Archaic trade amphorae from Miletus: a preliminary report

The excavations leaed by V. v.Graeve at Kalabaktepe from 1985 to 1993 have produced several sherds belonging to trade amphoras. The stratigraphic sequence elaborated by R. Senff for Miletos allowed to establish the cronology of these finds. In the years 1989-1993 were found 3924 sherds of Milesian trade amphoras, dating from the end of 8th-7th c. BC to the 5th c. BC. The band-lips, introduced already in the early types, remain through the centuries the main mark of the Milesian trade amphoras, which served most likely as containers for olive oil. Imported amphoras, which in Miletos are less than 10% of those of local production, come from wine production centres such as Chios. The sistematic study of all trade amphoras found in Miletos dating until 5th c. BC will allow to verify these preliminary hypothesis.