This man in Turkey was conducting home repairs. You wouldn’t expect to discover the world’s greatest network of subterranean tunnels here. But that’s exactly what occurred to this man, an astounding discovery of a vanished realm right beyond his house’s wall.
One Of Cappadocia, Turkey’s Underground Cities
This man was excavating part of a stone wall to create place for an addition in his house in 1963, nearly precisely in the middle of Turkey in the region commonly known as “Cappadocia,” when he was shocked to find that there was space beneath the wall. Over 300,000 square feet of space!! He’d uncovered one of the world’s largest subterranean complexes.
His home was very large, although Cappadocia was already known for its underground residences. In the region, there are approximately 200 recognized subterranean “towns, villages, and hamlets” of varied sizes. Most archaeologists think the caverns were founded by the Phrygian people (sea people), who entered the Aegean and Turkish regions from the west during the 7th or 8th century BC and are recorded in ancient manuscripts.
There are several compelling reasons to construct a subterranean city. Weather protection, like defense, was a crucial issue. Another aspect was the availability of water. Rivers and lakes are drying out, and attackers might take control of water supplies to oppress your people. There will be no wind, rain, or snow, and, of course, protection from the hot Mediterranean heat.
The entrances were either high up or extremely well camouflaged. The tunnels and stairwells are only wide enough for one adult to pass through. In the passageways, enemy warriors could only battle one on one. Oil lamps illuminated corridors, staircases, and homes, and they could be extinguished by pushing the soldiers back. Only those who dwell in the complex are aware of the dead ends. Large stones might be rolled up in tunnels, impeding progress. These caverns were utilized as a refuge and defense during the first Turkish invasions in the 10th century and Ottoman eras.
Some believe the caves are older, and date from the Hittite period some five hundred years before that. Regardless of who dug it, the cave system at Derinkuyu especially was not built by “stupid troglodytes”–these were exceedingly smart troglodytes.
As one might expect, there are several compelling reasons to construct a metropolis underground. The first priority was probably defense, although protection from the elements was also crucial. There is no wind, rain, or snow, and you are protected from the scorching Mediterranean heat.
Another aspect was the availability of water. Rivers and lakes dry out, and adversaries may control water supplies to oppress your people, but if you’re located exactly on top of an aquifer, you’ve got all the water you’ll ever need.
The fact that one of the wells at Derinkuyu (almost 200 feet below) was controlled by those on the deepest levels demonstrates the people’s ingenuity. Access to the wells may be restricted with wood and stone so that those above could not pollute the water below.
Cappadocia’s stone is soft volcanic rock that was left millennia ago. From the outside, it appears to be sandstone, however it is not. Even while it was relatively easy to dig through (compared to granite, for example), the inhabitants of Cappadocia had a lot of work ahead of them.
This also implies that the stone is readily cut. Later troglodytic constructions feature ornate early Christian churches with roof arches.
Security was pre-installed. The entrances were either high up or extremely well camouflaged. The tunnels and stairwells are barely big enough for one adult to pass through; hostile warriors could only battle one on one in the passageways.
Oil lamps illuminated the hallways, stairways, and residences, and they could be extinguished by retreating troops and families to confound attackers. Dead ends known only to those who live in the complex would exacerbate any uncertainty.
Large round stones might be rolled into tunnels, impeding progress. These caverns were utilized as a refuge and defense throughout the early Turkish invasions in the 10th century and into the Ottoman Empire.
Some of the smaller troglodyte homes (as they’re known) are still inhabited. Many of the others were occupied into the early twentieth century.
The vast compound at Kaymakli was last utilized as a sanctuary by Anatolian Greeks fleeing murders during the early 1920s conflict between Turkey and Greece.
Many of these subterranean cities and towns are exposed to the public today and are considered Turkish national treasures.