ABSTRACT LXXI June, 2002 - Special Issue:

ROSARIO ALAIMO, ETTORE AZZARO, RENATO GIARRUSSO, PIETRO MARESCALCHI and GIUSEPPE MONTANA - Mapping and characterization of stone materials and their alterationldeterioration products in the historical center of Palermo (Italy).
Abstract - In the last years, natural and manmade building materials from several important historical palaces and/or churches of Palermo (Italy) and their alteration/deterioration products started to be colIected and analyzed. In this paper are reported the relief and digitaI mapping of stone material' s typology and conservation state of the Baroque palaces Lungarini (XVII century), Alliata di Villafranca (XVIII century), Ugo delle Favare (XVIII century) and the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli (XVI century), alI located in the historical center of the city. The results of mineralogical-petrographic analysis performed on the originaI building materials and their alteration/deterioration products are also discussed. Graphic relief and materials mapping of the three Baroque palaces were realized starting from a classical graphic procedure which has been successively digitalized by means of standard commerciaI software. The main façade of the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli, on the contrary, was relieved by the «total station» photogrammetric method, consisting of an electronic theodolite equipped with a laser-pointing diastimeter. Graphic restitution has been carried out via commerciaI software. Mineralogical-petrographic analysis, XRD, thin section microscopy and SEMIEDS alIowed to obtain the compositional and textural characterization of natural stones (Pleistocene biocalcarenite and Mesozoic welI cemented limestone) and air lime plasters as well as their alteration/deterioration products. According to previous studies, the alteration/deterioration pathologies affecting both biocalcarenites and limestones are represented by brownish-blackish encrustations and subefflorescences of soluble salts (mainly gypsum and halite). Cyclic crystallization of soluble salts (mainly composed of magnesian sulphates such as epsomite, hexahydrite and kieserite) is the major cause of deterioration of air lime plasters. The predominance of magnesium sulphates is to be related to the widespread use of magnesian lime in the manufacture of Palermo's plasters from the XVII to the XIX century. The acquisition of a thematic cartography relative to the most important natural or artificial building materials used in the monumental constructions of the historical center of Palermo supply a useful instrument for programming restoration interventions. The future realization of a database regarding compositions and mechanisms of degradation will concur to choose the best technologies and products.

ROSARIO ALAIMO, RENATO GIARRUSSO, IOANNIS ILIoPouLos and GIUSEPPE MONTANA - Archaic and classical ceramic artefacts from Caltagirone (Sicily): a first attempt for distinguishing imports and local imitations through petrography and chemistry
Abstract - More than 30 ceramic artefacts of the Archaic and Classical periods (6^th-5^th centuries BC) found in archaeological sites in the area of Caltagirone (Sicily) and belonging to the collection of the local «Museo Regionale della Ceramica» were analysed in terms of chemistry and petrography (XRD, XRF and optical microscopy). This suite consists of well defined forms (lekythos, pelike, kotyliskos, oinochoe), or vascular forms not perfectly identifiable and also cups, alabastron and oil lamps, alI decorated with red or black varnish. In addition, some undecorated artefacts (two protomes, a 100m weight and a figurine) and a kiln waster were also analysed. The main aim of this study was to discriminate the imitations of Attic forms from those actually imported. In fact, the Archaic and Classic local production is strongly suspected by the archaeologists also in the light of the casual discovery in the same urban centre of coeval kiln structures. Moreover, the noteworthy ceramic tradition of Caltagirone, which is largely documented since the Arabian domination puts forward this hypothesis. Analytical results demonstrated what, at present, has been inductively suspected only through pure stylistic considerations. Local manufactures were deeply characterized by their petrographic and chemical features and also compared with the reference raw materials exploited in the same territory. A notable inference in the comprehension of intra-island fine ware circulation of that period is expected.

DARIO ALMESBERGER, ANTONIO RIZZO, RAFFAELLA GEOMETRANTE and MARCO RIZZO - Diagnosis, restoration and consolidation's quality control of columns and capitals in "Nostra Signora delle Grazie" sanctuary - Imperia (Italy).
Abstract - Before the beginning of the restoration work of «Nostra Signora delle Grazie» sanctuary, a complex conservation pIan was started; this monument has preliminary been surveyed by an extensive diagnostic investigation which has pointed out structure's state of conservation. When necessary, consolidation works have been carried out controlling, step by step, the quality of their performance. The aim of this review, which proposes the project and the realisation of an innovative restoration work, is to offer to a wider public, new information about this type of intervention, about which data now available is still poor.

MICAELA ANGLE, PAOLA MORBIDELLI and ALBERTO M. PALMIERI - Pottery from Arslantepe (Malatya, Turkey): petrographic features and archaeological data.
Abstract - In the high Euphrates Valley, near the Arslantepe site (Malatya, south-central Turkey), many systematic excavations have revealed an almost continuous stratified sequence of settlements dating from the Chalcolithic (IV milI. BC) to neoHittite (1200-700 BC) periods. More than 200 ceramic objects, of different class, function and chronology, have been characterised from both archaeometric and archaeological points of view. Using as discriminating factors mineralogical components and, subordinately, the lithic nature of rock fragments occurring within the samples, the sherds were divided into five groups: a) group I (PI ± Qz ± Kf ± Px ± Bt ± Amph ± Cc ± reddish 01); b) group II (PI ± Qz ± Px ± Amph ± Bt + Ep); c) group III (PI ± Qz ± Kf ± Px ± Bt ± Amph ± rare garnet, zircon, tourmaline, olivine, gypsum, dolomite, chlorite crystals, and frequent basic volcanic rock fragments; d) group IV (PI ± Qz ± Px ± Bt). Group V, micro-crystalline, distinct from the others by the presence of very sporadic sub-microscopic grains in the matrix. Semi-quantitative petrographic data-sets showed that the most of the pastes used to make these ancient pots were very homogeneous in composition, confirming previous results from chemical analyses carried out on the same samples. As shown by the numerous carbonate rock fragments and calcite phenocrysts, maximum firing temperatures did not exceed 600°C. More than one factor indicated that, in the Arslantepe site, well established production technology for functional ceramic objects existed for specific pot classes and periods.

CARLO B. AZZONI, DANIELA DI MARTINO, BRUNO MESSIGA and MARIA P. RICCARDI - Combined Microanalytic and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance techniques in archaeometry of ancient glass from Lomello (Pavia, northern Italy).
Abstract - The combined use of Electron Microprobe (EMP) and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) was applied to the characterisation of ancient glasso The resulting data were complementary and thus very useful for information on both glass composition and the oxidation state of paramagnetic ions, such as Fe³⁺ and Mn²⁺. Our study highlighted the importance of obtaining the abundances (EMP) and oxidation states of the above elements (EPR). These indications represent a new way of looking at ancient glass production and may define several production indicators such as control of kiln atmosphere. Our results show that the value of the oxidising/reducing ratio defines a parameter constraining the colour of worked glass - an aspect which has implications for archaeometric research aiming at reconstructing the history of glasso

GIOVANNANGELA BERTORINO, MARCELLO FRANCESCHELLI , CARLO LUGLIÈ, MARCO MARCHI and STEFANO COLUMBU - Petrographic characterisation of polished stone axes from Neolithic Sardinia: archaeological implications.
Abstract - In Sardinia, polished stone axes appear in early Neolithic communities (VI millennium B.e.) and are found up to the beginning of the Copper Age. Classification of polished axes from western centraI Sardinia has been redefined archaeometrically in a preliminary sampling of specimens found in open-air settlements. In the studied Neolithic sites, «nephrites» make up 95% of all examined lithologies. Two main groups may be distinguished, characterised respectively by the presence or absence of epidote. «Nephrites» are made up of actinolite or tremolite, chlorite, ±epidote, and Feoxide. The other sto ne axes are composed of glaucophane schist, metadiabase, andalusite hornfels, and phonolite. The extensive occurrence of lithotypes from outside Sardinia, mainly «nephrite», which was commonly used to produce the mainland axes, chiefly in the Neolithic villages of northern Italy, is confirmed. Axes made of jadeitite or eclogite seem to be absent or very rare. Conversely, semi-finished samples found in Sardinia bear witness to raw materials or rough-casts acquired from the mainland. One axe made of volcanic rock from Montiferro is of particular interest, since it may also document local production of stone axes.

GIANLUCA BIANCHINI, ANNALISA MARTUCCI and CARMELA VACCARO - Petro-archaeometric characterisation of "cotto ferrarese": bricks and terracotta eiements from historic buildings of Ferrara.
Abstract - Petro-archaeometric characterisation of «cotto ferrarese», i.e., chemicalmineralogical investigation of bricks, tiles and decorative elements from historic buildings in Ferrara (NE Italy) enabled us to constrain the nature of the raw materials employed. These consist of clays closely resembling the present-day fine sediments of the river Po (High-Cr sediments); clays of plausible Apennine provenance (Low-Cr sediments), although outcropping in the area, were not used. Processing of chemical data reveals that, within the High-Cr clays, the most CaO-rich facies were preferred and mixed with minor amounts of the local sands; a Na₂0-rich flux component was then probably added. After firing tests on these sediments, the related firing parageneses were compared to those recorded in the studied terracottas, indicating for the latter kiln temperatures between 850-1000°C, with significant variations among samples from different buildings.

EMMA CANTISANI, ALBERTO CECCHI, IVAN CHIAVERINI, FABIO FRATINI, CARLO MANGANELLI DEL FÀ, ELENA PECCHIONI and SILVIA RESCIC - The binder of the «Roman Concrete» of the Ponte di Augusto at Narni (Italy).
Abstract - The main aim of this work was to study the characteristics of the mortar binder used in the building of the bridge called «Ponte di Augusto», erected over the river Nera (Narni, Italy) in 27 B.C.. Mineralogical, chemical, physical, micropaleontological, granulometric and petrographical analyses were carried out on whole samples and on the binder itself, particular care being devoted to lumps. In the past, the Romans were able to create highquality mortars of relatively low porosity, with strong mechanical characteristics and high hydraulicity. The mortars used in the «Ponte di Augusto» also show the same characteristics and are excellently conserved. Preliminary results ascribe these good characteristics to the use of a binder of high hydraulicity, obtained by calcinating local impure limestone and not by inserting any particular additives.

STEFANO CREMONINI - Preliminary geomorphological and stratigraphic settings of a large Roman-age village near Maccaretolo (low alluvial plain between Bologna and Ferrara, Italy).
Abstract - At Maccaretolo, near San Pietro in Casale, 27 km north of Bologna, a large Roman-age archaeological site covering more than 40,000 sqm is preserved at ground level on the inner part of a large geomorphic window displaying 3D features and photographic patterns related to a paleochannel of the river Reno. At depth, the site is definitely larger than at the ground level and more complex than previously thought. The Emilia-Romagna Regional Bureau for Archaeology (Soprintendenza Archeologica) surveyed the site for the first time in autumn 2000 by means of a 2-m wide trench system extending for a totallength of 800 m, i.e. 1.6 km of exposed stratigraphic sections of varying heights. The archaeological site was probably a vicus, i.e. the most important service centre in the southern Po River plain along the ancient regional roadway from Bologna to Padova. Its development began in the Roman Republican period (2nd century BC) near a river paleochannel; a second channel (the last to disappear) was 800 m further west. The village is multi-Iayered down to a depth of 1.75 m . The first structural level is characterised by a remarkable presence of Fe-slags, while the last one (5th-6th century AD) is contained inside present day plowed horizon, signalling the definitive end of the activity of the main river channel (3rd-5th century AD).

MARCO FRANZINI and MARCO LEZZERINI - The Triassic marble from the Punta Bianca promontory (La Spezia, Italy).Did Roman quarrying of "Lunensis marble" begin here?
Abstract - A marble body belonging to the Triassic low-grade metamorphic sequence of the «Punta Bianca Unit» outcrops on the coastal diff of the Punta Bianca promontory (La Spezia, Liguria, Italy). The macroscopic features of this marble are described and its chemical, mineralogical and physical data presented, as resulting from measurements on 25 samples. Punta Bianca marble is easily distinguished from the better-known Jurassic Carrara marble on the basis of the fine grain size of the former (70 jlm), the presence of muscovi te flakes and, especially, of winding ankerite veins which take on a characteristic rust colour when altered. A number of architectural elements made of Punta Bianca marble and dating from the first century B.e. to the second century are found at the archaeological site of Luni, about 4 km north-east of Punta Bianca. The possibility that quarrying of Punta Bianca marble began before that of CalTara marble is considered.

MAURIZIO GUALTIERI, GIOVANNA ROSSINI and BEATRICE MORONI - Campana plaques from Ossaia - La Tufa (Cortona, Arezzo): from archaeological hypotheses to archaeometric results.
Abstract - The Roman villa at Ossaia - La Tufa, near Cortona, was built during the late-Republican period and monumentalized in the Augustan periodo In the second half of 1st cento AD some parts of the villa were radically transformed and some of the rooms employed as productive workshops. The on-going excavations of the villa, have yielded a number of fragments of Campana plaques. The iconographic type attested by the plaques is that of an Siren standing on top of an acanthus tuft turned upside down, from which luxuriant flowered tendrils develop. Two very different levels of stylistical refinement have been recognized in the terracotta fragments: the first shows the typical features of the best productions of Late-RepublicanlEarly-Imperial age, the second is a reproduction in poorer style of the same iconographic type. The aim of this work was to characterize these different productions in order to establish any connections with the sequence of rearrangements undergone by the monumental complex, and to clarify some aspects of production and circulation of Campana plaques. The samples were characterized by means of stereoscopic and optical microscopy, and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. At the same time, samples of urban production from Palatine Museum were characterized using the same methodologies, and then compared to the samples from Ossaia - La Tufa. The results point to the existence of two different groups of production, local and urban, of architectural terracottas in the Ossaia - La Tufa villa, corresponding to the different levels of stylistical refinement. Local production, in poorer style, is characterized by the sole presence of a sedimentary fraction which has been attributed to local geological formations found in the Cortona area. Urban production, in high style, is characterized by the presence of a volcanic component which has been attributed to pyroclastic units of potassium alkaline magmatic rocks found in Latium and Campania. The archaeometric results have been interpreted assuming importation of the products in high style from Rome, in the period in which the villa probably passed into imperial property, and local production of the pieces in poorer tyle, in a subsequent period of decline occurred during the Flavian age.

GLORIA OLCESE and MAURICE PICON - Towards the setting up of an archaeometric data bank of the pottery produced in Italy.
Abstract - The aim of this paper is to present a project recently set up at the Free University of Berlin (Institute of Classical Archaeology) concerning the creation of a chemical data bank of archaeological ceramics produced in Italy (with particular reference to the classical age, but also including data on ceramics of medieval times). The core part of such data bank consists of chemical data (X-ray fluorescence method) obtained in the past at the «Laboratoire de Céramologie» of Lyon (M. Picon) and data acquired by chemical analyses carried out at the «Arbeitsgruppe Archaometrie» of Berlin (projects by G. Olcese).

PATRIZIO PENSABENE , MARIA PREITE MARTINEZ, BRUNO TURI and CLAUDIA VALERI - Historic-artistic and archaeometric studies of the sculptures of the Museum of Ostia.
Abstract - An archaeometric study was conducted on 21 marble sculptures belonging to the collection of the Museum of Ostia. The sculptures consist of statues, reliefs, portraits, and architectural freizes from public buildings, private residences and funerary monuments. The study, aimed at determining the provenance of the marbles used, is based upon the measurement of the oxygen and carbon isotopic composition and the evaluation of the macroscopic features of the marble of the various items, corroborated by the historic-artistic information available. The resu1ts obtained indicate that the majority of sculptures are of Luni marble and were very likely crafted by local workshops. Parian and Thasian marbles, two of the finest Greek marbles, were also used; most artefacts made of Parian marble were imported, but the two sèulptures of Thasian marble so far studied were probably carved by urban workshops. Relatively limited seem the use of marbles from Anatolia. Our data suggest that at Ostia the marbles from Luni (Carrara) and, to a lesser extent, Paros were the most widely used varieties; only few artefacts carved in marbles from other Classical sources have been found so far in the collection of the Museum. However, more data are needed to confirm this indication.

ALBERTO RENZULLI, PATRIZIA SANTI, GIANCARLO SERRI and MARIO LUNI - The Euganean trachyte flagstones ("basoli") used by the Romans along the mid-Adriatic coast (Marche, central Italy): an archaeometric study.
Abstract - Trachytes from the Euganean hills (Veneto) were used by the Romans as flagstones (basoli) along the northernmost stretch of the Via Flaminia (between Fanum Fortunae, now called Fano, and Ariminum, now Rimini) and in a pavement of the old town centre of Ancona (Ancona). The latter represents, up to date, the southern limit of spread of the Euganean basoli in the Roman period. Source identification of these volcanic rocks came from mineralogical constraints (e.g. presence of anorthoclase), major oxide geochemistry (e.g., K₂0/Na₂0 ±l), and patterns of trace elements (e.g., lack of Nb-Ta negative anomaly). In addition, comparison of petrographic and chemical parameters of these flagstones with those of the Euganean trachyte quarries discriminated three sites of provenance: Monselice (basoli from Ancona and Via Flaminia), ML Oliveto and ML Merlo (basoli from Via Flaminia). These three quarries are located in the eastern margin of the Euganean hills, perfectly located for trading trachyte blocks along the nearby Adriatic, easily achieved by means of the network of drainage channels and canals (e.g., Fossa Philistina) linked to the rivers Brenta (Meduacus), Bacchiglione (Edrone) and Adige (Atesis). In the Roman period, the Atesis ran close to Monselice (before the catastrophic flood of 589 A.D.) and the palaeoAdige was therefore a further waterway linking the Adriatic coast with the Euganean hills. In order to reach the mid-Adriatic coast, the Romans could also transport the basoli down to Ravenna along the socalled Via Endolagunare, an inner waterway running parallel to the Via Popilia.

GIOVANNA SAVIANO, LUCIANA DRAGO, FERDINANDO FELLI, MAURIZIO VIOLO - Architectural decorations, ceramics and terracottas from Veii (Etruria): a preliminary study.
Abstract - A comparative study of archaic and late archaic materials was undertaken with the aim of creating a ceramic and architectural database on day production at Veii (Etruria) from the Iron Age to the Roman Conquest (structural clay characteristics, working techniques, materials and techniques for smface refinement and application of decorations) and to define the state of technological knowledge, production sites (workshops) and the circulation of manufacts. Materials were the following: among the pottery, a grey bucchero ossuary (Fig. 1) from the Grotta Gramiccia necropolis; among architectural terracottas, one of the large red and brown bases of the statues of the Portonaccio sanctuary (Fig. 2 a, b) and a red, brown and blue antefix with a female head surrounded by a nimbus from Casale del Fosso. All these materials add to the data obtained from previous works on architectural decorations and sculptures in terracotta from Veii.

GIOVANNA SAVIAN0, FERDINANDO FELLI, MAURO CAVALLINI and LUCIANA DRAG0 - Study of an Etruscan object composed of three metals.
Abstract - This paper reports the results of preliminary research carried out on one of the many metal objects from excavations in the Sanctuary of Pyrgi (Santa Severa, Rome) near the port of Caere (Cerveteri), one of the main towns of Southern Etruria. The metal object, found in the southern area of the sanctuary consists of a cylinder, perhaps a handle, originally part of an object of indefinite shape and function. It consists of three different layers of metal: a centraI ferrous rectangular rod (lO x 8 mm), surrounded by a thick lead alloy ring 21 mm in diameter, and a 2-mm outer layer of copper alloy. SEM+EDS analyses were carried out on the three components. It seems probable that the outer copper alloy sleeve was produced first. The inner iron rod was set in position and the Pb-Sn alloy was then cast to fix all three parts of the object together. The ferrous rod was produced by deformation resulting from heating. Pb- and Cu-bearing alloys were cast in temperature ranges of, respectively, 350-300°C and 1100-800°C.

GIUSEPPE SCALA and ALESSANDRO LENTINI - Characterisation of textile fibres from the Roman ships of Pisa San Rossore, Italy.
Abstract - An ancient port of Etruscan and Roman origin was discovered in December 1988, during excavation works near the railway station of Pisa San Rossore (Tuscany, Italy). This discovery was particularly important, both because of the great number of well-preserved open ships 16 in alI and the quantity of objects found aboard them. These included amphorae of various shapes, sizes and types, ceramic and glass artefacts, objects made of bone and horn, balm and balsamic cosmetics, oil lamps, surgical instruments, fishing and shipboard equipment: hooks, nets, ropes and lines, basket. small covered cord baskets, articles for repairing fishing-nets and sailors' protective clothing in leather. The remarkably good state of preservation of alI these objects is due to the fact that they were completely immersed in water, in an oxygen-free environment. The area of excavation from which analysed samples (textile fibres) shows a long narrows conformation morphological (Bruni S., 1999-2000). In this area the rest of the Hellenistic ship together the dock with of the ancient port found the piling breakwater. In these stratigraphic layers prior to and as limitation of imperial age (Castagnoli F., 1958), same structures of the harbour of an Etruscan city have been found.

GIORGIO TROJSI, GIULIA BARTOLI and ENRICO GUIDI - High-resolution thermography applied to archaeological monuments: the example of the Pomponio Hylas columbarium (Rome).
Abstract - The so-called columbaria are underground environments of differing size, built in masonry and vaulted, with walls subdivided into aediculae, or architectural vertical parts of different type with, generally, a niche where ollae and cinerary urns were deposited. Placed in the area of the Scipionis sepulchre, near the Appia and Latina streets, the Pomponio Hylas Columbarium, dated to the first half of the 1st century A.D., although with additions of the Flavian period, is partially excavated in rock and built in opus cementicium tiled with brick. The interest of these buildings, particularly widespread for the burial of people of less wealthy groups, lies especially in their stucco or painted decorations. In the field of Cultural Heritage, high-resolution thermography applied to archaeological monuments is of great interest, because it allows us to acquire data concerning thermal dynamics, structural peculiarities and the physical state of the constituent elements, in order to define proper conservative restoration. The present work reports results of investigations carried out on the central aedicula of the Pomponio Hylas columbarium.

GIORGIO TROJSI, MATTEO POSITAN0, GIULIO PALUMBI and ANTONIO DI LORENZO - Archaeometrical issues related to Transcaucasian pottery from Georgia.
Abstract - The ceramic fragments examined here come from the settlements of Kiketi, Medamgeis Gora, Kvatskhelebi and Satkhe; the first two are located in the region of Kvemo Kartli, south-eastern Georgia; Kvatskhelebi, in the Shida Kartli region, is one of the few stratified Bronze Age sites in Georgia, and is thus one of the most important points of reference for Caucasian Anatolian archaeology. Satkhe, recently discovered, lies near the present-day Turkish-Georgian border. The four sites have alI been dated between the end of the fourth millennium and the first half of the third millennium B.C. Samples were analysed by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with microanalyses (SEM-EDS), and observation of thin sections at the mineralogical microscope for chemical, physical and mineralogical characterisation; Other research aims were also: to hypothesize firing temperature; for better understanding of the techniques used to create the colouring of the ceramic walls; and to verify possible regional differences in the use of materials and techniques within the Transcaucasus. Results were preliminarily compared with data from the red-black pottery of Arslantepe, in southeastern Turkey.

PATRIZIA TUCCI, PAOLA MORBIDELLI, PATRIZIO PENSABENE, ETTORE AZZARO and MASSIMILIANO MONGILL0 - The Portico degli Dei Consenti (Roman Forum). Archaeometric study of a late ancient colonnade made of "Cipollino verde" marble.
Abstract - The aim of this work was an archaeometric study of the «Cipollino verde» marble of the grooved columns which, in about 367 A.D. were re-used to build the Portico degli Dei Consenti in the Roman Forum. Seven out of eleven fragments were sampled tì'om in situ columns raised from the ground during the 19th century on occasion of Visconti's restoration aftel' their Mediaeval collapse, during which five columns were replaced by travertine ones. The other four fragments were sampled tì'om other pieces Iying near the colonnade. During the Roman Empire, «Cipollino verde» marble was widely used to decorate many buildings. Today, one archaeological problem is to verify whether this marble came exclusively from the wellknown Imperial quarries in southern Euboea (Greece), from Italian ones (Apuan Alps, Tuscany) or from several other sources in the Imperial provinces (Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Albania, Greece). In addition, for Euboea it is important to define in which sectors of this Greek region (western, eastern, centraI) quarrying was more highly developed, since further knowledge would enable us to reconstruct ancient organisation of labour, travel routes and ports of embarkation. Help in solving these problems comes from study of the minero-petrographic, chemical and isotopic features of the «Cipollino verde» formations outcropping in the Mediterranean basino Current knowledge about formations in southern Euboea and the Apuan Alps («Cipollino Verde») identifies several discriminating parameters. On the basis of results obtained from the «Cipollino verde» columns of the Portico degli Dei Consenti, seven samples were ascribed to a formation outcropping in western Euboea (Styra sup. and/or Styra inf. sub-district) and one to the formation outcropping in the Arni sector (Apuan Alps). Data for the three remaining marble columns could not assigned, on the basis of the considered parameters, either to Euboean or Apuan Alps districts.