Mining in eastern Pontus region in ancient period

The region known as Eastern Pontus during the ancient period, located in the Eastern Black Sea region of Anatolia, is a region rich in underground mineral resources. However, analyses of mining activities and mineral findings from ancient periods in the region have remained very limited compared to other regions of Anatolia. Numerous mineral deposits and metal artifacts dating back to ancient times have been identified in the Eastern Pontus region. In our study of mining activities in the ancient Eastern Pontus region, significant information has been obtained by utilizing ancient sources related to the region, surface surveys and archaeological excavations conducted by scholars, museum studies, and data from the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, supported by metal findings. Taking into account the geographical conditions, cultures, social, and economic structures of the Eastern Pontus region, metallurgical artifacts and their developmental stages in the region have been examined. The first section of the thesis provides general information about the location, geographical structure, and theories regarding the formation of the Eastern Pontus region. The second section discusses the developmental stages of mining, the characteristics of mineral elements, and the mineral deposits in the Eastern Pontus region. The third section examines mining activities in the Eastern Pontus region from the Paleolithic period to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, while also exploring the religious context of metallurgy. The fourth section attempts to provide information on the connections between mining activities in the Eastern Pontus region and the Transcaucasia region.