Archaic trade in the northern Aegean : the case of Methone in Pieria, Greece
Recent discoveries near the village of Nea Agathoupoli, in Pieria, Greece have revealed the remains of an ancient town, identifiable with the ancient town of Methone, a putative Eretrian colony founded, according to Plutarch, in ca. 733 BC. From the material excavated so far, the townâs zenith was in the Late Geometric and Archaic periods, well documented by the high amounts of imports from all regions of the ancient world, especially by imported transport vessels. The significant percentage of transport amphorae in comparison to that of fine pottery strongly indicates the settlement's commercial character and suggests that Methone was operating as a redistribution centre which supplied Macedonia's hinterland with goods. This study is based on unpublished pottery analyzed here, for the first time. Among the regions, whose products are most popular in Methone are Chios and Athens, although more Eastern Greek towns such as Samos and Miletus had trading relations with Methone, too. Settlers from the these regions may have established themselves in Methone, but the initiative for the foundation of the town was, most probably, taken by Euboeans, whose activity in the Northern Aegean, in the Geometric period,
Kasseri, Alexandra
Archaic Greek Commerce ; Macedonia ; Trade ; Geography and History of Ancient Macedonia ; Methone ; Amphorae ; Ancient Greek Colonies of the Northern Aegean ; Ancient Commerce ; Archaic Greece ; Ancient Macedonia ; Ancient Euboeans
Archaic trade in the northern Aegean : the case of Methone in Pieria, Greece. Recent discoveries near the village of Nea Agathoupoli, in Pieria, Greece have revealed the remains of an ancient town, identifiable with the ancient town of Methone, a putative Eretrian colony founded, according to Plutarch, in ca. 733 BC. From the material excavated so far, the townâs zenith was in the Late Geometric and Archaic periods, well documented by the high amounts of imports from all regions of the ancient world, especially by imported transport vessels. The significant percentage of transport amphorae in comparison to that of fine pottery strongly indicates the settlement's commercial character and suggests that Methone was operating as a redistribution centre which supplied Macedonia's hinterland with goods. This study is based on unpublished pottery analyzed here, for the first time. Among the regions, whose products are most popular in Methone are Chios and Athens, although more Eastern Greek towns such as Samos and Miletus had trading relations with Methone, too. Settlers from the these regions may have established themselves in Methone, but the initiative for the foundation of the town was, most probably, taken by Euboeans, whose activity in the Northern Aegean, in the Geometric period,
archaic trade northern aegean case greece recent_discovery near village greece reveal remain ancient town identifiable ancient town putative colony found accord plutarch material excavate far town zenith late geometric archaic_period well_document high amount import region ancient_world especially import transport vessel significant percentage transport amphora comparison fine pottery strongly indicate settlement commercial character suggest operate redistribution centre supply macedonia hinterland good study_base unpublished pottery analyze first_time among region whose product popular athens although eastern greek town trading relation too region may establish initiative foundation town probably take whose activity northern aegean geometric period