Children playing in a forest in the Rhineland region of Germany made an unusual discovery that has left local police puzzled. A large bronze statue depicting what appears to be a woman holding a small child was found in a wooded area, and investigators are now seeking public help to determine its origin and ownership.

The bronze figure was discovered on Saturday, October 25, when children playing in the forest stumbled upon the unusual object. The youngsters immediately reported their find to the Emmerich police station. Officers subsequently located and secured the statue in a wooded area along Diepe Kuhweg in Emmerich am Rhein, a city in North Rhine-Westphalia near the Dutch border.

The Criminal Investigation Department in Emmerich am Rhein is currently handling the case. According to investigators, the bronze statue measures approximately 60 centimeters (about 24 inches) tall and depicts a female figure holding a small child in her arms. Police speculate that it could potentially represent the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, though they remain uncertain about its exact nature and purpose.

Investigators believe the statue may have been lying in the forest for several months before its discovery. Despite ongoing investigations by the criminal police in Emmerich, authorities have been unable to determine the statue's origin or how it came to be in the wooded location. A police spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday, November 11, that their efforts to trace the bronze figure's history have so far been unsuccessful.

The mystery deepens as police try to categorize the nature of the artifact. Officers are uncertain whether the bronze statue is a sacred religious object that may have been taken from a church, grave decoration from a cemetery, or some other secular item. The statue's size and apparent craftsmanship suggest it could be valuable, making its abandonment in the forest all the more puzzling.

Authorities are now appealing to the public for assistance in solving this unusual case. The Emmerich Criminal Investigation Department is asking anyone who might have information about the bronze statue's origin, ownership, or how it ended up in the forest to come forward. Citizens with relevant information are encouraged to contact the criminal police at telephone number 02822-7830. The case remains open as investigators continue their efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding this unexpected forest discovery.