Petrographic markers for archaeometric identification of montjuïc sandstone, the flagship stone of Barcelona (NE Spain)

Lluís Casas Duocastella, Roberta Di Febo, David Parcerisa i Duocastella

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3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The present study deals with a particular clastic rock from the Montjuïc hill exploited since Roman times in Barcino (present-day Barcelona (NE Spain)). Polarized and cathodoluminescence microscopies have been used to describe the main petrographic features of Montjuïc sandstones. Several characteristic provenance markers have been identified; among them the most specifically restricted to Montjuïc sandstone are the K-feldspar clasts with authigenic overgrowths. A petrographic survey oriented to the detection of such markers has been fruitfully applied to sculptures, architectural elements, mosaics, and pottery. The petrographic approach has demonstrated that some Roman heritage materials had been erroneously assigned to Montjuïc sandstone and the revision of all the pieces macroscopically assigned to this provenance is advised. The use of Montjuïc sandstone in Roman tesserae has been reported for the first time with interesting implications on previously unreported evidence of Roman extraction at the bottom part of the Montjuïc cliff. Finally, Montjuïc crushed sandstone used as pottery temper has been also reported in the productions of a medieval (12th-13th century) workshop in Barcelona. This encourages the study of the distribution of pottery with this particular temper.
Original languageEnglish
JournalMinerals
Volume10
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • Archaeometric provenance study
  • Petrography
  • Sandstone
  • Authigenic cement
  • Roman period
  • Sculpture
  • Mosaics
  • Temper

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  • Arqueomagnetismo y otras técnicas analíticas aplicadas a la valorización del patrimonio arqueológico e histórico

    Casas Duocastella, L. (Principal Investigator), EGEA GUEVARA, A. (Collaborator), Kassaa Larabi, S. (Collaborator), Laridhi Ouazaa, N. (Collaborator), Maritan, L. (Collaborator), Pitarch Marti, A. (Collaborator), Prevosti Monclús, M. (Collaborator), Tema, E. (Collaborator), Anglisano, A. (Investigator), Auguet Sangra, C. E. (Investigator), Campani, G. (Investigator), Estop Graells, E. (Investigator), Guasch Ferré, N. (Investigator), Ramírez Casas, J. (Investigator), Zamorano Cáceres, M. (Investigator) & Álvarez Pérez, A. (Investigator)

    1/01/1431/12/18

    Project: Research Projects and Other Grants

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