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Marbles, granites and basalt used in the cruciform basilica of Abila (Decapolis, Jordan): archaeometric characterization and provenance

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Abstract

The provenance of granite, basalt, and marble used in building the cruciform basilica of Abila of the Decapolis, northwestern Jordan, is investigated using chemical and petrographic techniques. The basilica is dated to the late fifth or early sixth century AD. The stones were characterized using macroscopic traits in combination with optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and stable oxygen and carbon isotope spectrometry. These data were compared to the published databases for marbles, granites, and basalts used in antiquity. The comparison showed that the basalts are most probably local. The islands of Marmara (Proconessos-1), Turkey, are the primary source of the white marbles, while Paros island (Paros-2), Greece, is a minor source. The source of the green Cipollino marbles is Styra in the island of Euboea (Greece). The pink and gray granites are likely microasiatic from the Çigri and Kozak Dâgs, respectively, northwest Turkey.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant of the Deanship of Research and Graduate Studies at Yarmouk University. The authors acknowledge the permission to collect samples and support of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan. The authors would like to thank Prof. Mahmoud Wardat for editing the paper and Mr. Ali Al-Omari for editing the illustrations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Archaeology, Yarmouk University, Postal code 211-63, Irbid, Jordan

    Khaled Al-Bashaireh

  2. Laboratorio di Analisi dei Materiali Antichi, Sistema dei Laboratori, Università IUAV di Venezia, Venice, Italy

    Lorenzo Lazzarini

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  1. Khaled Al-Bashaireh
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  2. Lorenzo Lazzarini
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Correspondence to Khaled Al-Bashaireh.

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Al-Bashaireh, K., Lazzarini, L. Marbles, granites and basalt used in the cruciform basilica of Abila (Decapolis, Jordan): archaeometric characterization and provenance. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 8, 545–554 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-015-0239-2

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