A Turkish homeowner, engaged in a renovation project, stumbled upon a hidden underground city while in pursuit of his runaway chickens. The man, who remains unidentified, inadvertently knocked down a wall from the 1960s, unveiling a dark tunnel that led to the ancient city of Elengubu, now known as Derinkuyu.
Derinkuyu, situated over 280 feet beneath the Central Anatolian region of Cappadocia, holds the distinction of being the largest excavated underground city globally. It is estimated to have once accommodated around 20,000 residents. According to local Turkish guides who spoke with the BBC, Derinkuyu is believed to be interconnected with over 200 smaller underground cities that have been discovered in recent decades.
The discovery occurred as the homeowner pursued his escaped chickens, inadvertently breaching a hidden entrance to the historic underground marvel. The unexpected revelation has drawn considerable attention to Derinkuyu’s rich historical significance and architectural complexity.