Относно средновековния и постсредновековния дребномащабен риболов по българско черноморско крайбрежие
Mediaeval and Post Mediaeval Small-Scale Fishing along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast

Summary/Abstract: The present study examines the development of small-scale fishing as a fundamental economic pillar for coastal communities along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast during the extended period of the Middle Ages and the subsequent post-mediaeval period. The topic goes far beyond the simple study of economic activity, revealing the resilience and adaptability of local populations in the face of dynamic historical change. The key to a full understanding of this tradition lies in the application of a multidisciplinary approach that skillfully combines archaeological, historical and ethnographic data. The article examines the significance of fishing as a vital economicsector for coastal communities. Archaeozoological bone material from mediaeval sites such as Durankulak,Kastritsi, Petrich Kale and Akra, spanning residential levels from the 5th–6th centuries to the early 15th century, provides direct evidence of the types of fish that were caught and consumed. Ancient and mediaeval written historical sources complete the picture, offering context for the trade and regulation of fishing. Post-mediaeval graffiti and wall paintings from Nessebar serve as a visual ethnography, illustrating boats, fishing techniques and the daily lives of fishermen. This rich source material allows the study to analyze the importance of fishing as a key economic sector that provided not only alive lihood but also a basis for trade with the interior of the country and beyond. The study reveals the remarkable continuity and sustainability of traditional methods passed down through generations. Local communities have developed effective strategies for the exploitation of marine resources, which underlines the intensive and constant use of the sea as a source of livelihood. Particular attention is paid to the rational economic chain of the past. Back then, fishermen and their families were directly involved in the entire process – from catching to processing and selling the final product. There sults of the study contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the daily life and economic activity of the population along the Bulgarian coast during these historical eras. They demonstrated that the identity of the local West Pontic community is closely intertwined with the sea. Based on historical models, a rational economic chain is proposed for reconstruction in the present day. Through more in-depth studies based on archaeological and ethnographic data, the connections between people and the sea cannot only be better understood but also serve as a model for the sustainable development of modern small-scale fishing, which is essential for preserving the cultural identity of coastal areas.

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