Alabaster is a soft rock primarily utilized for carvings and as a source of plaster powder. While it is a common material in various industries, its classification varies depending on the field of study, with different definitions provided by archaeologists, geologists, and the stone industry.
In the context of archaeology, alabaster refers specifically to objects and artifacts manufactured from two distinct minerals: fine-grained, massive gypsum and fine-grained, banded calcite.