Ancient Places

Archaeologists in Trabzon, Turkey, have made an extraordinary discovery, unearthing one of the world’s only three known ancient river ports. The structure, found buried nearly eight meters (26 feet) beneath the modern city, provides unprecedented insight into the sophisticated logistics and trade networks of the Black Sea region, stretching back at least 2,000 years. The find confirms the historical importance of Trabzon, a city with deep Greek roots known in antiquity as Trapezus, as a vital commercial hub for successive empires. The discovery was made in the Pazarkapı neighborhood during excavations that began in 2020 and intensified in 2024. According to a report by Arkeonews, the structure functioned as an inland harbor connected to the Kuzgundere Stream. Unlike conventional sea