Did Atlantis Really Exist? Scientists Discover Civilization Under Water
A recent archaeological discovery beneath the waters of Lake Issyk Kul in the Kyrgyz Republic is fueling speculation about lost civilizations and drawing parallels to the legendary Atlantis. Researchers have uncovered the remains of a significant settlement, dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, preserved remarkably well underwater.
The team, led by Valery Kolchenko from the National Academy of sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, examined four points along the lake shoreline, at depths of one to four meters. Their findings, reported by the Daily Mail, revealed collapsed structures including pottery buildings, stone grain mills, and buildings constructed with stone and wooden beams. Researchers believe these structures functioned as mosques, baths, and madrassas – Islamic schools.
Further examination at three other points uncovered 13th-century Muslim burials and mud bricks, both round and square in shape.The orientation of the burial frames, facing north towards the Muslim Qibla in Mecca, indicates a deliberate adherence to customary Islamic burial rituals.
“The site we studied was a city or major trading center,” Kolchenko stated.
Scientists are utilizing spectrometric dating to accurately determine the age of the discovered artifacts, a method considered reliable for organic materials. The evidence strongly suggests the existence of an ancient settlement beneath the lake.
The submerged city is believed to be Toru-Aygyr, a once-thriving commercial hub along the Silk Road – the historic network connecting Europe and Asia. The city was devastated in the early 15th century, likely by a powerful earthquake. Interestingly, researchers believe the inhabitants had already abandoned the city before the disaster struck.
“According to our assessment, when the disaster occurred, residents had already left the settlement,” Kolchenko explained.
Following the destruction, the region underwent notable demographic shifts, and the medieval settlements disappeared, eventually being replaced by nomadic populations and the small villages that now dot the lake’s shoreline.
This discovery isn’t isolated. Submerged settlements have been found in other parts of the world, including Ravenser Odd, a medieval town off the coast of Yorkshire, England, which earned the nickname “Yorkshire’s Atlantis.” These discoveries often evoke comparisons to the mythical island of Atlantis, a legendary advanced civilization said to have been lost beneath the waves.
While Atlantis remains firmly rooted in myth, the ongoing discoveries of submerged settlements continue to capture the creativity and remind us of the fragility of civilizations and the power of natural disasters to reshape landscapes and histories.
(The author is a participant in the Ministry of manpower’s Internship Hub program at detikcom.)
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