Derinkuyu Underground City: 8-level underground city with 20,000 capacity. 85 meters deep underground city with 8 levels open to public Only 10% of the underground city is accessible to visitors; 90% remains closed Bones found at the site date to the Hittite period (1600 BC)
Derinkuyu is an incredible underground city in Turkey carved into volcanic rock, reaching depths of 85 meters with 18 levels. Bones found here date to the 8th-7th century BC Phrygian period, though the original builders remain debated. It could shelter 20,000+ people and was later used by early Christians hiding from Roman persecution. Only a portion (around 10%) of the underground city is accessible to visitors, with 8 levels open to the public.
Key Facts
- 85 meters deep underground city with 8 levels open to public
- Only 10% of the underground city is accessible to visitors; 90% remains closed
- Bones found at the site date to the Hittite period (1600 BC)
- Stone cannot be dated, so the original builders remain unknown
- Total depth reaches 13 floors underground
- Could accommodate more than 20,000 people
- Connected to another underground city via an 8km tunnel
- Carved into soft volcanic rock using obsidian and metal tools
- Cooking was done only at night to avoid detection by enemies
- Served as hiding place for early Christians from Roman persecution
- Probably began as natural lava tubes that were expanded by humans
Related site: Derinkuyu Underground City — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Exploring Derinkuyu & Çatalhöyük | Ancient Turkey by Funny Olde World