©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Hisarlik / Troia

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Hisarlık / Troia
Type:
 Mound
Altitude:
 85 m
Region:
 Marmara
Province:
 Çanakkale
District:
 Merkez
Village:
 Tevfikiye
Investigation Method:
 Excavation
Period:
 EBA II EBA III

     

Location: The ancient city of Troy/Troia/Troié is hypothetically located on the Hisarlik hill which is overlooking the shore plains formed by the Dumrek and Kara Menderes streams; 4.5 km away from the Dardanelles; 6 km from the Aegean Sea; about 30 km south of Çanakkale Province. The name which reads Troia in Hellenistic language is known as Truva in Turkey with its pronunciation in French.
Geography and Environment: The Hisarlik Tepesi measures 31.2 m in height above the plain level and ca. 200x150 m in dimensions. The ancient cities located on an outcrop on the foothill of a calcareous platform were not only built on the uphill; but also on the slopes (lower city). It houses a cultural deposit of 16 m thick. The geomorphological studies suggested that the Troy of EBA was located on the shore of a small bay where the Kara Menderes and the Dümrek streams spill to. The site is very suitable for occupation.
History:
Research and Excavation: It was discovered by F. Calvert; a collector and once a British Consulate at Çanakkale; and small excavations were carried out in 1863 and 1865. Following a small sounding conducted in 1870; an extensive sequence of campaigns were started by H. Schliemann in 1871-72; 1878-79; 1882-83; 1889 and 1890. H. Schliemann funded the excavations by himself; and included F. Calvert; R. Virchov and W. Dörpfeld in this team. By the particular contribution of W. Dörpfeld; an architecture; it was observed that the cities of the mound are located overlapping each other and the stratification was identified. The mound was excavated starting from the centre like a ditch. Many of the architectural remains were destroyed before documented; and most of the finds recovered were smuggled with or without permissions. H. Schliemann was mainly concerned with proving that the ancient city of Troy was located at Hisarlik Tepe; not with the recovery of archaeological finds. Following his death; the excavation was taken over by W. Dörpfeld in 1893-94. In 1932; C.W. Blegen started the third phase excavations in the name of the Cincinnati University and continued until 1938. C.W. Blegen didn't enlarge the excavation area; rather concentrated on the previously excavated areas. As a result of these excavations; C.W. Blegen and his team published the culture of Troy in detail. Following an interlude of 50 years, excavations at Troia started again in 1988. An international team led by M. Korfman from the University of Tübingen excavated the site until 2006. Between 2006 and 2012 excavations were directed by E. Pernicka. Since 2013 R. Aslan and his team has been excavating at Troia. It is estimated that the mound was unearthed completely in 30 excavation seasons.
Stratigraphy: Hisarlik Tepe consists of 9 layers and 41 building levels; Troy I-III: Early Bronze Age II Troy IV-V: Early Bronze Age III - Middle Bronze Age (intermediate period) Troy VI: Middle Bronze Age-Late Bronze Age Troy VII: Late Bronze Age-Early Iron Age Troy VIII: Hellenistic and Troy Periods Troy IX: Roman Period The excavation carried out in the bottom of the northern-southern trench; known as Schliemann's "Great Trench" yielded; although uncertain yet; a burnt layer preceding the Troy I. The last phase excavations by M. Korfmann revealed new building levels resulted in the partly changes in the cultural dynasty of Troy (See Interpretation and Dating).
Small Finds: Architecture (ascending order) Upper Town/Chateau/Castle The settlement of Troy I consists of 11 building levels from Ia-Ik. It is surrounded by a battered fortification wall ca. 2.5 m thick and 90 m in diameter [Blegen 1966:39-58; fig.8]. The fortification wall with a sloping outer surface fits into the geography of the hill. The "South Gate"; one of the four gates piercing the city wall; is regarded as the main entrance. The gates are flanked on both sides by projecting towers and approached by a ramp in harmony with the terrain. In front of the gates lie graves and stone stele with human depictions. The site yielded series of rectangular houses in megaron-plan in the north-south direction. Megaron is a structure plan of rectangular; long and narrow buildings specific to the Aegean region. The extension of the lateral walls forms a porch called anta(e). The superstructures of the walls are of mubrick or timber plastered with mud on a stone socle. Vast majority of the megaron buildings has a big hearth in the center. The house no.102 of Troy Ib has an impressive size. It measures 12.8x5.4 m in dimensions; and a hearth; a stone plate and a bank were uncovered inside the house. The settlement of Troy II consists of 8 building levels from IIa-IIh. There is no interruption between Troy I and II or within Troy II. The diameter of the settlement is 40 m larger than Troy I. Among the 8 building levels; IIc and IIg are the most significant ones. The settlement is surrounded by a mudbrick fortification wall; extended in some places. The fortification wall of Troy IIa is pierced by two gates; each flanked on both sides by towers; called FL and FN. The wall was collapsed due to a massive fire. The fortification wall of Troy IIb was built in the same plan over IIa. The walls were extended more during Troy IIc. It is 330 m long and 4 m wide. The southern gate (FO) is the main gate. There is a stone paved ramp in the entrance of the eastern gate (FM). This gate presumably had a specific function. The doors of IIc were architecturally developed [Blegen 1966:fig.15]. The number of the gates was decreased to one at level IIg. This corridor-like single gate was strongly fortified. As far as houses are concerned; megaron-like building were uncovered. The megara of Troy IIc was constructed side by side in the east-west direction. The largest of these houses is the megaron of IIA. It has a size of 30x14 m and a hearth in the center. This building was probably a cult or an administrative house. The main settlement plan was preserved at Troy IId. This level is characterized by extensive rubbish pits called "botroi". The monumental megaron in the middle is still in use at Troy IIg; but the surrounding constructions underwent a change. The building complexes with smaller rooms were separated by narrow streets. The core of the building complexes is still megaron-like; but the appearance differs. The settlement of Troy IIg was destroyed in a massive fire. The buildings of Troy III have been severely damaged by the upper levels [Blegen 1966:91-99]. Four building levels were identified at Troy III. The architectural remains are rare. This level yielded extensively large rooms suddenly increasing from one to three rooms. The walls are built of stone; and the rooms share party walls. The fortification wall of Troy III was uncovered during the excavation carried out by M. Korfmann. The same excavation yielded a new megaron in the burnt level of Troy III. The exposure of finds like pottery; tiles and crystal beads indicates that the building was mainly used as a cult house [Korfmann 2000:288]. The city of Troy IV having 5 building levels looks like a castle. The houses are built of mudbrick on a stone socle and the orientation is different. The city plan consists of multi-roomed buildings fronting on the streets. The settlement of Troy V includes 4 building levels. It was destroyed in a massive fire. No fortification wall was found; but the topography suggests that the site was ringed by a fortification. The architecture of the houses is much the same as the proceeding layer; but the walls are more neatly built; and the residential units are somewhat larger. During the excavations carried out in Trenches HI25-26 in 2008 it is understood that the embankment of the defence ditch from Troy VI Period is first filled by erosion and then completely filled up during the end of Late Bronze Age [Pernicka-Aslan 2011: 248]. A ditch from Late Bronze Age is encountered in Trench IK 24-25 which is 4.2 wide and 1.5 m deep in the Northeast wing. The surface of the ditch is very steep. The ditch narrows on both surfaces as is the case in the South entrance [Pernicka-Aslan 2011: 249]. Lower Town: The remains of Troy II reveals that the lower town having a coastal culture of Troy has a monumental wooden fortification system [Korfmann 2001:plan 5]. This fortification wall was supported by pillars at each 2.7 m. On the wall; the presence of a walkway is suggested [Korfmann 2000:288]. The wall makes a turn ca. 250-300 m south of the castle and covers an oval area of 300x500 m. The gate piercing the wooden wall is approached by a road running up to the upper town. The artificial cave called as source cave was first in use during Troy I-II and it was within the territory of the lower town [Korfmann 2001:281]. The oldest remains of the silica deposit within the cave are dated to the first half of the third millennium BC by the Radiometry Institute of Heidelberg University. As this water tunnel was in use in the following ages; the distance of use by Troy I and II couldn't be identified. Pottery: The pottery of Troy I is handmade; dark colored in shades from black to gray and burnished. The number of forms exceeds 60. Forms of bowls with thickened interior rims; inrolled bowls on high pedestals; jugs and jars are common. Although the pottery of Troy I is defined as dark and undecorated; incision; excision and plastic decorations are observed. The human faces excised on the interior of the projected lugs on bowls with thickened interior rims are typical of Troy I. The pottery of Troy II underwent minor changes. The introduction of wheel is at Troy IIb. The number of forms exceeds 65. Among them; long; two-handled tankards called depas amphikypellon by H. Schliemann are very typical. Also found are bowls with outrolled rims; forms of plates; two-handled goblets; jars with long necks. Vast majority of them are thick washed in red and burnished. The first face-lids appear at this phase [Blegen 1966:fig.23]. The pottery of Troy III-V is no distinctive than the preceding level. Depas; goblets; face-lids and other forms continue. Through the end of EBA; the red cross patterns applied in or bottom of the round; shallow bowls appear. Metal: Troy I yielded pins; piercing tools and a hook of copper. Also found are lead fragments related with metallic cups and a clay mould. Exposure of hoards rich in finds at Troy II led H. Schliemann to believe that this layer is the one occupied during the Trojan wars. Troy IIc-g levels yielded approximately 20 hoards in the burnt levels of palaces and additional buildings and on the western flank of the gate with a ramp. However; M. Korfmann claims that some of these hoards belong to Troy III. Among these finds; the richest one is hoard A. It contains a sauceboat in gold; two cups; one in globular form and the other in goblet form; earrings; necklaces; pendant-like diadems; bracelets; hair spirals; double headed mace-like objects and beads; two anthropomorphic vessels in silver and a plate in bronze. As far as the significant finds of other hoards are concerned; hoard B includes a silver goblet; hoard D a double headed spiral bead in gold and basket-like earrings; hoard L ceremonial axes in nephritis and lapis-lazuli; lens and plugs in rock crystal and a bead in ambergris; hoard K a bronze figurine and lastly hoard N a cylindrical headed; rosette and spiral decorated needle in gold. The settlement of Troy III yielded 22 copper pins while Troy IV; again in copper but limited number of pins. A bronze dagger; three pins and a chisel were found at Troy V. Clay: A terra cotta figurine; spindle whorls and loomweights were recovered from Troy I. Spindle whorls were found in large quantities at Troy II. They are usually decorated. Troy II yielded only one terra cotta figurine. Animal depictions in clay were collected from Troy III; and spindle whorls of Troy II continue. Troy IV and V yielded spindle whorls; mostly decorated. Chipped Stone: Chipped stone tools of Troy were recently analyzed by I. Gatsov [Gatsov 1998]. A variety of 34 raw materials was employed for tools; flint; quartz; chalcedony; etc. From the late phases of Troy I; obsidian was in use; too. The finds are dominated by chisels and piercing tools. Also found are spearheads. Ground Stone: Schematic discoid figurines in limestone or marble were recovered. This type of figurines starts at Troy I and continue until Troy V. Among the idols recovered from the Troy-III settlements; there are very simple samples. Troy I and II yielded stone cups. Also found are axes; chisels; grinders; etc. in various stones. Bones: As tools; usually perforators were found. A limited number of ornaments (?) were recovered. Troy II yielded bone plaques. Vast majority of the bone tools of Troy III and IV is of deer bone. Fauna: It was evidenced that cattle; sheep; goat and pig; all domesticated; were consumed at EBA cities. Also found are bones of dogs [von den Driesch 1999:439-474]. Human Remains: 6 infant burials were discovered at early Troy I. Two of the graves are simple pit burials while in four the infants were interred within pithoi. Two of the burials were recovered from the floor of room no. 102. A simple pit burial of an adult female was revealed at Troy II. She was buried in hocker position; and the pit was surrounded with stones. No grave goods were found. Two more infant skeletons were found at Troy II. A child burial interred under a house floor was recovered at level IIg accompanied with a lead bracelet. Troy V yielded; again; a child burial under a house floor. All finds expose that adult burials must have been made outside the settlement. EBA cemeteries of Troy are assumed to be nearby. No investigation was carried out to find out the extramural cemeteries. Two skeletons are identified during the excavations carried out in 2009 in the other West side of the ditch, in the West side of Trench HI25-26. Upon anthropologic analysis one of the skeletons are found to be a 9-month pregnant female and buried together with her child. The graves do not present any other finding other than being buried in hocker position and some potteries located and they were believed to be from Troy VIIa Period however post-excavation bone analysis proved that the graves belong to Troy V period [Pernicka-Aslan 2011: 248].
Remains:
Interpretation and Dating: Troy/Troia is located on the sea trade road reaching to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean through the Aegean Sea and the Straits; and it is one of the major settlements of Northwestern Anatolia. The castle settlement started with Troy I enlarged; in time; on the southern part of the hill since the northern part of the lower natural hill declines to the river through a steep slope. The progress of Troy I-III settlements in the same plan results in a cultural persistence. The inhabitants of Troy I destroyed by a massive fire; were involved in agriculture; animal husbandry and fishing. The castle/chateau settlement is a little constricted settlement ca. 90 m in diameter. However; the presence of a lower city is considered same as Troy II. Traces of Troy I culture throughout the small settlement alongside the Thrace and Marmara coast indicate that the sea trade was started from that period. Similarly; it has a relation with the Aegean and Mediterranean cultures. The castle/chateau settlement of Troy II is rather extensive and rich compared to Troy I. Probably the kings of Troy II were personally involved in the sea trade with their small ships. The research revealed that once there was a great bay where the Dümrek and Kara Menderes rivers spill to; near the EBA city. The ships sailing from the Aegean and Black Sea presumably stopped here by for trade purposes. The great estuary in front of the EBA settlements offered shelter to boats. Exposure of all worthy things belonging to the managing class of Troy II-III buried in timber cases; pithoi; baskets or bags indicates a restless period. EBA people of Troy built monumental fortification walls and ditches both at the upper city and lower city since they were afraid of being plundered. The plunderers might be the sea tribes appeared later in the region or the local people of Northern; Southern and Central Anatolia. The city was probably taken over several times. This can be derived from the traces of fire and the fact that the hoards are still kept in the place buried by their owners. The king and his family resided in the buildings inside the castle/chateau. The largest megaron-like building is suggested to be used as reception hall. The complete plans recovered from the level IIg revealed that these structures are multi-roomed buildings with small or large rooms. The soldiers and the public were suggested to live on the southern slope outside the city walls; and they were temporarily resided inside the walls during an enemy attack. It is evident that the castle-like settlement of Troy had a social and political authority during EBA. EBA settlements of Troy can be evaluated as a city-state utilized the economical resources in the vicinity and involved in a busy trade. The introduction of wheel from Troy IIg resulted in the mass production of pottery. Through trading; a relationship was established; aside the Mediterranean and Aegean cultures; even with the cultures on the northern coast of the Black Sea. Although same in settlement plan; the economy of the city grew less during Troy III. The exposure of hoards belonging to this period indicates that the structure of trade lasted for 450 years didn't change much [Korfmann 1999:358]. No major changes in the culture. Pottery styles of Troy I still continue. The gate with stone paved ramp of Troy II was still in use. The finds in jade are the vital evidences of the relation between the Aegean Sea and the Pamir Region. The lapis-lazuli was imported from Afghanistan. Probably they were brought to Caucasia by land and then to Troy by sea. The settlements of Troy did not yield these two valuable stones only; but also some unfamiliar stones like nephritis [Korfmann-Mannsperger 1999:fig. 84]. The cultural change starts from Troy IV. The recent excavations carried out under M. Korfmann resulted in minor changes in the stratification. The Troy II culture is removed by matching Troy IIa with Troy Im and IIh with Troy Ir; and Troy I and II are considered together. The culture of Troy I-III settlements is called "Trojan Sea Culture" [Korfmann-Mannsperger 1999:29]. Levels IV-V are called "Anatolian Troy Culture" . The dating of EBA and MBA levels of Troy on the basis of 14C dating is as follows: Troy I (2920-2600 BC) EBA I-IIa; Troy II (2600-2450 BC) EBA IIb; Troy III-V (2450-1700 BC) EBA III-MBA I and level IIg is dated to 2570-2470 BC depending on the latest 14C results. The EBA settlements of Troy are contemporary of Early Hellas II-III in Greece and Early Cyclades II-III in Cyclades.


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