Ancient Trade Research Articles

Regional Setting of Temples in Dakshina Kosala, India: Spatial Distribution and Connections

Introduction: The region of Dakshina Kosala (also known as South Kosala) is mentioned in various ancient Indian texts. The exact geographical boundary has continuously changed over time, and today, only a rough estimate can be made of the Dakshina Kosala region, which approximately covers the northern and central parts of the present-day state of Chhattisgarh, along with the western part of the state of Odisha, India. Excavations and writings show that this was a prosperous region near central India, without any seaport, but with large markets, trade centers, and educational institutions. To access this region, many trade routes were established from various parts of India. This led to the development of cities with markets along these trade routes. Many temples were also seen in this region, serving as examples of the intangible heritage of the place. Purpose of the study: This region made a significant contribution to the temple art and architecture of India. The present study aims to determine if there is a spatial and architectural link between the temples in this region. Methods: The methodology involved an initial phase of reading and analyzing pertinent literature to prepare detailed maps delineating the boundaries of Dakshina Kosala. Subsequently, employing rigorous analysis with Google Earth and GIS tools, ancient trade routes were traced, temples were located on the maps, and a comprehensive analysis was conducted to derive conclusive results. Results: This paper establishes a relationship between the geographical locations and construction materials of the temples within and outside the geographical boundary of Dakshina Kosala.

Declining demand in the antiques market: insights from an online community

PurposeThis paper aims to study antiques enthusiasts’ perspectives on the recent stagnancy in the antiques market, along with their suggestions on how the antiques trade can forge a more secure path forward.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative analysis approach through netnography, this paper examines archived comments of antiques enthusiasts on a “r/antiques” subreddit.FindingsThis research studies connoisseurs’ insights into the reduction in antiques sales experienced by a wide cross-section of sellers, particularly independent and small business retailers. Specifically, the results of this paper’s discourse analysis show that technological advances on one hand and socioeconomic factors (e.g. income, family structure and lifestyle) on the other hand have had a significant negative impact on demand for antiques. In addition, specific attributes such as authenticity and sustainability emerged as potential key marketing elements for invigorating the broader public’s interest in purchasing antiques.Originality/valueDespite their significant insights into the antiques market, antiques enthusiasts have not received the academic attention they deserve. Through discourse analysis of comments in an online antiques community, this paper draws attention to the vulnerabilities of antiques markets to a protracted climate of slow sales, while highlighting potential strategies on how to turn the tide for struggling antiques stores.

Traders on the Margins: The Resilience of a Fourth-Century Trading Community in Roman Egypt

The contribution aims to shed light on economic relations between cities and hinterland in the antique world by examining papyrological material from Ismant el-Kharab (ancient Kellis) in Egypt’s Dakhleh Oasis. This material provides evidence for a village community in the Oasis and its trade relations with distant urban areas in the Nile Valley. The study draws on recent research into the ancient textile trade to situate the community’s economic strategies. In turn, it examines how these strategies facilitated trade with cities in Upper Egypt, employing the notion of capabilities drawn from communal resilience theory. In conclusion, it is argued that the Kellis material demonstrates how rural communities could attain a high degree of agency within the late antique economy, although it also highlights vulnerabilities to which they were subjected.

A multi‐analytical approach applied to pottery from Oman as a key to understanding ancient Indian Ocean maritime trade

AbstractThe populations in Sumhuram (third/second century bce to fifth century ce) and Hamr al‐Sharqiya 1 (HAS1) (first millennium bce to first/second century ce) were involved in one of the most important examples of large‐scale trade systems in antiquity: the maritime network connecting the coasts of the Indian Ocean. This research focuses on a total of 35 southwestern Arabian and Indian pottery sherds from both the settlements of Sumhuram and Hamr al‐Sharqiya 1, analysed through a multi‐analytical complementary approach. This study intends to test the input potential of this type of approach applied to ceramics in the context of the Indian Ocean trade network. The techniques adopted are powder X‐ray diffraction, optical microscopy, inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The results obtained allow the identification of eight distinct groups, each characterized by unique (textural, mineralogical, geochemical) signatures, providing specific clues for determining their provenance, specifically from the Indian subcontinent and southwestern Arabia. This paper shows the importance of this type of archaeometric study that must be integrated into a transdisciplinary approach.

The Role and Impact of Ancient Egyptian Red Sea Trade Routes in Facilitating Cross-Cultural Exchange

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the ancient Egyptian Red Sea trade routes and their critical role in facilitating cross-cultural exchanges between Egypt and its trading partners. Employing an innovative combination of remote sensing data, underwater archaeology, and analysis of economic and cultural exchanges, the research offers new insights into the complexities of ancient trade networks. The study challenges existing historical narratives by revealing the sophisticated nature of ancient commerce and its global implications, highlighting the interconnectedness and dynamism of ancient civilizations. By meticulously mapping these trade routes and examining the goods, technologies, and cultural practices exchanged, the paper sheds light on the mechanisms of ancient trade and its impact on economic prosperity and cultural richness across regions. The findings not only advance our understanding of ancient trade networks but also underscore the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in uncovering the nuanced dynamics of global interactions in the ancient world. The paper calls for a reevaluation of ancient global interactions, proposing new avenues for future research and enriching the academic discourse on ancient economies, trade networks, and cultural interactions.

A contribution to the urbanization and marble supply of Roman Thrace: an interdisciplinary study

The study of marble trade in antiquity has received a lot of scholarly attention in the last few decades; however, numerous deposits of high-quality white marble in the Thracian interior have only recently become pivotal in Bulgaria. Following the establishment of Thrace as a Roman province, investments into transport infrastructure, urban and rural construction works and monumentalizing architecture in marble have led to an increased demand for stone. Local marble quarries close to urban centres and larger imperial quarries were used for civic buildings, villas and sanctuaries. Provenance analysis of marble quarries and artefacts has established a close link between the place of origin and subsequent place of use. This multi-disciplinary study explores marble sources in the Thracian interior via various approaches such as epigraphy, archaeology, and archaeometry regarding urbanization, trade, and transportation. In this paper, we consider and investigate the Berkovitsa marble, a quarry close to Montana in northwestern Bulgaria, and present a broader framework for the marble trade of the region.

THE PROCESS OF FORMATION OF THE JEWISH SUBURBAN QUARTERS IN LVIV

nderstanding of formative and historical processes is basic for the comprehensive approach to the regeneration of historical city quarters, those of the ancient Jewish ghetto of Lviv in particular. According to archaeological and scientific urban studies, theneighbourhood started its development as part of the princerly “posad”, having an ancient Volyn road trading route as one of its forming factors (which survives to this day). Through the centuries jewish community has organically grown here, forming a unique ensemble of residential, religious and public buildings which naturally integrated in the spatial-planning structure of the city as it grew. One of the most prominent structures was the Great Suburban Synagogue (XVI cent.) which was the centre of ghetto’s life and spatial structure. Degradation of historical urban matter of the ghetto was caused by the tragedies of WWI and WWII, which also obliterated ghetto’s social basis and absence of any further practical and public re- consideration for the spatial-planning and historic background of the neighbourhood. Today, most of its blocks have remained a gray zone in the structure of the city center for more than 70 years. Disregard for the ghetto’s formation history and cultural background resulted in inconsistency of realised development approaches and interventions and general public unawareness of the district’s role in the history of the city. The author conducts research and visualizes the characteristic stages of the ghetto’s development, as well as the formative factors that determined it, taking 3 neighbouring historical quarters within its bounds as a basis for study. With this work, author aims at During the research, on-site study and measurements were performed, archival materials and historical iconography were analyzed, modern research works on the history of Lviv and Halychyna were analyzed too, and the obtained information was summarized. As a result, development of the historical quarters of the Jewish suburban district was characterized and structured from princerly times to present day while highlighting the quarters’ architectural and spatial-planning value.

Antiquity market trends in Anatolian figurines 1999–2022: Studies in price, prevalence and provenance

AbstractIn recent decades, the Turkish government has adopted a proactive policy of pursuing the restitution of cultural objects it believes were illegally removed from its territory. Utilising open-access sale data, the following article examines the impact of this formal restitution policy upon antiquity market sales in Anatolian figurines between 1999 and 2022 across three major international auction houses and the internet market. By casting a forensic gaze upon seemingly decreasing sale rates and ostensibly improving standards of provenance, this study suggests that apparent improvements in the market for Anatolian figurines should not be attributed to the Turkish government restitution policy. Instead, it argues that salient commercial dynamics and the profit-oriented business strategies of individual auction houses are the operative factors in shaping antiquity market data. In doing so, it provides the first quantitative market analysis of auction house sales in Anatolian figurines, widens the applicability of existing methodologies for navigating the duplicitous nature of antiquity market data, and offers much needed empirical insights into the illicit antiquities trade.

Water as a Commodity based on Epic “Manas”: A Semiotic Perspective

This paper explores the role of water as a commodity in Kyrgyzstan from a semiotic perspective, drawing parallels between the historic Silk Road and contemporary debates surrounding water resources. It analyzes the semiotics of water, examining its representation, interpretation, and symbolic significance in the context of regional cooperation and resource management. By applying semiotic frameworks to understand the complexities of water governance, this study sheds light on the socio-political dynamics shaping water policies in Central Asia. The concept of the Great Silk Road holds immense historical and cultural significance as a symbol of connectivity and exchange between East and West. The semiotic analysis encompasses a variety of sources, including visual representations of the Silk Road's logo and imagery, along with literary works like John Masefield's poem “Cargoes” and the epic Manas. Through a comparison of the traded goods on the Silk Road in the West and the Silk Road in the East, this study reveals the similarities and differences in the portrayal of goods, the evolution of trade, and the cultural interactions facilitated by this ancient trade network. By shedding light on the semiotic dimensions of the Great Silk Road, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of its historical and cultural significance, enriching our comprehension of this remarkable historical phenomenon.

Epics on the Great Silk Road: the influence of agriculture on literature and culture

This article explores the intricate relationship between agriculture, literature, and culture along the Great Silk Road. The Silk Road, a historical network of trade routes that spanned from East Asia to the Mediterranean, served as a conduit for not only goods but also the exchange of ideas, stories, and artistic expressions. Focusing on the profound impact of agriculture on this epic journey, the study delves into how the cultivation of crops and the rural way of life influenced the development of literature and the formation of cultural identities along this ancient trade route. By examining the interplay of agricultural practices, folk traditions, and epic narratives, this article sheds light on the synergy between the tangible and intangible aspects of life on the Silk Road. It discusses how agricultural abundance and the rhythms of rural existence shaped the storytelling traditions, beliefs, and cultural expressions of the diverse communities inhabiting this vast trade network. Drawing from historical records, literary works, and cultural artifacts, we identify the recurring motifs, characters, and themes that emerged from the agricultural roots of Silk Road societies and their lasting impact on global culture. Through a comprehensive analysis of the historical and cultural context, this article underscores the lasting influence of agriculture on literature and culture along the Great Silk Road, highlighting the enduring significance of this unique intersection of trade, agriculture, and storytelling.

Whole Genome-Sequencing and Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacillus anthracis from 2019-2023 in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.

Since 2019, the incidence of anthrax in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region has increased significantly compared with previous years, so in this situation the anthrax in the Ningxia region not only had a detrimental impact on public health, but also inflicted significant economic repercussions. Therefore, we conducted a molecular epidemiological study of 20 strains from 2019-2023 isolates. This study investigated the origin of Bacillus anthracis and its genetic diversity. We conducted canonical single-nucleotide polymorphisms (CanSNPs) typing and whole genome sequencing based on the extracted nucleic acid of Bacillus anthracis. Based on the whole genome drafts, we studied the genomic characteristics of 20 isolates. Meanwhile, we performed phylogenetic studies based on genome-wide core single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using MEGA's Maximum Likelihood (ML) method and core-genome-based multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) of the core genomes of these strains using BioNumerics' minimum spanning tree (MST) model. The 20 isolates were categorized into sub-lineages A.Br.001/002, and comparative genomic analyses of these strains with other isolates from other parts of the world showed that the strains from Ningxia were correlated with isolates from Europe, Indonesia, Georgia (USA), and Beijing (China). For the 20 isolates in Ningxia, the genetic relationship of the isolates isolated from the same year or region was relatively close. The A.Br.001/002 subgroup was the dominant endemic strain in Ningxia. The genetic relationship and phylogenesis between isolates from Ningxia and strains from Europe and Indonesia suggest that anthrax spread around the globe through ancient trade routes.

The Impact for the Countries Joined the Ancient Silk Road

The Silk Road may have had an impact on the countries through which it sailed, but theoretical analysis as well as facilitated cultural exchanges among diverse populations from various nations and ethnicities. The ancient Silk Road, as the first commercial passage connecting the East and the West, the establishment of an extensive transportation network had a profound impact on the culture and economy of multiple countries. Whether there is an effect, however, remains to be seen. This paper will conduct research through the literature research method, and correctly understand its influence on the country by investigating the literature about the Silk Road. The study unveiled that the ancient Silk Road exerted a substantial impact on the culture and economy of various nations. Language, religion, music, and other cultural elements were disseminated to countries participating in the ancient Silk Road through books or musical instruments. Serving as an exemplary model of ancient international trade, the ancient Silk Road greatly facilitated the exchange of goods and pioneered commercial connections between the East and West. It not only facilitated extensive exports of silk and porcelain for many countries but also introduced locally unavailable commodities.

Strontium isotope evidence for Pre-Islamic cotton cultivation in Arabia

With a view to understanding the dynamics of ancient trade and agrobiodiversity, archaeobotanical remains provide a means of tracing the trajectories of certain agricultural commodities. A prime example is cotton in Arabia, a plant that is non-native but has been found in raw seed and processed textile form at Hegra and Dadan, in the region of al-ʿUlā, north-western Saudi Arabia—sites of critical importance given their role in the trans-Arabian trading routes during Antiquity. Here, we demonstrate that the measurement of strontium isotopes from pre-cleaned archaeological cotton is methodologically sound and is an informative addition to the study of ancient plant/textile provenance, in this case, putting forward evidence for local production of cotton in oasis agrosystems and possible external supply. The presence of locally-grown cotton at these sites from the late 1st c. BCE–mid 6th c. CE is significant as it demonstrates that cotton cultivation in Arabia was a Pre-Islamic socio-technical feat, while imported cotton highlights the dynamism of trade at that time.

THE ROLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATORY AUTHORITIES IN PROTECTING ANTIQUITIES

The study focuses on examining the role played by administrative regulatory authorities in protecting antiquities. The administration prioritizes the conservation and protection of antiquities as they are considered a financial and cultural wealth that falls under public funds. Due to their financial significance, illegal trade of antiquities and unauthorized construction near or within archaeological sites emerged as issues. To address this, the administration has resorted to issuing regulatory decisions to protect these antiquities and archaeological areas, imposing bans on construction, agriculture, and residency within these sites, utilizing its administrative regulatory powers. The main question addressed in the study is: What is the role of administrative regulatory authorities in protecting antiquities? To answer this question, the study employs a descriptive-analytical method, as well as a comparative approach. The study is divided into two main sections. The first section explores the nature of administrative regulation, discussing its concept and objectives. In the second section, the focus is on the means of administrative regulation in protecting antiquities, including the regulatory methods and protective measures employed by the administrative regulatory authorities. The researcher arrived at several conclusions, with the most important one being that administrative regulation is an administrative activity carried out by the executive authority, using its privileges of public authority, regulatory rules, and individual measures to restrict public freedoms and private activities, with the aim of protecting and preserving public order. The study also provided significant recommendations, with one of the most crucial being the need to take strict measures regarding the protection of antiquities due to their immense historical and cultural value.

Early Byzantine fish consumption and trade revealed by archaeoichthyology and isotopic analysis at Sagalassos, Turkey

We document the dietary and economic role of fish at Sagalassos, a town in ancient Pisidia (southwest Turkey) for the Early Byzantine period (c. 550 – 700 CE) through a detailed analysis of animal bones and stable isotopes. The role of fish in the diet is quantified, for the first time, based on large samples of sieved remains retrieved during the excavation of a number of spaces in an urban residence. The table and kitchen refuse from the mansion shows that fish was a regular part of the diet. However, past isotopic work focused on human individuals excavated in the city’s necropolises, slightly postdating the faunal remains examined, did not reflect this consumption of aquatic food. The studied assemblage comprises at least 12 different fish taxa, including five marine species, a Nilotic fish and six Anatolian freshwater species. Since the origin of the freshwater fishes could not be unambiguously determined by zoogeography alone, we analyzed carbon, nitrogen and sulphur stable isotope ratios in archaeological fish bones from Sagalassos as well as in bones of modern fish collected at different sites in Turkey. We show that most freshwater fish, i.e., all cyprinid species, came from Lake Eğirdir. No evidence was found for fish from the local Aksu River basin. The exact origin of pike, which account for 3% of all freshwater fish, could not be directly determined due to a shortage of modern comparative data. Using the data obtained on the provenance of the fish, the ancient trade routes possibly used in the Early Byzantine period are reconstructed using a combination of archaeological, numismatic and historical data on past commercial relations.

Adaptation and the Geographic Spread of Crop Species.

Crops are plant species that were domesticated starting about 11,000 years ago from several centers of origin, most prominently the Fertile Crescent, East Asia, and Mesoamerica. From their domestication centers, these crops spread across the globe and had to adapt to differing environments as a result of this dispersal. We discuss broad patterns of crop spread, including the early diffusion of crops associated with the rise and spread of agriculture, the later movement via ancient trading networks, and the exchange between the Old and New Worlds over the last ∼550 years after the European colonization of the Americas. We also examine the various genetic mechanisms associated with the evolutionary adaptation of crops to their new environments after dispersal, most prominently seasonal adaptation associated with movement across latitudes, as well as altitudinal, temperature, and other environmental factors.

Reputation laundering and museum collections: patterns, priorities, provenance, and hidden crime

ABSTRACT Provenance research in museums has traditionally been reactive and focused on singular objects with dubious histories, such as colonial-era acquisitions, Nazi-looted art, and objects with active ownership claims; the ‘crimes’ we expect to see. But what if what we think we know prevents us from seeing the bigger picture within and across museum collections? We argue that a machine-learning approach to provenance could allow the detection of broader patterns of unethical or even criminal behaviour that are embedded in the relationships underpinning museum collections. To demonstrate the potential of a machine-learning approach, we present a computer-assisted model that predicts plausible patterns and connections, ‘leads’ or ‘hot tips’, derived from a dataset of unstructured texts concerning the antiquities trade. Preliminary results have revealed what may have been a multi-decade scheme involving the donation of low-value Latin American antiquities to museums as a form of ‘reputation laundering’ potentially in advance of criminal fraud. We believe that such patterns could not be identified by an approach to museum provenance that is restricted to known problems within individual institution, demonstrating the need for innovative provenance tools and approaches that consider the complex networks within which museum objects exist.

“Egyptian Statue”, Revealed in the South-Eastern Region of Azerbaijan, in the system of Ancient Cultural and Trade Relations

Ancient Egypt, being one of the developed centers of the East, had close ties with Western Asia and the South Caucasus, both from a political and commercial point of view. This country, which had not been conquered until the VII century BC, was in the forefront as a political and military power of the period. It was from this viewpoint that many countries sought to establish political union with it, as well as the trade relations. As a result of this relationship, various works of art related to Ancient Egypt also spread to the South Caucasus through the Western Asia. No doubt that Egyptian art items found in Egypt itself are more than samples from other countries where similar finds are common. The paper deals with the archaeological finding – an Egyptian figurine. This artifact, which is so far the only example, found in Azerbaijan, testifies to the existence of ties between the South Caucasus and Egypt. The discovery also contributes to the creation of certain ideas about the small plastic art of that period. It is possible that complex archaeological studies in the region will reveal new artifacts of such art

Islands in a sea of sand: The role of Tarim Basin polities in global trade during late antiquity

AbstractMuch of the literature on the Ancient Silk Road has examined its operation through the prism of empires and East-West connections. Yet in the last few decades several scholars have sought to re-examine this framework, with a number suggesting that the roots of the Silk Road exchange network should be sought instead in the many polities which lay along its routes. This article similarly seeks to challenge the traditional ‘Silk Road of Empires’ concept by applying approaches from global history and examining both archaeological and written sources from the third- and fourth-century kingdom of Kroraina in the south-eastern Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, Western China. The first goal of this article is to consider Kroraina’s inclusion in the wider Silk Roads network and how this network influenced local elite consumption. The second is to examine Kroraina’s role in the Silk Road network. It is argued that polities like Kroraina played a crucial role in facilitating and maintaining trans-Eurasian trade in Late Antiquity.

Participatory governance of intangible heritage to develop sustainable rural tourism: the timber-raftsmen of La Pobla de Segur, Spain

ABSTRACT Rural areas face the challenge of managing intangible heritage in ways that avoid problems such as the loss of authenticity linked to over-tourism, or living heritage becoming disconnected from the local community due to overprotection. This study explores an innovative method for promoting a participatory governance process for intangible heritage currently managed on a non-participatory basis, in that the local community establishes a consensual model of sustainable tourism development that promotes both the rural renaissance of the area and the preservation of its Intangible Cultural Heritage. This research explores the case of the ‘raiers’ (timber-raftmen) of La Pobla de Segur, an ancient trade of transporting timber by river, recently awarded Intangible World Heritage status by UNESCO. Methods include participant observation, interviews, and discussion groups. The local community felt empowered to find a consensus on how to manage this Intangible Cultural Heritage by focusing on sustainable tourism development that preserves heritage while contributing to the rural renaissance of the area. The local community eagerly engaged by putting forward proposals, indicating the importance of agreements and new initiatives.