Project of Commercial Amphorae in Bodrum Underwater Archaeological Museum
Project no. 943 · Status: Kapanmış · 2016
Summary
Bodrum Underwater Archaeological Museum is known as the biggest owner of the various commercial amphorae due to its huge collection. As many commercial amphorae considered as the evidence of ancient trade carrying the agricultural production of Mediterranean production centers found in the consumption centers some others could not reach their target. As results of sea disasters numerous commercial vessels sunk during the Antiquity. After the second half of the 20th century, a group of archaeologists pioneering American archaeologist George Bass started to rescue these archaeological evidence in Turkish shores which caused a new borned branch of arvhaeology called Nautical Archaeogy. Many archaeological objets found in the shores of Anatolia by INA promoted to build up a museum in Bodrum. In this study 327 commercial amphorae conserving in Bodrum Underwater Archaeological Museum dating to the early first millenium to the end of the thirteenth century AD are studied. Many complete amphorae coming from unknown production centers dating to Archaic and Classical Period found in Museum are important data for typological studies. Chian, Clazomenaian and Lesbian amphorae conserving in the Museum are also conseider as the evidece of luxurious wine trade of North Aegean city states to Mediterranean consumption centers. After the the beginning of the Hellenistic Period, Mediterranean commerce boomed due to the new demands of rising population. Southern Aegean production centers as Cnidus, Rhodes and Kos changed their production scale and sell their wine in numereous amphorae to the Mediterranean markets. Majority of the amphorae dating to the Hellenistic Period conserving in the museum came from these three production centers. As a positive effect of Pax Romana on Mediterranean commerce, amphorae dating to Roman Imperial Period produced in many centers and new provences are found in big quantities. In this period Eastern goods carrying in local amphorae reached to capital city and beyond as Italian goods also exported without problems to Eastern Mediterranean. Besides, African goods in commercal amphorae are also reached not only to Rome but also Aegean and Cilician centers too. After the establishment of the new capital of the Empire commercial routes were also changed which caused a second boom in Mediterranean commerce. High amounts of Eastern amphorae conserving in Bodrum Underwater Museum proove the dominance of Cilician and Syrian production centers on Mediterranean markets. Another big collection conserving in the Museum dating to Eastern Roman Imperial Period came from famous production center in Marmara Sea, Ganos.