Excavation of Troy

Frank Calvert

British archaeologist who initiated excavations at Hissarlik.

Hissarlik

Mound believed to be ancient Troy's location.

Heinrich Schliemann

German amateur archaeologist who excavated Hissarlik extensively.

Troy II

Identified by Schliemann as Homer's Iliad Troy.

Treasure of Priam

Gold artifacts claimed by Schliemann, possibly planted.

Wilhelm Dorpfeld

Excavated Troy in 1893

Troy VI

City identified by Dorpfeld as the Trojan War Troy.

Carl Blegen

American archaeologist who refined Troy's excavation findings.

Troy VIIa

Identified by Blegen as the 'real' Troy of Homer.

Manfred Korfmann

Reopened Troy excavations using modern technology.

Geomagnetic surveys

Modern technique used to explore Troy's extensive city.

Linear B Tablets

Mycenaean script providing indirect Trojan War references.

Hittite Diplomatic Archive

Clay tablets offering evidence of Trojan War events.

Fortifications

Thick limestone walls demonstrating Troy's military strength.

10 Superimposed Cities

Archaeological layers revealing Troy's complex history.

Trial trenches

Initial excavation method used by Calvert at Hissarlik.

Excavation Dates

Periods when significant archaeological work was conducted.

Burning and destruction

Evidence found at Troy II indicating violent past.

Defensive walls

Structures indicating Troy's military preparedness and strength.

Wide streets

Feature of Troy VI, indicating urban planning.

Large houses

Indicated prosperity in Troy VI's urban layout.

Earthquake destruction

Blegen's finding for Troy VI's wall damage.

Trojan War

Legendary conflict described in Homer's epics.

Schliemann's fame

Gained through controversial discoveries at Troy.

Excavation campaigns

Total of twenty

Archaeological record

Layers of Troy providing historical insights.

Military preparedness

Indicated by Troy VI's architecture and fortifications.

Cuneiform tablets

Hittite writings providing context for Trojan War.

Trojan War personalities

Figures like Achilles and Hector absent in tablets.

Trojan War evidence

Indirect support from Linear B and Hittite texts.

Modern excavation techniques

Methods enhancing understanding of Troy's extent.

Schliemann's Mycenae

Site where he found graves of gold artifacts.

Archaeological significance

Importance of Troy in understanding ancient history.

Troy's layers

Approximately 40 levels of occupation revealed.

Homer's Iliad

Epic poem detailing the Trojan War.

Archaeological findings

Artifacts and structures uncovered during excavations.

Historical truth

Schliemann's goal to prove Homer's narratives.

Excavation overview

Summary of major discoveries at Hissarlik.

Ancient Troy

Legendary city central to Greek mythology.

Cultural fascination

Schliemann's motivation for excavating ancient sites.

Archaeological methods

Techniques used to uncover historical sites.

Stone ruins

Remnants of Troy's ancient structures.

Military strength

Reflected in Troy's defensive architecture.

Historical layers

Different cities built over each other at Troy.

Excavation techniques

Methods employed by archaeologists to uncover Troy.

Superimposed cities

Cities built on top of each other at Hissarlik.

Archaeological insights

Knowledge gained from excavating Troy's layers.

Troy's historical significance

Importance in understanding ancient civilizations.

Schliemann's excavations

Controversial methods and findings at Hissarlik.

Troy's fortifications

Defensive structures demonstrating ancient military strategies.