The Ossa-Morena marbles used in the Classical Antiquity: review of their petrographic features and isotopic data

Abstract

The use of marbles during the Classical Antiquity, namely in the Roman Period, was a common practice, being extended during the 1st century. During this historical period, Hispania (Iberian Peninsula) was not an exception and there are several places where marbles were exploited with ornamental or architectonic purposes. In places like the Estremoz Anticlinal, Viana do Alentejo region, Trigaches-São Brissos, Alconera and Almadén de la Plata, evidence of ancient exploitation, attributed to the Roman Period, were recognized. In this work, these marbles are petrographically characterized and the published isotope data, namely regarding the δ13C - δ 18O pair and 87Sr/86Sr ratio, are analyzed and discussed in the context of the geological processes and their application in provenance studies of materials used during Roman Period. The available data show that the application of both isotopic and petrographic studies allows the distinction of the several marbles of the Ossa-Morena Zone from each other, therefore ascribing a probable provenance for the classical marbles of this paleogeographic zone.