Explore Turkey's Derinkuyu, the world’s largest excavated underground city, and how the 2000-year-old marvel exemplifies ancient engineering.
Deep underneath the Turkish region of Cappadocia, Derinkuyu, the world’s largest excavated underground city, stretches not upward toward the sky but deep into the earth. Discovered in 1963, the ancient underground city of Elengubu is carved from the soft volcanic rock that personifies this area.
Historical evidence suggests that the Phrygians first initiated these excavations in the 8th–7th centuries BC, utilizing the tuff’s natural malleability to create initial structures. Over the centuries, these primitive caves were expanded into a vast multi-level city during the Roman period by Greek-speaking Christians.
The city was largely abandoned following the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Turkey, which saw the expulsion of Christian residents from the area. Rediscovered in 1963 and subsequently opened to the public in 1969, Derinkuyu today stands as a profound testament to the ingenuity of its constructors and the turbulent history it survived. Derinkuyu stretches 85 meters below the surface across 18 levels.
The urban layout was carefully planned, including residential areas, communal spaces, and essential facilities like stables and kitchens. This strategic planning supported daily life and optimized the city’s defense, with narrow passages that large circular stones could quickly secure to block intruders and facilitate crowd control during crises.People in Derinkuyu lived within a well-organized community structure, allowing them to thrive in an enclosed underground environment.
Ancient World Architecture Discovery Excavation Urban Planning
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