An entire ancient city was discovered beneath a man's basement after he renovated his house

“Would have concealed this and constructed the bat cave.”

It seems like everyone is discovering the craziest (and coolest) things in their home, from hidden bunkers to eerie words hidden beneath a layer of wallpaper. The internet has reminded us that a man discovered a complete city under his home back in 1963, if you thought finding a sunken living room or indoor swimming pool was the ultimate too-weird-to-be-true. A city (yes, you read that right.)

According to the well-known Instagram account History Photographed, a Turkish guy was chasing his chicken in his basement during some repairs in the early 1960s when he discovered a hole that led to a network of complicated tunnels and shelters that were up to 280 feet deep.

Further research and extensive excavations led to the identification of the location as Derinkuyu, a massive underground city in Turkey that can accommodate up to 20,000 people. Most historians concur that Derinkuyu was utilized as a hiding spot from foes and conquerors, despite the fact that its exact origins are unknown—some claim it was built by the Hittes around 200 B.C., while others assert that the Phrygians did so in 900 B.C. It's important to note that the infrastructure is first-rate, whoever constructed it. None of the city's floors have ever collapsed, as noted by Atlas Obscura. In fact, many people think that the early Christians who eventually settled Derinkuyu added contemporary improvements like stables, churches, and special locations to produce wine and olive oil. (You know, the basic stuff.)

Despite the fact that Derinkuyu has been excavated for many years and is still open to the public, it seems that those who are only now learning about it would have reacted to the discovery very differently than the homeowner who first told the archaeological authorities about it. He ought to have remained silent, one commenter said. "He would've had a great place all to himself." "I wouldn't have told a soul," a second commenter said. In peace and quiet, I would have loved that aspect of ancient history my entire life. Another person thought it would have made the ideal bat cave if the owner had done so. There is "so much potential," they continued. We would have promptly reserved a room if the owner had placed it on Airbnb, according to a fourth commenter.