A new look at the early phase of Greek Black Sea colonization - Lecture by Dr. Stanislav Zadnikov

The settlement of Bilsk, founded in the 8th century BC, is a true mega-center in today’s Ukrainian forest-steppe: impressive 5000 ha in size and surrounded by a 35 km long system of fortified walls, it is the largest and at the same time the most important fortified complex of its time in the entire region. This was obviously already known to the Greeks who, after founding their first colonies on the northern Black Sea coast, came into direct contact with their new “neighbors“. Dr. Stanislav Zadnikov from the University of Kharkiv draws a fascinating picture of the course and intensity of these (cultural) contacts on the basis of the Greek pottery found in Bilsk - and thus at the same time enables a new, fresh look at the early phase of the so-called Greek Black Sea colonization.