Quarry Marks

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Quarry Marks

• Quarry marks on blocks of marble
• Most of these are on Phrygian marble
  (pavonazzetto), and from the groups of quarries
  at Dokimium and in the upper Tembris Valley.
• They record the serial numbers of each individual
  block, the consular date, the sector of the
  quarry from which it came, and the names of
  quarry-officials and inspectors.
• The loads from these Imperial quarries had to
  travel a long way, and as the quality and
  quantity of these loads increased, they started
  to place a greater importance on the
  identification of each block.
• The origin of these inscriptions was to exercise
  a rigorous control over the transport and
  distribution of this precious material.

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• Some of the inscriptions are heavily abbreviated,
  and seem to have only been used within the
  individual quarries.
• There are examples of formulaic inscriptions
  found in various locations not only in specific
  quarries, but Imperial quarries elsewhere.
• ex r(atione) cuisdam
• consular date
• n(umero) xxxx
• Other marks have a name and frequently a unique
  serial number with it. The intention was most
  probably to give proper credit to the contractor
  who had it quarried and delivered.

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• Quarry marks on columns
• For practical reasons, inscriptions were
  inscribed in the quarry for bulky members like
  columns. The finer touches to the work were done
  later, after shipment.
• The inscriptions on these were similar to the
  ones on the marble blocks, ranging from a full
  description of the quarrying operation to simpler
  names or serial numbers.
• Mason marks
• These were inscribed on capitals, bases, and
  sometimes on other architectural members.
• They look to have been inscribed after the
  members were finished, but before they were
  placed into work.

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