This work presents the preliminary results concerning the characterization of Roman mortars and plasters from the archaeological site of Hierapolis, an ancient Greco-Roman city in south-west of Turkey. This site, protected by UNESCO, nowadays is located in the village of Pamukkale (province of Denizli) famous for its hot springs that give rise to massive travertine terraces. The 21 samples studied, taken from the excavation campaign of 2010 in the Italian Archaeological Mission at Hierapolis in Phrygia directed by F. D'Andria, come from different areas of the site: the door of Frontinus, the Temple of Apollo, the Stoa of the Basilica, the Aghyasma, the Nymphaeum of the Tritons and the Sanctuary of the Nymphs. Their characterization took place through different analytical techniques such as: optical microscopy in polarized light, X-ray diffractometry (XRPD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and thermal analysis DSC-TG. These techniques, in first analysis, have determined the mineralogical, petrographical and chemical properties of samples, allowing a compositional comparison among them. On the samples was carried out, also, a detailed image analysis in thin section through the use of the software JMicro Vision, this analysis allowed us to determine the exact percentage of aggregate and binder used in the mortars and to study some textural characteristics such as macroporosity. The compositional comparison shows significant differences between groups of mortars and plasters of the same period. In particular it is possible to divide the samples into two different groups according to the percentages of aggregate and binder. Among these samples, it is also possible, to make a further subdivision considering the samples containing cocciopesto, a material used by the Romans as a pozzolanic additive to create hydraulic mortars. In the aggregate, there is also the abundant presence of metamorphic rocks (marble, phyllite and quartzite) and bioclasts. The purpose of this paper is to provide more information about the production technology of the Romans. It represents the first phase of study necessary to guide subsequent spectroscopic analysis and to obtain more detailed information on the origin of the raw materials used in the mixtures.
THE ROMAN MORTARS OF THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE OF HIERAPOLIS (TURKEY): PETROGRAPHIC- MINERALOGICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION
MIRIELLO, DOMENICO;BLOISE, Andrea;APOLLARO, Carmine;
2012-01-01
Abstract
This work presents the preliminary results concerning the characterization of Roman mortars and plasters from the archaeological site of Hierapolis, an ancient Greco-Roman city in south-west of Turkey. This site, protected by UNESCO, nowadays is located in the village of Pamukkale (province of Denizli) famous for its hot springs that give rise to massive travertine terraces. The 21 samples studied, taken from the excavation campaign of 2010 in the Italian Archaeological Mission at Hierapolis in Phrygia directed by F. D'Andria, come from different areas of the site: the door of Frontinus, the Temple of Apollo, the Stoa of the Basilica, the Aghyasma, the Nymphaeum of the Tritons and the Sanctuary of the Nymphs. Their characterization took place through different analytical techniques such as: optical microscopy in polarized light, X-ray diffractometry (XRPD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and thermal analysis DSC-TG. These techniques, in first analysis, have determined the mineralogical, petrographical and chemical properties of samples, allowing a compositional comparison among them. On the samples was carried out, also, a detailed image analysis in thin section through the use of the software JMicro Vision, this analysis allowed us to determine the exact percentage of aggregate and binder used in the mortars and to study some textural characteristics such as macroporosity. The compositional comparison shows significant differences between groups of mortars and plasters of the same period. In particular it is possible to divide the samples into two different groups according to the percentages of aggregate and binder. Among these samples, it is also possible, to make a further subdivision considering the samples containing cocciopesto, a material used by the Romans as a pozzolanic additive to create hydraulic mortars. In the aggregate, there is also the abundant presence of metamorphic rocks (marble, phyllite and quartzite) and bioclasts. The purpose of this paper is to provide more information about the production technology of the Romans. It represents the first phase of study necessary to guide subsequent spectroscopic analysis and to obtain more detailed information on the origin of the raw materials used in the mixtures.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
