What evidence suggests that Troy VIIa may have been attacked and burned?

Archaeological evidence suggests that the settlement of Troy VIIa was destroyed by a violent fire, which is widely interpreted as the result of a military conquest. Several key findings support this conclusion:

• Destructive Fire: Excavations reveal that the town was consumed by a devastating fire, consistent with the historical and literary accounts of a city being sacked.12
• Human Remains: The discovery of human bones within the houses and streets of the settlement provides strong evidence that the inhabitants were killed during a capture or looting event.12
• Siege Preparations: The layout of Troy VIIa indicates that the city was under significant stress. Buildings were crowded together to maximize space, and residents had sunk large storage jars into the ground to stockpile food, suggesting that the population was preparing to withstand a prolonged siege.2

The expedition led by Carl Blegen concluded that this destruction occurred around 1260 BCE, identifying the site as the likely capital of King Priam from Homer's Iliad.12