Roman Artifacts Found in Tucson Arizona

An old debate over whether Romans might have found their way to Tucson hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus discovered the New World has found new life at the Arizona State Museum.

Artifacts from a controversial discovery made nearly 80 years ago that suggested an ancient Roman settlement existed here- a theory that experts were quick to debunk- are on public display for the first time since 1930.

A handful of pieces, including an iron cross bearing Latin inscriptions, can be seen at the museum on the University of Arizona campus, and museum officials hope to display the rest in the near future.

Tom Peterson, director of the Arizona Historical Society's southern division, said he hopes bringing the items out of hiding will spur new discussion of their historical significance.

The artifacts, the first of which was found in September 1924 sticking from a caliche wash bed eight miles north of Tucson, include a trove of lead alloy crosses, swords and other items inscribed with phrases and dates ranging from A.D. 760 to A.D. 900.

Charles Manier and his family found the artifacts while out on a Sunday drive to Picture Rocks, Arizona seven miles north of Tucson.

The number of objects unearthed eventually grew to 32.

Here is one article from Arizona newpaper flyer dated December 1980