Archaeometric characterization of Roman volcanic millstones from Messina territory (Sicily, Italy)

This paper presents the results of a petrochemical study of Roman millstones for cereal production, made of volcanic rocks, which were found in several archaeological areas of Messina territory. Thirteen samples dating from the III century AD and one dating from the II-III centuries AD were characterized through petrographic and geochemical investigations. The raw materials of the studied millstones are mainly volcanic rocks characterized by Na-alkaline affinity with intraplate geochemical signature. Only one sample belongs to the K-alkaline series and shows a volcanic arc signature. The comparison with literature data on similar rocks allowed constraining the volcanic origin of the exploited lavas. The intraplate samples are mostly mugearites and benmoreites from Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy), and only in few cases peralkaline-trachyte and alkaline basalt from Pantelleria and Linosa islands (Sicily), respectively. The arc-type sample derived instead from islands of the Aeolian Archipelago.