Laz people
It is suggested that the ancient Thia ( in Greek, a settlement of Roman, Late Roman and Byzantine periods) was located 4 miles west of modern Gümüşhane, in modern Beşkilise. In Byzantine period, there was a town named "Tzanicha" or "Tzantzakon" ( in Byzantine Greek) means land of Zan / Laz people, possibly located to the west of Gümüşhane.