ИСТИНА

Tanais was located on the Northeastern boundaries of the Bosporian Kingdom, on the border with the steppes and was the northernmost point of the ancient civilization in the Hellenistic time. It was founded not earlier, than the beginning of the III century BC, and existed till the late antiquity. Due to its remoteness from the main centers of Greek culture and its close connection with the local population, barbaric influences in architecture and material culture of Tanais, which could be noticed as early as in the 3rd century BC, intensify over time. In this regard, the complex of imported Black Glazed pottery, which was being collected for more than 60 years of archaeological study of the settlement, is of particular interest. The general chronology of Black Glazed pottery from Tanais – 80-70th years of the 3rd century BC – the beginning of the 1nd century BC. There are different types of drinking cups, vessels for wine and food service, for oil and for other liquids. In general, such a set is characteristic for Greek settlements in the Northern Black Sea region of the corresponding time. However, there is a number of differences. The percentage of finds of Black Glazed fragments is much less than in other settlements of the region (no more than 1-2%). This is offset by a bigger amount of Red Clay Tableware of similar forms, presumably of local production. The number of vessels with signs of repair and prolonged use is higher, than anywhere else. The typical composition of the vessels in each group is very limited and has a number of interesting features. Most of the collection consists of fragments of non-attic vessels (over 60%). This distinguishes Tanais from the major centers of both European and Asian Bosporus, where despite a significant increase in non-attic imports, product from Attica prevail at the same time. It is probably worth associating these features with the location of the city, which is characterized not only by remoteness from other ancient centers, but also by some isolation. However it did not prevent the penetration of wine and oil in transport amphoras, as well as other products to more distant non-Greek points. Rather, it must be attributed, on the one hand, to lower incomes of local residents, who more often used more affordable red clay tableware, on the other hand, to a certain degree of barbarization of the local population during a certain period.