What questions about Troy’s size and population have archaeologists debated?

Following the resumption of excavations at Hisarlik in the late 1980s, archaeologists have engaged in intense debate regarding the true physical size, population, and regional power of ancient Troy.1

Historically, while Homeric tradition depicted Troy as a wealthy and populous city, many scholars had shifted toward the view that it was a relatively minor settlement or a simple princely seat. This perspective was challenged beginning in 1988 by Manfred Korfmann, whose team utilized geomagnetic surveying and targeted excavations to investigate the terrain surrounding the citadel.1

Korfmann’s findings led him to argue in favor of a "greater Troy"—a settlement of significant size and prosperity that functioned as a major trade entrepôt. His presentation of this theory, which included a controversial model reconstruction of the city, sparked significant scholarly disagreement over the city's nature and its actual scale compared to the legendary accounts.1