Hisarlik

Hisarlik is a hill and archaeological site in Çanakkale Province, Turkey, where layers of multiple settlements overlap. The location spreads across a low rise above the surrounding plain and displays wall fragments, stone bases and trenches from different building phases.

Excavations began in the 1870s when Schliemann searched here for traces of the ancient settlement. Subsequent campaigns uncovered remains ranging from the early Bronze Age through the Roman period.

The name Hisarlik comes from the Turkish word for fortress and refers to the visible ruin mounds that shape the landscape. Visitors today follow a marked path that passes the exposed foundations and offers insight into building methods from different eras.

A tour of the grounds follows the signposted paths that pass the main excavated areas. Sturdy footwear helps when walking over uneven surfaces and steps between excavation levels.

The uppermost layers show Roman temple structures, while deeper sections hold Bronze Age dwellings. This overlap makes it possible to compare building techniques from more than three millennia at a single location.