The tombstone was discovered in 1688 in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church in the centre of York, from where it was uncovered during the course of building works. It had been broken in two, and it was nearly lost forever when workers planned to reuse the stone, but fortunately, its value was recognized.
The tombstone was dedicated to a legionary named Lucius Duccius Rufinus, who had died at the age of 28 after an unspecified number of years in (styled 'Villi' in the inscription). The legion had moved to the fortress at York (Eboracum) around AD 71 and remained there for several decades, leaving no later than the 120s AD. Rufinus therefore must have died at some point in the later first century or early second century AD. Although no cause of death is given, the fact that he had a formal burial makes it unlikely that he died in battle with enemy warriors.
