Pontic Rock Tombs of Amasya

Monumental rock-cut tombs carved into the limestone of Mount Harsena (272 m) overlooking the city of Amasya and the Yesilirmak River in Turkey. The royal necropolis of the Mithridatid dynasty contains five tombs (8-15 m high) housing kings Mithridates I through Pharnaces I, dating from 281 to 155 BCE when Amasya served as the Pontic capital. The tombs feature small burial chambers with stone benches, accessed through openings high above ground. Added to UNESCO's tentative World Heritage list in 2014, they represent nearly the only preserved architectural remains of the Kingdom of Pontus.