Roman sailor's gravestone found in New Orleans repatriated to Italy

"The inscribed marble slab was officially returned to Italy in a ceremony in Rome on Wednesday, April 29th. Other artifacts, including a large Etruscan urn from the 7th century B.C., Greek pottery, and Egyptian statuary, were repatriated at the same ceremony."

"The text identified the deceased as Sextus Congenius Verus, soldier of the fleet of Misenum, an inscription matching one recorded as missing from the National Archaeological Museum of Civitavecchia after World War II."

"Due to the complexities inherent in the repatriation process, they decided to bring in the FBI's Art Crime Team. They took custody of the funerary marker in November of last year while the FBI in Rome coordinated the return of the slab and a number of other significant ancient artifacts with Italian authorities."

A 2nd century grave marker of a Roman naval soldier was repatriated to Italy from New Orleans. The marble slab was returned during a ceremony in Rome. Other artifacts, including an Etruscan urn and Greek pottery, were also repatriated. The stone was found by Tulane University anthropologist Daniella Santoro and her husband while doing yard work. The inscription identified the soldier as Sextus Congenius Verus, matching a record of a missing artifact. The FBI's Art Crime Team facilitated the return process.

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