Evaluation of Underground Cities in Nevşehir and its Surroundings in Terms of Cultural Geography

Authors : Elif Kahya Yıldırım

Pages : 77-105

Doi:10.17067/asm.1583507

View : 76 | Download : 112

Publication Date : 2025-01-24

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Underground cities have survived to the present day, shaped by the influence of many cultures. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate the underground cities, which have been used by many individuals, societies and groups from ancient times to the present, in terms of cultural geography. The study area determined as Nevşehir and its surroundings effectively reflects the natural and cultural characteristics of the Ancient Cappadocia Region. The main settlements in the study area are Nevşehir Center, Ürgüp, Avanos, Gülşehir, Acıgöl, Derinkuyu districts and Gülağaç and Güzelyurt districts of Aksaray province. In the study area, the northwest of Ürgüp in Nevşehir, the north of Derinkuyu, and the surroundings of Güzelyurt and Gülağaç in Aksaray have been identified as areas where underground cities are concentrated. As a result of literature analysis and observations made in field studies, the human-space relationship in underground cities was analyzed within the framework of concrete cultural elements. The research method that has a fundamental impact on the process of obtaining and analyzing data is field work. The main underground cities observed through field work are Derinkuyu Underground City, Kaymaklı Underground City, Özkonak Underground City, Güzelyurt Underground City and Tatlarin Underground City. These underground cities were examined together with their surroundings; geographical and cultural evaluations were made.
Keywords : nevşehir, kültürel coğrafya, antik kapadokya, yeraltı şehirleri