The Hellenic Survey of Geology and Mineral Exploration (H.S.G.M.E.) has released a new publication titled “Building Stones of the Aegean”, presenting the characteristics of the traditional local decorative stones from the islands of the Northern and Southern Aegean.
Rocks, minerals, and metals have always been an integral part of the broader natural and cultural environment, closely linked to the historical evolution of the inhabitants of the Aegean islands. One of the earliest stone tools crafted and used by humans during the Neolithic period (6500 B.C.) was the millstone, utilized for grinding cereals, processing fruits and olives, and crushing minerals and ores. To cultivate crops and process agricultural produce, people had to create arable land on the steep, barren slopes of the Aegean islands, building dry-stone terraces using irregularly shaped stones. Later, marble became deeply associated with the social, religious, and economic expressions of ancient Greek life, from prehistoric times onward.
The aim of this publication is to highlight the traditional local decorative stones currently quarried from licensed sites on the Aegean islands — materials that have been extracted and used since antiquity, either locally or exported worldwide. The rich marble deposits of the Aegean islands were one of the main factors behind their cultural and social development, a legacy that continues to this day.
Each material in the publication is presented with a distinct “identity card,” including geological data, physico-mechanical properties, chemical analysis, petrographic description, and details regarding extraction, applications, and uses.
The publication “Building Stones of the Aegean” by H.S.G.M.E. is accessible via the following link: https://online.fliphtml5.com/jhszh/qvfz/
The research work was conducted by the scientific and technical staff of the “LITHOS” Laboratory, in collaboration with other H.S.G.M.E. laboratories, within the framework of the subproject “Actions for the Utilization of Primary and Secondary Mineral Resources – DYOPY” under the project “Studies and Research Supporting the Energy Sector of Industry and Entrepreneurship – OPYGEK”. The project is funded by the Operational Programme “Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation” (ESPA 2014–2020/2023).