Troy and Its Remains: A Narrative of Researches and Discoveries Made on the Site of Ilium and in the Trojan Plain

In Short

This narrative records the first large-scale archaeological trenching of the hill at Hissarlik in search of ancient Ilium. Through fieldwork entries and research summaries, the text charts how thousands of unbuilt, burnt, and forgotten strata reveal multiple distinct civilizations stacked atop one another. It dismantles prevailing geographic theories of the nineteenth century by measuring physical terrain against epic verse. By combining field methodology with linguistic analysis, the work bridges ancient poetry and modern science. It has endured as an irreplaceable monument to the birth of field archaeology, capturing the exact moment when legendary antiquity was transformed into a visible, physical reality.

The Story

The account opens by situating the excavations within a fiercely contested geographical debate. For decades, established scholarship placed the site of Homeric Troy at the inland village of Bunarbashi. By sinking exploratory shafts across the region, the investigation demonstrates that these alternate locations contain only shallow, primary soil devoid of pre-Hellenic habitation. Attention shifts entirely to the strategic mound of Hissarlik. Here, the spade encounters an astonishing vertical sequence of human occupation extending down fifty feet to the native bedrock.

As the excavation cuts massive trenches through the hill, the narrative traces a succession of distinct cultural layers. At the deepest levels, a primeval settlement of monumental stone structures appears, characterized by polished black pottery and primitive marble idols. Above it lies a secondary civilization defined by sun-dried brick architecture that has been baked hard by a devastating conflagration. This burnt layer yields extensive copper weaponry, animal-shaped vessels, and thousands of perforated terra-cotta whorls inscribed with sacred symbols, including swastikas and sun emblems. The higher strata showcase a gradual decline in technical skill before giving way to the sprawling architectural ruins of the Greco-Roman settlement of Ilium.

The central physical progression of the book centers on uncovering the immense structural features of the early city. The work proceeds through the laborious clearing of a massive ancient wall, a broad fortification tower, and a steep stone-paved roadway. The narrative connects these structures directly to epic literature, identifying the paved slope as the path to the double Scæan Gate and the elevated mound as the site where King Priam watched the battle lines meet in the plain below. A violent accidental fire in the excavator's wooden living quarters illustrates the constant physical perils of working on an isolated frontier.

The climax arrives with the unearthing of extraordinary treasure near the ancient fortification wall. Diadems formed of thousands of delicate gold leaves, intricate basket-shaped earrings, and precious metal vessels are extracted from the charred ruins of what is identified as the royal palace. In its final movement, the text expands into a scholarly synthesis. Eminent philologists apply the newly deciphered Cypriot syllabary to the inscriptions found on Trojan terra-cottas, attempting to read the forgotten language of the hill's earliest inhabitants and cementing the site's importance to world history.

How It Unfolds

The geography is tested Exploratory shafts are sunk across the Trojan Plain to test existing academic theories. Deep borings at Bunarbashi and surrounding sites hit native rock almost immediately, proving that no ancient city ever stood there.

The lowest strata are reached Excavations at Hissarlik penetrate fifty feet of earth to uncover the oldest settlement. The trench exposes massive stone foundations, polished dark pottery, and distinct funereal urns.

Symbols and metals emerge The second and third settlement layers yield thousands of terra-cotta whorls decorated with astronomical signs. Heavy copper weapons, casting moulds, and animal-shaped vases demonstrate advanced metalworking capabilities.

Structures of the epic revealed Workmen clear away tons of rubble to expose a broad fortification tower and a paved stone roadway. The excavator identifies this avenue as leading directly to the double Scæan Gate overlooking the plain.

A narrow escape from fire A night fire breaks out beneath the floorboards of the field house during extreme cold weather. Prompt action with bathwater and damp earth prevents the structure from burning down in high winds.

The golden treasure unearthed Digging near the main wall uncovers a hidden collection of golden diadems, pendants, and silver vessels. The precious items show signs of intense heat from the conflagration that destroyed the city.

Philologists consult the signs Scholars examine the strange markings on Trojan pottery using the newly deciphered Cypriot syllabary. Linguists publish initial interpretations of the symbols, linking the archaeological discoveries to broader comparative studies.

The People

• Dr. Henry Schliemann: The driven field researcher whose unshakeable belief in the historical reality of the Iliad powers the entire excavation. He directs the heavy manual labor, funds the operation, and defends his geographic conclusions against the skepticism of European academics.
• Philip Smith: The editor who frames the narrative for the reading public. He evaluates the archaeological findings against classical literature and provides scholarly oversight to the publication of the field reports.
• Konstantinos Kolobos: A remarkable self-taught shopkeeper from a nearby village who, despite severe physical disability, masters multiple languages and memorizes vast passages of ancient Greek poetry.
• Georgios Photidas: The reliable chief foreman who manages the day-to-day operations in the trenches and assists during emergencies on the site.
• Dr. Martin Haug: An eminent philologist who attempts the initial decipherment of the Trojan inscriptions by comparing their characters with the Cyprian syllabic alphabet.
• Professor Gomperz: A Vienna scholar who collaborates on analyzing the script found on terra-cotta whorls, contributing key linguistic studies regarding the early language of the site.

In Its Own Voice

"Dr. Schliemann’s original narrative of his wonderful discoveries on the spot marked as the site of Homer’s ILIUM by an unbroken tradition, from the earliest historic age of Greece, has a permanent value and interest which can scarcely be affected by the final verdict of criticism on the result of his discoveries."

— Editor Philip Smith reflects on the lasting importance of the Hissarlik excavations regardless of ongoing academic debate.

"The view from the hill of Hissarlik is extremely magnificent."

— Dr. Schliemann describes the surrounding landscape as he looks out over the Plain of Troy toward the Hellespont and Mount Ida.

"I poured the contents of a bath upon the burning north wall, and thus in a moment stopped the fire in that direction."

— The excavator recounts his quick response when a middle-of-the-night fire threatens his wooden house on the dig site.

What It's Really About

The text is fundamentally an argument for physical evidence over abstract academic theory. It insists that ancient literature rests on tangible, historical reality rather than pure poetic invention. By using the spade to test literary tradition, the book challenges the dominant nineteenth-century armchair scholarship that dismissed Homeric geography as myth.

Beneath the cataloging of artifacts lies an investigation into the cyclical nature of human civilization. The fifty-foot accumulation of debris demonstrates how successive populations build upon, destroy, and forget those who came before them. Each burnt layer records a forgotten catastrophe, showing that culture is both remarkably durable in its physical traces and fragile in its continuity. Finally, the work explores how comparative philology and archaeology together can reconstruct the lost connections between early European peoples and Eastern cultures.

Why Read It Today

This book will appeal to anyone fascinated by the origins of modern archaeology, classical literature, or the thrill of unearthing forgotten history. Reading it feels like sitting beside a field desk in a cold, wind-swept trench while the dirt is still being cleared away from ancient stone walls. The writing combines the raw excitement of immediate discovery with the meticulous details of field notes.

The reader must navigate certain period difficulties. The narrative contains extensive technical measurements, repetitive catalog entries of artifacts, and long untranslated Greek passages. The author's unyielding enthusiasm sometimes leads to hasty identifications that later scholarship would revise. Furthermore, nineteenth-century imperial attitudes and local labor disputes are recorded without modern sensitivity.

What remains, however, is the sheer drama of a monumental intellectual gamble paying off. Watching a researcher challenge the global academic establishment and pull real gold, burnt walls, and ancient weapons out of a neglected Turkish mound is an unforgettable experience. The book captures the moment when legendary tradition was forever transformed into tangible history.