Turkish archaeologists have made remarkable discoveries at the ancient city of Troy, providing new insights into the possibility of real historical events behind Homer’s epic, the Iliad. This year’s excavation season at the UNESCO World Heritage site in northwestern Turkey is focused on the destruction layer from the Late Bronze Age, which is often linked to the legendary Trojan War. The team, led by Professor Rustem Aslan from Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, has already uncovered an impressive array of artifacts just weeks into their work.

Among the most significant findings are thousands of sling stones and weapons, including clay and smoothed river rock sling stones found near the remnants of what would have been the palace walls. These stones, dating back approximately 3,500 years, are indicative of intense combat. The discovery of charred buildings and hastily buried human skeletons suggests a violent and rapid downfall of the city, paralleling the descriptions found in ancient Greek literature.

Professor Aslan noted that the geographical concentration of these sling stones indicates either a desperate defense or a large-scale assault. The artifacts align closely with the timeline of the Trojan War, typically dated to around 1184 BC according to ancient Greek sources. Previous excavations have revealed similar evidence of violence and destruction, enhancing the credibility of the archaeological findings.

Experts have long debated the veracity of the Trojan War narrative, once dismissed as mere myth. Regardless of the elusive physical evidence of a wooden horse, the results of ongoing excavations strongly support the notion of a genuine Bronze Age conflict during a period marked by widespread collapse in the Mediterranean. The current efforts aim to bridge the gap between myth and historical reality, reflecting a pivotal moment in the rich tapestry of ancient history.