Petrographic Characterization and Provenance Determination of the Crystalline Marbles Used in the R oman City of B anasa ( M orocco): New Data on the Import of Iberian Marble in R oman North Africa

A significant import of Iberian marble to Roman North Africa has been confirmed through a detailed archaeometric study of crystalline marbles used in the ancient city of Banasa, Morocco. The research, combining mineralogical-petrographic analysis and stable isotope analyses, identified multiple classical marble sources including Carrara, Mount Penteli, Paros, Marmara, and potentially Mount Filfila (Algeria). This finding challenges previous assumptions about Roman trade routes in the region, suggesting a broader network of marble procurement. The study also employed cathodoluminescence microscopy to verify potential alternative origins, providing new insights into the economic and cultural exchanges during the Roman period.

Antonelli, F., Lapuente, M. P., Dessandier, D., & Kamel, S. (2014). Petrographic Characterization and Provenance Determination of the Crystalline Marbles Used in the Roman City of Banasa (Morocco): New Data on the Import of Iberian Marble in Roman North Africa. Archaeometry, 57(3), 405–425. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12099