Marble Provenance Investigation of Roman Sarcophagi from Thessaloniki, Archaeometry 52, 1 (2010) [full-text] (original) (raw)
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Marble Provenance Investigation of Roman Sarcophagi from Thessaloniki
2010
The provenance question of the marbles used for making the sarcophagi of local production of Thessaloniki in the Roman period had been posed by archaeologists in the past. The hypothesis was that the material came mainly from the quarries of Thassos Island. This paper presents the scientific analysis of 23 characteristic samples from selected sarcophagi at the Museum of Thessaloniki, using three different techniques: electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, stable isotope analysis and maximum grain size measurements, plus in-situ examination. New combinations of parameters were used in order to resolve fully the provenance of all samples. The results showed that the vast majority of the objects were indeed made in Thassian marble but from three different quarries, namely Vathy/Saliara (dolomitic marble), Aliki (calcitic marble) and Acropolis/Phanari (calcitic marble). The calcitic marbles from Aliki and to a lesser degree from Acropolis/Phanari are met in all the basic types of sarcophagi (framed type, plain type, garland sarcophagi). The use of the better quality and snow-white dolomitic marble from Vathy/Saliara quarries is relatively restricted and is often found in works that are above the average regarding the quality of their workmanship. In addition, two sarcophagi were made in Pentlelic marble and one in Proconnesian. The scientific analysis results provide a good confirmation of the archaeological estimates and, furthermore, the conclusions constitute henceforth a secure basis for the study of the entire sculptured works of Thessaloniki.
Roman and Early Byzantine sarcophagi of calcitic marble from Thasos in Italy: Ostia and Siracusa
ASMOSIA XI: Interdisciplinary Studies on Ancient Stone, 2017
Four sarcophagi in Ostia and one in Siracusa are made of marble that appears macroscopically to be from the island of Thasos. Samples were analyzed with stable isotope ratios of carbon and oxygen. In addition, the Siracusa sarcophagus was analyzed with electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), and the maximum grain size (MGS) and color were measured. The analyses confirm that the sarcophagi were made of marble from Aliki on Thasos. The Ostian pieces date from the third century, and the Early Byzantine example in Siracusa can be dated to between 590-620 CE.
A PRELIMINARY PROVENANCE STUDY OF MARBLE ARTЕFACTS FROM AIANI, ANCIENT UPPER MACEDONIA, GREECE
mgu.bg
Preliminary results on the provenance study of ancient marbles from Aiani, ancient Upper Macedonia, Northern Greece are presented in this work. Several samples (both archaeological and modern) were collected and analysed using thermoluminesence (TL) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive System (ESEM/EDX). Chemical, morphological and mineralogical features revealed by ESEM/EDX, combined with TL spectra of natural and irradiated samples, allowed us to make some preliminary suggestions on the origin of ancient marble artefacts. According to ESEM/EDX results, Tranovalto marbles situated just Southwards of Aiani, where some modern white marble quarries occur, could be the most probable origin. TL spectra do not reveal any clear differences, except that of higher intensity of the fresh marbles comparing to the intensity of the ancient ones. Thus, a more detailed analytical work, employing more samples and analytical techniques is proposed in order to achieve satisfactory results.
A preliminary provenance study of marble artifacts from Aiani, ancient upper Macedonia, Greece
2013
Preliminary results on the provenance study of ancient marbles from Aiani, ancient Upper Macedonia, Northern Greece are presented in this work. Several samples (both archaeological and modern) were collected and analysed using thermoluminesence (TL) and Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive System (ESEM/EDX). Chemical, morphological and mineralogical features revealed by ESEM/EDX, combined with TL spectra of natural and irradiated samples, allowed us to make some preliminary suggestions on the origin of ancient marble artefacts. According to ESEM/EDX results, Tranovalto marbles situated just Southwards of Aiani, where some modern white marble quarries occur, could be the most probable origin. TL spectra do not reveal any clear differences, except that of higher intensity of the fresh marbles comparing to the intensity of the ancient ones. Thus, a more detailed analytical work, employing more samples and analytical techniques is proposed in order to achieve satisfactory results.
Ismaelli, T., Scardozzi, G. (eds.), Ancient quarries and building sites in Asia Minor. Research on Hierapolis in Phrygia and other cities in south-western Anatolia: archaeology, archaeometry, conservation, Bari: Edipuglia, 259-276, 2016
Recent investigations in the North-East Necropolis and in the St Philip church at Hierapolis brought to light numerous fragments of marble sarcophagi. the paper presents the results of the archaeological examinations carried out on these sarcophagi, which are discussed in integration with petrographic, isotopic and cathodoluminescence data. Imported sarcophagi from Dokimeion and others made of local marbles (especially from thiounta and Marmar tepe) are attested, suggesting a new scenario for the production activities and the presence of travelling craftsmen in the Lykos Valley. Also the reuse of the roman Imperial sarcophagi inside the byzantine building site of the st Philip church is discussed.
Barone G., Bruno N., Giuffrida A., Mazzoleni P., Raneri S., 2013
In this work, a Roman white marble fragment of a headless body and a limestone ballast have been studied. The artifacts were discovered during the underwater archaeological explorations carried out in the Late Roman Harbor of Kaucana in Palmento of Punta Secca (RG; Sicily). Petro-archeometrics analysis to identify their provenience were performed with the aim to constraint archaeological hypothesis. In particular, to characterize the white marble we used a multi-technique approach to the petrographic description including the distinctive parameters AGS, MGS and GBS carried out by optical microscopy (MO), whereas mineralogical and chemical analysis were obtained respectively by means of X-Ray Diffraction and X-Ray Fluorescence with a portable instrument. Furthermore, the determination of the ∂ 18 O and ∂ 13 C isotopic ratios gave important information for the identification of the provenience of marble by comparison with literature data. Regarding the ballast, the characterization of the limestone was carried out by traditional petrographic, mineralogical and chemical methods. Finally, information about morphology and causes of underwater deterioration suffered by the materials was obtained by SEM-EDS analysis. All the data strongly suggest the provenance from Capo Vathy quarry in Thasos island (Greece) for the marble. Whereas for the ballast, both a Thasian and south Sicilian origin is excluded. This paper contributes to reconstructing the marble routes from Greece to the western parts of the Roman Empire.
Provenance of White Marbles from the Roman City of Tauriana (Palmi, Reggio Calabria, Italy)
Minerals
The work shows the results of an archaeometric study performed on fourteen white marble samples from the Roman city of Tauriana (Palmi, Reggio Calabria, Italy), belonging to different architectural elements of the Municipal Museum Complex and artifacts reused in the modern town. Samples were studied by optical microscopy (OM), x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) of 13C and 18O with the aim to identify their provenance. The comparison between the collected data and the historical ones, concerning the ancient quarries of white marble of the Mediterranean area, allowed us to prove that most of the marbles used in the city of Tauriana were from the Apuan Alps Basin (Carrara) and, in few cases, from Minor Asia (Proconnesos, Aphrodisias, Docimium) and Greek (Thasos and Pentelic) quarries.
5. Multimethod Analyses of Roman Sarcophagi at the Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome
Life, Death and Representation, 2010
In the fall of 2007 and the spring of 2008, 27 marble chips from 20 sarcophagi at the Museo Nazionale Romano in the Baths of Diocletian, Rome (hereafter MNR), were analysed, in order to determine the provenances of their marbles. 1 (The Report is presented here as Appendix 1, with supporting graphs and tables, at the end of this article.) Dr. Donato Attanasio from the Istituto di Struttura della Materia, the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Rome, first determined the colour and the maximum grain size (MGS) of each sample. He then conducted Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) analyses of the samples. Next, stable isotope analyses were carried out by Julia Cox at the Stable Isotope
D. Matetić Poljak - K. Marasović (eds.),Asmosia XI, Proceedings of the International Conference of ASMOSIA (Split, 2016), Split 2018, 2018
The provenance of the marbles of eleven artefacts collected in the temple of Apollo and the house of Augustus at the Palatine Hill archaeological excavations in Rome has been determined using a multi-method approach that includes petrography and isotopes of carbon and oxygen. Two samples are from fragments of statues, one of which is likely the Apollo statuary representation; the other samples are from architectural elements (columns, capitals, plates and cornices). The marbles of the Augustan complex represent the first example of a change in the taste for building materials of monumental architecture at the Palatine Hill in the Augustan age; their introduction started the “marmorisation” process in the area. In this transition, it is especially important to determine if the marble artefacts that were subjects of a religious cult were originals from Greece or copies that were carved during the building of the Augustan complex. In order to discriminate between these two possibilities, it is necessary to identify the geographic location at which the marbles considered were quarried. In our selection of samples, isotopic and petrographic results indicate that most of the architectural elements are quite unambiguously made of marble of Italic provenance (i.e. Carrara marble), while the fragments of statues, which have a relation to a religious cult, seem to have Greek origin.