History of Troy in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2026

Troy was an ancient city located in present-day Turkey, famously known as the central setting of Homer's epic, the Iliad. In mythology, the city was the site of the decade-long Trojan War, sparked by the abduction of Helen of Sparta by the Trojan prince Paris. The conflict culminated in the Greek victory achieved through the ruse of the Trojan Horse, a hollow wooden structure used to infiltrate the city's walls. Beyond its mythological significance, Troy is a critical archaeological site. Excavations, initiated by Heinrich Schliemann in the 19th century, revealed multiple layers of settlements dating back to the Early Bronze Age. These findings suggest that the site was a strategically important trading hub controlling the entrance to the Dardanelles. While debate persists regarding the historical accuracy of the Homeric tales, Troy remains an essential landmark for understanding the intersection of Bronze Age history, classical literature, and human mythology.

1924: Proposal of linguistic links between Troy and Hittite records

In 1924, scholar E. Forrer proposed that the cities identified in Hittite records as Wilusa and Taruisa corresponded to the Greek names Wilios (Ilion) and Troia, respectively, establishing a potential historical foundation for the location of Troy VI–VII.

1932: Carl Blegen Begins Excavation of Troy

Starting in 1932, Carl Blegen, a professor from the University of Cincinnati, began a multi-year management of the archaeological site at Troy, bringing a new level of professional methodology to the research that surpassed the work of his predecessors.

1945: Confiscation of Priam's Treasure

In 1945, the Soviet Union confiscated the majority of the precious metal objects known as Priam's Treasure that had been housed in Berlin, subsequently relocating them to the Pushkin Museum in Moscow where they remain today.

1988: Commencement of Archaeological Excavations at Troy

In 1988, a collaborative archaeological excavation project led by Professor Manfred Korfmann from the University of Tübingen and the University of Cincinnati began at the Bay of Troy to investigate the historical site.

September 1996: Creation of the Historical National Park at Troy

On 30 September 1996, the Turkish government officially established the Historical National Park at Troy, a protected zone covering 136 square kilometres intended to preserve the archaeological sites, monuments, and surrounding natural environment of the ancient city.

1998: UNESCO World Heritage Site Designation

In 1998, the Historical National Park at Troy received international recognition when it was formally accepted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, further solidifying its status as a protected historical area.

2000: Architectural and Culinary Innovation in Troy IV

Around 2000 BC, the settlement of Troy IV experienced significant technological and structural advancements, most notably the introduction of domed ovens and the adoption of mudbrick construction techniques that eliminated the need for traditional stone foundations.

2000: Quantity of Displayed Artifacts

As of the facility's operations, 2000 artifacts were placed on public display within the museum's extensive underground galleries in 2000, which is part of a larger collection of 40,000 held by the institution.

2001: Academic Debate over Troy VI

Beginning in 2001, an intense academic disagreement emerged between Manfred Korfmann and historian Frank Kolb regarding the significance and status of Troy VI within the broader Bronze Age geopolitical landscape.

2002: Continuation of the Korfmann-Kolb Dispute

The scholarly debate concerning the archaeological interpretation of Troy VI continued through 2002, marking a period of significant intellectual friction between Manfred Korfmann and Frank Kolb.

2005: Conclusion of the Tübingen-Cincinnati Excavations

The extensive excavation project at the Bay of Troy, which focused on both Bronze Age layers and later historical periods under the guidance of Manfred Korfmann and Brian Rose, concluded in 2005.

2006: Commencement of Pernicka's Excavations

In 2006, Ernst Pernicka, a former colleague of Korfmann, took over the direction of the archaeological excavations at Troy, operating under a newly acquired digging permit.

2011: Yalin Mimarlik Wins Design Contest

In 2011, the architectural firm Yalin Mimarlik was selected as the winner of the design contest for the new Troy Museum building.

2012: Conclusion of Pernicka-Led Excavations

The period of archaeological research directed by Ernst Pernicka at the site of Troy officially concluded in 2012 after six years of ongoing work.

2013: Extent of Excavation in Troy's Lower City

As of 2013, only 2–3% of the lower city of Troy had been excavated. Due to significant surface erosion and historical construction activity, researchers noted in 2013 that most architectural evidence in this area had likely been destroyed or repurposed.

2013: Cancellation of International Troy Excavations

In 2013, an international research team led by William Aylward of the University of Wisconsin-Madison planned to conduct archaeological excavations at the site of Troy using advanced molecular archaeology techniques. However, shortly before their departure, the Turkish government revoked approximately 100 excavation permits nationwide, effectively canceling the team's project in 2013.

2014: Commencement of Troy Excavations by Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University

Beginning in 2014, an archaeological team from Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, directed by Rüstem Aslan, initiated new excavations at the site of Troy. This project notably identified a "Level 0" near the entrance of Troy-II, a discovery that suggests the historical timeline of the city extends 600 years earlier than previously established.

2016: University of Amsterdam Historical Review Project

In 2016, the University of Amsterdam launched a dedicated research project to investigate and document the 150-year history of archaeological excavations performed at the site of Troy.

2018: Opening of the Troy Museum

In 2018, the Troy Museum (Troya Müzesi) officially opened its doors in Tevfikiye village, located near the archaeological site to house thousands of prehistoric artifacts from the Troad region.