In a surprising turn of events, a routine garden renovation led to an unexpected discovery for one couple in New Orleans. Anthropologist Daniella Santoro and her husband Aaron Lopez stumbled upon a marble slab etched with Latin inscriptions while working in their backyard. What initially seemed like a decorative piece turned out to be a genuine archaeological find.
The inscription, which included the phrase “spirits of the dead,” immediately caught Santoro’s attention. Concerned that they might have uncovered an old grave, she sought the expertise of archaeologists and anthropologists to examine the stone. It was soon revealed that the slab was a Roman funerary tablet dedicated to a Thracian soldier named Sextus Congenius Verus, who had served in the military for 22 years before passing away at the age of 42.
Further investigation uncovered the stone’s history, tracing it back to the National Archaeological Museum of Civitavecchia in Italy. The museum had been damaged during World War II, leading to the displacement of numerous artifacts, including the Roman grave marker. Remarkably, the tablet found its way to New Orleans, where it was displayed as a piece of art in a local resident’s garden.
The stone’s journey from wartime Italy to suburban Louisiana remains a mystery, with the exact circumstances of its acquisition by Charles Paddock Jr., a soldier stationed in Italy during WWII, still unknown. However, the stone is now set to be repatriated to its rightful home at the National Archaeological Museum of Civitavecchia, thanks to the efforts of the FBI’s Art Crime Team.
The intriguing tale of the Roman grave marker serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of ancient civilizations and the importance of preserving cultural heritage. As the stone returns to its origins after more than 80 years, it symbolizes the enduring connection between past and present, bridging the gap between distant lands and generations.
