A Multi‐Method Database of the Black and White Marbles of G öktepe (Aphrodisias), Including Isotopic, EPR , Trace and Petrographic Data

Aphrodisias' Göktepe quarries yielded some of the most prized marbles used during Roman times, particularly from the early second century AD. A multi-method database analyzing 160 samples—white, black, and bichrome—from 13 quarries and two waste deposits revealed distinct isotopic, EPR, trace, and petrographic characteristics for white marbles, which exhibit fine grain, low EPR intensity, and high strontium concentration. While their isotopic values resemble those of Carrara marble, they are tightly grouped and indicative. Black marbles, with weaker metamorphic overprints, show analytical similarities to white marbles but also notable differences, complicating provenance determination without petrographic support. This study highlights Göktepe's significance in ancient trade and craftsmanship.

Attanasio, D., Bruno, M., Prochaska, W., & Yavuz, A. B. (2013). A Multi‐Method Database of the Black and White Marbles of Göktepe (Aphrodisias), Including Isotopic, EPR, Trace and Petrographic Data. Archaeometry, 57(2), 217–245. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12076