An individual finds behind the wall of his house the largest ancient tunnels in the world !!
This man in Turkey was doing repairs in his house. You wouldn’t expect to find the largest network of underground tunnels in the world. But that’s what happened to this man, an incredible discovery of a lost world right behind the wall of his house.
One Of Cappadocia, Turkey’s Underground Cities
This Man in 1963, located almost exactly in the center of Turkey in the region better known as “Cappadocia”, was digging part of a stone wall to make room for an extension in his house but was surprised to find that there was space behind the wall. Over 300 thousand square feet of space !! He had come across one of the largest underground complexes ever discovered.
Underground city of Nevsehir,Cappadocia,Turkey.
The size of his house was surprising, but Cappadocia was already famous for its underground dwellings. There are over 200 known underground “towns, villages, hamlets” of varying sizes in the region. Most archaeologists believe that the caves were started by the Phrygian people (sea people) who invaded the Aegean and Turkish region from the west, and who are mentioned in ancient texts around the 7th or 8th centuries BC.
Derinkuyu cave city in Cappadocia Turkey
There are many good reasons to build an underground city. Like defense, weather protection which was also an important factor. Another factor was access to water. Rivers and lakes are drying up and enemies can control water sources in an attempt to subdue your people. No wind, no rain or snow and of course, protection against the blazing Mediterranean sun.
Derinkuyu cave city in Cappadocia Turkey. Beauty world
Entrances were in high or in very well-hidden places. The tunnels and stairways are just wide enough for one adult to make their way through. Enemy warriors could only fight one on one in the corridors.Oil lamps lit hallways, stairs, and homes, and could be extinguished by pushing back the warriors. Dead ends known only to those who live in the complex. Large stones could be rolled up in tunnels, blocking any advance. During the original Turkish invasions in the 10th century and Ottoman times, these caves were used as refuge and defense.
Derinkuyu underground city, Cappadocia in Central Anatolia, Turkey
Today many of these towns, underground villages are open to the public and are Turkish national treasures.
