Underground Cities in the Romen Era and Byzantine PeriodThe 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. In addittion to this, it is possible to see the kinds with niches both in the rooms of of the rock-tombs and in the underground settlements. This supports the idea that the peole of the Roman Era also played a role in the construction of the underground settlements.
Everything discovered in these underground settlements belongs to the Byzantine Peroid between the 5th and the 10th centuries A.D. The number of the underground settlements, generally used for taking refuge and for religious reasons, increased during this era. The Christian communities in the region had to take refuge closing millstone doors when they were subjected to the Arab-Sasanid raids, which started in the 7th century during the Byzantine period. The enemy, being aware of the dangers waiting for them inside, usually tried to make the local people leva their shelters by poisoning the wells. |
