The Maritime and Commercial Afterlives of Anaia: Relocating the Harbor (?) and Shipyard on the Byzantine/Aydinid Cusp

In this presentation, we once again turn to Anaia, a multi-period mound settlement located opposite Samos on the Aegean coast of Asia Minor. Famed for signing the trade agreements in 1261 with the Genoese and 1265 with the Venetians, Anaia became a major hub for the production of ceramics, glass, metal, and bone, which was circulated through a harbor whose location had been a matter of debate. Previous studies located the harbor on the shores of the mound or its immediate west or east and labeled an intramural structure (B40) as a kommerkiarion (office/residence of the tax collector). In this presentation, we examine Genoese and Venetian archival records and cartographic evidence, such as portolan charts and primary accounts, as well as recent archaeological work conducted at the site, to define the character and context of its associated maritime and commercial infrastructure and debunk localizations and labelings. Our joint presentation concludes that Anaia is likely to have had an anchorage pier that is situated to the west of the settlement and complemented by a shipyard; as such, these two features can be located within the broader context of the late Byzantine/ early Aydinid urban and economic landscape, emphasizing its role in regional maritime networks and continuity, albeit changes in the political regime. Our multidisciplinary approach integrates archaeological, textual, and cartographic analyses to fine-tune a nuanced interpretation of Anaia’s maritime catchment area and its changing functions and fortunes.