The Impact of the Industrialization and Urbanization on the Quantity and Diversity of Amphorae in the Museums: The Case of İzmit Gulf

Abstract

This article examines assemblage of amphorae kept at the Kocaeli Archaeology Museum, in the light of their findspots in order the establish the external relations of the Gulf of Izmit. The statistical analysis of amphorae from the Kocaeli Museum shows that 17% of the amphorae were found in Izmit, % 29 from South of the Gulf of Izmıt and the shores of Helenopolis, 54 % from the western Black Sea Sections (Kefken- Kerpe). No amphorae were retrieved from the shoves in this area fort he construction of D100 higway. This means that harbors of the city Nicomedia were also lost during this filling activities. Old photographs related to Pertev Paşa Mosque confirms this. This may explain the lack of shipwrecks and amphorae on the shores of Nicomedia. Rich assemblage of amphorae retriewed from the shoresof Helenopolis clearly shows that such may have also been the casefor NicomediaThe high ratio of amphorae at Kocaeli Archaeology Museum originating at Black Sea region resulted from modern fishing. In this context, this prensentatıon evaluates the impact of pollution and urbannization on the number and diversity of amphorae found at the museums, such asthe Kocaeli Archaeology Museum.