AN UPDATED, MULTI‐METHOD DATABASE OF EPHESOS MARBLES, INCLUDING WHITE, GRECO SCRITTO AND BIGIO VARIETIES*

Abstract

An updated database of Ephesos marbles including 244 samples from 16 quarrying districts is reported. The unknown Greco Scritto quarries near Hasançavuslar and the Bigio marbles from the quarries of Belevi and of Mt Panayir are also presented. The paper, however, is mostly devoted to the identification of the Ephesos white marbles, whereas the problems posed by the Bigio and Greco Scritto varieties are deferred to future work. The samples have been characterized by isotopic analysis, EPR spectroscopy and additional petrographic and optical properties. Owing to the complex geology of the region, the white marbles of Ephesos exhibit rather inhomogeneous properties and are conveniently classified into four marble groups, which can be almost completely discriminated. The problem of distinguishing the Ephesos white marbles from other similar varieties has been dealt with by statistically comparing the Ephesos samples with all the similar, medium‐grained varieties present in the marble database. Although some of the four Ephesos groups can be reliably identified, general solution of the discriminant problem is difficult. Historical archaeological information is needed to reduce the complexity of the problem by eliminating unlikely provenances. In this way relevant problems, such as the discrimination between Ephesos and Proconnesos marbles, can be solved.

Petrographic Characterization and Provenance Determination of the Crystalline Marbles Used in the Roman City of Banasa (Morocco): New Data on the Import of Iberian Marble in Roman North Africa

“…The Hasançavuslar quarries, recently surveyed by Yavuz et al . (), give the impression that they produced both the typical greco scritto and veined grey‐and‐white varieties in Roman times, and some authors (Attanasio et al . ) consider this area as the main source of the classic greco scritto .…”

“…However, bearing in mind the average values of its grain size (MGS almost always over 1 mm and very often more than 1.5 mm: Yavuz et al . ; Attanasio et al . ) and a logical geographical criterion, this Turkish provenance seems quite unlikely.…”

“…The rest of the same flake was powdered for analyses of carbon and oxygen stable isotopes (SIRA; McCrea 1950) by mass spectrometry using a Finnigan Mat Delta S instrument (after using a fully automated Finnigan/Kiel-Carbo-II carbonate preparation device for phosphoric acid digestion at 70°C and CO 2 purification). The results of the isotopic analysis were expressed as δ (‰) values relative to the international PDB standard (Craig 1957) and compared with isotopic diagrams produced from the currently most up-to-date databases for both white and grey-and-white streaked Mediterranean ancient marbles (Gorgoni et al 2002;Lazzarini and Antonelli 2003;Attanasio et al 2006;Antonelli et al 2009aAntonelli et al , 2010Yavuz et al 2011;Attanasio et al 2012;Herrmann et al 2012).…”

The world as viewed by and with unpaired electrons

“…To provide a glimpse into the fascinating breadth of applications of EPR, we list additional areas with a leading reference, usually a book or other review: atmospheric pollution [187,188], carbon chars [189–191], catalysis [192,193], electrochemistry [194–196], even spin systems [112], free radical reactions [197–199], fullerenes [200], gas phase radicals [201–203], gemstones [204–206], magnetic field effects on reactions [207], molecular magnets [208], magnetic resonance force microscopy [209], multiphoton transitions [210], optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) [211–213], polymer chemistry [136,214], quantum dots [215,216], quantum computing [217], radiation damage and color centers [218] [219], sculpture limestone [220,221], hydrogenated silicon [222], spin exchange [208,223], spintronics [224], and supercritical fluids [225]. …”

A multi-analytical approach for determining the origin of the marbles in Temple-A from Laodicea ad Lycum (Denizli-Western Anatolia, Turkey)

“…Minero-petrographic, geochemical and provenance analyses of these marbles have great importance for historical and archaeological studies as well as for restoration of ancient artworks, monuments and buildings, and for determining imitations. In recent years, aimed to ascertain the provenance of marble sample of unknown origin, multiple analytical approaches have been performed to define a representative minero-petrographic, chemical-isotopic and physical database of the most important marbles used in antiquity [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”