Underground Cities in Cappadocia

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. However, the people of the Prehistoric Period must have lived in man-made rock shelters consisting of only a couple of rooms.

There are a great number of high-reliefs on the rock surfaces, and monuments with inscriptions, both dating from the Middle and Late Bronze Ages. There are also well-made underground passages called “Poter”, which were used in the defense systems of Hittite towns, which can be accepted as an evidence that the consturction and development of underground settlements owe much to the Hittites. These hidden passages in the Hittite towns would generally be used to lay ambush for the raiding enemies to surround them from behind. If it was the Hittites who hollowed out some parts of these settlements, they did so for militar purposes. Therefore, it is normal not to find any archaeological artifacts in these passages, other thoughts suggest that the artefacts qere removed by later dwellers.

Although the Cappadocia region was not one of the main dwelling areas of the Hittites, it is possible to see traces of the Hittite civilization in all the ancient settlements of the region. There was no reason for the Hittites not to hollow out the soft tufa or live in these places. Besides, the presence of underground settlements near the incribed rock monuments in Topada (Agilli) and Sivasa supports this idea.