PROVENANCING OF LIGHTWEIGHT VOLCANIC STONES USED IN ANCIENT ROMAN CONCRETE VAULTING: EVIDENCE FROM ROME |
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| Authors: | L. LANCASTER G. SOTTILI F. MARRA G. VENTURA |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Classics and World Religions, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA;2. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Roma ‘La Sapienza’, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy;3. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Via di Vigna Murata, 605, 00143 Roma, Italy |
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| Abstract: | This paper presents the geochemical analysis of lightweight scoria and pumice used in concrete vaults from ancient Rome. The geochemical signatures of dark scoria indicates a provenance of the 36–18 ka lavas of Vesuvius, as opposed to the more recent events on which Pompeii was built, as previously thought. The light‐coloured pumices analysed, which were originally thought to belong to the Sabatini volcanic system (north of Rome), corresponded instead to products from Campi Flegrei. These results provoke re‐evaluation of the trade and acquisition of these specialized materials destined for imperial projects in the capital city. |
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| Keywords: | CONCRETE VAULT CAMPI FLEGREI ICP– MS PUMICE POMPEII ROME SCORIA TRADE ROUTES VESUVIUS XRF |
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