Ancient Hyssos Port and Its Associated Historical Road Networks: An Analysis Based on Archaeological Surveys and Written Sources Antik Hyssos Limanı ve Bağlantılı Tarihi Yol Ağları: Arkeolojik Yüzey Araştırmaları ve Yazılı Kaynaklar Işığında Bir Değerlendirme

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EMİR O., KÖSE İ., TOPALOĞLU Y.

Journal of Universal History Studies, cilt.9, sa.1, ss.132-151, 2026 (Scopus)

Özet

This study focuses on Hyssos (Old Port ofAraklı), one of the strategically important ports of the Pontos Region during the Roman Empire, and the historical road networks connecting it to the interior of Anatolia. Located about 30 km east of the modern Trabzon Port, at the point where the Karadere River flows into the Black Sea, this port offered strategic advantages throughout history thanks to its bay structure and the natural shelter it provided, especially against westerly winds. For this reason, the port became an important military and commercial centre from the 2nd century AD, hosted a Roman auxiliary unit, and served as a critical base for military expeditions under the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius. While the existing scholarly literature focuses on the port itself, the ancient routes connecting Hyssos to the interior, especially to Satala (Sadak), an important Roman garrison, have so far not been studied in sufficient depth. Based on extensive surveys conducted in 2022 and an analysis of historical sources, this paper aims to document connected the Hyssos port with the interior the two main historical routes (Araklı-Aydıntepe-Bayburt and Araklı-Yağmurdere-Satala): Archaeological evidence, such as settlements and fortresses along these routes, will be highlighted to illuminate the role of Hyssos as a critical logistical and strategic link connecting the Black Sea coast with the Anatolian interior throughout Antiquity and the Middle Ages. To this end, data on the port of Hyssos from ancient Roman texts and modern research will first be analysed, and then these findings will be compared with Byzantine and Ottoman sources. Finally, the Port of Hyssos will be evaluated together with the data obtained from the field studies conducted by us; the routes and remains of the historical roads connecting the port to the inland regions, especially Satala, will be identified, and the strategic importance of the port in the historical process will be comprehensively revealed.