White Marble for Lycian Monuments: The Fifth-Century BC Peplophoroi from Xanthos

The aims of this paper are manifold. First, it presents the first ever archaeometric analysis of the marble of three fifth-century bc sculptures from Xanthos (ancient region of Lycia, present- day sw Turkey), currently held in the British Museum. The paper, furthermore, intends to reflect on the use of marble in Lycia by putting the results of the archaeometric study into the context of the broader horizon of the Eastern Mediterranean. The multidisciplinary investigation of the three sculptures from Xanthos gives us the opportunity to reflect on the role of white marble in this period. Generally connected with Greek craftsmanship, it appears to have been a prestigious material that fostered connectivity among different political and cultural spheres.