An ancient underground city, about 5,000 years old, antique used by tens of thousands of people to hide from invaders, was recently discovered in Turkey, reports dailymail.co.uk.
Turkish builders discovered by chance one of the largest and most complex underground cities in the world, in the region of Cappadocia in eastern Turkey.
The region is famous for its rock formations, spectacular, deep valleys and underground hideouts, carved in ancient volcanic rocks that make up the landscape in that area.
Scientists say that the new discovery is the largest underground city in Cappadocia, consisting of a network of tunnels stretched over a distance of 7 km where homes were built, churches and secret graves.
Underground city dating back 5,000 years ago and was discovered when builders in the region have found a network of tunnels, while executing a series of excavations.
The tunnels under the ancient city Nevşehir and its adjacent areas.
That human settlement, built on several levels, included living quarters, kitchens, wine cellars, chapels and stairs leading to the surface, according to a study published in National Geographic magazine.
Underground structure closely resembles another underground city, Derinkuyu, located nearby, which was discovered in 1963.
Derunkuyu have gone up to 20,000 residents, living underground in an underground city with 11 levels and 600 entries.
That ancient city was sleeping rooms, stables, kitchens, vents, tombs, common rooms and bathrooms.
As Derinkuyu, underground city Nevşehir was built by its residents to protect from invaders.
According to Turkish researchers, Nevşehir is much higher, with a surface to underground city Derinkuyu triple.
Nevşehir University researchers have recently conducted a survey of a gallery that spans a distance of 4 km, using analytical techniques for geophysical and seismic tomography.
Preliminary results suggest that those subterranean corridors should be up to a depth of 113 meters.
Million years ago, volcanic activity in the region of Cappadocia covered with several layers of volcanic ash.Erosion has created the unusual landscape consisting of rock formations and spectacular peaks, called “the fairy chimneys”.
Volcanic rock called “tuff” was very soft and malleable, proving to be an ideal building material.
The idea of building underground settlements they came pre-Byzantine era inhabitants to hide when their region was invaded by the Persians, Arabs, Seljuk Turks.
“This new discovery will be added as a new pearl, a new diamond, a new gold mine in Cappadocia riches,” said Hasan Ünver, mayor of Nevşehir, in an interview with National Geographic.
Turkish official wants to build in the area “the largest amusement park antique”, which includes the area hotels and art galleries and underground several walking trails and a museum.
“We intend to reopen and even underground churches,” added Hasan Ünver.
