Estudio epigráfico y arqueométrico de la placa funeraria de Cela (Mos, Pontevedra): nuevas propuestas de interpretación.

Resumen: La epigrafía en Galicia es abundante y conocida, pero la aplicación de estudios interdisciplinares y nuevas metodologías analíticas puede proporcionar una rica información que matice e incremente la información presente en estas piezas. El caso de la placa funeraria de mármol localizada en Cela (Mos, Pontevedra) es un excepcional ejemplo de las múltiples posibilidades que tiene el estudio arqueométrico del soporte. Así, la identificación del material empleado como mármol procedente del Anticlinal de Estremoz (Portugal) y la reinterpretación epigráfica realizada, introducen nuevos elementos para la lectura histórica-arqueológica de esta pieza y consecuentemente de su significado en el contexto de la arqueología romana en el NW Peninsular. Palabras claves: Mármol del Anticlinal de Estremoz, epigrafía funeraria romana, importación, reuso, Gallaecia. Abstract: Epigraphic and archaeometric study of the Roman funerary plaque of Cela (Mos, Pontevedra): new approach to its interpretationGalician epigraphy is a large corpus of well-known materials. Nevertheless, the application of interdisciplinary studies and new analytical methods can provide new and rich data to increase the range of information we obtain from them. The case of the funerary plaque found at Cela(Mos, Pontevedra) is an exceptional example of the different possibilities that an archaeometricalstudyof the epigraphic medium can offer.In this case, the identification of the marble employed as coming from the EstremozAnticline (Portugal) and the epigraphicalreview, provide new aspects for the historical interpretation of this piece, and, consequently a new contribution to the Roman archaeology of the NW Iberian Peninsula. Key-words: Marble of the Estremoz Anticline, Roman funerary epigraphy, imports, reuse, Gallaecia.

Archaeometric study of the historic terrazzo pavement of Prince Mohamed Ali Museum, Cairo, Egypt

This research will shed light on studying a terrazzo pavement in Prince Mohamed Ali Museum (the case study). The authors used visual inspection, stereo microscope, USB microscope, XRPD analysis, and SEM.EDX to identify its components, deterioration aspects and execution techniques. The XRPD and SEM.EDX results revealed that Portland cement was used in the three layers of terrazzo because of the detection of Hatrurite, Alite, Anorthite, Albite, Aragonite, etc. Many pigments were used in the topping terrazzo layer as; Goethite, Greenalite, Hematite, Azurite and Magnetite. The divider strips were made of brass alloy and the topping layer chips were prepared from basalt, marble and sea shells.

Provenance of White Marbles from the Roman City of Tauriana (Palmi, Reggio Calabria, Italy)

The work shows the results of an archaeometric study performed on fourteen white marble samples from the Roman city of Tauriana (Palmi, Reggio Calabria, Italy), belonging to different architectural elements of the Municipal Museum Complex and artifacts reused in the modern town. Samples were studied by optical microscopy (OM), x-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) of 13C and 18O with the aim to identify their provenance. The comparison between the collected data and the historical ones, concerning the ancient quarries of white marble of the Mediterranean area, allowed us to prove that most of the marbles used in the city of Tauriana were from the Apuan Alps Basin (Carrara) and, in few cases, from Minor Asia (Proconnesos, Aphrodisias, Docimium) and Greek (Thasos and Pentelic) quarries.