Kızılkaya Hill, rising to a height of 293 meters, is the highest peak north of Iztuzu Beach.
The fortress is situated on a level plateau at the summit that commands a wide field of view, extending from Kaunos and the Dalyan Delta to Tuzla, İnceburun, and the Datça Peninsula. While the northern, southern, and eastern slopes of the hill—bordering Alagöl—are steep, the section extending westward features a gentler slope that is easier to traverse. To the northwest and west of the hill, approximately 80 meters from the fortress's western entrance, a wall section has been identified that may have been part of the outer fortifications. This wall, extending westward, is constructed of simple rubble stone without mortar and measures 1.20–1.50 meters in thickness. Although traces of the wall—which turns from the north toward the west—can still be seen in places, its western section (90 meters long and standing 0.30–0.80 meters high) has been largely destroyed. Built along a northwest-southeast axis on the summit plateau, the fortress measures 66 by 13.20 meters. Featuring a tower at its southeastern corner, the interior of the fortress consists of natural rocky terrain and shows no signs of dense structural development; the only structure present is a space measuring 8 by 3.90 meters in the southwestern corner. The fortress walls are 2.15 meters thick, feature isodomic masonry, and are preserved to a height of up to 1.80 meters in some areas. Distinct traces observed on the southern and northern walls suggest that the fortifications underwent repairs during various periods.
One of the entrances providing access to the fortress has been identified in the northern wall. This entrance, which is quite narrow for a fortress, measures 0.75 meters in width. Although a second line of walls partially enclosing the western and southern sides of the fortress is visible, its exact function remains unclear. Preserved to a height of 0.50 m—consisting of a single course of stones—this wall stands 11 m long on the south side and 7.60 m on the north. The tower situated at the fortress's southwest corner measures 11 x 7.85 m and is divided into two rooms by an internal wall; it also features a central doorway 1.45 m wide. While the tower's north and west walls have been largely destroyed, the structure is relatively well-preserved on the other sides, with the west wall and the dividing wall remaining particularly intact. The tower's plan, location, and relationship with the ramparts indicate that it was a later addition. The corner joint lines and the double-block masonry system observed at the tower's corners are features frequently found in the fortifications and towers of the Carian region during the Hecatomnid period. Furthermore, given that the southwest tower dates to the reign of Mausolus, the fortress's construction can be traced back to a time prior to the 4th century BC. Similar tower structures are known to have been built for surveillance and control purposes—particularly on acropolises and hilltop settlements—within the territories ruled by Mausolus, such as the Bodrum Peninsula. Based on its dimensions, the fortress likely served as a small garrison. In contrast to the fortress walls, which exhibit meticulous craftsmanship, the outer defensive line displays much simpler masonry. However, it is evident that the outer wall created a two-tiered defensive system on the western side, where access to the hilltop was easiest. The fortress occupies a strategic position, controlling access to the Dalyan Delta and the harbor of Kaunos. Apart from the masonry, no datable artifacts have been found within or around the fortress. G. E. Bean proposed that this fortress is the city of Karpasyanda. Known as a *demos* (settlement unit) of Kaunos, Karpasyanda is mentioned in the inscription on the statue base of Iatrokles found in the Kaunos Harbor Agora, in several places within the inscription on the donation monument, and in the Athenian tribute lists. Furthermore, although Kaunos belonged to the Carian region in terms of geography and language, we know it maintained close ties with its immediate neighbors—Karpasyanda, Pasanda, and Telandros. The fact that Kaunos and these neighbors joined the Delian League after the Battle of the Eurymedon and appeared in the tribute lists for approximately 30 years supports the theory that the settlement on Kızılkaya Hill could be Karpasyanda, given that the latter was not located far from Kaunos.
Note: This description is excerpted from the Cultural Inventory website.