Join HACCM and the Oregon Archaeological Society for an evening with Dr. Scott Pike, Professor of Environmental Science and Archaeology, Willamette University.

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
Time: 6pm
Location: HACCM, 3131 NE Glisan St. Portland
Admission: Free
There will be a reception with light refreshments provided.
Abstract: Uncovering Ancient Greek Marble: Isotopes, Drones, and the Heritage of Cycladic Quarrying
The high-quality marble from the Cycladic Islands, particularly on Naxos and Paros, played a vital role in the development of early Greek art and architecture. Recent advances in geochemical analysis and aerial technologies have significantly enhanced our understanding of how these ancient marble quarries operated, the sourcing of marble from various regions, and its transportation. This presentation will explore two recent studies that leverage modern technology to shed light on ancient marble usage. In the first study, an analysis of marble fragments from the Archaic-period Naxian Colossus of Apollo on Delos revealed that many fragments previously believed to be from this statue actually originated from different marble sources and likely belonged to other statues. This finding prompted field surveys in southern Naxos, where a potential ancient marble source was identified in an area previously thought to lack white marble. The second study employs aerial imagery, photogrammetry, and LiDAR technology from drones to map the extent of ancient quarry fields, providing new data on the scale of these quarries and their environmental impact. These innovative tools are transforming our understanding of ancient marble production and its significance in early Greek culture.