2,000-Year-Old Roman Tombstone Found in New Orleans Backyard

The discovery prompted an international search to figure out how the ancient headstone made it to the U.S.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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A nearly 2,000-year-old tombstone of a Roman sailor was discovered in the backyard of a New Orleans home. The Latin inscription on the grave marker prompted a search for the origin story of the marble stone, leading to the discovery of how the ancient piece crossed the Atlantic Ocean - a journey that involved World War II, garden decor, and the FBI.

Why it matters

The discovery of the rare Roman artifact in a New Orleans backyard highlights the unexpected historical treasures that can still be found, even in urban areas. The investigation into how the tombstone ended up thousands of miles from its original home in Italy also provides insight into the chaotic aftermath of World War II and the challenges of repatriating looted cultural artifacts.

The details

When Daniella Santoro and her husband, Aaron Lorenz, started clearing away brush in the yard of their New Orleans home, they uncovered a marble slab with a Latin inscription. Experts determined it was the grave marker of a Roman military sailor originally housed in an Italian museum. The FBI's Art Crime Team got involved to oversee the repatriation process to return the tombstone to Italy. Researchers traced the stone's journey to New Orleans, discovering it was likely taken from Italy during World War II and ended up in the backyard of a previous homeowner who thought it was just a decorative piece of art.

  • The tombstone dates back to the 2nd century CE.
  • The stone was discovered in the backyard of a New Orleans home in 2026.

The players

Daniella Santoro

An anthropologist at Tulane University and the owner of the historic home where the tombstone was discovered.

Aaron Lorenz

Daniella Santoro's husband.

D. Ryan Gray

Professor of anthropology at the University of New Orleans who helped investigate the origin of the tombstone.

Sextus Congenius Verus

The Roman military sailor whose name is inscribed on the tombstone.

Erin Scott O'Brien

A previous homeowner who placed the tombstone in her backyard, thinking it was just a decorative piece of art.

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What they’re saying

“I never feel like I've seen it all. There are always surprises and new mysteries to solve.”

— D. Ryan Gray, Professor of anthropology, University of New Orleans (Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans)

“I just thought it was a piece of art. I had no idea it was a 2,000-year-old relic.”

— Erin Scott O'Brien (Preservation in Print)

What’s next

The FBI's Art Crime Team will continue the process of repatriating the tombstone to the Italian museum from which it was originally stolen.

The takeaway

This discovery highlights the ongoing efforts to recover and return looted cultural artifacts to their rightful homes, even decades after they were taken. It also demonstrates the importance of preserving and studying unexpected historical finds, no matter where they turn up.