Marble trade from Western Anatolia to the Mediterranean Basin in the Roman Imperial Period

During the Roman Imperial Period, the rich marble resources of Western Anatolia held great strategic importance for the construction industry in the Mediterranean Basin. Stones sent from Western Anatolia enhanced the artistic, architectural, and symbolic grandeur of the Roman Empire, fulfilling the high demand for the decoration and monumental structures of the city of Rome. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the active marble quarries in Western Anatolia and their commercial activities during the Roman Imperial Period. Research into the extraction, processing, and transportation of marble draws on both epigraphic and archaeological data, examining the logistics and transport systems of the time. Prominent quarries such as Dokimeion (İscehisar) and Prokonnesos (Marmara Island), as well as smaller quarries in other regions of Anatolia, are evaluated. This process also explores quarry privatization, labor structures, the roles of procurators in quarry management, and the impact on local economies. The study discusses marble not only as a building material but also as an element of Roman cultural heritage and a marker of social prestige during the period. By evaluating the economic, cultural, and political impact of marble trade in Western Anatolia during the Roman Imperial Period, the study offers a perspective for contemporary research.