527 REI CRETARIÆ ROMANÆ FAVTORVM ACTA 46, 2020 Firstly, general information about Colchian amphorae will be given. Then, the amphorae samples obtained from the excavations are evaluated. By presenting different types of Colchian amphorae re- trieved from Cıngırt Kayası, this study aims to contribute to the literature on the regional archaeology and on Anatolian amphorae studies. 2. Colchian Amphorae The Colchian amphorae, also known as 'Brown Clay Am- phorae', were first produced in the 4 th century BC (Vnukov 2003: 160) and quickly spread along the northern shores of Black Sea (Tsetskhladze and Vnukov 1992: 358). They were produced until the 7 th century AD (Opaiţ 2015: 287, 288) and their presence in areas near Colchis points to the existence of trade relations between Colchis and these areas (Tsetskhladze and Vnukov 1992: 361 Fig. 2; Kvirkvelia 2009: 128). Colchian amphorae are classified into a few groups in respect to their structural features throughout their production. The main category of Ch-I Amphorae, can be chronologically presented under four different groups: A - B - C - D and their sub-groups (Tsetskhladze and Vnukov 1992: 372; Vnukov 2003: 160-166; Vnukov 2011: 271; Opaiţ 2015: 283). In Col- chian amphorae, the best distinctive features can be found on their body and neck parts. The main criterion that makes this distinction possible is whether the body consists of two parts and whether the neck is ribbed or not. Type A samples have an ovoid body; type B ones present a waist in the middle between the upper and lower body, type C samples do have the same waist on the body and they come with a ribbed neck (Vnukov 2003: 164, Fig. 66. 1-3). However, even though they are few in numbers, type B and C amphorae sometimes do not have 1. Introduction Cıngırt Kayası is a settlement that was in the Pontic region in the Antiquity (fig. 1). It is currently in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey, 5 km distant from Fatsa, in Yapraklı village. Cıngırt Kayası is located on a twin-peaked hill, ap- proximately 200 m above sea level. Given that, it commands a dominant position over the sea and the valley (Erol 2013: 183-196). The excavations started in 2012 and were carried out over three seasons at the summit and at the northern slopes of Cıngırt Kayası. 1 The data obtained from the excavations suggested that the earliest settlement in the aforementioned area was during the reign of the last Pontic King, Mithradates VI (120-63 BC). The archaeological data were provided to shed light on the continuity of the settlement in Roman and Byzantine periods. Because of the geological characteristics of the area, carved features in the main rock can be observed in abundance. In this regard, rock cut altars with niches and stairs are easily visible in the area. These archaeological data point to the possibility that this area was once used as an open-air sacred place, prior to the architectural development formed during the reign of Mithradates VI (Erol 2014: 383- 400; Erol 2015: 453-461; Erol and Tamer 2018: 541-558). The amphora sherds retrieved from the excavations at Cıngırt Kayası are dated from Hellenistic up to the Early Byzantine Period. Colchian products constitute the main group among these amphorae from that time frame. 1 Under the permission granted by the General Directorate for Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, the excavation at Cıngırt Kayası has been conducted under the auspices of the Museum of Ordu and under Assoc. Prof. Ayşe F. Erol’s scientific supervision with a team. This study aims to present Colchian amphorae samples that were obtained during excavations conducted in Cıngırt Kayası Fatsa/Ordu. The amphorae fragments retrieved from the excavations are dated from Hellenistic up to the Early Byzantine Period. Colchian products constitute the primary group among these amphorae from that time frame. The Colchian amphorae samples from the excavations have been evaluated in terms of their possible production centers due to their fabric, morphology and periodisation with parallel materials. These are the first samples of their kind from the southeastern part of Black Sea region. Some publications already talk about the possible presence of these amphorae in Southern Black Sea settlements. Indeed this possibility has been substantiated by the Colchian amphorae samples found at Cıngırt Kayası. They also present evidence to a trade relationship between Turkey’s northeastern coast and Colchis. Southern Black Sea Region – Amphorae – Colchis – Cıngırt Kayası – Hellenistic to Early Byzantine Period EVALUATIONS ON COLCHIAN AMPHORAE RETRIEVED FROM FATSA/CINGIRT KAYASI EXCAVATIONS Ayşe F. Erol & Deniz Tamer ISSN: 0484-3401 ISBN: 978-1-78969-748-3 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.32028/9781789697483-55