Missing Roman gravestone found in New Orleans backyard
A New Orleans family uncovered a 1,900‑year‑old Roman sailor’s grave marker while clearing their backyard, and Tulane archaeologists traced it to the National Archeological Museum in Civitavecchia, Italy, where it had been missing for decades. The FBI is now in talks with Italian authorities to repatriate the marble tablet, which an ex‑owner says was a family keepsake likely brought from Italy after World War II.
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📌 Key Facts
- Marble tablet commemorates Sextus Congenius Verus, a Roman imperial navy sailor who died at age 42
- Measurements match the stone documented in an Italian museum before WWII; museum staff confirmed it has been missing for decades
- FBI coordinating repatriation with Italian authorities; an FBI spokesperson declined detailed comment during the shutdown