Identification and provenance determination of stone tesserae used in mosaics from Roman Celeia, Slovenia

This study examined the provenance of stone tesserae from three Roman mosaics from Celje, Slovenia, using optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Nine microfacies were distinguished. Miliolid limestones identified in the white tesserae, and mudstones/laminated wackestones in the black tesserae, suggest they originated from the Karst region. The sparry limestone in the yellow tesserae probably originates from the Mediterranean. The mudstone/wackestone with planktonic foraminifera in the red tesserae originates from an outcrop in southwestern Slovenia. Green tesserae tuffs are of local origin, whereas the white tuffs could originate from Italian Oligo-Miocene volcanism rhyolites.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the origin of stone tesserae from three Roman mosaics in Celje, Slovenia using various techniques. The results revealed that the tesserae originated from different regions and had distinct geological compositions.