Fishing on the eastern Black Sea coastal area during the Classical period: on archaeological data found at Pichvnari

The settlement site and polytechnics cemetery of the Classical period at Pichvnari has yielded useful material for the study of ancient history and culture of the eastern Black Sea area. During the whole Classical period, local Colchians and Greek settlers peacefully co-existed in the area. It is clear from the archaeological finds that Pichvnari was the economic, cultural and religious centre of its surrounding chora over a long period.Pichvnari occupied a vast territory, extending to the environs of the Choloki-Ochkhamuri confluence near the sea, in an area of sandy soil. This situation, together with the particular climatic conditions, significantly impeded the survival of organic materials (bone, leather, fabric, wood, etc.). Despite this fact, the materials of Pichvnari cemetery and settlement site still reveal much information.Among various industries, fishing was a major activity thanks to the proximity to rivers and the sea. An especially large stone sinker, weighing 3.8kg, points to the use of very large nets, and thus sea fishing on an industrial scale.Many pebble weights used for sinking fish-nets of an elongated, oval form, with a groove hacked at their widest parts (to attach them to the net) were found. They vary in length between 7 and 11.5cm, and in width between 6 and 8cm. Apart from bronze hooks, various numbers of lead weights for nets were also found. An entire net with sixty lead weights was deposited in one burial. Similar items were found at Tsikhisdziri and Gonio-Apsarus, to the south, not very far from Pichvnari.Undoubtedly, fishing and the production of dolphin oil were carried out on a commercial scale. It is likely that, as in other centres of the Black Sea area, the bulk of salted fish was exported towards the Greek world, where there was much demand.