The use of geochemical methods to pinpoint the origin of ancient white marbles

Multi-method-approach has now been for many years the buzzword in marble provenance analysis. Nevertheless a true combination of the results of different analytical methods is rarely applied in the sense of the combined simultaneous use of a large number of analytically obtained numerical variables. It is demonstrated here that the combination of data from isotope analysis, chemical data, and data from the chemical analysis of inclusion fluids of an artefact and of course in combination with a corresponding database enhances substantially the accuracy of marble provenance analysis. It is explicitly pointed out that the unchallenged collection of data of the chemical composition of marbles from different sources (and different analytical procedures) most probably implies severe differences in their comparability. Exemplarily presented is the nearly perfect discrimination of the most important fine-grained marbles and furthermore the possibility of the intra-site discrimination of the three Carrara districts and the assignment of two portrait heads to the Carrara Torano quarries.

Automated summary

The multi-method approach of marble provenance analysis has been discussed for many years but rarely implemented in practice. This study demonstrates the significant improvement in accuracy achieved by combining data from isotope analysis, chemical data, and analysis of inclusion fluids, along with a comprehensive database. It highlights the challenges in comparing chemical composition data from marbles from different sources and presents successful discrimination of fine-grained marbles as well as intra-site discrimination of Carrara districts and assignment to specific quarries.