PROVENANCE, DISTRIBUTION AND TRADE OF THE LOCAL BUILDING MATERIALS IN THE SARNO RIVER PLAIN (CAMPANIA) FROM THE 6TH CENTURY BC TO AD 79

A multidisciplinary research project about the reconstruction of the ancient cultural landscape of the Sarno River Plain before the eruption of Somma-Vesuvius AD 79 was initiated in 2006 by the German Archaeological Institute. As a part of this research this study investigates the natural resources in the hinterland of Pompeii, Nuceria and Stabiae, used for building purposes. Stone extraction was practiced mainly along the foot slope of Somma-Vesuvius and the Apennines. Carbonates and Campanian Ignimbrite could even have been quarried in littoral quarries along the Sorrento Peninsula. Possible areas of stone extraction overlap the main ancient traffic routes. A high number of quarries of small or medium dimension can be inferred. In the centuries of urbanisation of the area (from the 6th century onwards) resources preferably close to the settlements and rather soft stony materials were preferred. Later on, even local hard rocks were used. During the latest decades of the Late Republic import of building materials is clearly increasing, mainly from other parts of Campania.