if needed.Kaunos was probably founded as early as the 9th or 8th century BC, most likely by local Carians. From the 5th century BC onwards, it gradually took on the characteristics of a Greek city, before becoming romanised along with all of Asia Minor. Its existence as a settlement lasted at least until the 7th century C.E. Sset on a major international naval trade route, Kaunos had a complex history: between the 5th century BC and the Roman age, it underwent frequent changes of alignment or domination: over the centuries it belonged to the Persian Empire, the Athenian (Delian) League, Sparta, Caria, Rhodes, Ptolemaic Egypt, Macedon, Rhodes again, Pontus and eventually Rome. Kaunos was rediscovered in the 19th century and has been subject to systematic archaeological excavations since the 1960s, the city is still at best partially understood in most regards, as only parts have been exposed so far and much of its history remains quite hazy. After Caria had been captured by Turkish tribes and the serious malaria epidemic of the 15th century C.E, Kaunos was completely abandoned.