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Urbanism, Art, and Economy: The Marble Quarrying Industries of Aphrodisias and Roman Asia Minor.

dc.contributor.authorLong, Leah Emiliaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2012-10-12T15:24:52Z
dc.date.availableNO_RESTRICTIONen_US
dc.date.available2012-10-12T15:24:52Z
dc.date.issued2012en_US
dc.date.submitted2012en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/93911
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation examines the quarrying industries of Roman Asia Minor, and highlights the activities of private individuals, institutions, and municipalities and the connections between the exploitation of marble resources, local artisanal traditions, and exchange markets within the region. Case studies focusing on the exporting quarries of Dokimeion and the cities of Aphrodisias, Ephesus, Pisidian Antioch, Sagalassos, and Sardis illuminate quarry output, the networks in which craftsmen circulated, and consumption practices. Drawing together evidence from archaeological excavations and regional surveys, literary and epigraphic sources, theories of landscape and the economy, geology, and scientific analysis, I contextualize quarries into their wider social and economic landscapes. An investigation of the newly discovered marble quarries found during the Aphrodisias Regional Survey and results of geochemical analyses provides important evidence both for the exploitation of marble on a wider scale than previously known, and for the limited role played by Aphrodisian marble – as opposed to Aphrodisian sculptors – in the international art market. At Aphrodisias, as elsewhere, new quarries were opened because cities were not able to extract marble quickly enough to supply demands of urbanization; this demand was so high that it remained profitable to bring in marble from further afield. Local landowners, municipalities, and artisans produced and sold marble in competitive local markets. Written sources suggest that quarries were owned and operated at different times by private individuals, sanctuaries, and the state. My research suggests that only the state could afford to offset the cost of supplying marbles regionally and internationally and that participation in the marble trade was deeply embedded in the urban fabric of Asia Minor. Benefactors of civic monuments tapped into prestigious trade networks mainly associated with imperial architecture in Rome, since their display conveyed notions of status most vividly. The greatest asset of the resources located in territories of marble-rich cities was the opportunity for civic beautification on a local level. Yet the cultivation of an exceptional architectural and sculptural carving-tradition fostered conditions for social mobility for select sculptors whose skills allowed them to begin on projects in local quarry or city workshops, and embark on international careers.en_US
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjectUrbanism, Art, and Economy: the Marble Quarrying Industries of Aphrodisias and Roman Asia Minoren_US
dc.titleUrbanism, Art, and Economy: The Marble Quarrying Industries of Aphrodisias and Roman Asia Minor.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
dc.description.thesisdegreenamePhDen_US
dc.description.thesisdegreedisciplineClassical Art & Archaeologyen_US
dc.description.thesisdegreegrantorUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studiesen_US
dc.contributor.committeememberRatte, Christopher Johnen_US
dc.contributor.committeememberFrier, Bruce W.en_US
dc.contributor.committeememberGazda, Elaine K.en_US
dc.contributor.committeememberTerrenato, Nicolaen_US
dc.subject.hlbsecondlevelClassical Studiesen_US
dc.subject.hlbtoplevelHumanitiesen_US
dc.description.bitstreamurlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93911/1/leahel_1.pdf
dc.description.bitstreamurlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93911/2/leahel_3.pdf
dc.description.bitstreamurlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/93911/3/leahel_2.pdf
dc.owningcollnameDissertations and Theses (Ph.D. and Master's)


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