Untitled Document
QS_menu.gif
Untitled Document

QuarryScapes guide to ancient stone quarry landscapes

 

QuarryScapes Atlas

 

 

Quarry landscape
of the month

August 2008

June 2008

April 2008

December 2007

May 2007

February 2007

December 2006

November 2006

September 2006

August 2006

June 2006

May 2006

April 2006

March 2006


Googlesearch in Quarryscapes

 

Untitled Document

Quarry landscape of the month

August 2006: Aphrodisias' marble quarries, western Anatolia, Turkey

The ancient city of Aphrodisias was an important cult-centre dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite in antiquity. Being situated in the hills of western Anatolia, Aphrodisias was inhabited for a very long period, from the Neolithic to Late Byzantine. However, most of the splendid buildings and sculptures revealed through decades of archaeological excavations date from the Graeco-Roman period. One of the most fascinating aspects of Aphrodisias, is the city's role as a leading sculpture centre of the Roman world. The Aphrodisias "school" of sculptors was active for nearly six centuries. Undoubtly, one important reason for the schools' success are the rich deposits of high quality marble situated less than two kilometres from the site. The quarries also supplied stone to the many beautiful buildings in the city. High quality pure white marble was most sought after, but also grey, black and striated varieties were used. The Aphrodisias quarries are among few in Turkey that are protected as cultural heritage.

Text by Tom Heldal

 

View of some of the many marble quarries near Aphrodisias. Quarry face is seen on the right side, whilst the large mounds to the left and in the foreground are spoil heaps from quarrying. Photo by Tom Heldal

Location map.

 

 

 

Untitled Document
NEWS
December 2009
New book: a special volume with papers from the QuarryScapes project soon printed.
November 2008
Final workshop: the third QuarryScapes workshop was held in Aswan 12. - 15. October
June 2008
Final Reports: available for download
June 2008
More Palaeolithic quarries in Aswan Recent visits to the Aswan West Bank in Egypt have added new discoveries...

April 2008
QuarryScapes third workshop Aswan, October 12-15 2008

April 2008
Rescue of an obelisk top in Egypt Aswan, March 2008

December 2007
Second QuarryScapes Workshop 18-21 October 2007, Petra, Jordan

December 2007
Final Reports: Aswan West Bank Ancient Quarry Landscape

March 2007
New Aswan City: Rescue survey in progress

March 2007
QuarryScapes fieldwork in Egypt: The final season of survey at the Aswan silicified sandstone quarries revealed previously undocumented ancient paved roads

December 2006
Second Aswan field season The second QuarryScapes fieldwork season in Aswan took place through November 2006.

November 2006
First symposium
The first QuarryScapes symposium took place at Divan Talya hotel in Antalya (Turkey) 15-17 October 2006.
More news
Untitled Document

Coordinator: NGU - Geological survey of Norway, Tom Heldal. Tlf: +47 73 90 40 00 . Partners. Layout: Lisa Løseth, NGU.