Centurion's tombstone reused in someone else's grave

"Both of the cyst graves feature funerary markers reused as building material. One of them contains the partially preserved tombstone of Legio I Italica centurion Gaius Valerius Verecundus was engraved with a wreath of which only traces remain and an inscription that describes him as having been heavily pressed by fate."

"Another tombstone in the cyst belonged to Legio I Italica veteran Marcus Marius Patroclus from Iconium in Asia Minor, today the city of Konya in Turkey. His funerary marker is engraved with depictions of signa, or military standards."

"The second cyst grave has probably the best-preserved of the reused funerary markers. Its eastern wall is composed of the tombstone of Gaius Alpinius Second, son of Gaius, hailing from Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (present-day Cologne, Germany). He was a soldier in the Legio XI Claudia."

Accidental discovery near Svishtov, Bulgaria revealed the Western necropolis of Novae, a major Roman military fortress on the Danube River defending Moesia's northern frontier. Excavations uncovered multiple graves including cyst graves, chamber graves, pit graves, and cremation burials. Novae was established around 45 A.D., initially housing Legio VIII Augusta before Vespasian replaced them with Legio I Italica in 70 A.D., which remained for approximately 350 years. Several reused Roman funerary markers were discovered within the graves, including tombstones of centurions, veterans, and family members from various legions, bearing inscriptions and military imagery that provide insights into the soldiers' origins and military service.

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