[11] A hill castle, Yılankale is located on a rocky hill overlooking the east bank of the Ceyhan River,[6] and the Bronze and Iron Age site of Sirkeli Höyük, six kilometers west of the town of Ceyhan.

[13][14] The walls, as well as the numerous horseshoe-shaped towers and vaulted chambers, are built with beautifully cut rusticated masonry and are carefully adapted to the coiling outcrop of limestone to create three baileys.

[15] The archaeological and historical assessment of this castle published in 1987 (with a scaled plan) describes each unit in detail.

[17] It has been described as the "most perfectly preserved Armenian castle" of the Çukurova (Cilicia) region.

[18] In late 19th century, the inhabitants of Yılankale were Nogai immigrants from the Crimean War.