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Why did the Ottoman government sue Heinrich Schliemann?
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Heinrich Schliemann
Heinrich Schliemann, detail of an engraving by A. Weger, after a photograph.
The Ottoman government initiated a lawsuit against Heinrich Schliemann due to a dispute regarding the division of archaeological spoils he uncovered at Hisarlik, the site he identified as Troy.
In 1873, Schliemann discovered a significant collection of gold jewelry and other artifacts, which he subsequently smuggled out of Turkey. The legal action specifically concerned his failure to properly share these findings with the Ottoman authorities as required. This litigation delayed his ability to resume excavations at the site until April 1876.1