Project Troia

Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalters, Universität Tübingen, DEU
Department of Classics, University of Cincinnati, USA

Troy and the Troad

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Imprint

The settlement mound of Troy is situated in an excellent strategic position between two continents and seas only a few kilometers from the Dardanelles on a limestone plateau. This location, in conjunction with the special conditions of the currents and winds, favored trade and cultural contacts. It is thus possible to connect finds at Troy with other archaeological sites. 3500 years of habitation on this site have left behind layers roughly 15 meters in height. Karte der Troischen Ebene

When Heinrich Schliemann, following upon the preparatory work done by the British landowner Frank Calvert, started working in 1871 on the ruins on the hill, Hisarlik (Turkish: inhabited hill/mound with fortress), he was convinced that the city of Troy/Ilium from the legendary, bronze-age Trojan War, described by Homer around 730 B.C.E., was to be sought here. Graeco-Roman antiquity had already located the city on this spot - this is borne out by the expansion of the city of Ilion as well as by the numerous tumuli which predominately served hero cults. However, this knowledge was partially forgotten in the middle ages and into the modern period.

In the Bronze Age, a shallow bay stretched from the Dardanelles close to the foot of the fortress hill. Today it reaches to the edge of the Scamander's drained estuary (present Turkish name Karamenderes). The investigation of the topographical history with the drilling of over 200 test holes, together with the inclusion of the archaeological results, yields an idea of the area during prehistoric times. A complete inventory of the Troad's archaeological sites is being compiled with the aid of annual inspections. The inventory should serve as the basis for their permanent protection. Thanks to continuous efforts in conjunction with Turkish archaeologists and press for the preservation of a cultural landscape worthy of protection the Troad was declared a historical national park by the decision of the Turkish Council of Ministers in the fall of 1996.

A further international recognition of the continuous efforts in conservation of the ruins of Troia was achieved in the year 1998: Troia was entered into the UNESCO-List of World Heritage.

Since many years the general public and the project team are demanding the erection of a museum at Troia designed to house the many widely distributed finds at the place of origin. This is a task in the responibility of the Turkish Republic. We shall continue in our demand.

Tübingen editor: Hans G. Jansen (email: hans.jansen@uni-tuebingen.de)
Cincinnati editor: John Wallrodt (email: john.wallrodt@classics.uc.edu)

Date Last Modified: 26/Oct/05
By: HGJ