Heinrich Schliemann (6 January 1822 - 26 December 1890) was an early pioneer of archaeology. He was obsessed with Homer and finding Troy. At the time he began his search, most of the educated world consider the works of Homer myths with no or little basis in the real world. Schliemann held a contrary opinion and consider them to reflect historical events. Using the Illiad he become convinced that he had found the site of the original Troy. In 1870, Schliemann began digging at Hissarlik, and by 1873 had discovered nine buried cities.