Geochemical and petrographic investigation of the provenance of white marble decorative elements from the Roman Villa Armira in south-eastern Bulgaria

Abstract The paper presents evidence of Roman marble production in the Balkan region, specifically from south-eastern Rhodope Mountain area (modern Bulgaria) and Armira. Although trade antiquity are well known Prokonnesos, Thasos, several other sites, deposits inland Thrace have received far less attention. In 2018–2019, a systematic survey Bulgaria (Roman Thrace) was carried out by our team collaboration with National Archaeological Institute Museum Bulgaria. White quarries outcrops were investigated situ goal characterizing macroscopic qualities stone. Quarry samples collected analyzed through various techniques—petrography, isotopic, chemical analyses—and compared architectural decorative artifacts villa at We demonstrate that geochemical petrographic features these indicate provenance restricted to few selected sources. conclude local Armira Kamilski Dol widely used for complete program