Archaeologists excavating the ruins of ancient Troy have brought to light new evidence of a violent conflict of the Bronze Age that strongly refer to Homer’s narrative in the Iliad.

According to Homer’s Iliad, the war began after Paris of Troy abducted Helen, wife of the Spartan king.

Now, a Turkish research team, under the guidance of Professor Rustem Aslan at the University of Canakkale Onsekiz Mart, has revealed evidence referring to body -to -body battles and a sudden, devastating fall just as the ancient Greeks described it, according to the Daily Mail.

The findings include dozens of clay stones and sling stones, buried just outside what they are considered to be the palace walls. As experts explain, these stones, which had been smoothed to have perfect aerodynamics, were very deadly weapons of the Bronze Age and could crush skulls from a long distance when ejected with leather slingls.

In addition, archaeologists found arrows, burnt buildings and skeletons that were hurriedly buried.

The stones date back to about 3,200 to 3,600 years ago, that is, just in the period when the Trojan War is believed to have waged, which, according to ancient Greek historians, is set around 1184 BC.

“This concentration of sling stones in such a small area indicates intense battles, either a desperate defense or a full -scale attack,” Professor Rustem Aslan said.

The excavation season of the summer 2024 was held in the framework of the “Heritage for the Future” program, supported by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The focus of the research was the palace, the market and the fortifications of Troy – a city known in antiquity as Wilusa, according to the Hittite sources. Of particular interest is a metacarpi bone that appears to have been used as a dice in games and is an indication of how the soldiers spent their time waiting for the battle.

Abruptly the fall of Troy was not gradual the decline of

But what has impressed archaeologists is that the findings show a sharp, violent attack, not a gradual decline. These findings, combined with arrow spikes found in previous excavations, indicate that a body -to -body battle broke out in this part of the city – probably one of the last defense areas, where its defenders fought a last battle.

The findings also “agree” with ancient texts. Historians Herodotus and Eratosthenes argued centuries later that the Trojan War was a real historical event. The Roman poet Virgil then immortalized the consequences of the war on “Aeneas”, describing the escape of survivors from the burning city.

It is noted, however, that no natural evidence of the Trojan Horse has been found for which researchers point out that it may be a poetic symbol, a metaphor for deception or betrayal.