GOING UNDERGROUND
Inside ancient underground city from Biblical times found packed with grisly remains in cave homes now OPEN to visitors
AN EERIE ancient underground city where dozens of skeletons were discovered is set to reopen after a lengthy restoration.
The underground city of Samen has an astounding 25 rooms connected by tunnels and served as a home for ancient Iranians.
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The stunning archaeological find took more than ten years to unearth completely, and recently underwent an intensive restoration process.
Iran's ministry of tourism pumped more than £70,000 on the research, lighting, restoration and exploration of the mysterious site which was discovered in 2005.
Archaeologists were amazed to excavate the remains of 60 people - thought to be there for around 2,000 years, dating back to Biblical times.
Fascinating photos show grisly skeletal remains curled up next to ancient pots filled with dirt.
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Scientists say the area was most likely used for religious purposes, then as a cemetery, and finally as an emergency shelter.
Archaeological evidence dates the site to the Parthian period, around 250 BC to 224 CE.
In ancient times, Hamedan, the region where the underground complex remains, was one of the ancient world's greatest cities.
And early next year the site is set to open it's doors to visitors, who can marvel at the unique way of cave living.
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Back in 1963, a bloke discovered the world's largest underground city while chasing his chickens in Cappadocia, Turkey.
He was chasing the fleeing birds through his basement which was undergoing renovation before they snuck through a hole in the wall.
The homeowner was left with no choice but to knock it down - which led to him finding the ancient city of Elengubu, known today as Derinkuyu.
He found a dark tunnel behind the wall and unknowingly made one of the most incredible accidental historical discoveries for centuries.
It transported him into the subterranean city sitting around 280 feet below the surface with eerie remnants of a lost civilisation.
Guides explained it was littered with rows of homes, a school, a church, cattle stables, storage units and even wineries.
Experts say the city is likely to have reached its peak population of 20,000 during the 7th-century Islamic raids on the Christian Byzantine Empire.
Elengubu is now open to the public for tours, allowing people to marvel at the remnants of the lost societies that inhabited it.
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