The Ancient Atlas

Matiate (Midyat) Underground City

UndergroundTürkiye

Massive underground city discovered in 2020 beneath the modern town of Midyat in Mardin Province. Initial surveys describe it as one of the largest underground cities in the world, with estimates of capacity for up to 70,000 people and an estimated age of at least 1,900 years. Multiple levels, chambers, places of worship, water wells, and storage facilities have been identified. Excavation is active and ongoing. Conventional reading: Roman-era refuge for early Christians and Jews. Independent reading: scale and design may indicate much older origins reused across cultures.

37.4167°, 41.3500°

Look Closer — this site carries open questions: stones heavier than the period's tools could lift; geometry beyond period explanation; stones fitted without mortar, almost no gap.
Open in the Atlas map →

Walkthrough videos (1)

Midyat Caves or Matiate Underground CityMidyat Caves or Matiate Underground CityAgeless Rock

Nearby sites