MARBLE AND SCULPTURE AT LEPCIS MAGNA (TRIPOLITANIA, LIBYA): A PRELIMINARY STUDY CONCERNING ORIGIN AND WORKSHOPS

The sculptures of Lepcis Magna represent one of the richest and most important collections of ancient Tripolitania (Libya). Many of the statues were discovered during the excavations carried out in the first half of the 20th century. Archaeometric analysis on the white marble provenance was conducted on a selection of 36 statues kept in the storerooms and in the Museum of Lepcis Magna. These new data concerning the origin of sculpted marbles allow better consideration of several questions concerning the import of sculptural marbles and finished works, the presence of foreign craftsmen in the local context, the ability to identify local production with a distinct style and the organization of the Tripolitanian workshops. Of particular relevance is the copious use of Luna marble for statues from the 1st up to the 3rd century AD.