IEMELIANOV V.O., IEVLEV M.M., CHUBENKO O.V. The influence of natural conditions on the features of the trade route along the coast of the Northwestern Black Sea Region in antiquity

https://doi.org/10.15407/gpimo2025.01.003

V.O. Iemelianov, NAS Corresp. Member,
Dr. Sci. (Geol. & Mineral.),
Prof., Chief Researcher
e-mail: volodyasea1990@gmail.com
ORCID 0000-0002-8972-0754
M.M. Ievlev, PhD (History), Leading Researcher
e-mail: ievminan@gmail.com
ORCID 0000-0003-4861-7424
O.V. Chubenko, Research Engineer
e-mail: arba1380@gmail.com
ORCID 0000-0002-2324-8741
SSI «MorGeoEcoCenter NAS of Ukraine»
55 b st. Oles Honchar, Kyiv, 01054, Ukraine

THE INFLUENCE OF NATURAL CONDITIONS ON THE FEATURES
OF THE TRADE ROUTE ALONG THE COAST OF THE NORTHWESTERN
BLACK SEA REGION IN ANTIQUITY

This article analyzes the impact of climatic, geological, geomorphological, and other natural conditions of the coastal land and marine (shelf) subsystems of the geoecosystem (GES) of the Northwestern Black Sea region (NWBS) on the existence and functioning of one of the oldest trade routes, which operated primarily from the 7th century BC to the 4th century AD. Using geoarchaeological research on a number of significant ancient archaeological sites located along this route, the article demonstrates the changes experienced by the natural environments of the adjacent land and marine geoecological subsystems of the NWBS GES during this period. These changes occurred under the influence of climatic, geological, and geomorphological processes at various stages of the functioning of the Black Sea GES and the historical existence of the maritime trade route within it.

Keywords: shelf, maritime trade route, port, Northwestern Black Sea region, settlement, fortified site,
estuary, antiquity.