11. Araştırma Sonuçları Toplantısı - Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı

SURVEYS IN THE UNDERGROUNDCITIES OF CAPPADOCIARoberto BIXIO*INTRODUCTIONSince 1991 a Genoese research team from the ltalian National Commissionfor Artificial Cavities has been developing a programme of scientificresearch in the Central AnatoIian tableIand region, with the cooperationof the Turkish Department of Culture.The purpose of this series of enquires is to acquire a wider knowledgeof the ancient and partially unexplored underground structures of theregion. These structures were excavated by man in natural relief and undergroundin extensive volcanic deposits which make up most of the areahistorically known as Cappadocia.THE "COMMISSIONE NAZIONALE CAVITA ARTIFICIALI"The C.N.C.A. is part of "Societa' Speleologica Italiana" (S.S.!.), aninstitution that is under the "Union International de Speleologie" (U.I.S.),which is recognized by UNESCO.The activity of the S.S.I. consists of research, studyand documentationof underground hollows, whether natural caves or artificial hypogea.in particular, the Genoese team of the C.N.C.A. is interested in enquiresconceming underground structures built or excavated by man whichhave considerable historical or architectonic significance. This sort of activityis interdiscipIinary because it utilizes techniques and equipmentfrom speleological exploration experience in association with preciseprofessional abiIities in the field of architecture, townplanning, archaelogy,surveying, and so on.* Roberto BOOO, Commissione Nazionale Cavita Artificial of Societa Speleologica Italiane,Genoa-ffALY.43