In the central region of Turkey, Cappadocia, peculiar smoke pipes inexplicably scatter across eroded rock formations, suggesting the existence of a colossal underground city beneath the arid ground.
For centuries, inhabitants of the Anatolian plateau have utilized the soft volcanic rock in this area to construct dwellings, churches, and villages, evoking imagery reminiscent of the works of author Tolkien. The above-ground architectural wonders ignite the imagination of onlookers, captivating tourists who embark on walking tours or take to the skies in hot air balloons in Cappadocia. However, unbeknownst to many, a hidden subterranean metropolis lies beneath the earth’s surface, boasting vast chambers and tunnels spanning hundreds of miles.
Additional information:
- The enigmatic underground city of Cappadocia continues to intrigue archaeologists and historians alike, as its purpose and origins remain shrouded in mystery.
- The soft volcanic rock, known as tuff, provided a unique opportunity for the ancient inhabitants to carve intricate underground structures that served as protection from invasions and harsh climates.
- The underground city is believed to have accommodated thousands of people, offering not only living spaces but also intricate ventilation systems, storage areas, and even places of worship.
- Exploring the underground city allows visitors to delve into the rich history and remarkable engineering feats of past civilizations, providing a glimpse into the ingenuity and resilience of ancient cultures.
- The preservation of the underground city over the centuries is a testament to the remarkable durability and adaptability of the rock formations in Cappadocia.
- The discovery and ongoing excavation of the underground city continue to unveil new insights into the lives and customs of the people who once inhabited this subterranean realm.
This ancient underground city is known as Elengubu in ancient times. Recently, it has been rediscovered and referred to as Derinkuyu, the name of the region above the cave located in the Nevsehir province. Derinkuyu features a complex network of abandoned tunnels that served as a safe refuge for persecuted individuals seeking shelter.
The city seamlessly integrates stone structures and above-ground dwellings. After being abandoned, it vanished from public awareness until the early 20th century. Derinkuyu was accidentally rediscovered in 1963 during a house renovation. According to local residents, a Turkish man, while expanding his home, broke through a wall and stumbled upon a deep and seemingly endless tunnel, leading to the rapid excavation of the underground city. This was the first entrance discovered among approximately 600 entrances in Derinkuyu.
Derinkuyu spans a vast area of about 275 square miles and reaches a depth of approximately 279 feet underground, with around 18 levels. It was once a thriving subterranean city, housing around 20,000 residents and featuring livestock pens, oil and wine presses, wine cellars, churches, schools, water wells, and other structures. This made the underground city a completely self-sufficient place, where inhabitants could be shielded from the perilous outside world during times of invasion or occupation.
Who created Derinkuyu? Who occupied it for many centuries? Evidence of cave dwellings in Cappadocia can be traced back to the late Stone Age. For centuries, people used simple metal tools such as picks and shovels to quarry the soft volcanic rock called Tuff, which hardened from volcanic ash. In its earliest origins, Derinkuyu has connections to the Hittites of Anatolia, who may have excavated the initial levels as early as the 15th century BCE. Hittite artifacts discovered in the caves provide support for this hypothesis.
Subsequently, the Phrygians invaded and occupied the city around 1200 BCE. They were renowned for their ability to carve architectural structures out of stone. The Phrygians likely continued to develop the city’s infrastructure extensively. The Persians and the Seljuks may have further expanded it when they gained control of the region. During the Byzantine period, as the Cappadocian Christians sought refuge from persecution by the Arab Muslims during the Arab-Byzantine wars from 780 to 1180, the development of Derinkuyu reached its peak.
Derinkuyu is a self-sufficient underground city network. During its heyday, it provided shelter for 20,000 residents, enabling them to protect themselves from invaders for months without needing contact with the outside world. The upper levels of Derinkuyu consisted of extensive storage areas for dried food and livestock pens, reducing odors and toxins while keeping the lower levels warm during the cold months.
A 180-foot deep well starting from a surface village provided ventilation and clean water to the entire underground city. The well could be easily sealed from below, preventing potentially deadly toxins from contaminating the water supply. Additionally, over 50 ventilation shafts reached up to the surface, providing fresh air to the city from above. The passageways were once illuminated by torches and lamps, and many walls and ceilings still bear remnants of soot from past fires. In hazardous staircases or vertical wells, handrails and footholds were carved to facilitate movement between levels within the tunnels.
In the event of an invasion, each level’s entrance of the city featured heavy, round stone doors weighing approximately 1000 pounds, which could be rolled shut to block the invaders. These entrances were equipped with holes at their centers, allowing defenders to launch attacks against the invaders. The defensive structure of this innovative design is also evident in the narrow and cramped passageways. One had to stoop down to pass through these tunnels. This deliberate obstacle forced invaders to bend over, placing them in a disadvantageous position, restricting them to single-file movement in each direction and giving the defenders a clear advantage.
In addition to defensive fortifications, the city encompassed areas for education and religion. The second level housed a spacious cathedral with a vaulted ceiling, believed to serve as a place for priests to propagate their teachings, adjacent to classrooms. Furthermore, a vertical staircase between the third and fourth levels ascended to a cross-shaped church on the fifth level.
Derinkuyu is not the only underground city in Cappadocia, although it is considered the largest. Anatolia boasts over 200 underground cities, with 40 of them having three or more levels. Additionally, a five-mile tunnel connects Derinkuyu to the neighboring underground city of Kaymakli. One can envision numerous interconnected underground cities with “highway” tunnels facilitating safe and swift travel between them.
Although this underground city gradually fell into disuse, the Greek people in Cappadocia continued to use it as a refuge from persecution until the 20th century. In 1923, Derinkuyu was abandoned once again when the Turkish government cleared the area and repatriated the residents to Greece. In 1963, it was accidentally discovered and opened to the public for tours in 1969. Since then, it has been meticulously explored by thousands of people and was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Today, visitors can explore this ancient underground city for a fee of 50 Turkish liras (approximately $1.7). Eight levels of the underground city are open to the public, allowing tourists to venture inside and observe a small portion of this once flourishing underground world. Authorities recommend that visitors hire experienced tour guides to accompany them.
The original article “Man Stumbles Upon Vast Underground City Behind Wall During Home Reno—And Tunnels Go on Forever” was published by Epoch Times.
