Ioanna Dimopoulos Trade of Byzantine red wares, end of the 11th–13th centuries

In the light of increased general trade in the Komnenian period, the diffusion of Byzantine pottery seems like an expected phenomenon. However, the mechanics and distribution patterns of medieval pottery trade are still largely unknown. The main reasons for this are: the difficulty in classifying the wares, particularly in the 12th century, due to similarity in types and decoration; the inadequate archaeological data regarding production sites; the complications caused by imitations; and the distortion caused by unevenness in study from one area to another.