X‐Ray Fluorescence and Stable Isotope Analysis of Marble in Central Lydia, Western Turkey

A pioneering study reveals that small-scale marble quarries in central Lydia, western Turkey, played a significant role in ancient social and economic landscapes, challenging previous assumptions about their importance. By analyzing carbon and oxygen stable isotopes from 11 quarries near Sardis and correlating them with artifacts from Sardis and the Bin Tepe tumuli, researchers uncovered distinct patterns in Lydian and Roman-period marble acquisition practices. This approach sheds new light on the historical significance of these quarries, which had previously been understudied despite showing evidence of ancient tool use.

Sekedat, B. M. (2016). X‐Ray Fluorescence and Stable Isotope Analysis of Marble in Central Lydia, Western Turkey. Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 35(4), 369–388. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/ojoa.12094