Living Spaces Found in the Underground City in Konya

Efforts are ongoing to promote tourism by uncovering an underground city dating back to the early Byzantine period discovered during infrastructure work in the Sarayönü district of Konya.

The underground city, partially uncovered through excavation and cleaning efforts carried out by the Konya Museum Directorate for the past 6 months, consists of 20-square-meter rooms connected to each other by tunnels of varying lengths and widths.

Initial assessments indicate that the underground city, spreading across an area of 5,000 square meters, could expand further as the ongoing surface research in the region progresses. These room-like living spaces contain water wells, fireplaces, chimneys, places for lamps for lighting, storage rooms, and ventilation holes. According to the initial findings, the history of the site is dated back to the 8th century.

Hasan Uğuz, the archaeologist and excavation director of the Konya Museum Directorate, stated that they have uncovered eight living areas so far by clearing occasional collapses in the area found during infrastructure work. According to their findings, Uğuz mentioned that they have determined that the local Christian population used the underground city in the 8th century to protect themselves from raids that lasted for 150 years.

Uğuz stated, "We may have found one of the largest underground cities in Central Anatolia. The local legends and collapses in various locations indicate that the underground city could potentially spread across a very extensive area with a complex tunnel system. The openings we've discovered and the collapses are promising signs in this regard. As there are no known other underground cities in the region, this discovery holds significant historical and touristic importance."