates by a local resident, who subsequently reported it to the authorities. Archaeologists, contacted by the police, conducted a preliminary assessment.

Experts concluded that the statue dates back to the Hellenistic period (roughly 320-30 B.C.), a time known for its artistic and cultural achievements.

The statue has been sent for further analysis by archaeologists before being transferred to the local antiquities authority for preservation and research.

Police have launched an investigation into the statue’s abandonment, briefly detaining a man for questioning before releasing him without charges.

Such accidental archaeological discoveries are frequent in Greece, often occurring during construction or public works projects. For example, in December, workers installing gas lines near Athens unearthed a statue near the Acropolis.

Recently, Thessaloniki showcased numerous antiquities uncovered during its metro system’s construction, including a Roman road and thousands of artifacts from various historical periods, which are now displayed at metro stations.