2,300-year-old secret tunnel discovered

A 2,300-year-old tunnel was found beneath a place of worship in a Hittite settlement in Türkiye and may have had a sacred function.

2,300-year-old Hittite secret tunnel found in Türkiye. Photo: Anadolu Agency.

Independent reported on September 8 that archaeologists discovered a secret tunnel dating back 2,300 years to the Hittites in central Türkiye, while excavating a place of worship inside an ancient settlement.Alacahoyuk.

"This is a major discovery of Hittite architecture. In my 55 years as an archaeologist, I never thought I would find a tunnel, but now I have," Aykut Cinaroglu, a professor at Ankara University and head of the excavation team, told Hurriyet Daily News.

Alacahoyuk was the religious capital of the Hittites, a people who lived in ancient Anatolia (Asia Minor) around 1600 BC. Their previous capital was Hattusha, a UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site in present-day Türkiye.

"Tunnels were usually built under citadels and extended into the city. I believe there are other tunnels in the area. We have dug 23 meters but I think the secret tunnel is longer than that. It could have a sacred function," Cinaroglu said.

According to VNE