BLACK-GLAZED WARE FROM THE EXCAVATIONS OF THE MARKUL SETTLEMENT

<jats:p>The article presents the results of studying a collection of the black-glazed ware, discovered during the excavation of a Hellenistic-era catacomb at the Markul settlement (Republic of Abkhazia) (Kotyol site). The main purpose of the article is to introduce significant new material into scientific use. The importance of this collection lies in the fact that it comes from the only known ancientera catacomb in Abkhazia. The article provides a detailed analysis of the types of black-glazed vessels, their dating, and the identification of production centers, including Attica, Pergamon, and possibly Corinth. When identifying, the authors took into account a set of features including the assessment of the chippings visual characteristics using a microscope, as well as the analysis of the shapes and coatings. The authors attach a brief catalog of the findings to the article. It is worth noting that most of the ve ssels have poor preservation of their lacquer coatings, regardless of their initial quality. This is par ticularly evident in the case of miniature replicas. In some instances, the lacquer is lost. This is probably due to the mineral composition of the cultural layer. The article concludes that the blackglazed vessels date from a broad period, from the turn of the 4th-3rd centuries BC to the second half of the 2nd century BC. However, the majority of the collection can be dated to the second quarter of the 3rd century BC. In general, the black-glazed ware complex from the 2023-2025 excavations at the Kotyol site differs little in composition from the usual assortment of imported vessels typical for the Black Sea region and, in particular, for the eastern coast of Pontus. The diversity of the production centres of the discovered vessels is further evidence of the active involvement of this region in the sphere of intensive trade not only with Athens, but also with the cities of Asia Minor, directly or indirectly.</jats:p>