These homes were built in caves in the Turkish region of Cappadocia. This area began with the eruption of three large volcanoes about 10 MILLION years ago. The harden ash is called Tuff and given its properties it was easily worked with rudementary tools. Creating a home out of these cone-shaped small structures was not particularly difficult. Also during the arrival of christianity, the adherents from teh region found that cave churches could be carved from the rock just as easily as homes. The rock formations created by these eruptions and the subsequent erosion from the rain and wind has created a surreal landscape. Certainly worthwhile the trek!!!