The only way I can reproduce your scenario is by inserting an image using "Link" instead of "Embed".
Other than that, was it part of the original/downloaded file?
Re:Inkscape 1.1
by mattkrause on Monday May 24, 2021 @09:13PM
(#27271630)
You can include links to other resources (e.g., an image) in an SVG file. Perhaps it's meant to help resolve those paths?
I don't see how this is a common feature at all.