ÖZKONAK UNDERGROUND CITY
This underground settlement is in the center of of the town of ÖZKONAK, 14 km north of Avanos. It was hollowed out of tufa rock in western slopes of Idiş Dağı. Although there is only one floor below the ground level, it covers a large area and tunnels connect the spaces. Unlike the larger underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu, narrow holes (5cm in diameter) enabled communication between the rooms. When the entrances of neatly hollowed chambers were closed, these holes also served as ventilation. Unique among underground settlements, there are small holes in the tunnel ceilings that possibly were used to pour hot oil on, or to spear, intruders. As in the underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu, this underground settlement contains a ventilation shaft, a well, a winery and millstone doors.
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