Derinkuyu, a word meaning “deep well”, is the name of a town and district in the Nevşehir Province of Central Anatolia (Turkey). Located in Cappadocia, Derinkuyu is known for its underground city, the largest in Turkey.
The city could be sealed from the inside using large circular stones that acted as doors. Each of the 13 levels could be closed off independently. The space was organized around 52 ventilation shafts, four of which reached a depth of 100 meters and also served as wells. Like other cities of its kind, Derinkuyu featured places of worship, storage rooms, stables or sheepfolds, wine and oil presses, kitchens, and dining halls. But a large vaulted room on the second level (counting from the top), which apparently served as a religious school, is unique to Derinkuyu. Between the third and fourth levels, a steep staircase leads to a cruciform church.
All these facilities and the city’s vast size made it possible to shelter up to 50,000 people, though it was designed to house an average of 10,000 for long durations. A tunnel starting from the third level likely connected to the underground city of Kaymaklı, located 9 km away. On the surrounding hills were watch posts, now only visible through their foundations, from which one could observe the surroundings and raise the alarm if needed.
What was the purpose of such a construction? Obviously, the goal was to shelter thousands of people from something outside. Despite the many theories surrounding these extremely ancient structures, it seems highly unusual to go to such lengths to protect a population unless from a real danger. It resembles a nuclear shelter, or a doomsday bunker built by a former civilization.
Other Underground Cities
More than 200 underground cities with at least two levels have been discovered in Cappadocia. Of these, 36 have three or more levels and five are open to visitors. Among these, Derinkuyu is the largest. The second largest is Kaymaklı, followed by Özkonak (discovered in 1972 near Avanos), Tatlarin, and Saratlı (near Aksaray). Mazı Küyü (difficult to access but under development) and Güzelyurt, better known by its former name Gelveri, also deserve mention.
