The Most Recent Findings Related to the Early Iron Age at the Eastern Black Sea Mountains

Archaeological past of Trabzon has been explained by considering the data in the written sources of antique era-to date. However, so-far this history cannot be proved archaeologically. The region has witnessed a few, short-term surveys, which did not continue long. Trabzon Protohistoric Period Survey Project which was started in 2018 aims to increase data about the region. In 2019 survey season, Mulaga Valley in Macka was one of the areas where reseach was conducted. In this valley, south to Zirvanos at Kalecik (Mile) Castle with an altitude of 2000 m, ceramic pieces dated to the Early Iron Age were identified.. These ceramic findings show similarities with the Early Iron Age ceramic repertoire of the northern part of the Van Lake basin, north-eastern Anatolia, and Transcaucasia with regard to their paste, surface treatment, and decoration. Kalecik (Mile) Castle findings allows for the first time to interpret Early Iron Age in the region. This paper argues that Eastern Black Sea Mountains were actually not a barrier for the Eastern Anatolian Early Iron Age.