DOI article:
Skoczylas, Janusz; Grala, Katarzyna: The ancient marble of Proconnesos
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41865#0220
218
moist, which makes them susceptible to parasites (fig. 10, 11). Precipitation set-
tling on their surfaces and penetrating the interior of the stone materiał produces
contaminating sediments of gases and suspended particles of solid matter. The
effects of the lack of proper protection are conspicuous now, almost thirty years
after the establishment of the collection.
The present authors did not manage to accomplish the main purpose of their
travel, which was to identify the locations of the ancient excavation of marble,
yet the opportunity for inspecting the marble in situ in its natural deposits and to
study the numerous preserved ancient sculptures and architectural elements madę
of this materiał enabled them to appreciate in its entire extent the importance
and potential of the island as an abundant source of marble stone. The deposits
of the materiał are still substantial, which has resulted in the enormous intensity
of excavation at modem times, and possibly also in the eradication of the possi-
ble signs of earlier activity. By collecting samples of the marble from its deposit
and from the locally madę architectural elements and sculptures, the authors ac-
ąuired valuable materiał for petrographic and physical-and-chemical study. The
samples will also be extremely useful in the comparative studies of the origin of
marble, a preferred materiał in the antiąuity.
The marble of Proconnesos does not display any unusual physical or visual
features. In fact, the dark layers of opaąue minerals disfigure the appearance of
this stone. Why, then, were sculptures and architectural elements madę of this
marble so popular over such a vast area? This might have well been caused by
two factors, both related to the location of the island and of its deposits of the
stone. The island of Marmara was situated on a trade route from the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea, and in particular of the Aegean Sea, to the region of the
Black Sea. Thence, it was a location of enormous political, strategie and eco-
nomic importance. Secondly, the fact that the marble was found on the very coast
facilitated its shipment, minimizing the cost of land transportation and allowing
the cheaper dispatch by boat.
Another result of our geological-and-archeological study was the emphasiz-
ing of the destmctive impact of earthąuakes on human settlements, both in the
present and in the past.
Bibliography
Asgari 1978 — N. Asgari, Roman and Early Byzantine Marble Quarries of Proconnesus. Proced-
ings of the 10th International Congress of Classical Archaeology, Ankara 1978, 467-480.
Aufhauser 1913 — J.B. Aufhauser, Miracula S. Georgii, Lipsiae 1913.
Barsanti 1989 — C. Barsanti, L’esportazione di marmi dal Proconneso nelle regioni pontiche du-
moist, which makes them susceptible to parasites (fig. 10, 11). Precipitation set-
tling on their surfaces and penetrating the interior of the stone materiał produces
contaminating sediments of gases and suspended particles of solid matter. The
effects of the lack of proper protection are conspicuous now, almost thirty years
after the establishment of the collection.
The present authors did not manage to accomplish the main purpose of their
travel, which was to identify the locations of the ancient excavation of marble,
yet the opportunity for inspecting the marble in situ in its natural deposits and to
study the numerous preserved ancient sculptures and architectural elements madę
of this materiał enabled them to appreciate in its entire extent the importance
and potential of the island as an abundant source of marble stone. The deposits
of the materiał are still substantial, which has resulted in the enormous intensity
of excavation at modem times, and possibly also in the eradication of the possi-
ble signs of earlier activity. By collecting samples of the marble from its deposit
and from the locally madę architectural elements and sculptures, the authors ac-
ąuired valuable materiał for petrographic and physical-and-chemical study. The
samples will also be extremely useful in the comparative studies of the origin of
marble, a preferred materiał in the antiąuity.
The marble of Proconnesos does not display any unusual physical or visual
features. In fact, the dark layers of opaąue minerals disfigure the appearance of
this stone. Why, then, were sculptures and architectural elements madę of this
marble so popular over such a vast area? This might have well been caused by
two factors, both related to the location of the island and of its deposits of the
stone. The island of Marmara was situated on a trade route from the coast of the
Mediterranean Sea, and in particular of the Aegean Sea, to the region of the
Black Sea. Thence, it was a location of enormous political, strategie and eco-
nomic importance. Secondly, the fact that the marble was found on the very coast
facilitated its shipment, minimizing the cost of land transportation and allowing
the cheaper dispatch by boat.
Another result of our geological-and-archeological study was the emphasiz-
ing of the destmctive impact of earthąuakes on human settlements, both in the
present and in the past.
Bibliography
Asgari 1978 — N. Asgari, Roman and Early Byzantine Marble Quarries of Proconnesus. Proced-
ings of the 10th International Congress of Classical Archaeology, Ankara 1978, 467-480.
Aufhauser 1913 — J.B. Aufhauser, Miracula S. Georgii, Lipsiae 1913.
Barsanti 1989 — C. Barsanti, L’esportazione di marmi dal Proconneso nelle regioni pontiche du-