Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a medieval city beneath Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, confirming long-held legends about a lost city beneath its surface. The site, located on the northwest shore of the lake, contains evidence of a planned urban center with public structures like madrasas and mosques.
Researchers have mapped and documented large ceramic vessels, baked brick structures, grain mill parts, and decorated architectural fragments at depths of 1-4 meters. These discoveries suggest that the city was designed for traders, tourists, and pilgrims traveling between China and the Islamic world.
The site is believed to have been inhabited during the Kara-Khanid dynasty’s rule from the 10th-15th centuries. However, the region had a history of religious diversity, with traces of Buddhism, Tengrianism, and Nestorian Christianity found at the site.
A strong earthquake in the 15th century partially collapsed the city, causing it to sink beneath the lake’s surface. The discovery has provided a unique glimpse into Central Asia’s history, with many questions still unanswered.
Researchers have discovered a large Muslim cemetery from the 13th-14th centuries, containing approximately 60,000 square meters of space and two skeletons, one male and female. They have also found medieval ceramics, including a partially buried khum (grain or water storage vessel), which could provide insight into the city’s inhabitants’ diet and health.
The site is being mapped in great detail using underwater drones and sophisticated navigation systems, with the goal of constructing an interdisciplinary project that incorporates funerary studies, urban archaeology, and tectonic and climatic history. Further research is expected to shed light on Central Asia’s place in world history since the Middle Ages.
Source: https://www.lagradaonline.com/us/medieval-city-hidden-lake-issyk-kul