Archaeologists with the Russian Academy of Sciences have uncovered remnants of an underwater city beneath Lake Issyk-Kul in eastern Kyrgyzstan.
Situated in the western Tianshan Mountains, Lake Issyk-Kul is a saline endorheic lake and ranks as the 8th deepest lake globally. In the Middle Ages, the lake acted as a rest point on the Silk Road, a land pathway for travelers and merchants journeying from the Far East to Europe.
Recent digs at the Toru-Aygyr complex in the northwest section of the lake have uncovered a medieval necropolis, brick constructions, and many ceramic artifacts.Image Credit : Russian Academy of Sciences
Researchers examined four underwater areas at depths ranging from 1 to 4 meters. In the initial area, they discovered multiple structures made of fired bricks, including one that housed a millstone – indicating a medieval mill previously utilized for grinding grain into flour.
The team additionally recorded submerged stone structures and timber beams, along with evidence of a public building that may have functioned as a mosque, bathhouse, or madrassa.
“The location we are examining was a city or significant trading center along an important portion of the Silk Road,” stated Valery Kolchenko, researcher at the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic and leader of the expedition.
Researchers indicate that a significant earthquake struck the region in the 15th century, resulting in the settlement sinking underwater and ultimately leading to its desertion.
In the second area, researchers discovered a Muslim necropolis dating from the 13th to 14th century. The third zone showed signs of the settlement’s subsequent growth, featuring extra buildings and a prior burial site that was ultimately covered by newer constructions. In the fourth area, circular and rectangular buildings composed of mudbrick were discovered, alongside strata of concealed soil.