From Quarries to Urban Construction Sites: Middle‐Late Mesozoic Limestones in the Public Architecture of Roman Verona, Italy

Roman Verona's public architecture, from the late first century BC onwards, favored Middle-Late Mesozoic (MLM) limestones—Rosso Ammonitico Veronese, Maiolica, and Scaglia Rossa—for their durability and marble-like appearance. These materials, sourced from nearby Valpolicella and Valpantena quarries, replaced earlier, less resistant local stones like Eocene calcarenites and imported Oligocene limestones. The shift reflects deliberate economic choices, prioritizing strength over cost during the Imperial period. Petrographic analysis of 30+ samples using Transmitted Polarized Light Optical Microscopy (TPL-OM) and colorimetry confirmed this preference, revealing a strategic investment in high-performance materials for monumental construction.

Bridi, E., Dilaria, S., Bonetto, J., & Previato, C. (2026). From Quarries to Urban Construction Sites: Middle‐Late Mesozoic Limestones in the Public Architecture of Roman Verona, Italy. Geoarchaeology, 41(1). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.70045