Secrets of underground cities
Turkey lies on a spit of land growing out of
the southwestern corner of Asia, also called Asia minor and
Anatolia. In the center of this land lies Cappadocia, one of the
oldest agricultural regions in the world.
In this area the hills consist of soft volcanic
material that oxidizes rapidly and hardens when exposed to
air,creating the perfect tunneling material what was very well
known by the residents. They have built built large undergro
und systems,estimated number of undergound cities is as
many as 200. Discovered in 1963, Derinkuyu is the most famous
one.It is built around a 85 m deep air shaft
that may have doubled as a water well when necessary. It is
believed that air chimneys were dug first until water was
reached, and then horizontal passages were cut between the
chimneys. Rooms were then cut out from the passageways. The
ventilation system at Derinkuyu utilized more than 50 vents, all
carefully hidden at hte surface to prevent from being plugged or
filled with smoke by the invaders. A number of wells were
dug,each of them serving some,but not all, of Derinkuyu levels.
To prevent invaders from poisoning the water, some wells have no
opening at the surface.Round stone doors -like huge millstones
placed vertically- were shaped in place and could be rolled into
the paggeways as additional protection from invaders.Over dozens
of centuries, the locals expanded these shelters,cutting deeper
and deeper into the soft rock,creating level after level. Eight
levels have been unearthed in this city, with perhaps another 12
still buried. Only the top three levels appear to have been used
as living quarters. The lower levels were used for storage and as
chapel.Some researcher believe that every household has its own
kitchen,bedroom,dining room,wine cellar.toilet,
weapons store and water storage.
From 18th century B.C to A.D. 12th century many civilizations lived in or passed through the area over the
years,including the Hittites , Phyrigians, Persians, 
Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and of course the
Turks.Estimates of the number of individuals living underground
are very rough, even conservatives place 20.000
people undergound in the entire region at any given time.
Today we have no map of the undergound system.
Excavations have unearthed perfect underground cities.But in the
tunnels thereare no signs or figurs explaining the routes. No
scientist has a really creditable explanation who has planned and
built these complicated systems. These can not be works of simple
farmers with limited knowledge.
We have another example of common human
behaviour. Each civilization destroyed the traces of the former
one. And the result is a puzlle nobody can solve, very good
material for speculations. Nothing more...
Case Files
