Late Roman and Early Byzantine Ceramic Imports from the Harbor of Pantikapaion

Underwater archaeological studies of 2015—2017 on the route of the Crimean Bridge led to a discovery of a ceramic cluster moved to Ak-Burun Cape, apparently due to dredging in the harbor of Pantikapaion (Bosporus) in the 1970s. The earliest finds date back to the second half/last quarter of the 6th — 5th centuries BC, while material from the 4th—2nd centuries BC predominates. Only a small number of amphorae (about 0.59 %) and red slipware (about 3.13 %) belong to the Late Roman and Early Byzantine period (4th — first half of the 6th century AD) when goods in amphorae (primarily wine) and red slipware were shipped to the Bosporus from various Pontic and Eastern Mediterranean centers. More than half of all amphorae retained visually discernible traces of resin lining (55.17 %). GC/MS analyses of organic remains at the bottom of three studied vessels (Sinopian C Snp I, Cretan TRC 4, and Pontic Antonov 5) suggest wine was the main product delivered in these containers.