In ancient times, the city of Kavn was located at the mouth of the Dalyan River. It belonged to the Persians in the 5th century BC, and in the 4th century it became one of the most important policies of Kariya (historical region in the southwest of modern Turkey), the almost independent part of the Persian Empire. Against the background of the general economic and cultural development in the region, many important architectural and sculptural works emerged, including the famous tombs in Dalyan.
The tradition of making such burials in Kaunos came from the east, from Lycia. 9 large tombs have survived (6 on one hillside, 3 on the other; the largest is incomplete; another small tomb, similar in design to an Ionic temple, is located below at the foot of a rocky hill), a façade of ornate ancient temples and several small caves and passages carved in stone. in the form of a dozen small tombs. Local guides like to talk about the fact that the largest tomb is for Alexander the Great, but there is no documentary evidence of this. The main customers are local aristocrats.
Historians consider that the main reason for creating such a necropolis was local synthetic ideas about the afterlife: Lycian customs ordered to place the tombs higher in the sky, and in Caria - closer to the water. The coastal cliffs turned out to be the perfect place.
A few tombs were also carved during the Roman period, but in our time the tradition was interrupted. Already in the Middle Ages, the necropolis was plundered by the conquerors.
Currently, the tombs are one of the most popular historical monuments in southwestern Turkey. Most of the time tourists come here from Dalaman , Marmaris , Bodrum . It is impossible to approach ancient burial sites; Most of the time, tourists see them from the other side of the river or from the boats that travel between Dalyan and Dalyan.