23 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Unearthing the Epic: New Finds Bolster Links to Legendary Trojan War

The legendary Trojan War, long enshrined in myth and Homeric epic, may be moving closer to historical validation as archaeologists at the ancient city of Troy in northwestern Türkiye intensify their search for tangible evidence. This season’s excavations are zeroing in on a crucial period—the Late Bronze Age destruction layer, roughly dated to the 13th century B.C.—believed to be directly linked to the fabled conflict.

Today, the ancient city of Troy is located on the mound of Hisarlık, in northwestern Türkiye, approximately 30 km southwest of Çanakkale and overlooking the plain near the southern entrance to the Dardanelles.

The Trojan War: A Brief Overview

Before delving into the recent discoveries, it’s essential to understand the core narrative of the Trojan War. According to ancient Greek mythology and Homer’s Iliad, the war was sparked by the abduction of Helen, the queen of Sparta, by Paris, a prince of Troy. This act ignited a decade-long siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek kingdoms.

The conflict is renowned for its iconic figures like Achilles, Hector, and Odysseus, and culminated in the Greeks’ cunning use of the Trojan Horse to infiltrate and ultimately sack the city. For centuries, the line between myth and historical fact remained blurred, but ongoing archaeological efforts aim to shed light on the earthly origins of this epic tale.

A view from the archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Troy in Canakkale, Türkiye Credit: AA

Focused Excavations Yield Promising Early Results

Led by Professor Rustem Aslan of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University (COMU), the archaeological team has resumed work at the UNESCO World Heritage Site with a specific goal: to uncover physical evidence of the Trojan War. Despite the early stage of this season’s efforts, promising discoveries have already emerged.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



One of the most significant finds is a cache of 3,500-year-old sling stones, discovered in dense concentrations just in front of a palace structure attributed to Troy Phase 6 (Late Bronze Age). These small, rounded projectiles, common weapons during the Bronze Age, appear to have been deliberately deposited, suggesting a military function.

“The fact that so many sling stones were uncovered in such a small area in front of the palace points to an activity related to defense or assault,” stated Prof. Aslan. This discovery, coupled with two arrowheads from the same period found in the area last year, strongly indicates sustained military activity around the city’s vital structures.


A view of ongoing archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Troy in Çanakkale, Türkiye. Credit: AA
A view of ongoing archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Troy in Çanakkale, Türkiye. Credit: AA

Targeting the “Destruction Layer” for War Relics

The focus of the 2025 excavation season, supported by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and sponsored by ICDAS, is on accessing what archaeologists call the “destruction layer” of the Late Bronze Age. This layer, dated to around 1200 BC, is characterized by signs of violent upheaval and is widely associated with the Trojan War.

“In our work this season, we aim to reach the destruction layer of the Late Bronze Age that is thought to be linked to the Trojan War,” Prof. Aslan explained. He noted that previous work near the palace and defensive walls had already revealed war-related artifacts, including arrowheads, providing tantalizing hints of past conflicts.

Unraveling Signs of Ancient Warfare

Identifying definitive traces of ancient warfare presents a significant challenge for archaeologists. However, previous excavations at Troy—notably by Carl Blegen in the 1930s and Manfred Osman Korfmann in the 1980s—have unearthed compelling evidence of violent destruction in layers now identified as Troy 6 and Troy 7. These findings include burnt layers, damaged buildings, and carelessly buried skeletons, all consistent with war-related devastation.

“These destruction layers contain war tools and disturbed human remains that could indicate conflict,” Aslan affirmed. Preliminary evidence of such a destruction layer has recently emerged between the agora, the palace, and the defensive walls, prompting the current team to expand their research in these areas under the “Heritage for the Future Project.” They are actively searching for clues such as weapons embedded in fire layers and hastily buried skeletons—all telltale signs of conflict and destruction.


3,500-year-old sling stones unearthed in front of the palace structure during archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Troy in Çanakkale, Türkiye. Credit: AA
3,500-year-old sling stones unearthed in front of the palace structure during archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Troy in Çanakkale, Türkiye. Credit: AA

A Legacy of Discovery: From Myth to Material Evidence

The quest for the historical Troy and the reality of its legendary war has captivated scholars and archaeologists for nearly two centuries. Excavations officially began in 1863 with Frank Calvert, followed by Heinrich Schliemann in 1871, and later by Wilhelm Dorpfeld and Carl Blegen. These pioneering efforts laid the groundwork for modern archaeological investigations, transforming Troy from a purely mythical city into a tangible site of profound historical significance.

While the epic narrative of the Trojan War, complete with its wooden horse and divine interventions, continues to enthrall, the archaeological team in Türkiye is committed to unearthing the real-world evidence buried within Troy’s multi-layered mound. Each discovery, from sling stones to potential destruction layers, brings them closer to understanding how much of Homer’s epic is rooted in actual historical events.

This season, with its focused approach and promising early finds, “We hope this season will bring surprising results,” Aslan concluded, echoing the anticipation shared by historians and enthusiasts worldwide.

Cover Image Credit: Walls of Troy, Hisarlik, Türkiye. Public Domain

Related Articles

Meaning of Agora Gate Found in Turkey’s Ancient City of Aizanoi

8 June 2021

8 June 2021

The good news continues to come from the ancient city of Aizanoi, located in Çavdarhisar district, 50 km from Kütahya....

A 7,500-year-old settlement has been discovered in Turkey’s Domuztepe Mound

11 September 2021

11 September 2021

During the most recent excavations at Domuztepe Mound in the Türkoğlu district of southern Turkey’s Kahramanmaraş province, a settlement and...

Academics Uncover Ancient Roman Physicians Galen’s Pharmacy Legacy in İzmir

27 February 2024

27 February 2024

As a part of research on medicinal plants in Bergama, İzmir’s historic district where Galen (129 AD -200 AD) once...

Mystery of the ‘Deserted Castle’ Unraveled: Austria’s First Roman Bridgehead Fort Discovered

18 April 2025

18 April 2025

Researchers have identified the first confirmed Roman bridgehead fort in Austria, located near Stopfenreuth on the Lower Austrian Danube floodplains....

3,000-Year-Old Public Building Unearthed at Sogmatar: A New Chapter in the Sacred City of the Moon God

14 October 2025

14 October 2025

In a discovery that deepens our understanding of ancient Mesopotamian spiritual and civic life, archaeologists working under Türkiye’s “Heritage for...

Elamite clay tablet discovered 4500 years old, in southwest Iran

4 December 2021

4 December 2021

A clay tablet, estimated to be from the Elam period, about 4500 years old, was recently discovered in southwestern Iran....

Earliest Multiplication Formulas Discovered in a 2,300-Year-Old Chinese Tomb

27 December 2023

27 December 2023

Archaeologists excavating a tomb in the Qinjiazui archaeological site of Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, China, have found the earliest multiplication...

The Ephesus Massacre: 80,000 Romans Slaughtered in a Single Night of Blood and Betrayal

29 May 2025

29 May 2025

The Ephesus Massacre saw 80,000 or more Romans killed overnight during the Asiatic Vespers — one of the deadliest uprisings...

Extraordinary discovery in France: An unlooted 1800-year-old Roman Sarcophagus discovered

27 September 2023

27 September 2023

Archaeologists from France’s National Institute of Preventive Archeology (INRAP) have unearthed an unlooted ancient stone sarcophagus in the vast ancient...

The Rare Hittite Seal Found in The Field Will be on Display Soon

20 March 2021

20 March 2021

A 3500-year-old Hittite seal was found in the place defined as the Sapinuva region in Ortaköy, Çorum. As it is...

In the backstage of Smyrna Ancient Theater Latrina found

3 November 2021

3 November 2021

Interesting finds unearthed during the excavations of the 2400-year-old Ancient City of Smyrna in the Aegean region of Turkey continue...

Evidence of a 1500-year-old Byzantine church found on the beach of Ashdod, Israel

22 February 2022

22 February 2022

Recent rain in Israel has unearthed the remains of a marble pillar dating to around 1,500 years ago on a...

Over 1,600-yr-old tomb of embracing lovers found in north China

16 August 2021

16 August 2021

Archaeologists recently published a study of the tomb of cuddling lovers, dating to the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), more than...

A 2,000-year-old wooden bridge that once linked England and Wales discovered

31 August 2023

31 August 2023

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of Roman and Anglo-Saxon fortifications in the town of Chepstow in the United Kingdom. Surprisingly, however,...

Scientists reveal new discovery inside the Pyramid of Khufu

20 March 2023

20 March 2023

An Egyptian pyramid for 4,500 years is still spilling secrets. After a years-long project using modern technology to reveal the...