Huge Ancient Sarayini Underground City Is Twice As Large As Previously Thought

[Judi Lynn]

AncientPages.com | August 22, 2023

Jan Bartek - AncientPages.com - Scientists knew the ancient underground city they examined was huge, but now it's obvious it's twice as large as previously thought! What secrets does this mysterious ancient place hide? How many underground tunnels, galleries, chambers, and unknown rooms still await discovery?



The ancient Sarayini underground city covers at least 20,000 square meters. Image credit: Anadolu Agency (AA)

The ancient underground city in Sarayönü, a district of Konya in Turkey, dates back to the Roman period. When first examined by archaeologists, it was thought the subterranean city covered an area of ​​5000 m2, but a recent investigation reveals this enigmatic ancient place is at least 20,000 square meters, if not even more!

In co-operation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Sarayönü Municipality, scientists are investigating the ancient underground city for the second year. What has been discovered so far is fascinating. There are dozens of underground rooms connected to each other by tunnels of different lengths and widths. Many corridors, tunnels, and galleries are still waiting to be cleaned, so it is currently difficult to determine where they lead.

Is Sarayini Turkey's Largest Underground City In Horizontal Architecture?

The history of the subterranean place, which includes domestic spaces, connected galleries, room-like living spaces, water wells, furnaces, workshops, chimneys, oil lamps for lighting, cellars, warehouses, ventilation, and spaces whose quality has yet to be investigated, dates back to the 8th century.

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Image credit: Anadolu Agency (AA)

More:
https://www.ancientpages.com/2023/08/22/ancient-sarayini-underground-city/

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More images appear in this Turkish publication:

https://www.trthaber.com/foto-galeri/amosta-iskani-sona-erdiren-buyuk-yangin-ve-depremin-izlerine-rastlandi/58815.html

[jmbar2]

1. Fascinating - thanks for posting!

When I was in middle school, my family lived in Tripoli Libya (pre Khaddafi). While we were there, they discovered a similar city down the street from where we lived. We used to lurk around the excavation after school.

It was always much cooler down there than on the surface. They had air tunnels bringing cool sea air from blocks away to the inner chambers. We got evacuated from there when the king was overthrown and I've always wondered what happened to that excavation. It was also first century Roman if I recall.

Libya has wonderful archeological sites that are at risk because of war and instability.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Amazing! Had no idea people employed these refuges in Libya, as well!

I would imagine the temperature difference would be such a welcome relief, too.

Would simply have never guessed, assumed it was all centered around Turkey. Wonderful hearing your information. That would be a real experience, seeing them in person. It took some courageous people to construct so much underground successfully.

(Have been thunderstruck for years after learning passages and air shafts were also built into pryamids in Egypt. Mind-blowing.)

Had to look for a map to look at the georaphy of Libya and Turkey:



Thank you, so much, for sharing your own experience.

[jmbar2]

4. Here is a look at the main ruins there - they are stunning!

https://libyanheritagehouse.org/architecture/roman-architecture-libya

[Judi Lynn]

5. They are absolutely stunning. Good grief! I have saved them to re-examine again, more slowly.

Have never seen photos of these structures. They are amazing. They force you to rearrange your views of time, and history, to say the least. They were far more advanced in so many areas than they have been given credit by contemporary assumptions.

Looking forward to returning to this source, studying them more carefully.

Thank you, so much, for sharing this resource. Hope others will see it, as well!

[Karadeniz]

3. I wonder what happened to the inhabitants. Maybe after 150 years, they just gave up and became

Muslim. You'd think there would be some stories handed down.

[Judi Lynn]

6. We know so very, very little. There will be a lot to learn in a hurry, with improved technology.

:hi