A rare piece of Yemen’s ancient heritage is set to go under the hammer this Thursday at a prestigious international art auction in Barcelona, Spain, drawing concern from cultural preservation advocates and historians.

The artifact, a funerary stele from the ancient Qataban civilization, dates back to between the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE. It features a prominent bull’s head carved in high relief, symbolizing strength and fertility in ancient South Arabian culture. The piece also bears an inscription in Musnad script, though experts have noted irregularities in the text that raise questions about its authenticity or possible restoration.

The stele is part of a private European collection and will be featured in the summer auction hosted by Templum Fine Arts, which includes a wide array of antiquities, jewelry, and contemporary artworks. The auction has sparked criticism from Yemeni researchers and activists, who argue that the artifact may have been illegally smuggled out of Yemen, and are calling for its repatriation.

Yemeni heritage expert Abdullah Mohsen commented on the sale with sharp irony, lamenting the contrast between the bull’s symbolic power and what he described as the “lazy bulls” of today’s institutions failing to protect national treasures.