The Study of Ancient Territories: Chersonesos and Metaponto: 2004 Annual Report

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This is the 2004 edition of the ICA's annual report. ICA's research focuses primarily on the chorai, or agricultural territories, that surrounded and supported ancient Greek colonial cities. Their two primary sites of research are the chora of Metaponto on the southern coast of Italy and the chora of Chersonesos on the northern coast of the Black Sea in Crimea, Ukraine. Both settings offer remarkably well-preserved ancient rural landscapes, once densely occupied by farmers and still containing abundant evidence of their homes, burial grounds, and places of worship. Because their locations were strategically important, they also contain archaeological remains from the Roman through the Byzantine eras. Through its research, ICA contributes to a fuller understanding of the settlement, economy, and culture of this previously neglected rural dimension of early western civilisation. Metaponto and Chersonesos provide a unique chance to compare rural chorai at opposite ends of the colonial Greek world, as well as a valuable opportunity to train students, foster exchanges, and generate international collaboration and good will.