Ephesus was an important harbor city that flourished during the Roman period and ancient texts mention Almadén in Spain and the Cilbian fields of Ephesus as important cinnabar sources in antiquity. This work investigates whether imported cinnabar was used and whether this could be related to changes in painting activities over time. Microscopic analysis indicates a consistent preparation of cinnabar, hinting at a uniform source material quality or processing technique. However, the use of cinnabar varies among the architectural structures studied, indicating a plurality of painting techniques. A few of the analyzed cinnabar samples overlap with Turkish- and Balkan reference Pb isotope ratios; three samples from tabernas, however, deviate from this. The Hg isotope ratios reveal that cinnabar from carbonate-hosted deposits was likely used, and that processing of cinnabar included heating as suggested by ancient texts. Most notably, a correlation exists between the geochemical data and the painting technique – shifts in sourcing and cinnabar usage are potentially assignable to building chronology and/or usage. Through the lens of material provenance and processing, Ephesian cinnabar brings the organization of pigment trade into focus.

中文翻译：

---

罗马以弗所的朱砂：材料质量、加工和来源


以弗所是一个重要的港口城市，在罗马时期繁荣起来，古代文献提到西班牙的阿尔马登和以弗所的西里比亚田地是古代重要的朱砂产地。这项工作调查了是否使用了进口的朱砂，以及这是否与绘画活动随时间的变化有关。显微镜分析表明朱砂的制备是一致的，这表明来源材料的质量或加工技术是一致的。然而，朱砂的使用在所研究的建筑结构中有所不同，这表明绘画技术多种多样。一些分析的朱砂样品与土耳其和巴尔干参考铅同位素比值重叠;然而，来自 Tabernas 的三个样本与此不同。Hg 同位素比值显示，可能使用了来自碳酸盐矿床的朱砂，并且朱砂的加工包括古代文献所建议的加热。最值得注意的是，地球化学数据和绘画技术之间存在相关性——来源和朱砂使用的变化可能归因于建筑年代学和/或用途。通过材料来源和加工的镜头，以弗所朱砂使颜料贸易的组织成为焦点。