Abstract

Ceramics workshops and exchange networks in the south-western Black Sea in the Classical period and the beginning of the Hellenistic period Within the archaeometrical programmes carried out in the framework of the National Research Agency project «Pont-Euxin » and thereafter within the French archaeological team at Apollonia Pontica, a representative sampling of 123 sherds focusing on Apollonia but also extending to the main Greek settlements along the Western Black Sea coast was submitted to XRF chemical analyse. Their data processing revealed the existence of several distinct geochemical groups potentially corresponding to local or regional products. Concerning Apollonia itself, it evidenced the prominent role played by this city in pottery manufacture and distribution throughout the SW Pontic area, unveiling pottery trade networks along the Western Black Sea coast during the classical period.