The value of marble in Roman Hispalis : contextual, typological and lithological analysis of an assemblage of large architectural elements recovered at nº 17 Goyeneta Street (Seville, Spain)

Abstract

The archaeological excavations carried out at nº 17 Goyeneta Street (Seville, Spain) have provided new insights into the urban layout of Roman Hispalis and into the existence of a monumental complex in the northern sector of the city during the 2nd to 4th centuries AD. The contextual and typological study of the assemblage of large architectural elements enables a reconstruction of the building to which they belonged, while the lithological study provides important information on the materials employed in its construction. The visual and petrographic analysis of 13 elements, representative of the typological and lithological diversity of the assemblage, has enabled the identification of 10 different ornamental stones from 7 regional, superregional and foreign quarry districts. The evidence of the use of these materials together in a large public building in the 2nd century AD constitutes a significant contribution to the understanding of the value of marble in the ancient city