On the Use of White Marbles in Roman Forum Sempronii (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural Elements

Devi Taelman, Oscar Mei, Fabrizio Antonelli

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of the characterisation, identification, provenance determination, and quantification of the white, greco scritto-like and polychrome marbles used for architectural purposes at Forum Sempronii, a Roman town in the Marche region of Italy. Samples of five fragments of white marble and one fragment of a greco scritto-like marble have been studied using mineralogical and petrographic observations and stable isotope ratio analysis (SIRA) of carbon and oxygen. Polychrome marbles were macroscopically identified by comparison with reference samples and available image databases. Analytical results of the white and greco scritto-like marbles identified the material as coming from the quarries of Carrara (Luni, Italy) and Proconnesos (Marmara, Saraylar, Turkey) for white marble, and of Ephesos-Hasançavuslar for greco scritto-like marble. Further, at least eleven imported polychrome stone varieties were distinguished. The study clearly illustrates that Forum Sempronii had access to the main marble trade networks of the Roman Mediterranean. The early attestation of Proconnesian marble at the town’s augusteum (i.e., Augustan date) is unique for central Adriatic Italy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2942-2955
Number of pages14
JournalHeritage
Volume6
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Mar 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was funded by the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO) through a postdoctoral fellowship of D.T., grant number 12N8219N.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.

Copyright:
Copyright 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • archaeometry
  • marble provenance
  • white marble
  • polychrome marble
  • Roman
  • Italy

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