The Ossa-Morena Marbles used in Classic Antiquity: synthesis and discussion of published isotopic data

The use of marbles during the Classical Antiquity, namely during the Roman Era, was a common practice, being extended during the first century. During this historical era, Hispania (Iberian Peninsula) was not an exception and they are several places where marbles were exploited with ornamental or architectonic goal. In places like the Estremoz Anticlinal, Viana do Alentejo region, Trigaches-São Brissos, Alconera and Almadén de la Plata, evidence of ancient exploitation, attributed to the Roman Era, was recognized. In the present work, these marbles are petrographically characterized and the published isotope data, namely the δ13 C - δ18 O couple and the Sr ratio, are analyzed and discussed in the context of the geological processes and their application to the provenance studies of materials during Roman Era. The data show that the application of both isotopic and petrographic studies allow distinguish the several marbles of the Ossa-Morena Zone from each other, allowing to ascribe a probable provenance for the classical marbles of this paleogeographic zone