Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why was Heinrich Schliemann criticized for taking artifacts out of Turkey?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Was the city of Troy real or a myth? — Troy Learn about Troy.

Heinrich Schliemann faced significant criticism and legal action from the Ottoman government because he smuggled a treasure of gold, silver, and bronze artifacts—later identified as Priam’s Treasure—out of Turkey following his 1873 excavations at Hisarlik.1

The removal of these items was a violation of the terms regarding the division of archaeological spoils, leading the Ottoman government to initiate a lawsuit against him. This dispute delayed his ability to resume work at the site until 1876. Beyond the legal controversy, Schliemann’s broader archaeological practices were widely criticized; his single-minded pursuit of Homeric Troy led him to dig uncritically through the mound, resulting in the destruction of other historical layers of settlement. His methods of appropriation and self-promotion have since been viewed as unscrupulous, casting doubt on his professional integrity despite his role in popularizing archaeology.1