Underground Cities in Cappadocia
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Underground Cities in Cappadocia
Underground Cities in Cappadocia

150-200 Known Undergruond Settlements in Cappadocia

Some of the most interesting cultural riches in Cappadocia are the 150-200 known underground settlements of varying sizes. However, since there are cliff settlements of different sizes, in all the towns and villages in the region covering an area of 25 000 kmē., this number maybe underestimated. Most of the rock settlements of this kind were built by hollowing out the tufa from the ground. Except the traces made by tools while hollowing, we do not have much information about the techniques they used.

Underground Cities in Cappadocia

The name undergronud city is widely used, however, only some of them were big enough to accommodate 30000 people and can be called underground cities but it is possible to call other small ones as underground villages.

Tunnels to Underground Rooms

Hundreds of rooms in the underground cities were connected to each other with long passages and labyrinth-like tunnels. The corridors were made long, low and narrow, to restrict the movements of enemies.

Deferse Precaution in the Underground Cities

In the Ozkonak Underground Settlement, unlike the other ones, above the tunnels, next to the milstone, small vertical holes were hollowed out to pour hot oil on their enemies..

Kitchens and the wineries

The kitchens and the wineries are also found on the upper floors of the underground settlements, warm both in summer and in winter. The wineries, where wine was made from local grapes..

Ventilation and Communication Holes

There are communicaton holes, not bigger than 10-15 cm in diameter, on the floors and the ceilings of the rooms between the various levels. Using these holes, underground city inhabitants..

Underground Cities in the Preshistoric Peroid

Although there are settleents belonging to the Preshistoric Peroid in the Cappadocia, it is still unknown whether these settlements were connected with the underground cities..

Underground Cities in the Romen Era and Byzantine Period

The rock-tombs belonging to the Romen Era, especially near Nevsehir, are situated near the underground settlements, and like those, were spread widely throughout the area..

Underground Cities and Seljuks

It is assumed that the Seljuks also used these underground cities as dwellings and for military purposes, because the Seljuk Caravanserais in the Cappadocia..
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