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We're not selling the stuff.

We're not selling the stuff.

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May I continue?

Because tuff is so pliable, it's been used for construction since ancient times. Romans used it all over the empire, and the statues on Easter Island are also made of tuff. So it's not surprising that people in Turkey have been building with this material since prehistory. But rather than mine the stone and build up, the people in Derinkuyu built down.

Because tuff is so pliable, it's been used for construction since ancient times. Romans used it all over the empire, and the statues on Easter Island are also made of tuff. So it's not surprising that people in Turkey have been building with this material since prehistory. But rather than mine the stone and build up, the people in Derinkuyu built down.

There are hundreds of subterranean houses in Cappadocia, and some even go down two stories. But there's nothing quite like Derinkuyu. The underground city of Derinkuyu goes down over 250 feet. In the first few years of exploration, experts went 18 stories down, and since then, two more levels have been discovered. It might go down even further. Archaeologists are still excavating.

There are hundreds of subterranean houses in Cappadocia, and some even go down two stories. But there's nothing quite like Derinkuyu. The underground city of Derinkuyu goes down over 250 feet. In the first few years of exploration, experts went 18 stories down, and since then, two more levels have been discovered. It might go down even further. Archaeologists are still excavating.

The total area of the city discovered is five square miles, or 13 square kilometers, and housed over 22,000 people. The upper floors were used as apartments, closest to the fresh air. But Derinkuyu has a complex system of over 16,000 ventilation shafts that allow air to circulate through every room in the city. It also has a fresh water supply.

The total area of the city discovered is five square miles, or 13 square kilometers, and housed over 22,000 people. The upper floors were used as apartments, closest to the fresh air. But Derinkuyu has a complex system of over 16,000 ventilation shafts that allow air to circulate through every room in the city. It also has a fresh water supply.

At the lowest levels of Derinkuyu is a series of underwater rivers, and wells were centrally located to bring water to the entire city. In fact, people living on the surface above Derinkuyu had been using wells originally intended for the underground city. They just didn't realize what was underneath them. Incidentally, Derinkuyu is Turkish for deep well.

At the lowest levels of Derinkuyu is a series of underwater rivers, and wells were centrally located to bring water to the entire city. In fact, people living on the surface above Derinkuyu had been using wells originally intended for the underground city. They just didn't realize what was underneath them. Incidentally, Derinkuyu is Turkish for deep well.

You need to get past the names, pal. The tunnels seem to go on forever. To walk from one end of Derinkuyu to the other is a seven kilometer walk, or four miles of tunnels. As you move further down the structure, you'll find areas that meet every need of a self-contained city. There are dining halls, churches, schools. There are rooms for pressing and storing olive oil.

You need to get past the names, pal. The tunnels seem to go on forever. To walk from one end of Derinkuyu to the other is a seven kilometer walk, or four miles of tunnels. As you move further down the structure, you'll find areas that meet every need of a self-contained city. There are dining halls, churches, schools. There are rooms for pressing and storing olive oil.

There are markets, bakeries, wineries, libraries, and storage for vast amounts of food. A few more levels down are areas for keeping livestock and stables for horses. There are areas for butchering, curing and storing meat. Thousands of people could survive for a very long time completely underground. But who would build a giant subterranean city and why?

There are markets, bakeries, wineries, libraries, and storage for vast amounts of food. A few more levels down are areas for keeping livestock and stables for horses. There are areas for butchering, curing and storing meat. Thousands of people could survive for a very long time completely underground. But who would build a giant subterranean city and why?

The land in the Cappadocia region of Turkey is extremely fertile, ideal for farming. So why go through the trouble of building such an elaborate underground city? Well, most archeologists agree that Derinkuyu was built for protection, but it's more than a bunker. It's an underground fortress.

The land in the Cappadocia region of Turkey is extremely fertile, ideal for farming. So why go through the trouble of building such an elaborate underground city? Well, most archeologists agree that Derinkuyu was built for protection, but it's more than a bunker. It's an underground fortress.

There are about 60 surface entrances to Derinkuyu, and these doors are hidden in buildings and courtyards and parks all over the town. But when the doors are closed, they're just part of the landscape, and there was only a single main entrance into the city. When under attack, residents would retreat underground using one of the many hidden doors.

There are about 60 surface entrances to Derinkuyu, and these doors are hidden in buildings and courtyards and parks all over the town. But when the doors are closed, they're just part of the landscape, and there was only a single main entrance into the city. When under attack, residents would retreat underground using one of the many hidden doors.