Dörpfeld

Dörpfeld is a German surname. The name is most commonly associated with Wilhelm Dörpfeld (1853–1940), a German archaeologist who played a leading role in early Aegean archaeology. A pupil and collaborator of Heinrich Schliemann, Dörpfeld directed or co-directed excavations at Troy after Schliemann's death and conducted major fieldwork at Tiryns in the Argolid. In these projects he advanced the systematic recording of archaeological layers and contributed to the development of stratigraphic methods, helping to establish standards for excavation practice.

At Troy, Dörpfeld helped refine the interpretation of occupation levels and structures in the late Bronze Age, while at Tiryns he studied the great fortifications and palace-like buildings, placing Mycenaean architecture within a broader chronological framework. His writings on ancient architecture and excavation technique influenced later generations of archaeologists and underscored the importance of careful documentation and stratigraphic thinking in fieldwork. Dörpfeld's work contributed to the understanding of Aegean Bronze Age civilizations and the methodological foundations of classical archaeology. He held affiliations with German scholarly institutions and contributed to the dissemination of archaeological methods through teaching and publications.