Kaymakli

Way more elaborate than Derinkuyu, and a lot less manicured, at least in the visible sections. A complete 3D maze. Yet again the guides spieling the usual guesses as fact. Some of the round stone doors seem to be made of a different rock to the tuff, but are too large to remove from the chamber they are in, a bit of a puzzle. Most though are the same soft rock the city is carved from, which rather belies the claim they formed impenetrable barriers to attacking forces. They are obviously intended to block something, but are neither airtight nor watertight, nor impervious to brute force, or even fire and water. Extreme cold or heat, or hungry wild animals perhaps?

Likewise the long low corridors, barely passable bent double. Supposedly to hamper attackers posture, but surely would similarly afflict the defenders. And as they are found right to the bottom, then any attackers who had made it that far had already conquered most of the city. And of course there are frequent areas where standing or fighting upright is feasible. Another possibility of course would be the considerable saving of labour over excavating full-height passageways. They mainly seem to be the long connecting passages, rather than the densely packed storage/living areas.

After several hours of crab walking one cannot help but wonder about the old tales of dwarves who dwelt underground. Carving their hallways, homes and workshops from the bedrock, tales way older than Tolkien, who only borrowed them. No one actually knows for sure who built these massive cities originally, or when.What would inspire people to live like this? To put so much effort into living permanently underground. What were they seeking refuge from?

As a side note, there are several opportunities for the adventurous to venture into the unlit sections, but with caution. Deadfalls are everywhere.