A giant statue was discovered under the yard – and no one knows how it got there
A San Francisco couple is trying to solve the mystery of a large limestone statue, weighing about 68 kilograms, found buried in their yard. Greg Gathwood discovered the piece by chance while gardening, initially mistaking it for a block of concrete.
A San Francisco couple is trying to solve the mystery of a large limestone statue, weighing about 68 kilograms, found buried in their yard. The creator and history of the piece remain a complete enigma. Greg Gathwood discovered the object in May while working in his garden. At first, he was convinced it was a block of concrete and even considered breaking it with a pickaxe, until he suddenly noticed facial features emerging from the soil.
An Unexpected Discovery
The discovery took place at the home of Gathwood and his partner, artist Judy Gittelsohn, in the Russian Hill neighborhood. Gathwood was attempting to clear the object using a shovel and a pickaxe, but upon seeing lips and a nose, he realized it was a sculpture. "It was like something out of a movie — such a big and beautiful statue," he shared.
Once extracted, the statue's impressive dimensions were revealed: it is about 60 centimeters wide and weighs approximately 68 kilograms. Gittelsohn was stunned by the quality of the craftsmanship and admitted she never expected to find such a piece on their property.
Searching for the Artist
Three months later, the couple continues their own investigation. Gittelsohn believes the piece may have been created in the 1930s under American government programs from the Great Depression era that supported artists. One theory links the work to prominent sculptor Ralph Stackpole, who taught for decades at the nearby San Francisco Art Institute.
The use of limestone might also point to that era, as it was a more affordable material than marble or granite. However, without a signature or historical documentation, confirming the artist's identity remains difficult.
How did it end up underground?
Gathwood suggests the statue may not have been buried intentionally. It is possible it stood in the garden as a decoration for decades, only to be gradually swallowed by soil and vegetation over time.
The story has gained local attention, and the couple was even contacted by a 93-year-old woman who had previously organized exhibitions of Stackpole's work. In September, the couple plans to display the statue in a San Francisco gallery, hoping a visitor might recognize it and help solve the mystery.
Notably, this is not the first such discovery in recent years. About a year ago, a couple in New Orleans found an ancient Roman burial artifact in their yard, which later turned out to have been missing from an Italian museum for decades.
