Kepez Underground City

Kepez Underground City is a subterranean settlement located within the boundaries of Kepez village in the Mucur district of Kırşehir province, Türkiye. It is situated approximately 14 kilometers from the Kayseri-Ankara highway and about 10 kilometers from the Kırşehir-Aksaray highway. Positioned at an elevation of 1035 meters above sea level, the underground city is easily accessible in terms of transportation.

Historical and Cultural Context

Kepez Underground City was constructed during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, during the rapid spread of Christianity in Anatolia. The Roman central authority viewed this monotheistic faith as a threat to its governance and launched persecutions against Christian settlements in Anatolia. During this period, the local population created underground dwellings designed to provide shelter and sustain short-term habitation during periods of persecution. Kepez Underground City was conceived as a concealed and secure rock settlement within this context. Similar rock dwellings exist within the boundaries of Kırşehir province.

Geological Features and Formation

The underground city is situated on a region composed of sedimentary and volcanosedimentary rocks that overlie the Kırşehir Massif, which consists of Paleozoic metamorphic bedrock. The excavated units belong to the Oligo-Miocene Kızılöz Formation and are composed of fluvial conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones, and marls. The settlement was carved at the boundary between the Miocene-Pliocene Kavak Member, consisting of pink pumice-rich tuffs and sandy tuffs, and the Late Pliocene Kışladağ Member, composed of thin-bedded, grayish-white limestone. These rock units, which are relatively easy to excavate, provided favorable conditions for the creation of artificial caves and underground cities.

Architectural and Structural Features

Kepez Underground City is a completely horizontal structure extending 1050 meters in length and covering an area of approximately 3100 square meters. It consists of rectangular rooms arranged in groups of three, connected by galleries and tunnels. Fourteen distinct entrance and exit doors have been identified within the settlement, linked by a spiderweb-like network of corridors. Near the exit doors, circular lock gate systems were installed for security purposes. Additionally, wells were dug for water supply, niches for oil lamps provided illumination, and living spaces were designed in room-and-hall configurations. Ceiling heights reach up to 2.5 meters in some sections, while in the tunnels they extend to 3 meters in height and 4 meters in width.