Cappadoccia -- life lived underground

Kaymakli is only one of about 36 underground cities in the region. One can tour vast networks of caves that were once entire self- contained underground communities. The picture at the left shows a grindstone that was used to mill grain beneath the earth. Air ducts and wells provided fresh air and water to underground dwellers.

The deepest and most extensive of the cave cities of Cappadoccia is Derinkuyu. It includes stables, wine and oil presses, refectories and chapels. Its eighth storey reaches a depth of 85 metres. A large room on the second level has a barrel vaulted ceiling; a staircase hewn into the rock gives access to a cruciform church at the lowest level. Since it was found and excavated in the 1960s, visitors have been able to go down and see what life was like below.

Certainly these underground places provided excellent air conditioning in a hot climate, but the sites were chosen for protection as well. Rolling millstone doors that blocked the passages and could be opened only from one side provided added security.

The picture shows the author exploring Kaymakli with a young friend.