The study of the pre-classical Black Sea has historically been both regionally fragmented and peripheral to European, Mediterranean, Eurasian, and Near Eastern archaeological traditions. Unlike the Mediterranean, the Black Sea is traditionally conceived of as a boundary or obstacle to interaction, rather than as a catalyst for cultural contact and exchange. Lacking almost completely from the literature, both theoretically and through archaeological case studies, is the exploration of sea-based connections in this region.

This is the first book to investigate inter-regional contact and interaction in and around the early Black Sea, as well as potential insularity or remoteness from it – both important themes in archaeological research. A central emphasis here lies on the material culture of connections and the significance of local social contexts. Each author in this collection addresses a range of key issues, including archaeological evidence for cultural connectivity or isolation; the means through which interactions took place and the physical parameters enabling/constraining such interactions; and the motivations and effects of inter-regional exchange for the societies concerned. This cutting-edge volume establishes the study of the pre-classical Black Sea as a significant field of research in its own right, demonstrated through some of the best recent research in the field.