On the Use of White Marbles in Roman <i>Forum Sempronii</i> (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural Elements
This paper presents the results of the characterisation, identification, provenance determination, and quantification of the white, <i>greco scritto</i>-like and polychrome marbles used for architectural purposes at <i>Forum Sempronii</i>, a Roman town in the Marche region of...
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/3/156 |
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| author | Devi Taelman Oscar Mei Fabrizio Antonelli |
| author_facet | Devi Taelman Oscar Mei Fabrizio Antonelli |
| author_sort | Devi Taelman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents the results of the characterisation, identification, provenance determination, and quantification of the white, <i>greco scritto</i>-like and polychrome marbles used for architectural purposes at <i>Forum Sempronii</i>, a Roman town in the Marche region of Italy. Samples of five fragments of white marble and one fragment of a <i>greco scritto</i>-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 <i>greco scritto</i>-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 <i>greco scritto</i>-like marble. Further, at least eleven imported polychrome stone varieties were distinguished. The study clearly illustrates that <i>Forum Sempronii</i> 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:28:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-74ad8d51bf874197a4164a2f7a272759 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:28:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage |
| spelling | doaj.art-74ad8d51bf874197a4164a2f7a2727592023-11-17T11:23:15ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082023-03-01632942295510.3390/heritage6030156On the Use of White Marbles in Roman <i>Forum Sempronii</i> (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural ElementsDevi Taelman0Oscar Mei1Fabrizio Antonelli2Department of History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumDepartment of Communication Sciences, Humanities and International Studies (DISCUI), University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, ItalyLaboratory for the Analysis of Ancient Materials (LAMA), University IUAV of Venice, 30125 Venice, ItalyThis paper presents the results of the characterisation, identification, provenance determination, and quantification of the white, <i>greco scritto</i>-like and polychrome marbles used for architectural purposes at <i>Forum Sempronii</i>, a Roman town in the Marche region of Italy. Samples of five fragments of white marble and one fragment of a <i>greco scritto</i>-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 <i>greco scritto</i>-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 <i>greco scritto</i>-like marble. Further, at least eleven imported polychrome stone varieties were distinguished. The study clearly illustrates that <i>Forum Sempronii</i> 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/3/156archaeometrymarble provenancewhite marblepolychrome marbleRomanItaly |
| spellingShingle | Devi Taelman Oscar Mei Fabrizio Antonelli On the Use of White Marbles in Roman <i>Forum Sempronii</i> (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural Elements Heritage archaeometry marble provenance white marble polychrome marble Roman Italy |
| title | On the Use of White Marbles in Roman <i>Forum Sempronii</i> (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural Elements |
| title_full | On the Use of White Marbles in Roman <i>Forum Sempronii</i> (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural Elements |
| title_fullStr | On the Use of White Marbles in Roman <i>Forum Sempronii</i> (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural Elements |
| title_full_unstemmed | On the Use of White Marbles in Roman <i>Forum Sempronii</i> (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural Elements |
| title_short | On the Use of White Marbles in Roman <i>Forum Sempronii</i> (Fossombrone, Marche, Italy): An Overview of the Archaeometric Data on Architectural Elements |
| title_sort | on the use of white marbles in roman i forum sempronii i fossombrone marche italy an overview of the archaeometric data on architectural elements |
| topic | archaeometry marble provenance white marble polychrome marble Roman Italy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/3/156 |
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