The Hellenistic theatre of the ancient city of Kyaneai was built on a natural slope and, like the entire city, has not yet been extensively explored and excavated. The theatre, dating from the 2nd century BC, is undoubtedly Kyaneai's best preserved building.

Kyaneai became the most important settlement in the Yavu Mountains. Kyaneai is hardly mentioned in ancient written sources, but it was an important polis according to its coins, inscriptions and archaeological remains.
It belonged to the Lycian League after 168 BC and became part of the Roman province of Lycia et Pamphylia during the Roman Empire. There are coins from the time of the Lycian League up to Gordian III. In late antiquity and the Byzantine period, Kyaneai was the seat of a bishop who was subordinate to the metropolitan of Myra. Kyaneai probably existed until the beginning of the 13th century.

The city was surrounded by walls on three sides. In the south, due to the natural conditions, fortifications could be dispensed with. The city walls are particularly striking due to the use of spoilers and their seemingly rapid construction. They were probably erected at a late date. In the northern and western part of the city wall there are three partially preserved city gates. Hidden between shrubs and trees in the enclosed urban area are several buildings, mainly from the Roman Imperial period.

Kyaneai has the largest sarcophagus necropolis in Lycia with more than 380 specimens. Most of the sarcophagi there are characterised by the landscape-specific pointed arch shape of their lids. The most important sarcophagus of Kyaneai dates from the first half of the 4th century BC. It shows various reliefs and a Lycian inscription. In it was buried a certain Khudalijẽ, which is certainly one of the dynasties of Kyaneai.