On top of a 1000m-high plateau in Cappadocia, travelers can find the region of Anatolia. Covered in volcanic ash millions of years ago, the landscape is filled with lava domes and pyramids, caves and tunnels, and other natural wonders caused by the volcanic eruption.
The soft rock that covers the landscape of the region made it possible for the people of Cappadocia to easily carve out tunnels, caves, and even their homes.
Hittites of Cappadocia started with carving out storage rooms and other underground rooms that they used to store their goods and food, to protect their valuables from the weather extremes.
Hittites also used their carving and tunneling skills to create tunnels that they used to hide from the Phrygian raiders. It has been estimated that the tunnels served the Hittites from the 15th to 12th century BCE according to estimates.
However, some have speculated that the tunnels were actually created by the Phrygians themselves, with this theory being backed up by the reputation of the Phrygian architects who were known for their complex structures and tunneling systems.
Archaeologists strongly believe that there could be hundreds of unexplored underground cities in Cappadocia, although to this day, only six have been found. The underground city of Derinkuyu is not the oldest, or biggest of the underground cities, however it is one of the deepest, making it an incredible tour that cannot be missed for anyone planning to visit the region.
Fun Fact : Derinkuyu Underground City was a secret for a long time! It was discovered when a local man living in the Nevsehir Province decided to do renovations on his home. Imagine his surprise when he knocked down a wall, revealing to him a strange room. When he dug further, choosing to explore the strange room, the room led into an intricate tunnel system with a series of cave rooms.