After a thousand years in pieces, an ancient Roman obelisk stood proudly again on June 18 in the seaport of Caesarea, in modern-day Israel, according to MSNBC Science News.

Weighing more than 100 tons, and standing 40 feet high, the obelisk was once the centerpiece of a Roman hippodrome, or open-air stadium, in Caesarea, located northwest of Jerusalem. The obelisk was the central ornament of a dividing wall in the middle of the stadium. Found in three separate pieces, it was put back together with titanium pins and epoxy glue, said Yosef Porat, an archaeologist.

The massive gray slab was originally chiseled into a four-sided pillar, tapering off to a pyramid-shaped point. Missing pieces were replaced with concrete to complete the restoration. Archeologists estimate the obelisk toppled sometime between the 7th and 13th centuries.

Restoration was carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority's Department of Conservation. Caesarea, a port dating back to Roman times, is now an Israeli resort and an upscale community, decorated by artifacts from the Roman period. A restored Roman amphitheater is used for concerts there.