Archaeometric investigations on ancient funerary stone elements from the National Archaeological Museum of Adria (Rovigo, Italy)

Abstract

We analysed 22 stone samples fromRoman and Pre-Roman funerary artefacts found in the ancient site of Atria, located in the deltaic plain of the Po River in Veneto region (Italy). The investigation of the artefacts, currently preserved at the National Archaeological Museum of Adria, was conducted by Polarized Light Optical Microscopy (PLM) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) in order to determine their provenance and, consequently, the trade networks exploited for their supply. The results revealed the widespread presence of rock types sourced from the central-western part of Veneto. Among these, trachytes from the Euganean Hills were predominantly utilised, while the soft limestone known as "Pietra Tenera di Vicenza" from the Berici Hills and Scaglia Rossa limestone were used to a lesser extent. Furthermore, the use of rhyolites for the making of a Pre-Roman stele provides new insights into the stone resources quarried from the Euganean district prior the Roman era.