Standardization and mass customization of architectural components: new perspectives on the Imperial marble construction industry

Extract

The aim of this paper is to discuss the production and the use of “standardized” architectural elements by shifting the perspective from the economics of the interregional marble trade to the logistics of the marble construction industry during the 1st-3rd c. A.D. This chronological period coincides with the phenomenon of the “marmorization” of urban spaces in the Mediterranean; characterized by adorning public areas with marble architecture, it was responsible for an increasing demand for this material. The paper focuses on the interregional distribution of marble and coloured stones for construction. For methodological reasons, aspects related to the Roman “stone trade”, such as the supply of local construction material and the distribution of sarcophagi and statuary, will not be considered. The emphasis will be on voluminous and solid construction material, used predominantly for freestanding architectural components.