AMPHORA GRAFFITI FROM THE BYZANTINE SHIPWRECK AT NOVY SVET, CRIMEA A Thesis by CLAIRE ALIKI COLLINS Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Approved by: Chair of Committee, Deborah Carlson Committee Members, Filipe Vieira de Castro Nancy Klein Head of Department, Cynthia Werner December 2012 Major Subject: Anthropology Copyright 2012 Claire Aliki Collins ABSTRACT The thesis presents the results of a study of 1005 graffiti on 13th century Byzantine amphorae from a shipwreck in the Bay of Sudak near Novy Svet, Crimea, Ukraine. The primary goals of this thesis are 1) to provide an overview of the excavation and shipwreck, 2) to examine the importance of the Novy Svet wreck in terms of Black Sea maritime trade in the Late Byzantine period, 3) to present the data collected at the Center for Underwater Archaeology at the Taras Shevchenko National University in Kiev, Ukraine (CUA) about the graffiti inscribed on the Günsenin IV amphorae raised from the Novy Svet wreck and 4) to discuss the meaning and importance of the graffiti, both aboard the ship itself and in a more general context. The thesis introduces the results of the 2002-2008 underwater excavation seasons at Novy Svet. Excavators have identified a 13th century shipwreck filled with glazed ceramics and amphorae as a Pisan vessel sunk on August 14, 1277. The majority of the amphorae are Günsenin IV jars and have graffiti inscribed on them. Analysis of the graffiti focuses on the division of the marks into morphological categories, and identifying parallels for the specific forms at other archaeological sites. The graffiti are divided into 5 types; Greek/Cyrillic letters, Turkic runes, geometric or pictorial symbols, numerical designations, and Arabic letters. Their parallels speak to a multi-lingual, multi- ethnic trade network in the Black Sea that included Byzantine Greeks, Hellenized Bulgarians, and Arabs. ii For my parents iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Above all, I would like to thank Deborah Carlson, my committee chair and advisor, who suggested me for this project, supported me through the research, and guided me through the writing. I would also like to thank Filipe Vieira de Castro, Nancy Klein, and Susan Eckert for their continued support and encouragement. My most sincere thanks and gratitude also go to the researchers and staff at the Center for Underwater Archaeology at the National University in Kiev, particularly to Sergei Zelenko and Yana Morozova. Their efforts and scholarship are vital to the growing field of underwater archaeology in the Black Sea, and I am proud to contribute even this small effort to their cause. It was their hospitality, encouragement, and mentoring in the field and in the laboratory that made this thesis possible. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the Anthropology department staff, particularly Cindy Hurt, Marco Valadez, and Rebekah Luza, who are tireless in their advocacy for all their students, and without whose help I could not have complete the thesis, and my friends and colleagues from the Nautical Archaeology Program, especially those who fought, even after the battle seemed lost. Heather Hatch, Leeanne Gordon, Megan Lillie Smith, Heather Brown, and Ryan Lee, you guys are the best cavalry anyone could ask for. Thanks also go to Dean and Sam Winchester, who showed me how to carry on. Finally, thanks to my mother and father for their undying support and unconditional love. This is for you. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION ........................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................... v LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .......................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Structure of the Thesis ......................................................................................... 3 History of the Project: Survey (1997-2001)......................................................... 6 History of the Project: Excavation (2002-present) .............................................. 9 Overview of the Artifacts..................................................................................... 10 Identification of the Shipwreck ............................................................................ 33 CHAPTER II HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ................................................... 39 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 39 Chronological Overview of the Northern Black Sea ........................................... 41 The Mongol Empire ............................................................................................. 46 The Byzantine Empire ......................................................................................... 48 The Italian City-States ......................................................................................... 50 13th Century Maritime Trade ............................................................................... 55 The Novy Svet Wreck and the 13th Century ........................................................ 60 Conclusions ......................................................................................................... 75 CHAPTER III GÜNSENIN TYPE IV AMPHORAE ............................................ 78 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 78 Type Description .................................................................................................. 80 Günsenin Type IV Amphorae .............................................................................. 81 Günsenin Type I Amphorae ................................................................................. 83 Günsenin Type IV Comparanda .......................................................................... 85 Production Sites ................................................................................................... 88 v Sample Fabrics ..................................................................................................... 91 CHAPTER IV GRAFFITI FROM THE NOVY SVET SHIPWRECK .................. 95 Introduction and Methodology ............................................................................ 95 Application of Graffiti ......................................................................................... 102 Graffiti Types ....................................................................................................... 104 Interpretation of the Novy Svet Graffiti............................................................... 106 Greek/Cyrillic Letters .......................................................................................... 113 Names in the Novy Svet Graffiiti ........................................................................ 122 Words or Phrases in the Novy Svet Graffiiti ....................................................... 126 Turkic/Oghuric Runes .......................................................................................... 128 Geometric/Pictorial Signs .................................................................................... 139 Numerical Designations ....................................................................................... 151 Arabic Letters....................................................................................................... 155 Stamps from Novy Svet ....................................................................................... 156 Conclusions .......................................................................................................... 157 CHAPTER V DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS.......................................... 161 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 161 General Conclusions ............................................................................................ 164 Comparative Analyses ......................................................................................... 167 Speculations and Interpretations .......................................................................... 175 Further Research .................................................................................................. 187 WORKS CITED ........................................................................................................ 189 APPENDIX A ............................................................................................................ 224 vi LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 1.1 The Black Sea ............................................................................................. 5 1.2 Crimea, showing the cities of Sudak (Судак)