Ancient white and grey marbles from Aphrodisias: multi-method characterization

The paper presents the results of the archaeometric investigation, conducted for the first time with the use of a wide range of analytical methods, on white and grey marbles exploited in the so-called City and Regional Quarries of Aphrodisias (south-western Turkey). The research, based on a multi-method approach and performed on a representative set of samples, was aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the most important properties of Aphrodisian marbles. The material studied here shows a large overlap in petrographic and geochemical features among the marbles exploited in local and regional quarries, as well as with most of the widespread marbles used in Antiquity. Surprisingly, none of the methods used here, either by themselves or used in combination, is sufficient to discriminate reliably between Aphrodisian and other marble types (mainly Paros-Lakkoi and Prokonnesos), as well as between marbles extracted from the City and Regional Quarries. The only provenance indicator is the depleted & delta;C-13 values below +0.5 & PTSTHOUSND; for the grey variety from sectors AF3 and AF9, which constitute 15% of collected samples. The presumed international use of Aphrodisian marbles may be difficult to verify based on these indistinct outcomes. Another important element of the study are the topographical measurements used to estimate the volume of extracted material.

Automated summary

This paper presents the archaeometric investigation results on white and grey marbles from Aphrodisias using a wide range of analytical methods for the first time. The study aims to comprehensively evaluate the properties of Aphrodisian marbles. The research finds that there is a significant overlap in petrographic and geochemical features between the studied samples and other marbles used in Antiquity. However, no method used in this study is able to reliably distinguish between Aphrodisian marbles and other types. The depleted δC-13 values below +0.5‰ are the only provenance indicator for the grey variety from specific sectors. The presumed international use of Aphrodisian marbles may be difficult to verify based on these inconclusive outcomes. Rating: 8/10