Christine Shavlakadze

Chian Amphorae in Colchis

Among the ceramic finds from the settlements and cemeteries of the Eastern Black Sea area, one of the biggest groups is represented with amphorae. Their study is important for identifying the trade and economic relations existing in the region in Antiquity. Research with this direction – amphorae, as one of the ways for studying trade relations represents an actual subject in modern archaeology.

On the third stage of the Greek Colonisation of the Black Sea (middle of the 6th c. B.C.) Ionian Greeks (Milesians) began to settle on its Eastern shore - Colchis [28, p. 68; 4; 3, pp. 119-126; 32; 37, pp. 223-258]. Along with the appearance of the first Greek settlements, import of different products with transport amphorae began; they came from Chios, Lesbos, Samos, Thasos, Klazomenae and other centres, among which many are still unidentified. Among the different major products were: wine, olive oil, tree glue and figs [28, p. 68; 4; 32; 2, pp. 86-102].

Wine was produced also in Colchis. The place of provenance of brown clay amphorae is thought to be Colchis and it was diffused around the region. Brown clay amphorae - handles stamped with the letters ΔΙΟΣ[ΚΟΥ] seem to illustrate well enough the shipping of wine from ancient Sukhumi (Dioscuria) to destinations to Crimea and its environs [1, pp. 72-74; 42, pp. 95-96; 3, pp. 119-126].

Chian amphorae in the Black Sea area represent the largest group of Greek imported amphorae. Their distribution in Colchis starts from the border of the 7th-6th cc. B.C. and it reaches a maximum in the 6th-4th cc. B.C. [17, p. 69; 18, p. 68]; after Chian come Lesbian, Thasian and other amphorae [38, pp. 111-135].

Nowadays Chian import in Colchis is traced to many sites; Let us discuss each of them[1]:

Batumis Tsikhe. Batumis Tsikhe is located in the suburb of the city Batumi, on the left bank of the river Khorolistskali (pl. I). Chian amphorae (10 fragments) were discovered in the earliest layer of the site, which is dated to the border of the 7th- 6th cc. B.C. Their surface is covered with a thick layer of white paint and is painted with wide bents of black glaze. On the handle of one of the amphorae is a circle with a point in its centre; they belong to the earliest Greek imports not only in Georgia, but, also in the Transcaucasus [12, p. 82].

Chian amphorae are discovered also inKobulet-Pichvnari. This place is located on the 10th km to the North of Kobuleti, to the mouth of river Choloki and Ochkhamuri (pl. I).

According to the long-scaled archaeological excavations at Kobulet-Pichvnari, which were carried out for many years, different deposits were studied; as a result, in total 100 Chian amphorae were revealed: 4 – from the 5th c. B.C. Colchian cemetery (from 315 burials); 35 – from the 5th c. B.C. Greek necropolis (from 250 burials); 2 from the 4th c. B.C. Greek necropolis (from 136 burials), 30 from the 5th c. B.C. Colchian settlement; From the territory of the Hellenistic cemetery and Pichvnari site - 25 amphorae dated to the 5th c. B.C; and finally 6 are dated to the 4th c. B.C. [16, pp. 42 - 64; 15, p. 135, see. reference 1].

By the second quarter of the 5th c. B.C. three types of Chian amphorae co-exist in Pichvnari; among them some are large (21 litres capacity), others small (10 litres capacity) in size [13, p. 62; 17, pp. 34 - 38; pp. 65 - 68].

There are only 6 Chian amphorae with stamps[2], graffiti or other signs from Pichvnari: on the neck of an amphora from the #1 burial of the 5th c. B.C. Necropolis there is graffiti, which according to parallels, is read as ”Heracles” or ”Heraclis”; On the lower part of the handle of one of the amphorae is a stamp; on the shoulder of the amphora from #39 burial is a ligature consisting of two letters which M. Nasidze read (from right to left) as a word ἔλαιον (olive oil) [19, pp. 34-35].

At least 179 amphorae come from different deposits of Pichvnari, among which 101 (56,42%) are Chian (about the date see above); 29 (16,20%) - Thasian (25 – 5th c. B.C; 4 – 4th c. B.C.); 13 (7,26%) - Heraclean (4th c. B.C.); 5 (2,79%) - Ionian (5th c. B.C.); 3 (1,67%) – Mendean (1 – 5th c. B.C; 2 – 4th c. B.C.); 1 (0,55%) - Lesbian (5th c. B.C.); 1 (0,55%) – Solokha II (4th c. B.C.); 26 (14,52%) - unidentified [17, pp. 65-68; 18, pp. 99-100; 14, pp. 109-124].

The main consumers of high quality Chian wine at Kobulet-Pichvnari were Greeks. There were straight routes between Chios and the Greek cities of Colchis and Chian products reached the local population via Greek units [15, pp. 135-136].

The next is Tsikhisdziri. It is located 9 km south of Kobuleti (pl. I).

Tsikhisdziri is one of the most important sites of the Eastern Black Sea area.

315 burials of various periods are revealed in Tsikhisdziri. Amphorae are often used at burials; in the rest of cases they are represented as burial inventory. Chian amphorae from here belong to the developed variant of bulbous neck type.

From 29 amphorae dated to the early Classical and Hellenistic ages 15 are Chian (second quarter of the 5th c. B.C.); 2 - Mendean (first half of the 5th c. B.C.); 5 – North Aegean, among which 1 – probably Samian (second quarter of the 5th c. B.C.); 7 - Proto-Thasian and Thasian (5th c. B.C.) [19, pp. 30 - 34; 40, pp. 25 - 30; 7, p. 81; pp. 93 - 97; 17, pp. 50 - 61; 8, pp. 151 - 153].

The next site, where Chian amphorae are also discovered is Jvris Mta. It is located in Adjara; in the river Khorolistskali ravine (pl. I).

According to the archaeological excavations processed on the site 1 Chian amphora was revealed, dated to the 5th c. B.C. [36, pp. 26-31].

Simagre. The settlement of Simagre is located 12 km to the East of Poti, in the easternmost part of the village Sakorkio(pl. I).

On the site the main types of Archaic East Greek amphorae were discovered. The number of only some of them is known: 8 - Chian (second half of the 6th c. B.C.) 1 - Lesbian (with grey clay), 1 - Lesbian circle, 3 - Zeests Samian and also Clazomenean and Proto-Thasian,(their number is unknown). All amphorae are dated to the end of the 6th c. – beginning of the 5th c. B.C. [27, p. 202; 29, pp. 43 - 48; pp. 63 - 65; 5, p. 9].

Hellenistic layers on the lower streamside of Rioni are identified in several places; among them trench N16 is of a special interest; it is cut 1 km South of Simagre settlement, where 1 toe and 2 handles of Sinopian amphora were discovered [29, pp. 76-77].

Rioni streamside settlements. On the left terrace of the river Rioni were excavated single layer settlements; as a result of excavations Greek-imported amphorae were discovered; among them 3 – with cup-like toes; fragments of rims and toes of Thasian and Thasian circle amophorae dated to the 5th c. B.C.

In the village Kvemo Chaladidi in the place called “Tkhinas wood” a trace of a settlement was discovered in 1963, where a Sinopian amphora toe was unearthed [29, p. 63 - 65; pp. 73 - 74].

One of the most important centres of Chian import is clearlyVani. It is located in the Imereti lowland, on the bank of the river Sulori (pl. I).

Greek import in Vani and its environs is a result of trade-economic relations of the Greek world with Colchis. Diffusion of imported items in Vani, on the one hand, gives us an impression about the trade activities of Greeks with one region of Colchis: on the other hand it is important for the history of Vani itself.

In Vani overall, 130 fragments of amphorae were discovered, among which: 29 (22,30%) are Chian[3] (1 – border of the 6th- 5th cc. B.C; 2 - 5th c. B.C; 10 – 4th c. B.C; 16 – 3rd - 2nd cc. B.C); 29 (22,30%) - Rhodian (3rd- 2nd cc. B.C.); 28 (21,53%) - Sinopian(3 – 4th-3rd cc. B.C.; 25 – first half of the 2nd c. B.C.); 9 (6,92%) – Thasian circle (5th- 4th cc. B.C.); 8 (6,15%) - Knidian (3rd- 2nd cc. B.C.); 5 (3,84%) - Thasian (4 – 4th c. B.C; 1 – 4th- 3rd cc. B.C.); 4 (3,07%) - Coan (3rd - 2nd cc. B.C.); 4 (3,07%) - Heraclean (4th- 3rd cc. B.C.); 3 (2,30%) – Solokha I (4th c. B.C.); 3 (2,30%) - Mendean (5th- 4th cc. B.C.); 2 (1,53%) - Chersonesian (end of the 4th c. – beginning of the 3rd c. B.C.); 1 (0,76%) - Attic(4th c. B.C.); 1 (0,76%) – Lesbian (end of the 6th c. B.C.) and 4 (3,07%) - unidentified;

Archaeological material from Vani shows a Chian amphora import in the 6th- 2nd cc. B.C. [39, pp. 5 - 10; pp. 16 - 18; 11, pp. 252 - 253; pp. 295 - 296].

On the sites (Mtisdziri, Dablagomi, Dapnari, Tsikhesulori, Sakanchia) located around the Vani site among the synchronic Greek amphorae Chian were also traced. From the total 117 amphorae 38 are Rhodian (3rd - 2nd cc. B.C.); 36 – Sinopian (36 – 4th - 3rd cc. B.C.; 5 – 3rd -2nd cc. B.C.); 11 – Chian (2 – 6 - 5th cc. B.C; 3 – 5th - 4th cc. B.C; 4 – 4th - 3rd cc. B.C; 2 – 3rd - 1st cc. B.C.); 10 – Coan (3rd - 2nd cc. B.C.); 4 – Thasian (4th- 3rd cc. B.C.); 2 – Mendean (4th c. B.C.); 2 – Thasian cyrcle (4th - 3rd cc. B.C.); 2 – Knidian (2nd c. B.C.); 2 – Nikandros Group (2nd c. B.C.); 1 – Panticapaeum (4th - 3rd cc. B.C.); 1 – Solokha I (4th - 3rd cc. B.C.); 1 – Heraclean (4th- 3rd cc. B.C.) and 1 – Corinthian (3rd - 2nd cc. B.C.).

Thus, Greek import from Vani site and its surrounding territory is quite varied and gives us an important material for the history of trade - economic relations between the Greek world and Colchis. At the first stage of this relationship (second half of the 6th c. - beginning of the 5th c. B.C.) the role of Eastern Greek trade and manufacturing centres is evident, however, in the last quarter of the 6th c. B.C. Attic import begins.

The study of Greek import shows, that in the 6th- 5th cc. B.C. it spreads to the rural territory of old Vani, which represented the political center of one of the administrative regions of the Colchian kingdom; it had a function of a large trade - economic centre and divided products as well [39, pp. 113 - 116; pp. 126 - 132; pp. 136 - 140; 27, p. 49; 26, p. 52].

Kulevi. The village of Kulevi is located in the Khobi municipality, at the mouth of the river Khobi, 18 km distance from the city Khobi (pl. I).

According to the fieldwork processed in 1999 - 2005 three settlements were revealed close to each other; the date of Greek transport amphorae from here falls in the period between the end of the 6th c. to the 3rd c. B.C.

In total there had been revealed fragments of 50 amphorae; almost all the amphorae bear traces of exposure to fire. According to preliminary analysis the earliest specimens are from Lesbos dating from the 6th - 5th cc. B.C. Here are also Chian (with bulbous necks), Thasian and Thasian circle amphorae; the most numerous are Sinopian amphorae (two of them had stamps); Apart from the foregoing there are separate fragments of whose determination is not feasible owing to their degree of fragmentation and poor preservation.

A fairly large quantity of vegetable resin survives at the bottom of two amphorae. According to P. Dupont and D. Kacharava these amphorae were intended for wine [31, pp. 47 - 49; 30, pp. 133 - 134].

Sagvichio.A settlement hill of Sagvichio is located in Senaki district, in the marshy, woody reserve between the rivers Rioni and Pichori (pl. I).

On the central hill of the site, which is known by the name ,”Zurganishi”, at 3m depth from the surface, shards of East Greek e.g. ,”Ionian group” amphorae were discovered, which are probably Chian which are presumably dated to the first half of the 6th c. B.C.

South from ”Zurganishi”, 500 meters away from the material discovered in the trench cut on the right bank of the river Pichori, the majority is represented with fragments of rims, toes and handles of Sinopian amphorae. One of them had a stamp dated to 350 - 270 B.C. Here are amphorae with ,”cup-like toes” which were created due to the influence of Attic amphorae. One more similar toe was discovered in the trench cut at 2 m depth on the bank of the river.

Besides these there are fragments of rim and handle of Lesbian amphorae dated at the 6th -5th cc. B.C; Thasian amphorae toes, fragments of toes, rims and necks of Chianamphorae.

Discovery of the material coming from Greek cities indicates that Pichori settlement represented an economically very prominent place [6, pp. 75-79].

Ergeta.A village Ergeta is located in Zugdidi municipality, 27 km distance from the city Zugdidi, on the right bank of the river Churia (pl. I).

On the hill of Ergeta fragments of Chian amphorae with cap-like toes were discovered dating to the 4th c. B.C. [21, p. 185].

The next centre under discussion is Ochamchire. It is located in Abkhazia, 55 km South of Sukhumi, between the rivers Adzikvara and Ghalidzga (pl. I).

The ruins of an old city – Gienos are located in the Western part of Ochamchire. Due to the very fragmentary written and epigraphic sources about Gienos archaeological material is of a great importance [10, pp. 79 - 89; 24, pp. 341 - 347; 41, p. 98].

As a result of work carried out on the site of Gienos numerous imported amphorae were revealed, the majority of which comes from the III and IV cultural layers of the site. The III layer revealed fragments of 5 amphorae, among them, 1 is Chian (5th- 4th cc. B.C.); 4 – unidentified. The IV layer revealed fragments of 13 amphorae, among which 7 are Chian (first half of the 6th c. B.C.); 2 are Samian (second half of the 6th c. – 5th c. B.C.); 1 – Thasian circle (end of the 6th c. – first quarter of the 5th c. B.C.) and 3 - unidentified.

The rims of Chian amphorae with bulbous necks from here are covered with brown paint. Their clay is brownish-grayish, contains large amounts of sand and mica particles [35, pp. 16 - 30].

Sukhumi. Sukhumi is located in the central part of Abkhazia, on the sea shore (pl. I).

The old city of Dioscuria was founded by the Milesians in the first part of the 6th c. B. C. on the bank of the modern bay of Sukhumi; The close trade relations of Dioscuria with the Greek world in the 6th - 5th cc. B.C. attests imported material[4] discovered here [42, pp. 95 - 96].

In the city, while cutting different trenches, there were discovered hundreds of amphorae fragments dating to the 5th- 3rd cc. B.C. There are amphorae dating to the 2nd- 1st cc. B.C. as well [42, pp. 23 - 27; p. 188].

Interesting material was unearthed during excavations of Sukhumis Tsikhe, especially on its western part. Among imported amphorae are: Chian (end of the 6th c. – beginning of the 5th c. B.C; 4th- 2nd cc. B.C.); Thasian (4th- 2nd cc. B.C.); Sinopian (4th- 2nd cc. B.C.) and Coan (2nd- 1st cc. B.C.) [42, pp. 200; p. 208; p. 229].

The second half of the 4th c. – 3rd c. B.C. is a period of the rise of Dioscuria. Fragments of Sinopian, Thasian, Rhodian, Heraclean and Coan amphorae dating from this period were discovered in the settlements of Akhul-Abaa, Guad-Ikhu, Akhali Atoni, Agudzera, Machara-2 and Sukhumis mta [42, pp. 212 - 213; pp. 218 - 219; 41, pp. 76 - 78].

Sinopian and Rhodian amphorae, dating from the 3rd- 2nd cc. B.C., were discovered in Tsiteli Shukura, Kapitanovka, Lechkopski, Gulripshi, Tsibiliumi and Patskhiri [42, p. 206; p. 215; pp. 220 - 222].

Importantinformation comes from the study of the agricultural territory - Chora of Dioscuria.

The Eshera site is located in the South-Eastern part of Vereshagina hill, 10 km distance from Sukhumi (pl. I). Cultural layers dating from the 6th- 1st cc. B.C. were revealed on the site.

According to the discovered material it is clear, that the settlement here appeared in the middle of the 6th c. B.C. but in the 5th c. – first half of the 4th c. B.C. among the finds are Chian (11 handle of the 5th c. B.C.), fragments of Heraclean and Sinopian amphorae [42, p. 202; 33, p. 22; 35, pp. 31 - 34].

In the material dated to the 4th- 2nd cc. B.C. from Eshera are fragments of Sinopian, Coan, Heraclean and Northern Black Sea Area amphorae [42, p. 209].

In the 3rd c., and the beginning of the 2nd c. B.C., Helenized aboriginal tribes enter Eshera, but still the settlement preserves its Greek appearance. Among imported material are Sinopian and Coan amphorae [42, p. 230].

The Necropolis of Eshera site was probably located north to the hill. In the burials amphorae were also discovered, among them one was Coan, dating from the end of the 3rd – middle of the 2nd c. B.C. [42, p. 212; p. 217; 22, pp. 5 - 13].

Conclusion. According to the presented information, it is clear thatthe cities and settlements of Colchis had close trade relations with many Greek centres. All of these trade activities were processed by Greeks, according to the interest of the local population in the first place.

Archaic (end of the 7th c. – 6th c. B.C.) Greek imported amphorae are very few on Colchian sites (Batumis Tsikhe, Tsikhisdziri, Kobulet-Pichvnari, Simagre, Ochamchire and Eshera). Import in this period is traced also into the inner regions of Colchis, from where we have few fragments of late Archaic Chian and Lesbian amphorae (Gurianta, Vani, Dablagomi).

Import of Classical period (5th c. – first half of the 4th c. B.C.) in Colchis is more various and numerous. Besides the previous centres here are Heraclean, Sinopian, Coan, Solokha I, Solokha II amphorae. The area of diffusion of import widens and reaches the alpine zones of Colchis [23, pp. 24 - 25; 25, pp. 28 - 31; 27, p. 68; 9, pp. 63 - 73].

In the Hellenistic period (second half of the 4th c. B.C. – first half of of the 1st c. B.C.) in the predominant place stand Rhodian and Sinopian amphorae, after them come Coan and Knidian.

The Chian amphorae import in Colchis in the 7th- 2nd cc. B.C. is as follows: (Table 1.)

Table 1. Chian amphorae in Colchis in the 7th- 2nd cc. B.C.

According to presented information on the basis of the total amphorae and their fragments we can count at least 468 amphorae, among which 189 (40,38%) are Chian.

On the basis of statistical analysis of Chian amphorae we can surely say, that they stand out in first place among Archaic and Classical Greek imported amphorae. Import of Chian production more or less continues during the whole Antiquity. As indicated by A. Kakhidze , supposedly there were straight trade-economic relations between Chios and Colchis [13, p. 62].

The number of Chian amphorae from discussed sites must be far more, but in most cases there is no clear indication on the exact quantity. It is also important, that long-term archaeological works have not been carried out till now on many sites and some of them, namely Phasis, is not yet discovered and this would definitely give additional information about Chian trade activities in Colchis.

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[1] Information about Chian and other imported amphorae from different sites is given in chronological and regional order from early to late periods. On each site the percentage of other imported amphorae is also given for a better representation of the portion of Chian amphorae.

[2] Only a small part of Chian amphorae was stamped. The stamps were attached on one handle or neck of amphorae. The stamps consist of names (eponym and fabricant) and the city emblem – Sphinx with the amphora. Stamping of Chian amphorae begins from the second part of the 5th c. B.C. and becomes more intense in the 3rd c. B.C.

[3] Three of them are stamped. The names are: Ίκεσίου, ήγησιου.

[4] I. Voronov describes the places of discovery of amphorae, but does not indicate their number; however, this information is very important and gives an impression about the relationship of the North-Easternmost part of the Eastern Black Sea area with the Greek world.