Uncovering the True Size of Bronze Age Troy: Was There a Lost Lower City?
The ancient city of Troy, made famous by Homer’s Iliad, continues to spark archaeological debate centuries after its legendary fall. While Heinrich Schliemann’s 19th-century excavations focused on the iconic mound (now known as the citadel of Troy), recent discoveries suggest a far more complex and much larger Bronze Age city once thrived just below the surface.
Did Troy Have a Hidden Lower City?
Professor Manfred Korfmann of the University of Tübingen reignited the discussion in 1988 by leading a major re-excavation at the site. Korfmann’s team proposed that what was traditionally believed to be a modest citadel was actually just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surrounding plain, they argue, lies a vast Lower City, potentially ten times larger than the Troy previously known to history.
This claim stirred academic controversy, especially with fellow Tübingen historian Frank Kolb, who questioned the strength of the evidence. Despite the debate, the public fascination with Troy surged. A German exhibition titled Troy: Dream and Reality drew over 850,000 visitors in 2001–2002.
But what is the archaeological evidence behind this theory?
Layers of History: Excavating Troy Across Centuries
Troy has been explored in three main archaeological phases:
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1870–1894: Initial excavations by Heinrich Schliemann and architect Wilhelm Dörpfeld.
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1932–1938: American-led expedition by Carl Blegen of the University of Cincinnati.
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1988–present: Modern German-American team under Korfmann and Professor Brian Rose.
Each excavation revealed more about Troy’s complex structure: a limestone plateau with a mound (the citadel) on one edge, surrounded by a vast plain. Could this plateau and lower ground represent a Bronze Age Lower Town?
Key Archaeological Evidence for a Larger Bronze Age Troy
1. Pottery Sherds and Structural Remains
Scattered fragments of Mycenaean pottery, along with architectural remains found beneath Roman buildings, hint at an older, extensive settlement. Radiocarbon dating places some of these structures in the 13th century BC, aligning with the era of the Trojan War.
2. Magnetometer Survey
A geophysical survey revealed a clear layout of the Graeco-Roman city. Beneath this, fainter alignments suggest an earlier, differently oriented Mycenaean city plan.
3. Substantial Bronze Age Houses
Excavations beneath later temples uncovered large storage jars (pithoi), courtyards, and stone thresholds – signs of wealth and domestic life. These structures were preserved under Roman dump layers and show evidence of organized urban planning.
4. Defensive Fortifications
A 700-meter long u-shaped defensive ditch, cut deep into bedrock, surrounds the lower settlement. This fortification, with clear entry points and sharp cuts, likely dates to the Late Bronze Age, challenging the idea that it was merely a Roman-era watercourse.
5. Advanced Water System
A system of wells and underground water channels, dating back as far as 2,900 BC, reveals sophisticated urban engineering. These features suggest the area was occupied not just in the Late Bronze Age but possibly as far back as Troy I or II.
Challenges in Uncovering the Bronze Age Lower City
Archaeologists face major obstacles:
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Roman overbuilding has damaged earlier remains.
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Many Roman houses reused Bronze Age Troy excavations stones, making it difficult to trace complete Mycenaean structures.
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Dense layers of Roman debris (up to 2 meters deep) obscure earlier levels.
Despite this, Mycenaean pottery consistently appears in excavations across the site – especially in Roman kitchen debris – reinforcing the theory of continuous Bronze Age habitation.
Troy in the Roman Imagination
While the lower city’s Bronze Age roots are being uncovered, Brian Rose has been exploring Troy’s later life as a Graeco-Roman tourist attraction. The city flourished in Roman times after Virgil’s Aeneid linked the founding of Rome to Aeneas, a Trojan hero.
Highlights of the Roman-era Troy include:
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A temple to Athena (now mostly gone) likely built over the Mycenaean palace.
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A sanctuary of Cybele, where purification rituals were performed.
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Public buildings and theaters erected by Augustus, who promoted Troy as the mythic origin of Rome.
Reassessing the Real Troy
Modern evidence supports the idea that Bronze Age Troy excavations was a far larger and more complex city than previously thought. It likely held strategic importance in the Late Bronze Age Aegean world, particularly as a gateway between East and West.
To the Hittites and other Eastern empires, Troy (likely called Wilusa) may have seemed like a satellite city. But to European visitors, it would have appeared dazzlingly advanced.
Conclusion: The Real Troy Was Bigger Than the Myth
Despite missing full house plans or intact buildings, the convergence of pottery finds, fortifications, and water systems all point to a significantly expanded Bronze Age Troy. While the debate between scholars like Korfmann and Kolb continues, the archaeological record grows stronger every year.
As new methods and technologies emerge, we may yet uncover the full extent of Homer’s lost city — not just a citadel, but a sprawling urban center that once stood at the crossroads of ancient civilizations.
