How did Manfred Korfmann’s research support the idea of a larger settlement at Troy?

When excavations resumed at Hisarlik in 1988, archaeologist Manfred Korfmann sought to address scholarly disputes regarding the city's true stature. While some researchers argued that Troy was merely a minor settlement or a small princely seat, Korfmann’s team investigated the terrain surrounding the central citadel to determine if a larger urban area existed.12

Korfmann supported the theory of a greater Troy—a prosperous city of significant size—by utilizing geomagnetic surveying and conducting isolated excavations in the areas beyond the citadel walls. These findings led him to conclude that the settlement was more extensive and populous than previously assumed. His perspective, which he illustrated through a 2001 exhibition and a model reconstruction of the city, sparked intense debate among scholars regarding the nature of the site as a potential trade entrepôt and regional power.12