Following paving stones in ancient Roman roads: a pilot study

Phaedra Criaco; Tymon de Haas; Ray Laurence; Peter Attema

Following paving stones in ancient Roman roads: a pilot study

Phaedra Criaco
, Tymon de Haas
, Ray Laurence
, Peter Attema

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference abstract › peer-review

Abstract

The volcanic paving stones of roads like the Via Appia, Flaminia and Latina constitute a significant material feature, yet the provenance of this stone and the supply organisation within the Roman Hinterland are understudied. This cotutelle PhD-project (Macquarie Univeristy/University of Groningen), addresses this critical knowledge gap by investigating the stone's origin, restudying original research of the Tiber Valley Project and expanding this to the larger Roman Hinterland. This poster presents preliminary findings of the 2025 pilot study. The chemical composition of the paving stones is compared to possible geological sources using portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) measurements to determine their point of origin.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Roman Archaeology Conference & Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference
Subtitle of host publication	Aarhus, Denmark: 21-23 May 2026: book of abstracts
Publisher	Aarhus University
Pages	118
Number of pages	1
Publication status	Published - 21 May 2026
Event	Roman Archaeology Conference & Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference - University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark Duration: 21 May 2026 → 24 May 2026

Conference

Conference	Roman Archaeology Conference & Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference
Abbreviated title	RAC/TRAC 2026
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Aarhus
Period	21/05/26 → 24/05/26

Cite this

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title = "Following paving stones in ancient Roman roads: a pilot study",

abstract = "The volcanic paving stones of roads like the Via Appia, Flaminia and Latina constitute a significant material feature, yet the provenance of this stone and the supply organisation within the Roman Hinterland are understudied. This cotutelle PhD-project (Macquarie Univeristy/University of Groningen), addresses this critical knowledge gap by investigating the stone's origin, restudying original research of the Tiber Valley Project and expanding this to the larger Roman Hinterland. This poster presents preliminary findings of the 2025 pilot study. The chemical composition of the paving stones is compared to possible geological sources using portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) measurements to determine their point of origin.",

author = "Phaedra Criaco and \{de Haas\}, Tymon and Ray Laurence and Peter Attema",

year = "2026",

month = may,

day = "21",

language = "English",

pages = "118",

booktitle = "Roman Archaeology Conference \& Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference",

publisher = "Aarhus University",

address = "Denmark",

note = "Roman Archaeology Conference \& Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference, RAC/TRAC 2026 ; Conference date: 21-05-2026 Through 24-05-2026",

}

Criaco, P, de Haas, T, Laurence, R & Attema, P 2026, Following paving stones in ancient Roman roads: a pilot study. in Roman Archaeology Conference & Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference: Aarhus, Denmark: 21-23 May 2026: book of abstracts. Aarhus University, pp. 118, Roman Archaeology Conference & Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference, Aarhus, Denmark, 21/05/26.

Following paving stones in ancient Roman roads: a pilot study. / Criaco, Phaedra; de Haas, Tymon; Laurence, Ray et al.
Roman Archaeology Conference & Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference: Aarhus, Denmark: 21-23 May 2026: book of abstracts. Aarhus University, 2026. p. 118.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference abstract › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Following paving stones in ancient Roman roads

T2 - Roman Archaeology Conference & Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference

AU - Criaco, Phaedra

AU - de Haas, Tymon

AU - Laurence, Ray

AU - Attema, Peter

PY - 2026/5/21

Y1 - 2026/5/21

N2 - The volcanic paving stones of roads like the Via Appia, Flaminia and Latina constitute a significant material feature, yet the provenance of this stone and the supply organisation within the Roman Hinterland are understudied. This cotutelle PhD-project (Macquarie Univeristy/University of Groningen), addresses this critical knowledge gap by investigating the stone's origin, restudying original research of the Tiber Valley Project and expanding this to the larger Roman Hinterland. This poster presents preliminary findings of the 2025 pilot study. The chemical composition of the paving stones is compared to possible geological sources using portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) measurements to determine their point of origin.

AB - The volcanic paving stones of roads like the Via Appia, Flaminia and Latina constitute a significant material feature, yet the provenance of this stone and the supply organisation within the Roman Hinterland are understudied. This cotutelle PhD-project (Macquarie Univeristy/University of Groningen), addresses this critical knowledge gap by investigating the stone's origin, restudying original research of the Tiber Valley Project and expanding this to the larger Roman Hinterland. This poster presents preliminary findings of the 2025 pilot study. The chemical composition of the paving stones is compared to possible geological sources using portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) measurements to determine their point of origin.

UR - https://conferences.au.dk/ractrac-2026/program

M3 - Conference abstract

SP - 118

BT - Roman Archaeology Conference & Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference

PB - Aarhus University

Y2 - 21 May 2026 through 24 May 2026

ER -

Following paving stones in ancient Roman roads: a pilot study

Abstract

Conference

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Roads, mobility and power - how infrastructure built an empire

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Following paving stones in ancient Roman roads: a pilot study

Abstract

Conference

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Activities

Roads, mobility and power - how infrastructure built an empire

Cite this