Sentence Correction

In his eagerness to find a city worthy of Priam, the German archaeologist Schliemann cut through Troy and uncovered a civilization a thousand years older as was the city Homer’s heroes knew.

(A) older as was the city Homer’s heroes knew
(B) more ancient than the city known to Homer’s heroes
(C) older than was the city known to Homer’s heroes
(D) more ancient of a city than Homer’s heroes knew
(E) older of a city than was the one known to Homer’s heroes

OA is B but since when do you describe something as "more ancient"

Actually there is nothing other option is gramatically correct...

only B is flawless...

the sentence should compare civilization with civilization,
If B is OA, it does compare civilization with city?

I can not decide between B and C.
Again, in GMAT, after "than", do we need a complete Subject + Verb clause
Why C is grammatically incorrect?

Everytime you see a comparison question in GMAT make sure the things being compared are parallel.

In the idiom 'more X than Y' both X&Y should be parallel.

Now in this question the 2 things being compared are civilization and city. Between options B & C only option B is parallel.

uncovered a civilization a... more ancient than the city known to Homer’s heroes

In option C 'a civilization' and 'was the city' are not parallel.

@NSNguyen

In this question your saying the civilization was 1000 years older than the city. Your comparing how old both the civilization and city were so the comparison is valid.

"Everytime you see a comparison question in GMAT make sure the things being compared are parallel"
If then, I totally agree. Thanks.
So do you mean there is nothing such as:
"I like carrots more than does my friend Carl"
and must be: "I like carrots more than my friend Carl does".????

IMO: older is used for people and ancient for objects...Please correct me, if I'm wrong.

Nope, older sometimes can be interchange with ancient. Not absolutely follow the rule object or subject. It depends on the meaning and historical situation.

We can say that ancient people, ancient remain... and older car, older brother