Footnote 1 – The Lure of Troy

Only 60 percent of the new excavations is financed by public money. The remaining costs are met by private sponsors. The largest share, almost a quarter of the excavations’ expenses, is contributed by the German company Daimler-Benz AG, which made it possible to start digging in 1988 and has since supported the excavations. Also of great importance are the Friends of Troy, an international group of supporters, among them many Americans. This is not an exclusive circle: Membership is possible starting with a contribution of $100.