Sinopean Imports on the Black Sea Littoral of South-West Georgia

Abstract

AbstractSinopean imports ‐ coins, ceramic ware ‐ amphorae, mortars and tiles ‐ found in the south-western Georgian Black Sea littoral characterise different aspects of relationships in the south and eastern Black Sea littoral over a long period. The south-western coast of ancient Colchis seems to have been closely connected with Sinope from the fifth century BC. Sinopean finds become more and more frequent in fourth-third centuries BC contexts. From the last quarter of the fourth century BC, the leading role of trading with Colchis passed to Sinope. It was archaeologically expressed in the intensive circulation of Sinopean drachmas and hemidrachmas as well as in the import of Sinopean ceramic ware (amphorae, mortars, tiles) and production of their local imitations. In the Roman and early Byzantine periods, Sinope was a key base for the Roman army and fleet at the southern Black Sea coast. Finds of Sinopean ceramic products of this period are frequent during the excavations of the fortresses of the Roman and early Byzantine period on the eastern Black Sea littoral.