Petrographic and geochemical characterization of Eocene limestones from Thugga / Dougga (Tunisia) : implications for the provenance of stones used in construction and sculpture in the ancient town

Key Points

• Characterization reveals the origin of Eocene limestones utilized in ancient construction and sculpture, highlighting importance in historical studies.
• Key findings indicate notable geochemical signatures that differentiate limestone sources for stone artifacts in the ancient town.
• Observational analysis focused on petrographic and geochemical data from limestones in Thugga, Tunisia, providing insights into stone use.
• These findings support deeper understanding of historical stone sourcing, calling for further investigations into ancient building practices.