Inside the Mysterious Underground City in Turkey That's 5,000 Years Old

[Buster's Uncle]

Inside the Mysterious Underground City That's 5,000 Years Old
ABC News
By MEGHAN KENEALLY  Jan 2, 2015, 12:52 PM ET



Researchers discovered these ruins from an underground city in Turkey's Central Anatolian region in this Dec. 28, 2014 file photo. Murat Kaya/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images



The discovery of a previously unknown ancient city came as a late Christmas present for archaeologists in Turkey when they made a major find on Dec. 28.

A series of ruins that contain buildings, hidden churches and water channels was found in the Turkish town of Nevsehir, which is known for 'fairy chimney' rock formations.



PHOTO: A view of the underground city newly discovered in Turkeys Central Anatolian province of Nevsehir, Turkey is seen in this Dec. 28, 2014 file photo. Murat Kaya/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images



PHOTO: A view of the underground city newly discovered in Turkeys Central Anatolian province of Nevsehir, Turkey is seen in this Dec. 28, 2014 file photo. Murat Kaya/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images



PHOTO: A view of the underground city newly discovered in Turkeys Central Anatolian province of Nevsehir, Turkey is seen in this Dec. 28, 2014 file photo. Murat Kaya/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images


The city was discovered beneath an old portion of Nevsihir where the state housing development agency was hoping to build a new housing project.

"We stopped the construction we were planning to do on these areas when an underground city was discovered," Mehmet Ergün Turan, the head of the state housing development agency told Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News, which reported that the new discovery is the largest that they have found in the region to date.

The city is believed to date back 5,000 years, though little else is known as researchers are likely going to launch into their analysis in the coming months.




PHOTO: A view of the underground city newly discovered in Turkeys Central Anatolian province of Nevsehir, Turkey is seen in this Dec. 28, 2014 file photo.  Murat Kaya/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images



PHOTO: A view of the underground city newly discovered in Turkeys Central Anatolian province of Nevsehir, Turkey is seen in this Dec. 28, 2014 file photo.  Murat Kaya/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images



PHOTO: A view of the underground city newly discovered in Turkeys Central Anatolian province of Nevsehir is seen in this Dec. 28, 2014 file photo.  Murat Kaya/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images


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