Archaeologists find mysterious head of ancient god in Italian tomb

Archaeologists in Italy have uncovered a mysterious stone head, believed to represent an ancient Roman god, during excavations at the Basilica of St. Stephen on Caelian Hill in Rome. The basilica, constructed in the fifth century A.D., sits atop a site rich in archaeological significance.

According to Fox News, the head was discovered in the church’s foundation, within an area known as the Tombs of Via Latina. The Appian Way Regional Park, which oversees the site, shared the find in a Facebook post on April 10.

“[It was] recently discovered in the archaeological area of the Tombs of Via Latina, as it departs for Matera,” the post said. There, Italy’s Central Institute for Restoration (ICR) will conduct in-depth documentation, diagnostic testing, and study the artifact's construction techniques in collaboration with students from the School of Advanced Training for Restoration.


Though the stone head's facial features have been worn down over time, its curly hair and bearded profile suggest it may have depicted a Roman deity. Archaeologists say layers of mortar have obscured much of the face, complicating full identification.

This discovery is part of a broader collaboration between the Appian Way Regional Park and the ICR to create shared restoration methods and scientific protocols in archaeology. The project includes initial analysis in Matera, followed by restoration work in laboratories back in Rome.

The park noted that findings from the restoration would deepen the historical and artistic understanding of the Appian Way during late antiquity, shedding light on cultural and religious shifts in the region.

While ancient Roman statues are not rare, this find adds to a growing list of remarkable recent discoveries — including a pristine Roman marble statue unearthed in Bulgaria last year, and a 2,000-year-old statue found in a trash bag near Thessaloniki in January.