Marmora Vesuviana: archaeometric analyses of marble artifacts in the Granai del Foro in Pompeii

Abstract: This interdisciplinary research, pursued within a broader project titled “Marmora Vesuviana,” focuses on marble artifacts from the Granai del Foro (Granaries of the Forum), one of the major deposits at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, currently under renovation. This research reflects the situation in 2014, when 26 stone artifacts—architectural elements, pieces of furniture, and a free-standing statue—were sampled to identify the stone materials used and their provenance. Two of the sampled artifacts proved to be limestone, while 24 proved to be white marble. The joint processing of mineralogical-petrographic and isotopic data made it possible to identify the provenance of different qualities of white marble. It showed that Carrara, Parian, Docimian, Pentelic, and Thasian marbles—in order from the quantities most to least detected—were used for the sampled artifacts. This variety of results was combined with archaeological and art historical considerations about the single artifacts; archaeometric analysis can help move beyond a perspective based on a simple typological analysis and can assist in assessing questions such as production, seriality, and workmanship. Moreover, in the case of artifacts for which the findspot is known or traceable, a contextual approach can be applied, enhancing our knowledge of the history of specific spaces and the patronage’s preferences. This study intends to show the advantages of combining different methodologies in the investigation of sculptures and stone artifacts, which are a class of materials that are still under-investigated from the ancient city of Pompeii.