Greek amphora stamps from Medgidia Hellenistic 3 (Constanța County, Romania)

The preventive archaeological excavations carried out at the site of Medgidia Hellenistic 3 resulted in the partial investigation of approximately 1 ha of the approximately 8 ha of the site, which represents an open settlement dating from the beginning of the Second Iron Age and is unique. Following the research carried out in the summer-autumn of 2023, a number of 126 archaeological complexes of different categories were identified and documented. A rich ceramic material was excavated, especially vessels, especially fragments of amphorae and complete amphorae, luxury vessels, with black and brown glaze, rudimentary local pottery. Among the multitude of amphorae and their fragments, which constitute approximately 85% of the total ceramic artefacts, we mention both the amphoric packaging from the Mediterranean Greek centers, such as Thasos, Chios, Mende, Corinth, Rhodes, Cos, Mende, as well as Pontic centers: Sinope, Heracleea Pontica, Chersonese, Murighiol type. From all the amphoric fragments, 14 stamp fragments were also selected, which belong to three Greek producing centers: Thasos – 4 copies, Sinope – 4 copies, Pontic Heraclea – 6 copies. The batch of stamps dates between the first half of the 4th and mid-3rd centuries BC. Even if it is a small batch of amphoric stamps, it can still provide additional information regarding the development of trade relations in the region south of the Danube and for the entire territory of the Romanian coast, in the IV-III centuries BC.