Kadyanda Survey | KADYANDA

INTRODUCTION | KADYANDA | THE SURVEY | THE TEAM | SUPPORTERS         

Kadyanda was a mountain town in northern Lycia, covering about 15 hectares of habitable land on a long hill with steep and rocky slopes, between 850 and 950 metres above sea level. The city's development was closely linked to the fertile Yesiluzumli plain to the north-west, which is still cultivated today, and its proximity to the port of Telmessos and the Xanthos River, which provided access to trade routes. Although the hill of the settlement is largely covered with pine trees, the flatter areas of the hill contain the remains of a well-preserved theatre, agora and gymnasium. Kadyanda is surrounded by a city wall, but the exact extent of the wall and the location of the gates remain uncertain. Unusually for Lycian dynastic centres, no specific acropolis was identified.

Despite its prominence, Kadyanda has been relatively underexplored. It was one of the major polis centers in Lycia, yet no thorough modern survey has been conducted. Archaeological, numismatic, and epigraphic evidence points to its importance from the late 5th century BC to the 3rd century AD. Initially, Kadyanda (known as Khadawati in Lycian inscriptions) was a Lycian dynastic center before transforming into a polis and joining the Lycian League in the 2nd century BC. Coins from the ruler Hntruma suggest that Kadyanda held considerable power during the late 5th century BC. After briefly falling under the influence of the Xanthos dynasty, the city re-established itself as an independent polis in the Hellenistic period following the campaign of Alexander the Great.

Most of the archaeological evidence from the Classical period consists of tombs, particularly elaborate ones found in the necropoleis to the north and east of the city. These include house tombs of the local elite, like Uzebemi and Salas, and several rock tombs designed in the style of Lycian wooden houses. The inscribed pillar tomb on the plain is an important marker of Kadyanda's dynastic rule. The number and grandeur of these tombs indicate that a wealthy aristocracy controlled the Yesiluzumlu plain during the city's peak.

Kadyanda’s position within the Lycian League is not well known, as there are uncertainties about the city’s role and influence within this political alliance. However, Kadyanda's prominence continued into the Roman period, as evidenced by numerous inscriptions related to cults, tributes, and donations from local and foreign citizens, reflecting the city’s prosperity. Public buildings from this period, such as temples, baths, and the theatre, highlight its significance compared to neighboring settlements in the Xanthos valley like Symbra, Boubon, Araxa and Telmessos.

The Byzantine period of Kadyanda, however, is not documented. The defences of the town, probably dating from the Hellenistic period, were reinforced with mortared walls, probably in response to the Gothic invasions from the sea in the 4th century AD. There is little architectural evidence from this period, however, and no church buildings or Christian remains have been found. Kadyanda does not appear on any Byzantine list of bishops. All this reflects a generally unusual situation.

Overall, Kadyanda remains poorly understood, with many key questions unanswered. These include its transformation from a Lycian dynastic settlement to a polis, the development of Hellenistic and Roman public buildings, and its decline during the Byzantine period. Despite its historical importance, Kadyanda has not been thoroughly investigated, and its settlement plan and various phases of construction are still unclear. While small-scale epigraphic studies and surveys of public buildings have been conducted, a comprehensive modern survey is needed to uncover the full history and significance of Kadyanda in the Lycian region.