Nevsehir Labyrinth Of Tunnels: Largest And Most Complex Underground City In The World

| April 7, 2015 | Ancient Places, Ancient World, Underground Worlds | No Comments

MessageToEagle.com – Deep underground in the central Anatolian province of Nevsehir, the contours of an ancient city are taking shape, two years after it was discovered by accident.

The tip of the vast labyrinthine network was first discovered by Turkish builders in 2012. Now, experts say it is likely to be the largest and most complex underground city in the world.

Geo-radiation scanning suggests the multilevel settlement is the size of about 65 football pitches, and is likely to include living spaces, kitchens, wineries, chapels, and staircases

The geo-radar machine is able to determine all gaps and structures up to 10 meters below the surface, accurately mapping out the underground city.
The geo-radar machine is able to determine all gaps and structures up to 10 meters below the surface, accurately mapping out the underground city.

The scale of the city shows a level of architectural complexity that puts other ancient sites in the region to shame,’ reports The Telegraph.

“This new discovery will be added as a new pearl, a new diamond, a new gold” to a region replete with treasures, the mayor of nearby Nevsehir, Hasan Unver, told National Geographic.

Rock-carved church at Güreme, near Nevşehir, Turkey.
Rock-carved church at Güreme, near Nevşehir, Turkey.

Occupying a part of the ancient region of Cappadocia, the area is rich in several historical sites, mainly the rock-carved churches and monasteries at Oratayzai (Güreme), east of Nevsehir city; several of those sites collectively were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985.

Early estimates suggest that the city could be one-third larger than Derinkuyu, a nearby underground city that was only discovered in 1936, after a local resident found a secret passageway inside his house, leading into the city’s tunnel network.

Archaeologists believe the city was home to an agricultural community that lived 5,000 years ago.

Deep underground in the central Anatolian province of Nevsehir, the contours of an ancient city are taking shape, two years after it was discovered by accident.

Deep underground in the central Anatolian province of Nevsehir, the contours of an ancient city are taking shape, two years after it was discovered by accident.

The discovery is all the more remarkable for the manner in which it occurred. The accidental archaeologists were a team of builders, carrying out a government edict to demolish hundreds of buildings in the area as part of an urban renewal project.

The city was discovered under Nevsehir fortress neighborhood while moving the debris of houses to begin the construction of new houses as part of an urban transformation project Photo: Anadoulu/Getty
The city was discovered under Nevsehir fortress neighborhood while moving the debris of houses to begin the construction of new houses as part of an urban transformation project Photo: Anadoulu/Getty

According to Turkish media, the workers stumbled across the labyrinthine network while shifting piles of earth back in 2012. The cleaning process began in March of last year, and local officials say the site will eventually be opener to visitors.

Ancient History Facts: Nevsehir Labyrinth Of Tunnels: Largest And Most Complex Underground City In The World

The rocky landscape of Turkey’s ancient Cappadocia region is home to dozens of underground cities that were once hand-carved from volcanic ash by their ancient inhabitants.

MessageToEagle.com 

source:

Britannica

The Telegraph

 

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