Archaic Trade Amphoras from Phokaia

The 3rd term excavation works of Phokaia has begun in 1989 under the presidency of Prof. Dr. Omer Ozyigit and it significantly caused the antique site of Phokaia to come to light. The stratifying of the antique city has been studied in these excavations within the bounds of modern settlement. But, the information about the period of 100 years between the second half of 7th century B.C. and 546 B.C., which was the Phokaia?s majestic time and the role of the city in this period, is limited to the information provided by ancient sources. Ceramics excavated from the limited number of archaic period layers are the most important materials that will enlighten the period. Among these ceramics, commercial amphoras show characteristics that different point of view to the trading activities of Phokaia in the archaic period. Therefore, I recategorized the commercial amphoras that belong to the Klazomenai, Khios and Lesbos sites in North Ionia and Aiolis, the Samos and Miletos sites in South Ionia and the Etruria region, by considering the number of amphoras in each site. According to the finalized categorization, Klazomenai amphoras are the most intensive group with the ratio of %37.5, followed by Khios, Lesbos, Samos, Miletos and Etruscan amphoras with percentages of %24.7, %11.9, %10.3, %9.7 and %2.5, respectively. With the help of this categorization, trading activities of Phokaia in the archaic period, its trade relations with other cities and the periods of these activities were examined. As a result of archeological studies and literature review, it is understood that the city of Phokaia had a very active role in both near coastal and offshore trade, especially in the first half of 6th century B.C. It is also concluded that besides the colonies that are certainly known as established by Phokaia, many others were established directly or indirectly by Phokaia. The new archaic sectors that will be excavated in the ongoing studies in the site and the materials that will be gained from those sectors may a little bit more enlighten the dark side of the Phokaia?s stated period.