AN EVALUATION OF THE ANCIENT TRAPEZOUS-SATALA ROAD: KARAKABAN ROAD AND ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

The historical geography of Anatolia is not only a transit route for travelers, merchants, and armies but also an area where ideas, religions, and cultures have been formed. This situation in Anatolia stems from its strategic location, where many historical roads intersect. So much so that the "Spice Road" and "Silk Road," the most critical military and commercial routes of Ancient History, pass through these lands. The branches of these roads that pass through Anatolia are fed by many alternative routes connecting with the sea. One of these alternative routes is the "Karakaban Road," which originated from Trabzon Port and was frequently mentioned by travelers who visited the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. This road aligns with the "Trapezous-Satala Road" in the Tabula Peutingeriana, a map showing Roman roads and accommodation places. This study evaluates the relationship between the "Trapezous-Satala Road" in Tabula Peutingeriana and the "Karakaban Road" in Ottoman sources. For this evaluation, systematic and technological field surveys were conducted on the road routes based on information from historical sources. Supported by the historical structures and archaeological materials identified in the field surveys, the current possible location of the road was determined. Thus, in light of written and archaeological data, the probable location of the Karakaban Road today and its use and strategic importance throughout history was revealed.