Uncovering Ancient Cities: The Fascinating World of Underground Ruins

The Hidden Layers of History Beneath Our Feet

In the heart of Rome stands the Roman Forum, a testament to the city's ancient glory. But what many don't realize is that the Forum we see today is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies a world of ruins, hidden for centuries, waiting to be rediscovered.

When archaeologists began excavating the area, they unearthed an entire underground world that had been forgotten for hundreds of years. The city had risen by more than 10 meters over time, burying older buildings and structures beneath layers of debris and new construction.

This phenomenon isn't unique to Rome. All over the world, we find ruins slowly being left behind by the constant rise of street levels and modern cities built on top of ancient ones. But why does this happen? Is the street level actually rising? And why does history always end up buried deep underground?

In this article, we'll explore the fascinating world of underground ruins, examining how civilizations build on top of each other and uncovering the mysteries that lie beneath our feet.

The Layered City: Why Do We Build on Top of Ruins?

There's no single reason why cities are built on top of each other. Various factors contribute to this phenomenon, including:

1. Natural disasters and rebuilding
2. Convenience and practicality
3. Changing ground levels
4. Cultural and religious shifts

Let's examine each of these factors in more detail.

Natural Disasters and Rebuilding

One of the most common reasons for cities to build on top of themselves is the aftermath of natural disasters. The great fire of Rome in the first century AD provides an excellent example of this process.

After the fire devastated much of the city, it had to be rebuilt. Instead of clearing away all the rubble, which would have been a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, it was quicker and easier to simply flatten out the debris and build on top of it. This approach resulted in new buildings being constructed about a meter higher than the previous street level.

To match the new height of the buildings, the streets were raised and resurfaced using rocks from the surrounding debris. This process would repeat itself with every fire and natural disaster that occurred, gradually raising the city and leaving old ruins buried underground.

Convenience and Practicality

In many cases, it's simply more convenient and practical to build on top of existing structures rather than completely demolishing them and starting from scratch. This approach saves time, effort, and resources.

For example, when a building falls into disrepair or no longer serves its original purpose, it may be easier to repurpose or modify it rather than tearing it down entirely. Over time, this leads to a layering effect as new structures are built on top of or incorporated into older ones.

Changing Ground Levels

Natural processes can also contribute to the burial of ancient cities. Sedimentation, erosion, and changes in sea level can all cause ground levels to rise or fall over time. In some cases, entire cities can be buried by these natural processes.

For instance, coastal cities may find themselves gradually sinking below sea level, necessitating the construction of new buildings on top of the old to stay above water. This process can create layers of history beneath the current street level.

Cultural and Religious Shifts

Changes in cultural practices or religious beliefs can also lead to the layering of cities. As new cultures or religions gain prominence, they may choose to build their own structures on top of or in place of existing ones.

This practice is particularly evident in religious buildings, where temples or churches of one faith may be built directly on top of the sacred sites of another. This not only serves practical purposes but also symbolizes the triumph or continuity of one belief system over another.

The Basilica of San Clemente: A Journey Through Time

One of the clearest examples of how cities build upon themselves is the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome. This remarkable structure offers a fascinating glimpse into the layered history of the Eternal City.

The basilica we see today dates back to the 12th century, but it's just the most recent chapter in a story that spans nearly two millennia. Let's take a journey through time, exploring the different layers of San Clemente:

The Roman Villa (1st Century AD)

At the very bottom of the San Clemente complex, archaeologists discovered the remains of a Roman villa dating back to the 1st century AD. This elegant home sat at the bottom of a valley, predating even the construction of the nearby Colosseum.

The Mithraic Temple (2nd-3rd Century AD)

After being damaged in a fire, the Roman villa was converted into a temple dedicated to the god Mithras. The Mithraic cult was gaining popularity throughout Rome at this time, and the temple served as a place of worship for its followers.

Inside the temple, archaeologists found a shrine dedicated to Mithras and walls adorned with paintings depicting the Mithraic god and various religious symbols.

The Early Christian Basilica (4th Century AD)

By the end of the 4th century, Christianity had become the dominant religion in Rome. The Mithraic temple was partially destroyed by Christians, who then decided to build a new basilica on top of the old temple to promote their own faith.

This early Christian basilica served the community for about 800 years, standing as a testament to the growing influence of Christianity in Rome.

The Medieval Basilica (12th Century AD)

By the 12th century, the early Christian basilica had fallen into disrepair. After multiple fires and rebuilds in the surrounding area, the street level had risen considerably. Rather than demolishing the old structure, a new basilica was built directly on top of it.

This is the basilica we see today when we visit San Clemente. It stands as a beautiful example of medieval architecture, with stunning mosaics and frescoes adorning its walls.

The Rediscovery

Over time, the ruins beneath the medieval basilica were filled in, and all knowledge of the previous layers was lost. It wasn't until the 1800s that an archaeologist began excavations, unearthing the old basilica and discovering a staircase leading down to the first-century temple.

Today, visitors to San Clemente can descend through the layers of history, witnessing firsthand how the city of Rome has built upon itself over the centuries. The basilica serves as a physical timeline, allowing us to walk through nearly 2,000 years of history in a single location.

Tells: The Layered Cities of the Middle East

While Rome provides an excellent example of how cities build upon themselves, one of the best illustrations of layered urban development can be found in the Middle East. Throughout this region, you'll encounter strange-looking hills with mysteriously flat tops. These are known as tells, and they hold within them a wealth of archaeological treasures.

What is a Tell?

A tell (also spelled tel or tall) is an artificial hill formed by centuries of civilizations building on top of each other. The word "tel" appears in many place names, such as Tel Aviv, which was originally built near an ancient tell.

These mounds are created through a process of continuous occupation and rebuilding. As each civilization constructs its buildings, lives out its history, and eventually declines, a new layer is added to the tell. Over thousands of years, these layers accumulate, creating a vertical timeline of human habitation.

The Formation of a Tell

The process of tell formation typically follows this pattern:

1. A settlement is established on a favorable site, often near water sources or trade routes.
2. Buildings are constructed, usually using mud bricks or other local materials.
3. Over time, these buildings deteriorate or are destroyed by natural disasters or conflicts.
4. The debris from the old buildings is leveled out, creating a slightly raised platform.
5. New buildings are constructed on top of this platform.
6. This cycle repeats over centuries or millennia, with each new layer adding to the height of the mound.

When archaeologists excavate a tell, they can peel back these layers like the pages of a book, revealing the history of human occupation at that site.

Troy: A Prime Example of a Layered City

Perhaps one of the most famous examples of a tell is the ancient city of Troy, located in present-day Turkey. Troy's history spans over 3,000 years, with at least nine major periods of occupation, each building directly on top of the previous.

The story of Troy begins around 3000 BC with a small settlement. Over the following millennia, the city grew, was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, and was occupied by various civilizations, including:

• Early Bronze Age settlers
• Mycenaean Greeks
• Persians
• Alexander the Great's forces
• Romans

Each of these civilizations left its mark on Troy, contributing to the layers that make up the tell. The city continued to be inhabited until around 500 AD when the nearby port dried up, and the last civilization abandoned the site.

After its abandonment, Troy's buildings crumbled back into the hill, and soil covered the ruins. For centuries, the exact location of Troy was a mystery, known only through Homer's epic poems. It wasn't until the 1870s that archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann began excavations at the site, uncovering the layers of history buried within the tell.

Today, visitors to Troy can see the exposed layers of the city, each representing a different period in its long history. The site offers a unique opportunity to visualize how cities build upon themselves over time, creating a vertical timeline of human civilization.

The Sinking Cities: When the Ground Gives Way

While human activity is often responsible for the layering of cities, there's another factor we need to consider: what happens when buildings and cities literally sink into the ground? This phenomenon is occurring in many major cities around the world, with potentially serious consequences for urban development and preservation of historical sites.

The Case of Shanghai

One of the most striking examples of a sinking city is Shanghai, China. This bustling metropolis is currently sinking at a rate of about 1 cm per year. In fact, many major cities across China are experiencing similar issues.

The primary cause of this sinking is the extraction of groundwater. For centuries, the only way to obtain fresh drinking water was to pump it out of the ground. However, this practice has serious consequences:

1. As water is removed from the ground, the pores that held it empty.
2. This causes the ground to compress and sink.
3. The problem is exacerbated by the weight of skyscrapers and other large buildings.

The soil beneath Shanghai is particularly soft, making it more susceptible to this compression. As a result, the city has sunk approximately 3 meters over the last century.

The Consequences of Sinking Cities

When cities sink too much, they can fall below sea level, putting them at risk of flooding and potentially leading to their complete loss. This is a particular concern for coastal cities already dealing with rising sea levels due to climate change.

The sinking of cities also poses challenges for infrastructure. Buildings can become unstable, underground pipes and cables can be damaged, and transportation systems can be disrupted.

Solutions and Adaptations

To address the problem of sinking cities, several approaches can be taken:

1. Regulating groundwater extraction: Implementing strict controls on the pumping of groundwater can help slow or stop the sinking process.

2. Artificial recharge: Pumping water back into the ground can help restore groundwater levels and stabilize the soil.

3. Building on stilts or floating structures: In some cases, new buildings can be designed to accommodate sinking ground levels.

4. Raising street levels: As we've seen in historical examples, one solution is to raise the street level, effectively building the city on top of itself.

Seattle's Underground: A City Beneath a City

One of the most fascinating examples of a city building upon itself can be found in Seattle, Washington. Despite being only 175 years old, Seattle already has an entire network of streets and abandoned buildings hidden beneath its modern surface.

The Great Seattle Fire of 1889

The story of Seattle's underground city begins with a disaster. In 1889, a devastating fire ripped through the newly formed city, destroying much of the downtown area. In the aftermath of this catastrophe, city leaders saw an opportunity not just to rebuild, but to dramatically improve Seattle's design.

The Problem of Flooding

Before the fire, Seattle had significant problems with flooding. The city was built on low-lying land near the coast, and its primitive sewage system was prone to backing up during high tides. This not only caused sanitation issues but also made it difficult for the city to expand and develop.

The Solution: Raising the City

The mayor and city engineers devised a bold plan to address these issues: they would raise the entire city. Here's how they did it:

1. Six-meter high stone walls were built on either side of the streets.
2. The space between these walls was filled with dirt and debris from the fire and nearby hills.
3. New roads were built on top of these raised structures.
4. Building owners were required to rebuild the first floors of their structures, effectively turning their ground floors into basements.

A City in Transition

For a period of time, Seattle existed in a strange, transitional state. The new street level was significantly higher than the old one, creating some unusual situations:

• Buildings sat two stories below street level.
• People had to descend ladders to reach shops and houses.
• Pedestrians used elevated walkways to cross streets, as the old sidewalks were now far below the new road level.

Eventually, the gaps between the new street level and the old buildings were filled in, and proper sidewalks were installed at the new elevation.

The Underground City Today

As a result of this ambitious engineering project, Seattle now has a well-preserved underground city beneath its streets. This network of abandoned shops, houses, and sidewalks offers a unique glimpse into the city's past.

Today, visitors can take tours of Seattle's underground, exploring the remnants of the old city and learning about its fascinating history. The underground spaces have been well-preserved, offering a tangible connection to Seattle's past and a testament to the ingenuity of its early leaders.

Conclusion: The Vertical Timeline of Human History

As we've explored in this article, the cities we live in are often just the latest chapter in a long story of human habitation. Beneath our feet lie layers upon layers of history, each telling its own tale of triumph, disaster, innovation, and adaptation.

From the ancient ruins of Rome and Troy to the more recent underground city of Seattle, these buried layers of civilization offer us invaluable insights into our past. They show us how our ancestors lived, how they built their societies, and how they responded to challenges both natural and man-made.

Moreover, understanding how cities build upon themselves can help us better prepare for the future. As we face modern challenges like climate change and rising sea levels, the lessons learned from these layered cities may prove invaluable in designing resilient urban spaces for tomorrow.

The next time you walk down a city street, take a moment to consider what might lie beneath your feet. You may be standing atop a vertical timeline of human history, with each layer telling a unique story of our shared past.

Exploring these underground ruins is not just an exercise in archaeology or history – it's a journey through time that helps us understand who we are and where we came from. It reminds us that our cities are living entities, constantly evolving and building upon the foundations laid by those who came before us.

As we continue to build and develop our urban spaces, we should remember that we're not just creating the present – we're laying the groundwork for the future, adding our own layer to the ever-growing story of human civilization.

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