Ancient Roman Gravestone Found in New Orleans Backyard Touches Off a Mystery
Nobody knew how a nearly 2,000-year-old grave marker landed in a backyard for decades — until this week.
Susann Lusnia, an associate professor of classical studies at Tulane University, quickly identified and authenticated the tablet after Dr. Santoro emailed her a picture of it. When she first saw the picture, she said, “it was like a shiver up my spine.”
“It was clear to me that it was an ancient Roman inscription,” Professor Lusnia said. “I was going to be surprised if it turned out not to be, but I was also surprised that it was a Roman inscription because it’s in New Orleans and somebody’s backyard.”
Read the full story in The New York Times
October, 2025