PATTERNS OF AMPHORA STAMP DISTRIBUTION 217
quarter of the fifth to the third century BCE), Ilion/Troas (dated to the third
quarter of the third century BCE and the second half of the second century
BCE), Corinth (earliest examples are dated to the seventh and sixth centuries
BCE and the latest to the first half of the second century BCE, but with the
main production in the second half of the fourth and the third century BCE),
Miletus (dated from the end of the third century to the beginning of the sec-
ond century BCE), Pergamon (terminus ante quem the 160s BCE), Samos (dated
to the last quarter of the fourth century BCE) and Samothrace (dated from the
mid-fourth century to the beginning of the third century BCE). The difference
between this subgroup and subgroup 1c, where we also found mainly regional
distribution, lies in the significantly larger numbers of stamps and find spots.
Stamps from these seven cities have been found at a medium dispersion,while their largest numbers are clustered in the production city or its sur-
rounding region. These cities are clearly participating in a long-distance trade
network, but at the same time most of their trade is confined to the adjoining
region.
However, there are two major caveats to consider when analyzing theseregional networks. First, large numbers of stamps found in the production
center are not necessarily an indication of local exchange. This is the case with
Samothrace, where we have a huge amount of stamps (approximately 1,300)
found on the island itself. Almost all of these stamps originate from the exca-
vation of workshops producing amphoras and cannot be viewed as evidence
for local trade because we do not know where these amphoras would have
been sent once they left the workshop. Still, Samothracian stamps are well
represented in adjacent areas, and Samothrace therefore fits into the pattern of
medium distribution with strong regional impact. Second, the concentration
of stamps in a certain region is sometimes taken as evidence for the identi-
fication of their place of origin (e.g., for Ilion/Troas and Pergamon). If this
concentration of finds in an area is the only way of identifying where the
amphoras were produced, then the identification should be considered as frag-
ile. As a result, when talking about local or regional distribution in this case,
one must avoid circular arguments.
Subgroup 2c: Medium Distribution with Particular Concentrations
A third subgroup of the medium size dispersion of stamps consists of six
groups of amphora stamps: Chian (dated to last third of the fifth century
BCE), Erythraean (dated to the third quarter of the fifth century BCE and
the second half of the fourth century BCE), Hierapytnian (dated to the sec-
ond half of the second century BCE), Ikian (mid-fourth to early third century
BCE), Mendean (dated to the end of the fifth and the beginning of the fourth
century BCE) and Peparethian (dated from the first to the third quarter of
the fourth century BCE) (see Table 9.3). The Classical stamped production