The Discovery of Troy: How Schliemann’s Obsession Changed Archaeology
For centuries, the story of the Trojan War and the city of Troy were widely considered by modern historians to be nothing more than myth and poetic invention by Homer in the Iliad. That all changed in the 1870s when a wealthy German businessman and amateur archaeologist named Heinrich Schliemann set out to prove that the legends were rooted in historical fact. His relentless, albeit controversial, obsession not only located the ancient site of Troy but laid the groundwork for modern field archaeology.
1. The Boyhood Obsession and the Search
From a young age, Schliemann was captivated by the epic tales of the Trojan War. While many viewed the Iliad as pure fantasy, he believed that the cities described in the poems were real places waiting to be found.
The Shift in Location: Initially, scholars and local experts (including British archaeologist Frank Calvert) debated the site of ancient Troy. While many favored the hilltop of Pınarbaşı, Calvert identified the mound of Hisarlık in northwestern Turkey as the true location and convinced Schliemann to fund the excavations.
The Excavations Begin: In 1870, Schliemann began exploratory soundings at Hisarlık, using his immense personal fortune to hire a large labor force of 80 to 160 workers.
2. Excavation Methods and "Schliemann's Trench"
Schliemann's approach to the site was far from scientific by modern standards and resulted in significant destruction to the archaeological record.
The Great Trench: To reach the lowest levels of the tell (the artificial mound formed by centuries of habitation), Schliemann cut a massive 17-meter (56-foot) gash, known today as Schliemann's Trench, straight through the center of the site.
Destroyed Evidence: In his rush to reach the bottom layer, which he assumed must be the Homeric Troy, his workers cleared away and discarded structures and layers that belonged to later, historically important periods.
3. Priam's Treasure and Controversy
In May 1873, Schliemann’s team uncovered a spectacular cache of gold, bronze, and silver artifacts near the defensive walls, which he named "Priam's Treasure."
The Artifacts: The hoard included diadems, golden pendants, and thousands of pieces of intricately worked gold, which Schliemann claimed belonged to the mythical King Priam of Troy.
Smuggling and Media Sensationalism: Eager to protect his finds from the Ottoman authorities, Schliemann smuggled the treasure out of Turkey into Greece. The resulting international scandal brought immense media attention to his discoveries.
Dating Discrepancies: Modern archaeologists later determined that the treasure dates to roughly 2500 BCE, over a thousand years before the time of the Late Bronze Age Trojan War.
4. The Legacy: From Treasure Hunting to Stratigraphy
Although Schliemann's methods were often destructive, his work revolutionized archaeology by shifting the focus from mere classical antiquities to the exploration of early prehistoric civilizations.
Refining the Science: Following Schliemann's initial excavations, experts like Wilhelm Dörpfeld and later Carl Blegen introduced rigorous stratigraphic recording methods.
The Real Homeric Troy: Dörpfeld correctly identified Troy VI and Troy VIIa as the most likely candidates for the Late Bronze Age city of the Trojan War, which aligned with the Mycenaean period.
