The role of Ancient Cilicia Region in sea trade in the light of the Cilician amphoras found on ship wrecks

Cilicia is divided into two as rough and plain cilicia regions due to topographic reasons. Since it is a rich region with its fertile plains, rivers and mountains, it has offered a living space to people since the Paleolithic Period. It remained under the domination of many important civilizations and thus underwent many changes. Despite this, trade was always at the forefront. The region, which was on many trade routes, both exported its products and supplied products from other regions. It was an important center in shipping trade with its many ports. In the 1st chapter of the thesis; The borders, geography and climate of the Cilicia region, in the 2nd chapter; chronologically, the historical process from the Paleolithic period to the Byzantine Period in the region, in the 3rd chapter; land trade routes, shipping trade and piracy history of the region, in the 4th chapter; the constructions and use of the Lowland and Mountainous Cilicia ports, in the 5th chapter; the production and trade of the products such as olives, olive oil and wine produced in the region, in the 6th chapter; the production of amphorae in the Cilicia region were investigated. The amphorae of Cilicia Type I-Zemer 41, Cilicia Type II-Agora M54, Cilicia Type III- Pompeii V, Cilicia Type IV-Dressel 2-4, Cilicia Type V- Pamphilia, Cilicia Type VI- LR1A, LR1B and LR1C belonging to this region were examined. An observation sheet was created by examining 21 Cilician amphorae found in the underwater cultural heritage researches and the role of these amphorae in maritime trade was tried to be determined. Keywords: Cilicia, Mountainous Cilicia, Lowland Cilicia, Production, Port, Amphora, Shipping Trade, Piracy