Who Are the Cappadocian Cave Dwellers?
The Cappadocian cave dwellers are the historical and contemporary inhabitants of Cappadocia region in central Turkey, famous for carving homes, churches, and entire underground cities into soft volcanic tuff rock formations. For over 3,000 years, peoples including Hittites, Phrygians, Greeks, Romans, and Turks excavated elaborate cave dwellings creating distinctive landscape. The underground cities like Derinkuyu and Kaymakli extended 18 levels deep, housing thousands during invasions. Early Christians carved spectacular rock churches with Byzantine frescoes. Traditional Cappadocian life combined cave dwelling with agriculture and handicrafts. Modern Cappadoccia is UNESCO World Heritage Site with cave hotels, though most residents now live in surface buildings. The unique architecture represents extraordinary adaptation to volcanic landscape.