Provenance study of building and statuary marbles from the Roman archaeological site of "Villa dei Quintili" (Rome, Italy)

The present work represents the first study addressed to the
provenance attribution of marbles from the Villa dei Quintili, an
important Roman archaeological site located in the south-eastern
area of Rome (Italy). The monumental villa was built in the 2nd
century A.D. at the behest of the brothers Sesto Quintilio Condiano
and Sesto Quintilio Valerio Massimo. Later (182 A.D.), the Emperor
Commodus confiscated the villa, transforming it into an imperial
residence until the 3rd century A.D. Different analytical techniques,
including polarized optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy
coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS), carbon
and oxygen stable isotope ratio determinations, inductively coupled
plasma mass spectrometry and X-ray diffraction, were used to identify
the provenance sources of seventeen white marble samples
belonging to statues, covering slabs and architectural elements of
the villa. For such a purpose, data obtained were compared with
existing databases relative to white marbles commonly used in
antiquity collected from historic quarries in the Mediterranean area.
Results show that several precious marbles from different Mediterranean
sites were used for the statuary as well as for decorative and
architectural elements of