🇨🇳 China · Hydraulic works
Karez of Turpan
Han dynasty 142 BCE to Qing · Han, Uyghur, Hui oasis communities
2000-year karez underground qanat network (5,000 km, 1,100 lines) feeding Turpan Depression vineyards from Tian Shan snowmelt.
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CategoriesUnderground cities
Carved refuges and hidden complexes beneath the surface.
🇨🇳 China · Hydraulic works
Han dynasty 142 BCE to Qing · Han, Uyghur, Hui oasis communities
2000-year karez underground qanat network (5,000 km, 1,100 lines) feeding Turpan Depression vineyards from Tian Shan snowmelt.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Underground city
Chalcolithic (regional) · Chalcolithic
Sacred Saqqara Ridge II — Saqqara, Serapeum (59-45) at Saqqara, Serapeum, Egypt is a Chalcolithic (regional) underground city of the Chalcolithic tradition, built c.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia · Underground city
Classical (regional) · Classical
Little Lalibela Mound Inner — Lalibela (59-03) at Lalibela, Ethiopia is a Classical (regional) underground city of the Classical tradition, built c. 400 BCE for mound and associated settlement.
🇲🇹 Malta · Underground city
Chalcolithic (regional) · Chalcolithic
Eastern Hypogeum Platform Outer — Hypogeum, Paola (59-40) at Hypogeum, Paola, Malta is a Chalcolithic (regional) underground city of the Chalcolithic tradition, built c.
🇪🇹 Ethiopia · Underground city
Early Historic (regional) · Early Historic
Royal Lalibela Reservoir Inner — Lalibela (59-08) at Lalibela, Ethiopia is a Early Historic (regional) underground city of the Early Historic tradition, built c.
🇹🇷 Turkey · Underground city
Chalcolithic (regional) · Chalcolithic
Central Derinkuyu Terrace II — Derinkuyu, Cappadocia (59-19) at Derinkuyu, Cappadocia, Turkey is a Chalcolithic (regional) underground city of the Chalcolithic tradition, built c.
🇪🇬 Egypt · Underground city
Chalcolithic (regional) · Chalcolithic
Central Saqqara Settlement Inner — Saqqara, Serapeum (59-04) at Saqqara, Serapeum, Egypt is a Chalcolithic (regional) underground city of the Chalcolithic tradition, built c.
🇲🇹 Malta · Underground city
Bronze Age (regional) · Bronze Age
Southern Hypogeum Fortress South — Hypogeum, Paola (59-39) at Hypogeum, Paola, Malta is a Bronze Age (regional) underground city of the Bronze Age tradition, built c.