> And while three brave explorers in the 21st century once spent 48 hours in an erdstall, crawling to new sections whenever oxygen became scarce, it seems unlikely that they would have been constructed as hiding places, even temporary ones. Though they could have provided refuge for a small family, why would they be accessed from such public spaces?
I don't see why a whole bunch of people couldn't have hidden in them for several hours during an attack/raid? A hiding spot sufficiently known to a few, just big enough.
> The lack of exits is a further strike against this theory—if enemies became aware of such a tunnel being used as shelter, it would quickly become a death trap for its inhabitants.
Which would contribute to their extreme secrecy. And the loops and dead ends and narrow spots make it all the harder for attackers to pursue you even if they find it.
> Besides, in either of these cases, one would expect at least some goods to have been left behind—remnants of food or clothing, cached or dropped valuables. Instead, there is nothing.
If they were intended for hiding for just a few hours, since oxygen would run out anyways, it makes sense for nothing to be left in there. Your rush in, come out when the raiders have moved on. Clothing was valuable, you weren't going to leave your shawl behind.
very fun!
pessimizer•23m ago
The chambers at the ends could have been where the dogs slept and were fed.
mmooss•15m ago