composed of strata containing the remains left behind by more than three millennia of human occupation. The primary divisions among layers are designated with Roman numerals, Troy I representing the oldest layer and Troy IX representing the most recent. Sublayers are distinguished with lowercase letters (e.g. VIIa and VIIb) and further subdivisions with numbers (e.g. VIIb1 and VIIb2). An additional major layer known as Troy 0 predates the layers which were initially given Roman numeral designations. The layers have been given relative dates by comparing artifacts found in them to those found at other sites. However, precise absolute dates are not always possible due to limitations in the accuracy of C dating. {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right;" |+ ! Layer || Start || End || Period |- | Troy 0 || || 3000 |style="text-align:left;"| Western Anatolian LSA and EB 1 (early) |- | Troy I || 3000 || 2550 |style="text-align:left;"| Western Anatolian EB 1 (late) |- | Troy II || 2500 || 2300 |style="text-align:left;"| Western Anatolian EB 2 |- | Troy III || 2300 || 2200 |style="text-align:left;"| Western Anatolian EB 3 (early) |- | Troy IV || 2200 || 2000 |style="text-align:left;"| Western Anatolian EB 3 (middle) |- | Troy V || 2000 || 1750 |style="text-align:left;"| Western Anatolian EB 3 (late) |- | Troy VI || 1750 || 1300 |style="text-align:left;"| West. Anat. MBA (Troy VI, early)West. Anat. LBA (Troy VI middle and late) |- | Troy VIIa || 1300 || 1180 |style="text-align:left;"| Western Anatolian LBA |- | Troy VIIb || 1180 || 950 |style="text-align:left;"| Western Anatolian LBA – Dark Age |- | Troy VIII || 950 || 85 |style="text-align:left;"| Classical and Hellenistic Troy |- | Troy IX || 85 || 500 |style="text-align:left;"| Roman Troy |} Troy 0 Troy 0 is a pre-Bronze Age layer known from limited finds of pottery shards and wooden beams. It is tentatively dated to but little is known about it. Troy I Troy I was founded around 3000 BC on what was then the eastern shore of a shallow lagoon. It was significantly smaller than later settlements at the site, with a citadel covering less than 1 ha. However, it stood out from its neighbours in particular for its massive limestone fortifications which were regularly renovated and strengthened. Defensive architecture would continue to be a distinctive characteristic in later periods, reflecting perennial security concerns at the vulnerable coastal site. Residents lived in attached houses made of stone and