A Place of Burning: Hero or Ancestor Cult at Troy

Research at the Archaeological Site of Troy reveals evidence of Early Archaic ritual activity near a Late Bronze Age cemetery, dubbed 'A Place of Burning.' This site mirrors patterns found in hero and ancestor cults elsewhere, suggesting that Troy's inhabitants used associations with Bronze Age remains to bolster territorial claims and elite power. The study, conducted by Carolyn Chabot Aslan, analyzed ritual practices outside the city walls, providing insights into how growing populations may have influenced social structures and cultural identity during this period.

Carolyn Chabot Aslan. (2011). A PLACE OF BURNING: Hero or Ancestor Cult at Troy. Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 80(3), 381. https://doi.org/10.2972/hesperia.80.3.0381