Roman Tombstone Found in New Orleans Backyard Heads Home

A routine yard cleanup turned into an archaeological case when Daniella Santoro pulled a carved marble slab from the overgrowth behind her New Orleans home. The Tulane anthropologist noticed formal Latin text etched into the stone and immediately wondered if she'd stumbled onto something significant.

She had. Experts identified the inscription as a second-century Roman funerary marker honoring Sextus Congenius Verus, a soldier who served 22 years in the praetorian fleet at Misenum. The stone had been documented decades ago at a museum in Civitavecchia, Italy, before disappearing during World War II bombing chaos.

Instead of keeping the unusual find, Santoro called in specialists from the University of New Orleans and Tulane to translate the inscription line by line. The opening phrase "Dis Manibus" (to the spirits of the dead) confirmed it was authentic, and researchers soon matched it to museum records from Italy, right down to its size of about one square foot.

The stone's journey to Louisiana likely started with a U.S. soldier after World War II. It passed through family members and eventually became a forgotten yard decoration for a previous homeowner who left it behind when selling the house.

The FBI's Art Crime Team took custody to coordinate the marker's return to Italy. Since 2004, the small unit has recovered more than 20,000 items valued at over $1 billion, working with international partners on cases that can take months to resolve.

The Bright Side

This story highlights something bigger than one ancient stone. Leaving the marker outdoors in coastal New Orleans would have eventually destroyed it, since acids in polluted air dissolve marble and erase carved details over time. The area experiences relative sea level rise of nearly a quarter inch per year, making flooding and moisture damage constant threats.

By speaking up instead of keeping a quirky garden ornament, Santoro ensured the inscription will survive in controlled museum conditions. Her quick action also shows how everyday people can protect cultural heritage simply by asking questions when something seems unusual.

The tombstone honoring a soldier who died nearly 2,000 years ago will soon return to the port city where it was meant to stay. Two heirs named Atilius Carus and Vettius Longinus erected it for someone they called "well deserving," and now their gesture gets a second chance at permanence.