Davit Naskidashvili (Staatliche Ivane Javakhishvili Universität Tbilissi)
Phasis was a distinguishable colony on the east coast of the Black Sea, which was founded by Miletians. So far the exact location of the city is unknown. Scholars mostly agree with the idea that city was located in the Colchean Lowlands in the delta of the river Rioni. According to several Greek and Latin historical sources Phasis was founded around the VI B.C. and was likely one of the longer-lasting colonies on this coastline. The city is also mentioned in the Late Antique Period in the context of the Sasanian and Byzantine war. Most scholars are concentrating on trying to find the exact point, where Phasis was located in the classical to late antique period.
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and Aarhus university started a new project in 2018 to study trade in the medieval period on the Rioni river. Study of archive material in the Museum of Colchean culture of Poti, which formed part of this project, revealed medieval period glazed pottery, which may suggest strong trading from Black Sea up to the Rioni. The geographic location of the materials also may be interpreted as a transformation the Greek colony to a medieval trading outpost.