Tunnels and tunneling in Turkey

Recent studies revealed that tunnels were excavated under hundreds of Neolithic settlements all over Europe and the fact that so many tunnels have survived 12,000 years indicates that the original networks must have been huge from Scotland to Turkey. Some experts believe the network was a way of protecting man from predators while others believe that some of the linked tunnels were used likemotorways are today, for people to travel safely regardless of wars or violence or even weather above ground (Kush, 2009). There are several underground cities from Roman Imperial Times even older in Cappadocia, Nevsehir in Turkey, the cities are linked with a network of tunnels. New details have emerged about the massive ancient underground cities discovered in Turkey's Central Anatolian province of Nevsehir. Hundreds of years ago, when the area was attacked, citizens used to flood to the underground city and stay until it was safe to re-enter the land of the living. In this chapter an attempt will be made to summarize the massive tunneling activities in Turkey from past to present focusing on the scientific contributions emerging from these activities.