‘The routes of the marble in Roman period' project. Lesson learnt

In 2009, we began a study project on the cargoes of marble from the Roman period that sank in the Mediterranean. About ten shipwrecks have been investigated underwater so far; samples from their marble blocks have been analysed at the University IUAV of Venice. Although the project has not been completed, it is already possible to review this experience, analysing the potentialities and the limits of studying the circulation of marble through the investigation of the shipwrecks. The systematic sampling analysis has offered the possibility to identify associations of different marbles transported aboard the same ship. Digital photogrammetry has enabled obtaining precise 3D documentation of the stone elements, which in turn have allowed making precise calculations of the tonnage and tentative 3D reconstructions of the arrangement aboard as well as the main dimensions of the vessels. There are critical aspects in the research of these shipwrecks: they often conserve very few objects over the marble, this implies that sometimes the datings are very generic and that reconstructing the route is not straightforward. The remains of wooden hulls are also very decayed or are under huge blocks which cannot be removed. This implies that we still do not know very much about these vessels. In some regions, such as Greece, the information concerning these wrecks is scant, and clearly reconstructing the marble routes is still in a preliminary phase.