Unveiling the origins: Multi-analytical study on the provenance determination of white marble from the ecclesiastical complex of Beati Severi basilica in Classe (Ravenna, Italy)

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11210%2F25%3A10499723" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11210/25:10499723 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/00216208:11310/25:10499723

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=8ZS1aBuE-m" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=8ZS1aBuE-m</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105275" target="_blank" >10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105275</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Unveiling the origins: Multi-analytical study on the provenance determination of white marble from the ecclesiastical complex of Beati Severi basilica in Classe (Ravenna, Italy)

Original language description

The strategic role of Ravenna (Italy) in the northwestern Adriatic became particularly evident in the early fifth century, when it assumed the role of a sedes imperii and developed into a key center of the Western Roman Empire. This prominence was significantly supported by its seaport Classis, which functioned as one of major hubs for the trade and cultural exchange across the Mediterranean. In the past, the precious marble artefacts in Ravenna and its artistic circuit were described exclusively from stylistic and typological points of view, with no scientific methods employed for determining provenance. This study presents the results of a multi-analytical investigation into fifteen white marble samples, representative of the late antique and early medieval contexts of the ecclesiastical complex of Beati Severi Basilica in Classe. To determine the provenance of the marble, a combination of mineralogical-petrographic techniques (including polarizing, cathodoluminescence and electron microscopy, as well as X-ray powder diffraction) and geochemical methods (stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis and trace element content via ICP-MS) was employed. The geochemical data were processed using discriminant analysis and compared with reference datasets from known ancient quarries. Most calcitic samples were identified as Proconnesian marble. The remaining calcitic samples were attributed to Aphrodisias, Dokimeion, and Thassos-Aliki (Thassos-2). Two dolomitic samples were attributed to the Cape Vathy/Saliara (Thassos-3), although without statistical evaluation. For the studied marble samples, the most diagnostic factors for provenance determination were a combination of microscopic features (microfabric, grain size, mineral composition, and CL microfacies), carbon and oxygen isotope ratios, and trace element contents - primarily Mn, Sr, Y + REEs, and Pb. Although the combination of the aforementioned methods proved the generally accepted hypothesis that the Ravennate marbles originated from the Proconnesos quarries, it also revealed that these were not the only source. The provenance determinations of marble, imported to Ravenna and Classe in Late Antiquity and reused in the Middle Ages, offers critical insight into the city&apos;s role within Mediterranean trade and cultural networks. It further underscores Ravenna&apos;s orientation towards the Eastern Mediterranean, and its function as a redestribution centre in the broader regional context.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

60102 - Archaeology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA23-06403S" target="_blank" >GA23-06403S: Provenance of Marble from Northern Italy and Istria as Evidence of Interconnections between the East and West in Late Antiquity</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Journal of Archaeological Science. Reports

ISSN

2352-409X

e-ISSN

2352-4103

Volume of the periodical

66

Issue of the periodical within the volume

October

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

14

Pages from-to

105275

UT code for WoS article

001539415800001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105010544167