MAGNETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY USED IN NON‐DESTRUCTIVE PROVENANCING OF ROMAN GRANITE COLUMNS

Res. d'A.: Magnetic susceptibility provides a rapid, cheap and non-destructive methode of in situ caracterization of archeological artefacts containing magnetic minerals, and can be used as an aid to geological provenancing. Three hundred and sixty-three Roman granite columns were mesured by this method and results show clear groupings similarities with potential granite sources in Italy, Turquey and Egypt. Magnetic susceptibility measurements must be made on representative, unweathered surfaces of rocks and artefacts, and corrected for object size and surface relief according to manufactures' recommendations. In addition, correction for column curvature have been derived for used with measurement made on columns.