Prezenţa amforelor de Mende la Orgame/Argamum, sectorul Faleza Est (săpăturile anilor 1999- 2000)
Amphorae of Menda at Orgame/Argamum. Faleza Est Sector (excavations 1999-2000)

Summary/Abstract: It is believed that the founding of the city of Menda is associated with settlers from Erythrae and occurred in the 8th century BC. The main subject of trade of this polis was wine, known and appreciated already in the classical period. In later times, Menda wines were exported to Pontus and were also mentioned as a cure for certain dis- eases, with white Menda wine being recommended. Regular stamping of commercial containers was not practiced in Menda. However, sometimes on the handles of amphorae there are anepigraphic stamps or these representing a letter of the Greek alphabet, most often impressed englyphically on a handle. Researcher S. Monakhov, who developed a morphological classification of Menda amphorae, divided them into three types: I – pythoid, II – with a cup-shaped foot, III – conical. From the 6th century BC the city of Menda experienced an economic boom, and by the end of the 6th century - beginning of the 5th century BC the Menda amphorae reached the Black Sea region. In Dobrudja, fragments of Menda amphorae were found in Peceneaga-Baltina, Peceneaga - Movila Cazacului, Cara-Burun, Donca and in Callatis. In Argamum, the presence of Menda amphorae was noted by M. Mănucu- Adameșteanu in several complexes of the Faleza Est Sector. The presented collection of Menda amphorae from the excavations carried out by L. Mihailescu-Bârliba in 1999- 2000 includes 27 datable profiled fragments (23 rims and 4 feet) and belongs to the period from the middle of the 5th century to the 40-30s of the 4th century BC. The most numerous vessels are those of the so-called Melitopol type II-C. Such situation with the periods of distribution of the Menda amphorae is also in the sites of the Northern Black Sea region, where the Melitopol type amphorae predominate quantitatively.

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