(PDF) Provenance analysis of marble ecclesiastical elements from the extra-mural Byzantine Church of Udhruh (South Jordan

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences (2020) 12:26 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-019-00975-5 ORIGINAL PAPER Provenance analysis of marble ecclesiastical elements from the extra-mural Byzantine Church of Udhruh (South Jordan) Khaled Al-Bashaireh 1 & Fawzi Abudanah 2 & Mark Driessen 3 Received: 27 February 2019 / Accepted: 24 November 2019 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020 Abstract The aim of this research is to assign the provenance of marble samples uncovered from the extra-mural Byzantine Church of Udhruh (Augustopolis), south Jordan. The church is a three-nave basilica that most probably was built in the fifth century CE. In later expansion phases, it was remodeled by the addition of two side chapels and several rooms. The research investigated the physical, mineralogical, and isotopic properties of twenty-four marble samples of different functions using naked eyes, lenses, and multiple analytical techniques including optical microscopy, mass spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction. The results showed that the architectural elements were made of the gray calcitic Proconnesus-1 marble (Marmara, Turkey); while the four fonts or basins were carved out of the beige dolomitic Thasos-3 marble (Thasos Island, Cape Vathy, Greece); and the small squared column of unknown function was carved out of the fine-grained white calcitic Penteli marble (Mount Pentelikon, Attica, Greece). The results indicate that the most popular supply of the ecclesial marble to the south (and north) Jordan during the Byzantine period was the gray Proconnesus-1. The use of white Penteli and Thasos-3 marbles were limited to ritual elements. Keywords Ecclesiastical Marble . Byzantine Church . Provenance Investigation . Archaeometric Analysis . Udhruh . Jordan Introduction became a major center during the Byzantine and Muslim times. The Nabataean period in this region dates traditionally Background from the 3rd–2nd BCE till 106 CE (the date of the establish- ment of the Roman Province of Arabia), although the material The village of Udhruh, 12 km east of Petra (Fig. 1), had almost culture and layout of structures remain dominantly Nabataean gone into oblivion as an archeological site until the early through large parts of the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE. For earlier 1980s (Killick 1983, 1986; Abudanh 2006). Earlier explora- expeditions and research in Udhruh see for instance Brünnow tions and excavations revealed that Udhruh housed an impor- and Domaszewski (Brünnow and von Domaszewski 1904: tant Nabatean settlement and a Roman legionary fortress, and pp. 429–462); Glueck (1935: p. 76); Killick (1990: pp. 249– 250); Al-Bashaireh (2013). The Roman castra—with large parts of the more than 3-m * Khaled Al-Bashaireh wide ashlar defensive walls and inner structures still

standing—form a trapezoid of four sides measuring 246 × 207 × 248 × 177 m and occupies an area of about 4.7 ha in Fawzi Abudanah

accordance with the dimensions of late Roman legionary camps. Classical literary and archeological sources point to a Mark Driessen long-term development of the village from Nabataean till

Islamic times (Fiema 2002: pp. 209–210; Kennedy and 1 Department of Archaeology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 211-63, Falahat 2008; Al-Salameen et al. 2011). Literary sources make Jordan it clear that Augustopolis—as Udhruh was called during 2 Petra College for Tourism and Archaeology, Al-Hussein Bin Talal Byzantine times—gained ecclesiastical status during this pe- University, Wadi Musa 71810, Jordan riod (Frösén 2004: 142). Two bishops, named Johannes of 3 Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9514, 2300 Augustopolis, attended the Ecumenical Council in Ephesus RA Leiden, The Netherlands in 431 CE and the Synod in Jerusalem in 536 CE. Elias, 26 Page 2 of 13 Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Fig. 1 Location of Udhruh and other sites mentioned in the text diaconus et monachus Augustopolitanus, signed the decisions community at the beginning of the tenth century (Fiema of the Synods in Jerusalem and Constantinople in 536 CE 2002: p. 211). (Fiema 2002: 210, and references therein). In 630 CE, The archeological variety and perfect preservation of the Udhruh entered peacefully under Muslim’s control and paid surrounding area of Udhruh were, in combination with the a tribute of 100 dinars (Al-Salameen et al. 2011: p. 233). It intriguing site itself, essential criteria for starting a joint inter- acquired a special position during this time: an important ar- national archeological project between the Petra College for bitration took place, at a hill just north of the village, between Tourism and Archeology of Al-Hussein Bin Talal University competing Muslim parties resulting in the establishment of the and the Faculty of Archeology of Leiden University in 2011. Umayyad state (al-Tabarī 1987: p. 10). A manuscript from the Five years of inventory fieldwork (2011–2015) revealed an Sinai-peninsula written by an Egyptian monk for a priest from actively exploited region with impressive investments in Udhruh shows that the village still housed a Christian agro-hydrological intensification, building material Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Page 3 of 13 26 procurement, communication and security networks, settle- and the walls were restored by the local representative of the ment development, and religious transformations. The 2016– Department of Antiquities of Jordan. This clearance program 2018 research funded by the Van Moorsel and Rijnierse aimed to improve the visibility, attractiveness, and accessibil- Foundation, aimed at aspects of religious continuity and trans- ity of the village for tourism. Discoveries made during the formation in one of the centers of the early Muslim world, rubble clearance brought the Udhruh extra-mural church to with small-scale excavations, examining the 2005 ‘clearance’ light. Several parts of its interior walls were plastered with spoil heaps, OSL and 14C dating, transcribing inscriptions, multi-layer stucco containing Christian charcoal graffiti and and making 3D-reconstructions. have Greek and Arabic inscriptions on them. Four of the Arabic Christian inscriptions were quite complete and could The Udhruh church: archeological field work, be dated on the basis of the handwriting to the 13th and early selection, and approach 14th centuries AD, which might indicate the coexistence of Arabic-Christian communities in Udhruh till the early days of An antique extra-mural church is located about 30 m to the the Mamluk Sultanate (Al-Salameen et al. 2011: pp. 234– south of the southwest corner tower of the Roman fortress 237). (Fig. 2). The church was first explored by Père A. H. A looter hole in the core of the church allowed us to ana- Vincent during the last decade of the nineteenth century lyze the complete stratigraphy, regarding the site preparation, (Vincent 1898). Vincent made a drawing of the visible top the foundation layers, the initial building and several renova- parts of the walls depicting only the nave and the narthex of tion phases of the church. Mortar layers of its initial floor the church. After that visit, the church must have remained foundation contained charred twigs which were radiocarbon nearly untouched for another century, as can be seen on aerial dated to the fifth century CE, resulting in our hypothesis that photographs of 1939, 1953, 1980, and 1998.1 In 2005, the the church was built in this century. The church is a three-nave rubble of the major parts of the church was cleared away basilica, with two pastoforia next to the apse, measuring an Fig. 2 Surface remains of the Udhruh Roman fortress and extra-mural church. Illustration by Roeland Emaus 26 Page 4 of 13 Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Fig. 3 Top plan of the Udhruh church (the church’s length is 33.5 m) area of about 20.5 × 12.0 m2 (Fig. 3). In later centuries, two another location in Udhruh, besides the extra-mural church. side chapels and several rooms were added during different At several locations in the apse, imprints of marble altar extension phases which enlarged the church to a final area of screens—matching the sizes of retrieved marble elements— about 33.5 × 24.5 m2. Most of the walls are more or less com- could be observed in the original mosaic floor. In 2018, an plete and standing to a height of approximately 3 m. altar of a later church phase was excavated, made of spolia Throughout the last 3 years of archeological field cam- coquina limestone blocks, which was constructed on top of paigns (2016–2018), sixty marble architectural elements were this mosaic floor in the center of the apse. Accordingly the discovered, of which a several dozen with a clear ecclesiastical hypothesis is that the church was furnished with the imported origin; see some samples in Fig. 4. Thirty elements were marble elements during the initial or one of its early phases. found in the spoil heaps of the 2005 Department of Although the original context of many of the studied marbles Antiquities of Jordan clearance, twenty elements were stray/ is unclear, sourcing these materials adds to the late antique surface finds, and the remainder were retrieved during the studies of marble exploited in the decoration of Udhruh’s excavations. It is worth noting that none of the marble ele- church, and possible distribution networks involved in the ments were in situ or could be located to their initial location; building of such churches in Southern Jordan. the church has been modified several times in the span of its Sourcing ecclesial marble has gained an increasing atten- usage. The excavated filling layers inside the church date to tion during the past years in Jordan. The archaeometric anal- Mamluk and post-Mamluk times. All marble elements were yses of the chancel screen marbles from Rihab churches by however (originally) retrieved from within the perimeters of Al-Bashaireh and Al-Housan (2015) showed that the primary the Udhruh extra-mural church. We think that a secondary use source of the marble was Marmara Island (Proconnesus-1), of these marble elements coming from another location than Turkey, and the secondary source was Docimium, modern the church, for instance originally applied within the Roman Iscehisar (Turkey). Al-Bashaireh and Lazzarini (2016) legionary fortress, can be ruled out. This because no marble showed that the Proconnesus-1 marble was the dominant mar- fragments or elements have been excavated nor found as sur- ble used in the construction of the Cruciform church at Abila. face finds within the walls of this adjacent Roman fort or at Similarly, Al-Bashaireh and Dettman (2015) found the same Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Page 5 of 13 26 Fig. 4 Representative samples of the Udhruch church collection result by analyzing marble samples from three churches in Samples and methods north Jordan (the Umm el-Amad church and Area B church at Abila, and Atrouz church west Capitolias). Most of the Twenty-four different broken architectural elements of dif- marbles used at the middle church of Hayyan al-Mushrif, ferent functions were selected for analysis. Representative Mafraq were Proconnesus-1 marble (Al-Bashaireh and Al- small chips or fragments were detached from already bro- Housan 2019). ken pieces or surfaces of these elements using sharp chisels This research uses different analytical methods to charac- and light hammer to maintain their esthetic appearance terize marble samples collected from ecclesiastical elements unaffected. The architectural elements are listed and de- from the extra-mural Byzantine church of Udhruh (South scribed in Table 1, and some of the samples are presented Jordan) in order to determine their source. Multiple analytical in Fig. 4. methods are usually used to an unambiguous assignment of The samples were characterized by multiple analytical marble provenances and to overcome the overlapping of ana- techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses determined lytical results of some quarries used in antiquity. the mineralogical composition of the samples. XRD Table 1 Sample description, color, the analytical results, and the probable provenance (Pr-1 = Proconnesus-1, T-3 = Thasos-3, Pe = Penteli, M.G.S maximum grain size, Cal Calcite, Dol Dolomite, HE 26 heteroblastic, +++ very abundant; ++ abundant; + present; ± traces, − not detected) S. Find Description and possible function Macroscopic M.G.S. Microscopic features Minerals (petrography and XRD) δ13C δ18O Probable N° number features (mm) (PDB) (PDB) provenance Major Trace and minor Page 6 of 13 Cal/ Quartz K- Carbon/ Opaque Dolomite Dol mica Graphite Mineral /Calcite (XRD) 1 1782G Fragment of a pavement slab: one face is polished, Light gray, dark 2.6 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal ± ++ + + + 2.48 − 1.61 Pr-1 the other is grooved. Dimensions fragment: gray bands, curved-embayed 27.5 × 14.4 × 4.5 cm. coarse-grained. boundaries, vein of fine grains and parallel trains of mica. 2 2872G Fragment of a decorated rectangular post: four Light gray, dark 2.6 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal + – + ± – 2.89 − 1.67 Pr-1 sides are polished, one head end with grooves. gray bands, straight-curved Dimensions fragment: 20.9 × 13.5 × 12.7 cm. coarse-grained. boundaries, coarse matrix. 3 2098C Baptismal font. Dimensions fragment: White-beige, 2.3 Mosaic, HE, Dol ± – ± ± ± 3.03 − 3.87 T-3 18.1 × 11.8 × 13.2 cm. coarse-grained. curved-embayed-sutured boundaries. 4 358C Baptist font. Dimensions fragment: White-beige, 2.7 Mosaic, HE, Dol ± – + ± – 3.10 − 3.29 T-3 31.4 × 15.1 × 16.6 cm coarse-grained. curved-embayed-sutured boundaries. 5 3444C Part of the capital of colonette or a leg of an altar or Gray, dark gray 2.5 Mosaic, Mortar, HE, Cal – – ± ± ± 3.56 − 4.51 Pr-1 an offertory table. bands, straight-curved Dimensions fragment: 15.1 × 9.5 × 7.0 cm coarse-grained. boundaries. 6 3442C Fragment of a sculptured elevated edge of a liturgy Gray, dark gray 2.8 Mosaic, Mortar, HE, Cal ± – ± ± – 3.39 − 2.77 Pr-1 table. Top side is polished, bottom is grooved bands, curved-embayed and circular incision socket for colonette or post. coarse-grained. boundaries. Dimensions fragment: 34.8 × 17.9 × 9.1 cm 7 3450C Part of a rectangular column or post. Dimensions White-beige, 0.9 Mosaic, HE, slightly Cal + ++ ± ± + 4.09 − 5.70 Pe fragment: 25.3 × 10.9 × 10.6 cm fine-grained. lineated, curved-embayed boundaries. 8 2851G Fragment of a sculptured elevated edge of an altar Dark gray, 2.3 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal ± ++ ± ±± + 3.83 − 3.25 Pr-1 table or rim of large platter: one face is polished, coarse-grained. curved-embayed Archaeol Anthropol Sci the other is grooved. Dimensions fragment: boundaries, vein of fine 25.7 × 15.4 × 5.5 cm grains and parallel trains of large mica particles. 9 2871C Fragment of a belly column. Dimensions fragment: Light gray, dark 2.4 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal + + ± ± – 2.63 − 1.45 Pr-1 22.0 × 5.9 Ø cm gray bands, curved-embayed coarse-grained. boundaries. 10 3439G Chancel screen post, rectangular, with part of the Light gray of 3.6 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal ± ± ± 3.41 (2020) 12:26 – – − 1.84 Pr-1 hemispherical head, concentric frames white curved-embayed decoration on one face, deep groove on the appearance, boundaries. Table 1 (continued) S. Find Description and possible function Macroscopic M.G.S. Microscopic features Minerals (petrography and XRD) δ13C δ18O Probable N° number features (mm) (PDB) (PDB) provenance Major Trace and minor Cal/ Quartz K- Carbon/ Opaque Dolomite Archaeol Anthropol Sci Dol mica Graphite Mineral /Calcite (XRD) adjacent face for fixing panel. Dimensions dark gray fragment: 62.1 × 18.0 × 18.1 cm bands, coarse-grained. 11 3493G Fragment of a pillar. Dimensions fragment: white-beige, 2.5 Mosaic, HE, Dol ± ± ± 3.01 (2020) 12:26 – – − 4.53 T-3 22.4 × 18.3 × 16.3 cm coarse-grained. curved-embayed-sutured boundaries. 12 3459G Fragment of a pavement slab with protruding Light gray-gray, 2.9 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal ± + + + – 3.02 − 1.55 Pr-1 surface edges: one face is polished, the second is dark gray curved-embayed grooved. Dimensions fragment: bands, boundaries. 17.7 × 18.8 × 3.5 cm coarse-grained. 13 2142C Part of rectangular post, decorated with parallel white-light gray, 2.9 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal ± – ± ± – 2.97 − 1.63 Pr-1 longitudinal incisions Dimensions fragment: dark gray curved-embayed 28.3 × 17.4 × 15.3 cm bands, boundaries. coarse-grained, finer grains in stripes. 14 3494C Panel fragment. Dimensions fragment: Dark gray, 2.6 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal ± – ± ± ± 3.18 − 1.54 Pr-1 18.1 × 8.1 × 7.6 cm coarse-grained. curved-embayed boundaries 15 2876C Chancel screen post, rectangular, deep groove on Light gray, dark 2.3 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal – – ± ± – 2.90 − 0.09 Pr-1 one face for fixing panels. Dimensions fragment: gray bands, curved-embayed 35.0 × 15.0 × 14.6 cm coarse-grained. boundaries. 16 2116G Fragment of a post head, circular with parallel Gray, dark gray 2.6 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal + – + + +++ 2.71 − 4.30 Pr-1 transversal incisions Dimensions fragment: bands, curved-embayed 13.2 × 10.0 × 11.1 cm coarse-grained. boundaries, veins of fine and medium grains. 17 3487 Fragment of a pavement slab: one face is polished, White-light gray, 2.1 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal – – ± ± – 3.02 − 2.24 Pr-1 the second is grooved. Dimensions fragment: dark gray straight-curved 20.6 × 15.8 × 7.6 cm bands, boundaries. coarse-grained. 18 3481G Fragment of a panel, rectangular with parallel Light gray, dark 2.6 Mosaic, mortar, He, Cal – – + ± – 2.20 − 4.59 Pr-1 longitudinal incisions on one side and edge. On gray bands, strained, the other scratches of a block pattern can be coarse-grained. curved-embayed recognized It has perforated in the center, in boundaries. order for an iron nail or wire. Dimensions fragment: 20.4 × 16.9 × 7.8 cm Page 7 of 13 19 3446C 3.3 Cal – – ± ± ++ 2.94 − 1.09 Pr-1 26 Table 1 (continued) 26 S. Find Description and possible function Macroscopic M.G.S. Microscopic features Minerals (petrography and XRD) δ13C δ18O Probable N° number features (mm) (PDB) (PDB) provenance Major Trace and minor Page 8 of 13 Cal/ Quartz K- Carbon/ Opaque Dolomite Dol mica Graphite Mineral /Calcite (XRD) Fragment of a pavement slab: one face is polished, Light gray, dark Mosaic, mortar, HE, the second is roughly worked. Dimensions gray bands, curved-embayed fragment: 17.4 × 12.3 × 4.4 cm coarse-grained. boundaries. 20 3441C Fragment of a circular post. Dimensions fragment: Gray, dark gray 1.8 Mosaic, mortar of medium Cal – – + + +++ 2.86 − 4.00 Pr-1 14.1 × 11.9 × 4.8 cm bands, grains in a fine matrix, medium-- HE, curved-embayed grained, larger boundaries. few grains. 21 2236C Fragment of a plate. Dimensions fragment: Dark, dark gray 2.3 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal – – + + – 3.53 − 2.01 Pr-1 20.1 × 14.8 × 4.3 cm bands, curved-embayed coarse-grained. boundaries. 22 2877G Part of a column or a step. Dimensions fragment: White, 2.4 Mosaic, HE, Dol – – ± ± ++ 2.77 − 5.21 T-3 81 × 39 × 12 cm coarse-grained. curved-embayed-sutured boundaries. 23 3489C Fragment of a pavement slab: one face is polished, Dark gray, dark 2.9 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal – – + ± +++ 3.45 − 2.47 Pr-1 the other is grooved. Dimensions fragment: gray bands, curved-embayed 22.4 × 9.4 × 7.7 cm coarse-grained. boundaries. 24 3491 Fragment of a pavement slab: one face is polished, Light gray, dark 2.3 Mosaic, mortar, HE, Cal – – + + – 2.72 − 2.37 Pr-1 the other is grooved. Dimensions fragment: gray bands, curved-embayed 32.3 × 20.5 × 7.8 cm coarse-grained. boundaries. Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Page 9 of 13 26 analyses were carried out on powders from whole samples The dolomitic marbles using a Shimadzu Lab X, 6000 X-ray diffractometer. Powder diffraction patterns were obtained under the fol- Four white beige and coarse-grained samples belong to the lowing conditions: CuKμ radiation (1.5418 Å) with dolomitic group (3, 4, 11, 22). It is agreed that the white beige 30 kV and 30 mA energy. and coarse-grained dolomitic marble was mainly quarried in Optical microscopy (OM) of thin sections studied a ancient times from Thasos-3 Island especially for sculptures number of petrographic parameters of important diagnos- (Herrmann and Newman 2002). Isotopic signatures of the four tic significance for provenancing marble, including: fab- samples sit within the isotopic region of Thasos-3 dolomitic ric, maximum grain size (MGS), and grain boundary marble, but within other isotopic regions of ancient marble shapes (GBS) of calcite or dolomite grains and the distri- quarries (Fig. 5). Microscopically, the samples show micro- bution of accessory minerals (Gorgoni et al. 2002; structure features similar to those of Thasos-3 dolomitic mar- Lazzarini 2004; Gaggadis-Robin et al. 2009). Thin section bles including mosaic fabric, heteroblastic texture, curved to analyses were performed using a Leitz 7062 model polar- sutured grain boundaries, deformed polysynthetic twinning, izing microscope. XRD and OM analyses were carried out and a MGS range between 2.1 and 2.5 mm (Fig. 6) (Bruno at the laboratories of the Faculty of Archeology and et al. 2002a). All of these data affirm that the samples most Anthropology at Yarmouk University. probably originated from Thasos-3 dolomitic marble (the dis- Mass spectrometry (MS) analyses measured the sam- trict of Cape Vathy), Thasos Island, Greece. ples’ δ13C and δ18O values on powders of whole samples using an automated carbonate preparation device (KIEL- The calcitic marbles III) coupled to a gas ratio mass spectrometer (Finnigan MAT 252). The precision of the isotopic ratio is ± 0.1‰ Twenty samples (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, for δ18O and ± 0.08‰ for δ13C (1 sigma); the measure- 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25) consist mainly of calcite concerning ments were calibrated based on repeated measurements of their mineralogical composition and minor dolomite, while NBS-19 (TS-limestone) and NBS-18 (calcite). The values others show parallel trails of muscovite (Fig. 6, Table 1). of isotopic composition were expressed in terms of δ13C Depending on the maximum grain size values, only sample and δ18O, in ‰, relative to the international reference (7) is fine grained, while the rest of the calcitic samples are standard Pee Dee Belemnite (Craig 1957). Isotopic mea- medium to coarse-grained (Table 1). surements were carried out at the Environmental Isotope Laboratory of the Department of Geosciences at the The fine-grained marbles University of Arizona in Tucson. A few milligrams of cleaned portion of each chip were Only sample 7 belongs to this group. The isotopic analyses ground to powders and used for XRD and MS analyses, represented in Fig. (5) indicate that sample 7 originated from while the rest of the chips produced thin sections for OM Penteli fine-grained marble because its isotopic values are analyses. only located within the Penteli isotopic region. Penteli prove- The analytical data collected were compared with the main nance is also supported by the sample’s petrographic features reference databases of Mediterranean marbles exploited in seen under the polarized microscope (Fig. 6). The fine grains antiquity (Gorgoni et al. 2002; Attanasio et al. 2008; are lineated and euhedral, have curved to straight boundaries, Antonelli and Lazzarini 2015). The isotopic signatures were and form heteroblastic and mosaic textures (Roos et al. 1988). plotted against the Antonelli and Lazzarini (2015)’s updated global isotopic reference diagram. The coarse-grained marbles Nineteen samples (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24) belong to this group. The isotopic Results signatures of these samples are located in different isotopic regions of ancient marble quarries (Fig. 5). However, all the The studied samples range in color from beige to light and signatures are comprised in the Proconnesus-1 isotopic region. dark gray. Darker gray parallel bands or spots are visible in They have heteroblastic fabric, curved, embayed to sutured most of the samples (Fig. 4, Table 1). Function, color, and grain boundaries, a MGS between 2.1 and 3.6 mm, and the analytical results are presented in Table 1. The mineralogical typical mortar texture of the Proconessus-1 marble. Some composition of the samples analyzed by XRD divides the samples have distinct features; for instance, samples 1, 8, 16, samples into dolomitic (3, 4, 11, 22) and calcitic samples and 20 have two grain-size distributions; samples 1 and 8 (the rest of the samples). show trains of muscovite; sample 10 has the largest MGS (3.6 mm), and sample 18 has elongated large calcite crystals 26 Page 10 of 13 Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Fig. 5 The isotopic signatures of the marbles from Udhruh extra- mural Byzantine Church plotted in the δ18O-δ13C diagram of Antonelli and Lazzarini (2015) for the main Mediterranean fine– (a) and medium-coarse–grained (b) marbles used in antiquity. C Carrara; Pe Penteli; Doc Docimium; Pa-1 Paros-1 (Lychnites, Stephani), Hy Hymettus, GKT Göktepe, N Naxos; Pr Proconnesus (Pr-1 Proconnesus from Saraylar; Pr-2 Proconnesus from Camlik); Aph Aphrodias;, Pa Paros (Pa-2 Chorodaki valley; Pa-3 Agios Minas valley); T Thasos (T-1 district of Phanari; T-2 district of Aliki; Thasos-(1) 2: this domain comprises the vast quarrying district of Alikı` (Thasos-2) and the small extraction site of Phanari (Thasos-1); T-3 district of Vathy-Saliara) (Fig. 6). All of these petrographic features resembling those of all the samples (distinctive mortar fabric, sutured to embayed Proconnesus-1 marble indicate that the most probable source carbonate crystal boundaries, deformed polysynthetic twin- of the marbles is Proconnesus-1, Marmara Island, Turkey. ning, MGS of 2–4 mm) and color (white to light gray with parallel gray bands) exclude Paros-2 marble which tend to have more regular and straight crystal boundaries and Discussion and conclusions homeoblastic fabrics than Proconessus-1 marble. To the con- trary of Proconessus-1 marble which was the primary marble Several samples plot in overlapping isotopic regions, but pin- of the Byzantine period, Parian marble was of limited use after point Thasos-1(2), Proconnesus-1, Paros-2, and others. The the third or fourth century AD (during the Byzantine period) limited use of Thasian- 1(2) marbles (which are mosaic and (Maniatis and Polikreti 2000; Bruno et al. 2002b; Fischer often has lineated and strained grains) for decorations and 2009, Herrmann et al. 2009). Heraclea/Melitus marbles that architectural elements in the Roman Imperial times (Bruno have some similar features of the studied samples were also et al. 2002b) suggests its exclusion from the probable sources excluded because of their local use during antiquity (Antonelli of the studied marbles. However, the petrographic features of and Lazzarini 2015). Naxos marbles were also excluded Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Page 11 of 13 26 Fig. 6 Photomicrographs of thin sections detected in the white marble heteroblastic coarse grains of embayed to sutured boundaries and the samples of the Udhruh extra-mural Byzantine Church: Sample 7 shows mortar fabric of Proconessus-1 white marble, sample 8,16, 20 has two lineated fine grains with curve boundaries of Penteli marble, Samples grain size distributions and trains of muscovite (Proconessus-1), sample 3,4,11,22 show Thasos-3 heteroblastic fabric made of coarse grained 18 shows elongated large calcite crystals (Proconessus-1) crystals having sutured boundaries, the remainder of the samples show 26 Page 12 of 13 Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 because their petrographic features are different from those of by workshops organized by imperial or religious authority in present samples. Furthermore, it is inconceivable that the mar- finished or semi-finished states at the workshop of the quarry ble samples under investigation used in one single building for before shipping them to their final destination (Al-Bashaireh architectural purposes were imported from different regions and Al-Housan 2015). Similar elements were uncovered in far from each other like Paros, Miletus, Naxos, and shipwrecks (Berlinghieri and Paribeni 2011) and field surveys Proconnesus. The results of this research reflect the general at Proconnesus quarries (Asgari 1992). In addition, Habas trend of the wide use of Proconnesus marble (Marmara Island, (2009)’s stylistic analysis of chancel screen elements from Turkey) during the Byzantine period. The initial phase of Palestina and Arabia (including Jordan) found that most of building and using the church was during the fifth century them were imported. AD, the time of the spread of Christianity and the prosperity It is very clear that the visual aspects and shape were the of the region (Watson 2001; Evans 2005). In fact, during the most important factors for the selection of the marble’s quality Byzantine period, Jordan witnessed the construction of many and color for such important ritual elements. However, the churches that were furnished and decorated with Proconnesus gray Proconnesus-1 marble represents the most popular mar- marble imported from Marmara Island (Al-Bashaireh and Al- ble uses for ecclesiastical elements during the Byzantine Housan 2015; Al-Bashaireh and Dettman 2015; Al-Bashaireh period. and Lazzarini 2016). This sort of marble was characterized by its availability, good quality, and low price, see for details Acknowledgements The results of the Udhruh archeological project and this paper were not possible without the work and assistance of our team Attanasio et al. (2008); Al-Bashaireh and Al-Housan (2015). and students. We would like to thank Maarten Sepers and Roeland Emaus The use of Proconnesus marbles at Udruh’s church for pave- for the figures, Frans Theuws for his continuous support and assistance, ments and decorations including panels, friezes, slabs, and and Willem Willems (†) whose support was essential for the establish- chancel screen posts is in harmony with their traditional usage ment and the international joint venture of the Udhruh Archeological Project. This research project would not have been possible without the for architectural purpose (Fig. 4). financial support of the Stichting Van Moorsel and Rijnierse (via the It is worth noting the similarities of the isotopic values of Netherlands Institute for Scientific Research–NWO). several Proconnesus-1 samples, as seen in Fig. 5 form distinct clusters. It is most probable that the samples of each cluster were cut from the same locus (or block) of the quarrying area References and/or the same workshop. The results show the presence of two other types of marble but in limited numbers (1 sample Abudanh F (2006) Settlement patterns and military organisation in the from Penteli and 4 samples from Thasos-3). The difference in region of Udhruh (Southern Jordan) in the Roman and Byzantine periods. Unpublished PhD-thesis Newcastle upon Tyne University. the quality and characteristics of the Penteli and Thasos-3 Newcastle upon Tyne marbles from those of Proconnesus-1 suggests special primary Al-Bashaireh K (2013) Plaster and mortar radiocarbon dating of functions for them. The Penteli marble (sample 7) was used Nabatean and Islamic structures, South Jordan. Archaeometry for a column most probably of a certain function that cannot 55(2):329–354 be recognized with the available data. It is most probable that Al-Bashaireh K, Al-Housan AQ (2015) Provenance investigation of white marbles of chancel screens from Rihab Byzantine churches, its function is related to one of the principal ritual practices of Northeast Jordan. J Cult Herit 16(4):591–596 the church. It is unlikely that this Penteli column was used as a Al-Bashaireh K, Al-Housan AQ (2019) Provenance of marble elements chancel screen post because of its difference in shape and from the middle Church at Hayyan Al-Mushrif, Northeast Jordan: a color from the rest of the posts made of Proconnesus-1 marble. multidisciplinary approach. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 11:2237–2247. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-018-0671-1 The Thasos-3 beige-colored marbles were used for fonts or Al-Bashaireh K, Dettman D (2015) Geochemical analyses and prove- basins which represent an important ritual element of the nance determination of white marble samples from churches in church’s furniture for holding the water of the Baptism. It is North Jordan. Bull Am Sch Orient Res 374:49–59 likely that the small number of Penteli and Thasos-3 marble Al-Bashaireh K, Lazzarini L (2016) Marbles, granites and basalt used in the cruciform basilica of Abila (Decapolis, Jordan): archaeometric samples suggests a reworked spolia obtained from earlier characterization and provenance. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 8(3):545– buildings and has the pure distinctive white-beige color which 554 is suitable for the ritual elements, although no proof of such Al-Salameen Z, Falahat H, Naimat S, Abudanh F (2011) New Arabic- marble elements have been retrieved from the adjacent Roman Christian inscriptions from Udhruh, southern Jordan. Arab Archaeol Epigr 22:232–242 fort. This phenomenon of marble reuse was common during Antonelli F, Lazzarini L (2015) An updated petrographic and isotopic the Byzantine and early Islamic periods. Reuse of stones was reference database for white marbles used in antiquity. Rendiconti reported by Al-Bashaireh and Lazzarini (2016) who found Lincei 26(4):399–413 reused Paros-2 marble architectural elements and granite col- Asgari N (1992) Obervation of two types of quarry items from Proconnesos: columnshafts and column bases. In: Waelkens M, umns at the Cruciform Church of Abila, north Jordan. Herz N, Moens L (eds) AncientStones: Quarrying, Trade and The Proconessus-1 samples include chancel screen ele- Provenance, Acta Archaeologica Lovaniensia,Monograph, vol 4. ments mainly posts and plates which were precisely produced Leuven University Press, Leuven, pp 73–80 Archaeol Anthropol Sci (2020) 12:26 Page 13 of 13 26 Attanasio D, Brilli M, Bruno M (2008) The properties and identification database for the main Mediterranean marbles used in antiquity. In: of marble from Proconnesos (Marmara Island, Turkey): a new data- Herrmann JJ Jr, Herz N, Newman R (eds) Interdisciplinary studies base including isotopic, EPR and petrographic data. Archaeometry on ancient stone, ASMOSIA 5, Proceedings of the fifth international 50(5):747–774 conference of the association for the study of marble and other Berlinghieri E C F and Paribeni A (2011) Byzantine merchant ships and stones in antiquity, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, June, 11–15, marble trade: new data from central Mediterranean. In: Wien 2010, 1998. Archetype Publications, London, pp 115–131 SKYLLIS 11, Proceedings of “In Poseidons Realm XV: Byzantium Habas L (2009) The art of imported marble chancel screens and its influ- at Sea. Innovation Tradi-tion”, 64–75 ence onlocal production in the churches of the provinces of Brünnow RE, von Domaszewski A (1904) Die Provincia Arabia: auf Palaestina and Arabia:a case study. In: Oniz H (ed) SOMA, Grund zweier in den Jahren 1897 und 1898 ünternommenen Proceedings of the XII Symposium on Mediterranean Reisen und der berichte früherer Reisender: Vol. 1. - Die Archaeology, Famagusta, North Cyprus, 5–8 March 2008, British Römerstrasse von Mâdebâ über Petra und Odruh bis El-‘Akaba. archaeological reports international series 1909. Archaeopress, Verlag Trübner, Strassburg Oxford, pp 100–108 Bruno M, Conti L, Lazzarini L, Pensabene P, Turi B (2002a) The marble Herrmann Jr., J. J. and R. Newman, 2002. New sculptures in Thasian quarries of Thasos: an archaeometric study. In: Lazzarini L (ed) dolomite: Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Italy. In: J. J. Herrmann Jr, N. Interdisciplinary Studies on Ancient Stone - ASMOSIA VI, Herz and R. Newman (eds.), Interdisciplinary studies on ancient Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference of the stone, ASMOSIA 5, Proceedings of the fifth international confer- Association for the Study of Marble and Other Stones in Antiquity, ence of the association for the study of marble and other stones in Venice, June 15–18, 2000, Padua, pp 157–162 antiquity, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, June, 11–15, 1998. Bruno M, Cancelliere S, Gorgoni C, Lazzarini L, Pallante P, Pensabene P London: Archetype Publications, 215–224 (2002b) Provenance and distribution of white marbles in temples Herrmann Jr., J. J., Tykot R. and Van Den Hoek A. 2009. Parian marble in and public buildings of Imperial Rome. In: Interdisciplinary Early Christian times. In: Y Maniatis (ed.), ASMOSIA VII: Studies on Ancient Stone - ASMOSIA VI, Proceedings of the Sixth Proceedings of the 7th International Conference of Association for International Conference of the Association for the Study of Marble the Study of Marble and Other Stones in Antiquity, Organized by the and Other Stones in Antiquity, Venice, June 15–18, 2000, Padua, pp French School of Athens, the National Center for Scientific 289–300 Research “Dimokritos,” the 18th Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Craig H (1957) Isotopic standards for carbon and oxygen and correction Classical Antiquities (Kavala), and the Institute of Geology and factors for mass-spectrometric analysis of carbon dioxide. Geochim Mineral Exploration, Thassos, September 15–20, 2003. Athens: Cosmochim Acta 12(1–2):133–149 Bulletin de correspondance hellénique Supplement 51, 723–737 Evans JA (2005) The Emperor Justinian and the Byzantine Empire. Kennedy DL, Falahat H (2008) CastraLegionis VI Ferratae: a building Greenwood guides to historic events of the ancient world. inscription for the legionary fortress at Udruh near Petra. J Roman Greenwood, Westport Archaeol 21:150–169 Fiema Z (2002) Late-antique Petra and its hinterland: recent research and Killick A (1983) Udruh – the frontier of an empire. Levant 15:110–131 new. In: Humphrey JH (ed) The Roman and the byzantine near east, Ann Arbor: journal of Roman archaeology supplement series, vol Killick A (1986) Udruh and the southern frontier. In: Freeman P, Kennedy 49, pp 191–252 D (eds) The defense of the Roman and Byzantine east, British ar- Fischer M (2009) Marble from Pentelicon, Paros, Thasos and chaeological reports international series, vol 297. Archaeopress, Proconnesus in ancient Israel: an attempt at a chronological distinc- Oxford, pp 431–446 tion. In: Maniatis Y (ed) ASMOSIA VII: Proceedings of the 7th Killick M (1990) Les Nabatéens à Udhruh. ARAM Period 2(1–2):249– International Conference of Association for the Study of Marble 252 and Other Stones in Antiquity, Organized by the French School of Lazzarini L (2004) Characterisation of the white marble of two unpub- Athens, the National Center for Scientific Research “Dimokritos,” lished ancient roman quarries on the islands of Fourni and Skyros the 18th Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (Kavala), (Greece). Period Mineral 69(1):49–62 and the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Thassos, Maniatis Y, Polikreti P (2000) The characterisation and discrimination of September 15–20, 2003, vol Supplement 51. Bulletin de Parian marble inthe Aegean region. In: Schilardi DU, Atsonopoulou correspondance hellénique, Athens, pp 399–412 DK (eds) Paria Lithos, proceedings of 1st international conference Frösén J (2004) Archaeological information from the Petra papyri. Stud on the archaeology of Paros and the Cyclades, Paros, October 2–5, Hist Archaeol Jord 8:141–144 1997, Athens, pp 575–584 Gaggadis-Robin V, Sintès C, Kavoussanaki D, Dotsika E, Maniatis Y Roos P, Moens L, de Rudder J, de Paepe P, van Hende J, Waelkens M (2009) Provenance investigation of some marble sarcoph-agi from (1988) Chemical and petrographical characterisation of Greek mar- Arles with stable isotope and maximum grain size analyses. In: bles from Pentelikon, Naxos, Paros and Thasos. In: Herz N, Maniatis Y (ed) ASMOSIA VII: Proceedings of the 7th Waelkens M (eds) Classical marble: geochemistry, technology, International Conference of Association for the Study of Marble trade, vol 153. NATO ASI series, series E: applied sciences, and Other Stones in Antiquity, Organized by the French School of Dordrecht, pp 263–272 Athens, the National Center for Scientific Research “Dimokritos,” Vincent L-H (1898) Notes de Voyage. Rev bibl Int 7(3):424–451 the 18th Ephoreia of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (Kavala), Watson P (2001) The Byzantine period. In: MacDonald B, Adams R, and the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, Thassos, Bienkowski P (eds) The archaeology of Jordan, vol 1. Levantine September 15–20, 2003, vol Supplement 51. Bulletin de archaeology, Sheffield, pp 461–502 correspondance hellénique, Athens, pp 133–146 Glueck N (1935) Explorations in eastern Palestine II. Annu Am Sch Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdic- Orient Res 15:60–80 tional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Gorgoni C, Lazzarini L, Pallante P, Turi B (2002) An updated and de- tailed mineropetrographic and C-O stable isotopic reference