La Pietra Scritta (The Written Stone) – Paganico Sabino

Just below the village of Paganico Sabino, along the Turanense provincial road, stands a monument that blends archaeology, history, and legend: the so-called “La Pietra Scritta” (The Written Stone). This ancient Roman tomb, carved directly from a large erratic boulder—likely detached from nearby Mount Cervia—dates back to the second half of the 1st century BC and belonged to the Muttini family.

The structure, known as a “dice-shaped” tomb, features a moulded base and a roughly square, truncated-pyramid body. The inscription, now barely legible, refers to three individuals: the ingenuus father Publio Muttino; the mother Clodia; and the son P. M. Sabinus, a full Roman citizen enrolled in the Sergia tribe. Their remains were placed in a burial chamber beneath the base, while a small pit at the top held the ashes of the third.

The monument is steeped in local legends—stories of hidden treasures, eerie noises, and violent weather events. But beyond myth, La Pietra Scritta is a tangible reminder of Roman presence in the Turano Valley and likely marks the passage of an ancient road linking the Via Salaria with the Via Tiburtina Valeria through Trebula Mutuesca (Monteleone Sabino) and Carseoli (Carsoli).

Recently restored and equipped with interpretive signage, this site offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the Roman Sabina and its enduring mysteries.