A remarkable piece of ancient Roman history, a nearly 2,000-year-old grave marker, has been successfully repatriated to Italy after its unexpected discovery in a New Orleans backyard. The marble epitaph, believed to date back approximately 1,900 years, was officially handed over to Italian officials during a ceremony in Rome on Wednesday.
The event, led by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), marked a significant moment in international efforts to combat the illicit trade of cultural heritage. The grave marker's return resolves a long-standing puzzle, as the artifact matches a piece that has been missing for decades from a museum located near Rome.
Details surrounding how the ancient Roman artifact came to be in a New Orleans backyard have not been fully disclosed. However, its recovery highlights the global reach of such investigations and the collaborative spirit between nations in preserving historical treasures.
The ceremony in Rome also saw the repatriation of another antiquity recovered in the United States, underscoring a broader commitment by both Italian and US authorities to return stolen or illegally exported cultural property to its country of origin.