This is the crazy story of how a man accidently rediscovered the Derinkuyu underground city in Turkey. In 1963, while doing renovations on his home, a man broke through a wall and discovered a tunnel entrance. What he found behind that wall stunned historians, archeologists and the world. The lost ancient underground city of Derinkuyu had been discovered. Further digging revealed access to the tunnel network.

Derinkuyu is a multilevel series of rooms, carved from the soft volcanic rock in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. It extends to a depth of over 200ft. Believed to have been built by the Phrygians, it dates back to the 8th Century BCE. It is capable of holding up to 20,000 people. The underground city had rooms for food stores, livestock, schools, kitchens, living and sleeping quarters and sanitary facilities. Small tunnels carved up to the surface allowed ventilation throughout the city. Entrance tunnels were carefully hidden in the hills surrounding Derinkuyu and connected to the city. One of these tunnels was the one discovered in 1963 behind the wall of the man’s home.

It is believed the city was originally carved as an escape from marauding Arab armies in 9th Century BCE and continued over the next several hundred years. The city was used often as a refuge during the Byzantine Era of the 5th through the 10 Century CE. Artifacts from this period were found inside Derinkuyu. It was used up until the 14th Century as an escape for the Christian population against the Mongolian incursions of Timur.

Here are some neat photos and illustrations of the Derinkuyu underground city:

(via: Achu C Babu)

I was today years old when I learned this piece of history! Had you ever heard of this city? Let us know in the comments below!