Akko

A probe excavation was recently undertaken by the author in Remez street in Akko (November 3^rd 2002 -January 9^th 2003).

The site, situated about 500 m west of Tel Akko, produced a significant number of fragments of North Aegean and Chian amphorae, as well as some Attic ones. These remains consist mainly of solid “stem” toes with hollow “buttons” and a few rims, dated in the 4^th to early 3^rd c. BCE. In one context, bodies of Chian and East Mediterranean “basket handle” amphorae were discovered, standing upright. Although the precise dating of each of these fragments remains to be established, it is already clear that the trade between the Northern Aegean and the Levant was quite significant in the Late Persian and Early Hellenistic periods.

In addition, “mushroom” rims attributed to the South East Aegean as well as a few toes of probably Rhodian amphorae, to be dated in the second quarter of the 3^rd c. BCE also appeared. This seems to be evidence of the beginning of a trade with the South East Aegean, which will remain the main source of Greek amphorae imported to the Levant throughout all of the Hellenistic period from the mid-3^rd c. BCE onward.

These finds from an area of imports may well be additional evidence for an evolution of a phenomenon characterizing the Aegean. The latter indeed witnessed the growth of the productions of wine in the Coan/Rhodian/Knidian area, which replaced to a significant extent that of the “Thasian sphere” in the trade toward the Mediterranean.