(Natural News)—Ancient kingdoms and civilizations around the world created cities underground, a phenomenon that has fascinated historians and archaeologists alike.
These cities were usually carved out of solid rock or built underground to give shelter, protection and refuge to the people. They served as defensive structures, hiding places during times of war or places of residence during hard weather conditions.
These cities are not only remarkable engineering achievements, but they also supply important insights into the lives and cultures of the people who settled them. They stand as proof of human ingenuity and flexibility in the face of different challenges throughout history.
There are dozens of notable examples of underground cities. Here are just six of them:
Derinkuyu: Turkey’s ancient multi-layered city
Situated in Turkey’s historic Cappadocia region, Derinkuyu is one of the biggest underground cities in the world. The captivating city was discovered in 1963 and is believed to have been constructed around the eighth century B.C.
Derinkuyu’s 18-story interior was a self-contained metropolis that contained ventilation shafts, wells, kitchens, schoolrooms, oil presses, a bathhouse, a winery and living space for around 20,000 people. It also has livestock and storage facilities.
Making Derinkuyu even more intriguing is its link to other underground cities through a series of tunnels, operating as a complete underground network.
Hal Saflieni Hypogeum: Malta’s subterranean temple
The Hal Saflieni Hypogeum in Malta is an ancient underground compound tracing back to 4,000 B.C.
It is believed to be one of the best-preserved prehistoric sites in the world. The unbelievable structure presents numerous levels and chambers, elaborately carved out of limestone rock.
The Hypogeum – another term for an underground temple or tomb – operated as a burial site and a location for ancient ritual practices. Its beautifully sculpted chambers keep the remains of over 7,000 individuals.
The most captivating aspect of this place is the acoustic properties discovered within its “oracle chamber,” where sound echoes at extraordinary frequencies that studies claim may have been able to alter states of consciousness.
Petra: Jordan’s Rose City
The ancient city of Petra in Jordan, also called the “Rose City” because of its pink sandstone cliffs, is an astonishing example of a partially underground city. The Nabateans – ancestors of today’s Arabs – constructed Petra at around 600 B.C.
Petra features intricate rock-cut architecture that comprises tombs, temples and living quarters.
The most well-known monument in Petra is the Al-Khazneh, or the Treasury, a massive rock-cut tomb carved directly into the cliffside. Other major attractions include Ad Deir or the Monastery, the Royal Tombs and the Street of Facades.
Orvieto: Italian underground city
Settled atop a volcanic rock in Umbria in central Italy, the small city of Orvieto and its 20,000 residents attracts visitors due to its enormous collection of subterranean attractions.
Below the city’s streets, a labyrinth of more than 1,200 caves, wells, tunnels and galleries shows Orvieto’s rich history.
The Etruscans – a pre-Roman civilization – first inhabited the area in the ninth century B.C., and several underground features like cisterns and tombs date back to that era.
Over the centuries, the area’s inhabitants have built up the underground area. This includes the Pozzo di San Patrizio, or the Well of St. Patrick. Completed in 1537, the well goes down 62 meters (203 feet) and is a dazzling example of Italian Renaissance engineering.
Lalibela: Ethiopia’s rock-carved churches
The town of Lalibela in Ethiopia is famous for its series of amazing rock-carved churches. Constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries by the command of King Gebre Meskel Lalibela, these monolithic churches were hewn directly from the rock.
Lalibela, traditionally known as Roha, was intended to be a “New Jerusalem” for Ethiopian Christians and has since become an area of deep spiritual importance.
The 11 churches in Lalibela are connected through a series of tunnels, passages and underground chambers.
Prominent churches include the iconic cross-shaped Bete Giyorgis, or the Church of St. George, Bete Medhane Alem and the Church of the Savior of the World. The churches remain a pilgrimage destination for Ethiopian Christians.
Chan Chan: Peru’s uncovered ancient civilization
Situated close to the northern coastal city of Trujillo, Peru, the ancient city of Chan Chan gives a glance into the captivating world of the Chimu civilization.
As one of the most comprehensive pre-Hispanic cities in South America, Chan Chan boasts an elaborate system of underground canals, tunnels, and spaces that permitted effective water and resource management during the city’s heyday. (Related: Ancient Maya civilization purified water using filtration system made of crystal minerals.)
The city’s evasive subterranean infrastructure also served as a refuge during severe weather conditions and possible invasions by aggressors.
Visitors can now explore the archaeological location of Chan Chan to reveal its rare history, which consists of both above-ground and underground remains of the Chimu civilization’s intricate societal structure. Watch this short video discussing Derinkuyu and other underground cities all over the world.
This video is from the Moab channel on Brighteon.com.
More related articles:
- Ancient “embassy” in famed Mayan city hints at two allied states turned bitter foes.
- Check out these 6 ancient civilizations that were hiding in plain sight, but never discovered prior to the advent of archeological LASER BEAM technology.
- Archaeologists discover statues that may be depicting people from the lost civilization of Tartessos.
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Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
