The New York herald., 1872-12-21

The following is DR.. Henry Schlemann's report,
forwarded by him TO the NEW YORK HERALD, OF HIS
patient labors, researches and successes on the
site OF ancient Troy
EXPLODING FORAER ERRORS.
In the beginning Of October, 1871, began to
excavate with eighty aborers, in the plain OF Troy,
on the site OF ancient city. which, after having
been called Ilium during the long period ofits
actual existence-say for more than two thousand
years-was renamed Hum Novum, about one
hundred years subsequently to its entire disap-
pearance. Strange to say, the city was thus
named once more in the year 17ss, by lie Chevalier
the originator Of the notion that the village OF
Bunarbashi is the real site Of ancient Troy-a
gentleman who never visited the spot himself, as
is evident from his work, as well as from his map
OF the plain OF Troy, In which he places Hum
Novum close TO Koum- Kae, on the wrong side Of
the Scamander, and consequently more than four
miles from Its real position.
l had previously made, in August, 1868, number
OF small excavations on the heights OF Bunar-
bashi, between the village and the Scamander,
not certainly in the expectation that should nnd
any relics Of ancient Troy at that place but only
to disprove by actual exploration beneath the sur.
face the theory that 1t had been there, for that
theory is in opposition to all the indications Of
the Iliad as studied on the ground. Ny expecta-
tons were fully realized by the result for always
came upon the virgin soil at depth OF less than
three feet, and nowhere did ind any
yestige Of pottery. Moreover, the shape OF
the rock, which Is sometimes conica!,
sometimes abrupt with steep sides and always
irregular, sufficiently shows that the space
between Bunarbashi, the Scamander and the three
heroic tombs on the summit OF the mountain can
never have formed part OF any city. Beyond the
three tombs the ruins OF a small city-probably
ha Goa drta of fhp he n ta NJ ~
is distinctly indicated by the remains of walls, but
which cannot possibly have had more than two
thousand inhabitants, whilst Troy must have had
at least nfty thousand. AS Demetrius OF Skepsls
Identified the village OF the Ilians with the site OF
Troy, and Strabo believed in his theory, also made
an excavation at that place, on the farm OF my
friend Mr.. Frank Calvert; but Demetrus was EVIL
IDENTITY msled by a series OF small elevations which
seem to contain the ruins OF huge city walls, but
which, In fact, are formed OF the virgin soil.
TIE SITE OF TROY.
Iium certainly stood at the point called nium
Novum, on high plateau which rises about one
hundred feet above the plain and terminates alb
ruptly on its northern and northwestern sides. Its
site there Is distinctly indicated by the masses
Of broken and very ancient pottery found beneath
the surface and by the ruins OF the walls by which
1t was surrounded, and which appear to have been
the walls built by Lysimachus. The steep descent
on the northern and northwestern sides suggested,
naturally that the Acropols had been in that quar-
ter OF the ancient city; and thar II was so found
good evidence, and indeed proved, by an
excavation i made In April, 1870 at the
northwestern corner for ] brought TO light
buttress with walls OF more than six feet
thickness. The imposing position OF this plateau,
which projects far into the plain, as well as its
natural defences, seem TO have destined It for the
site Of large city, and since hrst saw the plain
OF Troy have had the slightest doubt OF Its
identity with the site OF the Homerc Iium.
THE NATIVE DIFFICULTY
One half or the site OF the Acropolls belongs to
my friend Mr. Calvert, at the Dardanelles, who had
made small excavations In various parts OF his
neld but noue deep enough to give satisfactory
results. The other hail. which forms the north.
western corner, and which for that reason appeared
10 me more promising. was owned by two Turks
Koum- m-Kae-who would neither sell me their
neid al any price nor give permission to
excavate, except on condition that paid
. large amount OF money and gave bonds
TO oil up the diggings soon as they should be
terminated. Confronted with this difculty lapplied
TO the Sublime Porte, which, at the suggestion OF
Mr.. Trenzio, the learned Director OF the Imperial
Museum, at once compelled the owners TO sell the
neld at Its estimated value to the Ministry OF pub
lie Instr uction, and generously gave me authority
TO excavate at my pleasure. Therefore, with nv
eighty workmen, as said, went at 1t in October
last and cut large trench rom the slope INTO tho