A routine yard cleanup in New Orleans turned into an international archaeological mystery when a homeowner uncovered a 2nd-century Roman headstone — stolen decades ago from an Italian museum.
What began as a local curiosity quickly evolved into a global effort involving archaeologists, classical scholars, and the FBI’s Art Crime Team. The marble slab, inscribed in Latin, was discovered earlier this year in the backyard of a historic home in the Carrollton neighborhood, setting off an extraordinary chain of events that led from Louisiana to the ancient port of Civitavecchia, Italy.
A Startling Find in Carrollton
In March, Tulane University anthropologist Dr. Daniella Santoro and her husband Aaron Lorenz stumbled upon a flat marble stone while clearing undergrowth in their yard at 1106 Cambronne Street. The slab bore a Latin inscription that immediately caught Santoro’s attention. Concerned that it might mark a forgotten burial, she contacted archaeologist Dr. Ryan Gray from the University of New Orleans.
Gray, who has worked in New Orleans archaeology for over 25 years, confirmed that the property was not situated above a known cemetery. “We’ve mapped many historic burial sites, especially those connected to enslaved communities,” he explained. “But this wasn’t one of them. The inscription itself was the key.”
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