Stunned couple unearths 150-pound mystery hidden beneath their backyard for decades
San Francisco Couple Uncovers 150‑Pound Limestone Sculpture in Backyard, Hunts for Its Origins
A San Francisco homeowner’s routine yard work turned into a local archaeological mystery when a 150‑pound limestone statue was unearthed from a backyard in the Russian Hill neighborhood. Greg Gatwood and his partner, artist Judy Gittelsohn, are now working with the community and experts to trace the piece’s history, which experts suspect dates to the 1930s and may be linked to the Works Progress Administration (WPA) or the famed sculptor Ralph Stackpole.
A Surprising Discovery
Gatwood was digging in the couple’s garden in May when he felt something solid beneath the soil. “I thought, maybe I should just break it into smaller pieces,” he recalled. After a few attempts with a shovel and a pickaxe, the object revealed itself: a two‑foot‑wide limestone face with lips and a nose that seemed to stare back at him. “It was like something you see in a movie, almost cinematic,” he said.
Gittelsohn was stunned when Gatwood showed her the statue. “I was just shocked. What an enormous find,” she said. She added, “I was surprised. I was just gobsmacked.” The couple immediately began examining the sculpture, noting its high-quality craftsmanship despite being carved from relatively inexpensive limestone rather than more expensive materials like marble or granite.
Theories About Its Origin
The couple is still unsure how the statue ended up buried in their backyard. Gittelsohn, who has a background in fine art, believes the piece could have been created in the 1930s. “I think it might be connected to artists working under the Works Progress Administration,” she said. The statue’s location, near the former San Francisco Art Institute where sculptor Ralph Stackpole taught for decades, has led Gittelsohn to consider a link to Stackpole or one of his students. “The sculpture was carved from relatively inexpensive limestone,” she noted, a material choice consistent with WPA projects.
Gatwood offered another possibility: the statue could have once served as garden art that was eventually forgotten and buried over time. “It’s quite possible this statue was displayed in the garden and not so much buried, but just lost,” he said.
Community Interest and Potential Clues
Since the discovery became public, the couple has received several visitors. A 93‑year‑old woman with a walker knocked on their door; she had previously organized an exhibition featuring Stackpole’s work. “I had a show with Ralph Stackpole’s pieces,” she told the couple. The woman’s recollection offers a potential link to the statue’s creators, though no direct evidence has yet been found.
The couple has also attracted attention from local historians and art enthusiasts who are eager to help identify the sculpture. In September, they plan to display the statue at the American Messenger Gallery. “We think someone will eventually recognize it,” Gatwood said.
A Broader Trend of Backyard Finds
The San Francisco discovery follows a similar story a year ago when a couple in New Orleans unearthed an ancient Roman funerary artifact from their own backyard. Both incidents highlight how everyday homeowners can stumble upon artifacts of historical or cultural significance, prompting unexpected investigations and community collaboration.
Looking Ahead
As the couple prepares to bring the limestone sculpture into the public eye, they hope to learn more about its origins. Whether the piece was a WPA project, a student of Ralph Stackpole, or a forgotten garden ornament, its unexpected emergence in a San Francisco backyard has captured the curiosity of both locals and art historians alike. The upcoming exhibit at the American Messenger Gallery may ultimately reveal the statue’s story—if anyone familiar with its style, material, or era steps forward to identify it.