A multi-analytical approach for determining the provenance of the marbles from Ruspina Roman baths (Monastir, Tunisia)

Abstract Although most of the ancient monuments found in Ruspina Roman town situated near the town of Monastir in the Sahil region of Tunisia were built with local materials, the Roman baths in this site were mainly decorated with imported marbles from Greece, Asia, Numidia, Italy and Algeria, indicating the important trade relationships between Ruspina and the other Mediterranean Roman towns. Among the seven types of marbles used in the decoration of Ruspina’s Roman baths, four have been characterized in previous studies: white Proconnesian from Asia, Penthelic and green cipolin from Greece, and Antique yellow from Simitthus in Tunisia. To characterize and identify the other three types, series of analytical methods had to be applied: minero-petrographic analysis of thin sections, chemical analysis, and isotopic analysis of oxygen and carbon. Used together, the methods enabled to identify the marbles studied: the white fine-grained marble corresponds to Carrara white marble from Italy, and the spotted dull grey and greco scritto came from Cap de Garde quarries in Algeria. With the exception on one type (antique yellow), the other six types were imported marbles.