Tenedos / Bozcaada in ancient seafaring: Coastal usage and trade

This thesis aims to examine the role of the island Tenedos/Bozcaada withinthe ancient maritime trade network and explore the patterns of coastal use of theisland. Bozcaada/Tenedos is located on a geographically very important point nearthe shoreline of the ancient Troad. The island has long had a strategic importancebecause of this geographic location on the mouth of the Dardanelles Strait that gaveaccess to the Sea of Marmara and beyond. The island probably played some role inmaritime exchange as early as the Early Bronze II period, since the settlement of thisperiod is found very close this main harbor of the island. The importance of theisland derives from the epics of Homer. The island acted as a base site for theAchaean fleet during the Trojan wars of the Late Bronze Age. Ships of modest sizetook shelter here before they made their ways to way to the Sea of Marmara whenthe wind conditions allow a safe passage. In this context, this examines the likelyareas that might have served as bases for the ships before they made their waythrough the Dardanelles Strait. It also examines the use of these harbors from adiachronic point of view in relation to the socio-economic changes of the island.