Kaymakh

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In the small farming community of Kaymakh is an unpretentious cave which leads to an incredible underground city.   Once again our $10 investment in a local guide was money well spent, 'Small' Mustafa speaks excellent English and has a passion for history - ours as well as his!

Nobody knows for sure who the first inhabitants were.  Some claim Hittites who inhabited Ancient Anatolia almost 2000 year before Christ, hollowed out the top layers. Christian monks fleeing Arab persecution centuries later burrowed even further below ground
Whomever they were their underground  communities were for shelter in times of prolonged danger rather than permanent living quarters. 

 Massive circular stones could be use to block the narrow passages in the event of discovery.  
The 'city' is like a high rise hotel below ground.  Many hidden entrances lead to a labyrinth, designed to foil a mass invasion.  These in turn lead to the living  quarters where many thousands of  people and their animals could  wait out trouble and religious persecution.  Air shafts served a dual ventilation and communications function.  Wells and chimneys were constructed to provide the necessities of life.

The larger cities extend to eight or more subterranean levels but not all can be visited because they are in danger of collapse.   It is possible the cities were connected underground.
The upper levels housed the animals and people. Below were storage and wine making areas, soot blackened kitchens and of course chapels.

The underground cities are much more fascinating to visit than these photos might suggest.
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