The quarries of Marmara Adası (ancient Prokonnesos) were an important source of white marble for sarcophagus production across the eastern Mediterranean and as far west as Rome. More
Roughed-out and hollowed-out sarcophagus chests and lids were produced on the island and then shipped overseas for finishing locally in a range of forms. On Prokonnesos itself a small necropolis was discovered containing various types of roughed-out sarcophagus. This necropolis seems to have served the small population of quarrymen on the island and perhaps some higher status traders and administrators.
Asgari, N. (1977). 'Die Halbfabrikate kleinasiatischer Girlandensarkophage und ihre Herkunft', Archaologischer Anzeiger 1977: 329–80.
Asgari, N. (1990). 'Objets de marbre finis, semi-finis et inachevés du Proconnèse', in M. Waelkens (ed.). Pierre éternelle du Nil au Rhin: carrières et prefabrication. Brussels: 106–26.
