Mineralogical, Petrographic, and Isotopic Analysis of Colored Stones and White Marble from Ancient and Modern Quarries in Mani Peninsula, Southern Greece

This study examines the marble resources of the Mani peninsula, southern Greece, a region that has long been known for its white, gray-black (bigio antico), green (cipollino verde Tenario), and particularly red (rosso antico or lapis Taenarium) and dark (nero antico) marbles. Based on extensive fieldwork, more than 90 quarrying sites were documented, several of which were recorded for the first time. This study provides a systematic characterization of these stones through combined mineralogical, petrographic, and stable isotopic (δ18O, δ13C) analyses of 27 representative samples. The results confirm the presence of calcitic marbles, which vary in color due to hematite in the red varieties, graphite and organic matter in the gray-black and black types, and chlorite in the green marbles. The isotopic results demonstrate a generally high degree of homogeneity, although the red marbles display greater variability, complicating their distinction from analogous stones in Asia Minor, such as those from Iasos and Milas. Quarrying of Mani marbles began in the Bronze Age and reached its peak during Roman times. It continued into the Byzantine period, with renewed exploitation in the 19th and 20th centuries. This study highlights the significant role of Mani in the ancient marble trade and contributes to ongoing debates about the provenance of famous red, white, and black marbles across the Mediterranean. Furthermore, it establishes a strong reference framework, integrating new analytical results with the existing literature, providing an updated mineralogical, petrographic, and isotopic database for provenance studies of marble artifacts.