Served on a Plate: A Late Medieval Ceramic Vessel with Sgraffito Decoration of a Sailing Ship from the Ropotamo Underwater Excavations, Black Sea, Bulgaria

We report on the interpretation of a late medieval Eastern Mediterranean glazed ceramic vessel with sgraffito decoration depicting sailing ship. The artefact represents chance find that was recovered outside excavation area Ropotamo underwater archaeological excavations Southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast in 2017. Fragments sgraffito-decorated ceramics depictions ships are rare. Complete examples can be considered exceptional. is particular interest due to freehand execution its decoration, which suggests some understanding contemporary ship proportions and seafaring practices behalf artisan. specimen analyzed against similar artefacts discussed context maritime graffiti from regions. aim establish potential for studying evaluate extent reflects aspects culture Byzantine early post-Byzantine periods. More research required appreciate full artefact. A hypothesis origin, dating significance has been proposed. However, shortage published parallels, it may subject further refinements future case more stratified similis identified.