AN EPR AND ISOTOPIC STUDY OF THE MARBLES OF THE TRAJAN's ARCH AT ANCONA: AN EXAMPLE OF ALLEGED HYMETTIAN PROVENANCE
Authors: Attanasio D.1; de Marinis G.2; Pallecchi P.3; Platania R.4; Rocchi P.1
Source: Archaeometry, Volume 45, Number 4, November 2003 , pp. 553-568(16)
Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
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Abstract:
The provenance of 20 marble samples drawn from the Trajan's arch at Ancona, which is supposed to be made of Greek, Hymettian marble, has been established on the basis of the independent use of EPR and isotopic data. The results of the two methods are in good agreement and unequivocally indicate a Proconnesian provenance. Sixteen samples are assigned to this site, whereas two are classified as untypical Proconnesian samples and the remaining two are assigned an unlikely Parian provenance. No indication exists for a possible Hymettian origin of the marbles. A multi-method approach, which employs all of the experimental variables simultaneously, demonstrates that the 18 samples identified as Proconnesian belong to several different quarrying areas within the site. This result is taken as an indication that the Proconnesian quarries were run following a highly organized, semi-industrial production model. The origin of the Hymettian/Proconnesian misunderstanding and the possible misclassification of other Roman monuments in Italy are briefly commented on.Keywords: TRAJAN's ARCH; MARBLE PROVENANCE; EPR SPECTROSCOPY; ISOTOPIC RATIOS
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1046/j.1475-4754.2003.00128.x
Affiliations: 1: ISM, CNR, P.O. Box 10, 00016 Monterotondo Staz., Rome, Italy. 2: Sopr. Archeologica Marche, via Birarelli 18, Ancona, Italy. 3: Sopr. Archeologica Toscana, Centro Restauro, via D.M. Manni, 67, Firenze, Italy. 4: IMIP, CNR, P.O. Box 10, 00016 Monterotondo Staz., Rome, Italy
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