Byzantine Maritime Trade · V

46 Byzantine maritime trade · V. Zmai´c Kralj Byzantine maritime trade based on underwater archaeological finds of the eastern Adriatic Vesna Zmaic´ Kralj Abstract – On the example of several shipwrecks of the eastern Adriatic underwater, like Maharac-Tatinica and Cape Stoba sites on the island of Mljet as well as on the Lucnjak shallows near the islands of Korcula, Merara and others, it is possible to follow the chronological and typological development of the Byzantine amphorae from the end of the 7th until the 13th century and compare them to similar finds from the Aegean and the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the eastern Mediterranean in general, together with the amphorae found in Italy. One of the most important merchant routes was passing by the east Adriatic coast, connecting the capital of the empire and the Mediterranean to the Byzantine enclaves of great commercial importance in the northwest of the Adriatic like Ravenna, Comacchio and Venice. Amphora finds were almost absent in areas belonging to the Duchy of the Croats, however, some finds of Byzantine origin from the graves indicate that the trade and exchange between Byzantine merchantmen, urban Dalmatian centres on the coast and other ethnic communities in its hinterland had also exi- sted, but mostly in the circle of nobility. Inhalt – Anhand der Beispiele etlicher unter Wasser liegenderWracks in der östlichen Adria wie sowohl von den Fundstellen Maharac-Tatinica und Kap Stoba der Insel Mljet als auch auf den Lucnjak-Untiefen bei der Insel Korcula, Merara und anderen kann man die chronologische und typoloische Entwicklung der byzantinischen Amphoren vom Ende des 7. bis zum 13. Jh. verfolgen und Vergleiche mit ähnlichen Funden aus der Ägäis und dem Schwarzen Meer, der Marmaris und dem östlichen Mittelmeer allgemein sowie mit den in Italien gefundenen zie- hen. Eine der wichtigsten Handelsrouten führte an der östlichen Adriaküste entlang und verband die Hauptstadt des Reiches und das Mittelmeer mit den byzantinischen Enklaven großer wirtschaftlicher Bedeutung in der Nordwest-Adria wie Ravenna, Comacchio und Venedig. Amphorenfunde fehlen fast völlig in zum Herzogtum der Kroaten gehörenden Gebieten, jedoch einige Funde byzantinischer Herkunft aus Gräbern zeigen, dass Handel und Austausch zwischen byzantinischen Händlern, städtischen dalmatinischen Zentren an der Küste und anderen Ethnien im Hinterland ebenfalls existierten, wenn auch meistens im Kreise des Adels. Introduction long foot used as the third handle sites with the ceramic kilns for was no longer needed due to the their production2. On the basis of Maritime trade of the mediaeval lower capacity of the vessel1. It was general development of their shape period along the eastern Adriatic compensated by the horizontal ribs during the mediaeval period, the and the Mediterranean in general on the outside, which gave addi- eastern Adriatic Byzantine am - can be traced on the basis of ship- tional stability to the vessels during phorae can be divided into three wreck finds with the remains of the transport, and that became one basic groups with numerous types Byzantine amphorae and the spo- of the basic characteristic of the and varieties (Fig. 2): radic finds of the same provenance. Byzantine amphorae. All the finds Unlike the antique or late antique of the Byzantine amphorae from 1. Early Byzantine Amphorae containers characterized by a wide the eastern Adriatic can be com- (EBA): 7th/8th - 9th c. range of shapes used during the pared to similar finds from firmly 2. Middle Byzantine Amphorae short period, the Byzantine con- dated stratigraphic layers of the (MBA): 10th/11th - 12th c. tainers emerged in the limited inland archaeological sites and 3. Late Byzantine Amphorae number of shapes and could main- architecture, or shipwrecks, mostly (LBA): 12th - 13th/14th c. ly be recognized by their globular, from the eastern Mediterranean oval and piriform bodies, later and Black Sea area under Byzan - The second part of the 7th and the more elongated or spindle-shaped tine rule with Constantinople as beginning of the 8th century is at with lower capacity. The neck the administrative, cultural and the lower chronological border of became smaller, and massive han- commercial centre (Fig. 1). How - this division, when LRA began to dles raised more above the less ever, some finds can be compared transform into the EBA ones, and obvious rim. The base of the ves- to the amphorae produced in the in that form could be traced until sels was mostly oval or straight south of Italy, which was con- the 9th century. The middle phase is with concave centre, because the firmed by the discovery of several determined by the changes in 17. Jahrgang 2017· Heft 1 47 Fig. 1: Map of the Byzantine archaeological sites in the eastern Mediterranean, Black and the Adriatic Sea: 1. Yassi Ada shipwreck, 7th c.; 2. Bozburun shipwreck, 9th c.; 3. Serçe Limani shipwreck 11th c.; 4. Çamaltı Burnu shipwreck, 13th c. shapes after the period of stagna- half of the 7th century. The dimen- fundia of the south and east Me - tion during the 9th/10th century, sions became smaller as well as less diterranean, whose major destina- when a new impulse of amphorae carrying capacity, the shapes and tions were the ports in the north- production and active Byzantine details were simpler, while the west Adriatic, primarily Ravenna maritime trade of the 11th and 12th bulges at the bottom disappeared with its harbour district Classe3. century had arrived. The upper in favour of stability, and the hori- chronological border is represent- zontal belly ribs became more dis- The end of Justinian’s reign was ed by the period of the 13th and 14th tinguished. Those innovations marked by a crisis in the Empire centuries, when no more traces of were caused by new models of that caused serious social, political economic and political presence of mar itime trade in the Medi ter - and economic changes. Major the Byzantine Empire on the ranean that emerged as the reflec- changes on the commercial plan Adriatic, and the remains of LBA tion of new tendencies and changes were caused by the Arab forces, cargos suggest commercial con- in the Byzantine Empire. who reached the Mediterranean tacts related probably to the local shores of Syria and Egypt in the 7th wine production in the last Byzan - This period is preceded by the rule century, and through the 8th centu- tine possessions on the Pelopon - of emperor Justinian, when the ry added North Africa and Spain to nese and Apulia, thus maintaining Em pire was the indisputable ruler their domination, which stopped the last hints of amphorae trade of the whole Mediterranean, and a the production and trade of many along the eastern Adriatic mar- basic connection between Con - latifundia4. The danger and sus- itime route. stan tinople and the distant parts of pense on the sea, the narrower the Empire was made by a network trading space and diminished of maritime routes protected by a amount of the goods involved in Transition from Late Antique sha- fortress chain with a well-organ- maritime commerce, induced the pes (LRA) to EBA during the 7th ised communication system for production of cheaper, low status and 8th centuries safer navigation. The remains of ships of less capacity, suitable for the fortifications positioned on the shorter trading routes, fast and The lower chronological border of Dalmatian islands, witness the agile enough to be easily managed the research represents the end of importance of the eastern Adriatic and manoeuvred5. The lateen sail great LRA production, together maritime route with urban centres replacing the antique square sails with the emergence of amphorae (Fig. 4), harbours and anchorages also contributed to that fact, to - which showed the obvious process with continuity from the antique gether with the innovations in hull of transition from the LRA shapes period, used as logistic support for construction and ship’s equipment to the EBA ones during the second trading goods from the rich lati- (Fig. 5). The medieval Rhodian Sea 48 Byzantine maritime trade · V. Zmai´c Kralj Fig. 2: Three basic groups of the byzantine amphorae: 1. Early Byzantine amphorae (EBA): 7th/8th - 9th c.; 2. Middle Byzantine amphorae (MBA): 10th/11th - 12th c.; 3. Late Byzantine amphorae (LBA): 12th - 13th/14th c. 17. Jahrgang 2017· Heft 1 49 Law (Nomos Nautikos) suggests that ships’ owner, captain, and mer chant often were the same person6. But despite the apparent break of trade re lations, the archaeological re - searches showed a certain continuity of trade between the Byzantine Mediterranean and the northwest Adriatic, primarily in Ravenna’s port Classe, where the LRA were found in the same context with the early Byzantine ones7. But, during the 8th and 9th centuries the less circulation of merchandise in Ravenna was noticed, in relation to the newly established Byzantine emporiums: Comacchio, Venice and Cervia together with the restored antique centres of Rimini and Grado8 (Fig. 4), with the im - portant role of mediations between the Mediterranean and European markets9. One recently discovered shipwreck, on the island of Mljet (Tatinica-Maharac)10 (Fig. 3/1) represents remains characteristic for Fig. 3: Map of the Adriatic Sea with Byzantine amphorae finds: 1. Tatinica-Maharac that period, with globular am pho - (Island of Mljet), 7th/8th c.; 2. Cape Stoba (Island of Mljet), 11th c.; 3. Lučnjak shallows rae cargo, ship’s equipment in the (Island of Korčula), 12th/13th c.; 4. Islet of Merara, 13th c.; 5. Sv. Petar (Island of Ugljan), form of several incrusted iron 13th c.; 6. Ždrijac, Nin, 12th c.; 7. Grebeni near the Island of Silba, 13th c.; 8 Pijan Bay, anchors of type ‘T’ (or Type D Savudrija, 12th/13th c.

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