Mineralogical-petrographic and geochemical study to identify the provenance of limestone from two archaeological sites in the Sulmona Area (L'Aquila, Italy)

Mineralogical, petrographic, paleontological and geochemical studies were carried out in order to identify the limestone used to build the Ercole Curino Sanctuary (IVeIII centuries B.C.) and the foundation walls of a Roman domus (I century B.C.eII century A.D.) which was brought to light during restoration works in 1991 in the S.S. Annunziata Complex (XIVeXV centuries A.D.) at Sulmona (L’Aquila, Italy). Results identified the lithofacies of the stone used for these monuments. Most of the Ercole Curino Sanctuary samples are calcareous-dolomitic lithotypes from the Dolomie di Castelmanfrino Formation (LiaseDogger); samples from the artistically more remarkable stone show features similar to those of the limestone of the Calcari Cristallini Formation (Upper CretaceousePaleocene). Samples from the S.S. Annunziata Complex show petrographic characteristics and fossil contents similar to those of the limestone of the Terratta Formation (DoggereLower Cretaceous). The provenance of the monuments’ stone from a quite small area is supported by the homogeneity of trace element contents, being substantially close to those of samples collected from outcrops near the monument for the Ercole Curino Sanctuary and at Cave di Introdacqua, located at about 3 km SW Sulmona, for the S.S. Annunziata Complex. Carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions supply further support to the identity of provenance of the stone of the Sanctuary. On the contrary, isotopic data of samples from the domus at the S.S. Annunziata Complex do not reveal any consistent or clear correspondence with the sampled geological formations. The stone used in the artistically more valuable features of the Sanctuary shows chemical characteristics similar to those of samples collected at the Colle Mitra outcrop (about 5 km from the archaeological site).