Use of marmora in the ornamental program of Las Pizarras Roman site (ancient Cauca, Segovia, Spain)

Abstract

This paper offers an overview of the characterization of the marmora used at the Late Hispano-Roman site of Las Pizarras (Coca, Segovia). This site has been under study for ten years and, during this period, marmora remains provided important data to the archaeological record, not only due to their wide variety and density, but also because of the remote provenance of a significant part of them. Due to the huge number of pieces recovered, a macroscopic observation and identification has been only possible for most of them, yet petrographic and cathodoluminisce (CL) analysis has been carried out to characterize a selected sample whose provenance was not clear. Although most of these remains come from secondary contexts (i.e. they were moved away from their original layout or re-used in latter structures), there are nonetheless outstanding examples of ornamental stones. Among them, those intended for revetments and elements of the ornamental architecture stand out. Likewise, the varied morphology of the pieces found at Las Pizarras offers essential information about their use. When this is taken into account, together with the provenance of each marble type, it reveals certain aspects and even common patterns.