Schleimann and Tell Hisarlik (Troy)

[dtilque]

How bad of shape did Schliemann leave Tell Hisarlik? Did he totally ruin the site for future work, or has there been significant work since?

Also, how certain is it that Hisarlik (level whatever) is the Homeric Troy?

[Ike_Witt]

@dtilque

Also, how certain is it that Hisarlik (level whatever) is the Homeric Troy?

Now comes a fairy tale, the story of a poor boy who at the age of seven dreamed of finding a city, and who thirty nine years later went forth, sought, and found not only the city but also treasure such as the world had not seen since the loot of the conquistadors.

This fairy tale is the life of Heinrich Schliemann, one of the most astounding personalities not only among archaeologists but among all men to whom any science has ever been indebted.

C.W.Ceram - Gods, Graves & Scholars

There is no doubt that Schlieman found Troy. As far as how he left the site I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing not in good shape. He was regarded as an amature and a dilettante. He had a habit of knocking down things that should have been preserved. Also, there was no clear control by the Turks at that time so I imagine that before too long the site must have been pretty much looted of anything of real importance.

[bonzer]

@dtilque

How bad of shape did Schliemann leave Tell Hisarlik? Did he totally ruin the site for future work, or has there been significant work since?

He cut through the centre of the mound, but still managed - accidentally or otherwise - to leave plenty of archaeology. There were major excavations by Dorpfeld in the 1890s and by Blegen in the 1930s. And there’s currently an ongoing project excavating the city, though they’ve concentrated on the areas away from the citadel dug by Schliemann, arguing in the process that the city was significantly larger than previously thought.

Also, how certain is it that Hisarlik (level whatever) is the Homeric Troy?

What tends to be overlooked is that even in classical times there was a strong tradition linking Hisarlik and the surrounding area to Troy. People had argued about where in the plain the city had been, so in a sense what Schliemann was settling was that there had indeed been a very ancient city in the area and that it was specifically at Hisarlik.
The matter that’s more elusive is archaeological evidence from the site showing that it was originally called Troy or some equivalent, rather than this name being attached to the city after the Illiad was written. However, there is a city called Wilusa (i.e. perhaps Illios) mentioned in contemporary tablets from elsewhere and there is a seal from the site itself (dated to 1280-1175 BCE) that uses the same Luvian language as these tablets. It’s therefore at least possible that the “Homeric” inhabitants called their city Wilusa.
Some academics however maintain that there’s no direct link and that argument is likely to continue, possibly indefinately.