Ryan Gray, a professor at the University of New Orleans, traced the artifact’s origins after it was uncovered at a home in the Carrollton neighborhood.

A University of New Orleans archaeologist played a key role in identifying a 2,000-year-old Roman tombstone discovered in a New Orleans backyard that has now been returned to Italy, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Ryan Gray, a professor at the University of New Orleans, traced the artifact’s origins after it was uncovered at a home in the Carrollton neighborhood. His research, alongside other scholars, helped connect the stone to the National Archaeological Museum in Civitavecchia, where it had been missing since World War II.

The tombstone was one of 21 artifacts lost after the museum was damaged during Allied bombings. It was later brought to the United States and remained in a private residence for decades before being rediscovered during yard work.

The Latin inscription identifies the tombstone as belonging to Sextus Congenius Verus, a Roman soldier who served 22 years and died at age 42.

The artifact has since been repatriated to Italy and will return to the museum in Civitavecchia following renovations.