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Authorities in the northern Turkish city of Amasya launched an investigation after a tunnel believed to have been dug by treasure hunters was discovered on the slopes of Mount Ferhat.
The tunnel, located in the Sehirustu neighborhood, extends about 20 meters into the mountain.
Police and museum officials examined the area and seized digging tools left at the scene. An official inquiry is underway to determine who carried out the excavation and whether any additional damage was done to the site.
Writer Yelgin Arcoc Mesci said the discovery drew attention because Amasya contains several well known tunnels and underground passages.
She noted that parts of the Ferhat Water Channel run through tunnels, and that Amasya Castle includes the Cilanbolu and Zindan tunnels.
“We call Amasya the city of tunnels,” Mesci said, recalling that even the famous story of Ferhat and Sirin centers on a tunnel carved through the mountains out of love. She added that a tunnel was uncovered beneath the Tashan building during its restoration.
Amasya, located in northern Türkiye along the Yesilirmak River, has held strategic and cultural importance since antiquity. The ancient city of Amaseia was a fortified settlement built high on the cliffs above the river, known for producing rulers, scholars and artists.
It served as the capital of the kings of Pontus and was the birthplace of the geographer Strabo. The rock tombs of the Pontic kings, carved into the cliffs, remain among the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
During the early Ottoman period, Amasya became a key administrative center where young princes were sent to govern and gain political experience.
The city was also the birthplace of the sultans Murad I and Selim I. Many traditional wooden Ottoman houses near the river have been restored and now operate as cafes, hotels and restaurants, supporting the city’s growing tourism sector.
Mesci said the city’s heritage stretches back 8,500 years. “Amasya is one of the most beautiful treasures of Anatolia, Türkiye and the world,” he said. “Amasya is a real treasure.”
Amasya continues to attract both Turkish and international visitors with its historic tunnels, Ottoman era architecture and dramatic cliff side tombs. Ongoing investment in cultural heritage projects aims to preserve this history for future generations.
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