Provenance analysis of marble ecclesiastical elements from the extra-mural Byzantine Church of Udhruh (South Jordan)

Abstract

The aim of this research is to assign the provenance of marble samples uncovered from the extra-mural Byzantine Church of Udhruh (Augustopolis), south Jordan. The church is a three-nave basilica that most probably was built in the fifth century CE. In later expansion phases, it was remodeled by the addition of two side chapels and several rooms. The research investigated the physical, mineralogical, and isotopic properties of twenty-four marble samples of different functions using naked eyes, lenses, and multiple analytical techniques including optical microscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the architectural elements were made of the gray calcitic Proconnesus-1 marble (Marmara, Turkey); while the four fonts or basins were carved out of the beige dolomitic Thasos-3 marble (Thasos Island, Cape Vathy, Greece); and the small squared column of unknown function was carved out of the fine-grained white calcitic Penteli marble (Mount Pentelikon, Attica, Greece). The results indicate that the most popular supply of the ecclesial marble to the south (and north) Jordan during the Byzantine period was the gray Proconnesus-1. The use of white Penteli and Thasos-3 marbles were limited to ritual elements.

Provenancing of cement using elemental analyses and isotope techniques – the state-of-the-art and future perspectives

“…For example, quartz gravels and sands, used as aggregate for concrete, differ as regards crystallinity, 85 which can possibly be exploited for provenance studies. Besides XRD, XRF was very oen used for characterising and provenancing of different types of building materials, 86,87 predominantly old stones 8,15,88 and marbles 9,89 in buildings or artifacts with historical signicance. Both XRD and XRF were used for establishing the provenance of limestone.…”

“…The type and origin of the construction and raw materials used, and the manufacturer of the components are of great relevance not only for avoidance and damage assessment but also for the resulting liability issues. This is also of interest when considering the stability of concrete, 6,7 marble, 8,9 and stone [10][11][12][13][14][15] in historic structures and investigating the origin of the raw materials from which those structures were made. For example, previous studies emphasized the investigation of raw materials from which buildings in Portugal were constructed.…”