White and Coloured Marbles of the R oman Town of U rbs S alvia ( U rbisaglia, M acerata, M arche, I taly)

Summary The results of an archaeometric study concerning the coloured stones and 14 white marble sculptures found in the ancient city of U rbs S alvia ( U rbisaglia, M acerata) – one of the main R oman archaeological sites of the M arche region (east central I taly) – are presented here. Data show the presence of the most important decorative stones used by the R omans, originating in all of the M editerranean provinces, from E gypt and N orth A frica to A sia M inor, G reece, G allia , I beria and I taly. Thirty‐one different coloured lithotypes have been identified, including red and green porphyries as well as marmor phrygium and numidicum , namely the four most expensive stones cited in D iocletian's edict. Crustae of marmor chium , taenarium , chalcidicum , scyreticum , lucullaeum and sagarium also feature. Another significant presence is that of coloured stones that are generally rare, even in R ome and O stia, such as cipollino mandolato (which is very abundant at U rbs S alvia , more than anywhere outside G allia ), broccatello di Spagna , alabastro a pecorella , lapis ophytes , brecciated facies of marmor iassene and cottanello antico . Worthy of mention, too, is the abundant presence of so‐called R oman breccia from L ez (Upper G aronne valley, F rench P yrenees), a stone never reported outside G allia . The 14 marble sculptures analysed come from public and private buildings of the R oman city and are now exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of U rbisaglia. Our petrographic and isotopic analyses show that they are made of Lunense (five), P entelic (three), Parian lychnites (three), Thasian (three) and Proconnesian (one C orinthian capital) marbles. The quality of the coloured stones identified, together with the presence of sculptures made of precious imported white marble varieties, reveals an opulent town and a local patronage wishing to decorate public buildings and rich houses with the most sought‐after marbles of R ome.