Concerning to the Relationships between Eastern Black Sea Area and Outside World in the Roman and Early Byzantine Periods

Abstract

Ceramic production was one of the leading sector of the Colchian economic in the Roman and Byzantine periods. Some types were exported. This improved by discovering of concave body amphorae in the southern Black Sea area. In parallel, there are traced Sinopean and Heraclean amphorae in the territory of Colchis in much number. Nine types of Roman and Byzantine period Sinopean clay amphorae were identified just in Apsarus. Those also were discovered in Bichvinta, Nokalakevi and Vardtsikhe. Recent finds also improve on the close contacts between the eastern Black Sea and the southern Black Sea which framed in new shape. The researchers believe that fortified "cities" of Colchis, unlike of Classical and Hellenistic era, became strategically important centres of the Roman and later, the Byzantine Empires. Therefore, imported productions are mainly intended for the supply of Roman and Byzantine garrisons.