Archaeometric and provenance study of archaeological marble from Gadara and Gerasa in Jordan

Abstract

This study investigates the characteristics and provenance of nine archaeological marble samples collected from decorative and architectural elements in Gadara and Gerasa in northern Jordan. Macroscopic examination, X-ray diffraction, petrographic analysis, and stable isotopic analysis or inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry measurements were carried out on the selected samples. Six of the samples are characterized by a medium-grained microstructure, whereas the other three are fine-grained. By comparison with reference databases of known Mediterranean marbles exploited in antiquity, the results indicate that the studied samples come probably from four quarries in Turkey and Greece. The medium-grained samples were quarried from Proconnesos marble in Turkey, which seems to be the most commonly used source of white marble in northern Jordan during the Roman period. The fine-grained samples, however, come from Docimium (Turkey) and Mounts Hymettus and Pentelikon in Greece. This work contributes to the efforts that have been made for marble provenancing and provides important information for further research on weathering evaluation and conservation of archaeological marble objects and structures.