Why is there a 2,000-year-old city hidden beneath Turkey? The story of Derinkuyu

In 1963, a resident of a quiet Turkish town set out to renovate his home. What appeared to be a routine construction project soon became one of the most astonishing archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. While knocking down a wall in his basement, he uncovered a hidden chamber. Intrigued, he squeezed through the opening and found another room. Then another. And another. What he had accidentally stumbled upon was no ordinary underground space. Beneath his feet lay the entrance to Derinkuyu, a vast subterranean city hidden beneath central Turkey, capable of sheltering up to 20,000 people. A Turkish homeowner renovating his basement in 1963 uncovered the entrance to Derinkuyu beneath Cappadocia. (Image Courtesy: Getty Image) Buried deep beneath the otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia, Derinkuyu is one of humanity's most remarkable engineering achievements. Carved directly into soft volcanic rock, the underground metropolis contains living quarters, chapels, storage rooms, wells, ventilation shafts, stables, and sophisticated defensive systems spread across multiple levels. Even more remarkable is the fact that this was not merely a network of caves, but a fully functioning city where thousands of people could live in secrecy for months at a time. More than six decades after its accidental rediscovery, Derinkuyu continues to fascinate archaeologists and historians alike. Who built this underground wonder? How old is it? And what circumstances forced entire communities to retreat beneath the earth? LEGENDS BENEATH CAPPADOCIA Read Full Story For generations, local legends whispered about hidden tunnels beneath Cappadocia. Villagers spoke of secret passages and underground chambers, but few imagined the true scale of what lay beneath their feet. Everything changed in 1963. The accidental discovery triggered extensive exploration, revealing a sprawling network of interconnected tunnels, staircases, ventilation shafts, and vast chambers spread across 18 levels. Archaeologists soon realised they had uncovered one of the largest and most sophisticated underground cities in the world. A Turkish homeowner renovating his basement in 1963 uncovered the entrance to Derinkuyu beneath Cappadocia. (AI generated image) What began as a simple home renovation had opened the door to an ancient world. WHO BUILT DERINKUYU? The city's origins remain one of its greatest mysteries. Most historians believe Derinkuyu may have first been excavated around the eighth century BCE by the Phrygians, an ancient people who inhabited central Anatolia after the decline of the Hittite Empire. Over the centuries, successive civilisations expanded and modified the city, with major additions continuing through the Byzantine era. But not everyone agrees. Some alternative researchers suggest that portions of the underground complex could be far older than conventional archaeology proposes. According to these theories, Derinkuyu may have roots stretching back to the Neolithic period, or perhaps even to a lost civilisation that existed before recorded history. While such claims remain speculative, they have added another layer of intrigue to an already mysterious site. A LAND SHAPED BY EMPIRES To understand Derinkuyu, one must understand the turbulent history of the region above it. What is now central Turkey was once the heartland of the Hittite Empire. Over the centuries, it passed through the hands of the Phrygians, Assyrians, and Persians before being conquered by Alexander the Great. A Turkish homeowner renovating his basement in 1963 uncovered the entrance to Derinkuyu beneath Cappadocia. (Image Courtesy: Getty Image) Later, the region became an important province of the Roman and Byzantine empires. Between the seventh and tenth centuries CE, it faced repeated Arab incursions. By 1175, it had fallen under the control of the Seljuk Turks before eventually becoming part of the Ottoman Empire. In a land repeatedly shaped by invasion, warfare, and political upheaval, an underground refuge may have offered the ultimate form of protection. WHY BUILD A CITY UNDERGROUND? The answer lies in both necessity and geology. Cappadocia sits atop layers of volcanic tuff, a porous rock formed from ancient volcanic ash. Soft enough to carve with relative ease but strong enough to remain structurally stable, it provided ideal conditions for creating underground spaces. Over generations, local inhabitants transformed this natural advantage into an extraordinary feat of engineering. At approximately 4,480 feet above sea level, Derinkuyu descends more than 200 feet beneath the surface, disappearing into the volcanic formations below the town. During times of danger, entire communities could retreat underground and remain hidden for extended periods. A Turkish homeowner renovating his basement in 1963 uncovered the entrance to Derinkuyu beneath Cappadocia.Â (Representative image) INSIDE THE UNDERGROUND METROPOLIS Far from being a simple network of caves, Derinku