You Won’t Believe What Archaeologists Found Beneath lake Issyk-Kul
Lake Issyk-Kul, the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and the second-largest high mountain lake globally, has yielded remarkable archaeological discoveries. A recent underwater expedition has confirmed the existence of a medieval city, once a vital part of the Silk Road, now preserved beneath its surface.
Researchers from the Institute of History, archeology, and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, alongside the Russian Geographical society and the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, investigated the lake’s northwest region. Their work revealed the remains of buildings, a 13th- to 14th-century muslim necropolis, and numerous artifacts.
Evidence suggests the city flourished along a key Silk Road route before being submerged in the early 15th century due to a devastating earthquake. Valery Kolchenko, a researcher involved in the project, noted the site was “a city or a large commercial agglomeration” that experienced a meaningful demographic shift following the disaster, with nomadic populations replacing the established settlement.
The team focused their examination on four distinct areas. They uncovered brick structures including the remains of a millstone, and identified a decorated building perhaps used as a mosque, bathhouse, or madrasa (a Muslim educational institution). The muslim necropolis contained skeletons oriented north, towards Mecca.
The discoveries shed light on the region’s religious history. In the 10th century,the Kara-Khanid State,a Turkic dynasty,controlled the Issyk-Kul Lake area. While various religions – including Tengrianism, Buddhism, and Nestorian Christianity – were practiced, Islam gained prominence in Central asia during the 13th century, initially among the nobility and those involved in trade. The necropolis likely dates to this period of increasing Islamic influence.
Further exploration revealed earlier burials, medieval ceramics, and a large vessel currently buried deep within the lakebed, with retrieval planned for a future expedition. Underwater drilling at a fourth site is underway to collect samples that will help chart the settlement’s development over time.
Researchers are also hoping to correlate their findings with historical records from medieval Chinese sources, further enriching our understanding of this lost Silk road city.