Petrographic and geochemical characterization of Eocene limestones from Thugga / Dougga (Tunisia): Implications for the provenance of stones used in construction and sculpture in the ancient town

A new study reveals that the ancient town of Dougga, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, primarily sourced its construction and sculptural stones from local quarries within 1 km. Through detailed petrographic and geochemical analysis, researchers identified ten distinct limestone lithofacies tied to five stratigraphic units, enabling precise correlation with archaeological artifacts spanning the Punic-Numidian to Roman Imperial periods (3rd century BCE–CE). The findings indicate strategic material selection based on durability, carving ease, and function—soft limestones for smaller structures, robust nummulitic facies for monumental architecture, and fine-grained stones for intricate sculptures. Quarrying practices evolved over time, with systematic exploitation of specific facies during the Roman period, particularly for columns and large ashlar blocks. This study underscores the significance of local resource utilization and changing quarrying techniques in ancient construction.

Fournier, F., Bromblet, P., Cruz, A. D., Maligorne, Y., Damay, C., Gandolfo, N., & Abidi, H. (2026). Petrographic and geochemical characterization of Eocene limestones from Thugga / Dougga (Tunisia): Implications for the provenance of stones used in construction and sculpture in the ancient town. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 72, 105735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105735