Discovery of Ancient Submerged City on the Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan

Legends of lost cities, such as Atlantis, may have some basis in reality. Researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences have announced the discovery of remnants of a submerged city beneath Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan.

Lake Issyk-Kul, the eighth deepest lake in the world at 668 meters, now reveals the remains of a medieval city under its shallow waters. Artifacts include an Islamic cemetery, large ceramic jars, and remnants of brick structures.

Researchers believe the city featured mosques, religious schools, public baths, and possibly grain mills, as reported by the Daily Mail. Valery Koltchenko, the head of the mission, described the city as a significant commercial hub along the historic Silk Road.

A Catastrophe Comparable to Pompeii

Findings indicate that the city was destroyed by a massive earthquake in the 15th century, an event scientists have likened to the destruction of Pompeii. However, it is likely that the inhabitants had evacuated the site prior to the disaster.

During surveys in the Toro-Aigyr region, archaeologists discovered four underwater zones at depths ranging from one to four meters. These zones included collapsed buildings, wooden columns, large grinding stones, and a 13th-century Islamic cemetery where skeletons were oriented towards the qibla in accordance with Islamic burial practices.

The Russian Geographical Society, which funded the project, confirmed that "all evidence suggests that an ancient city indeed existed here." Samples have been sent for radiocarbon dating using mass spectrometry to accurately determine the age of the remains.

A Segment of the Silk Road

The colony likely formed part of a Silk Road network that thrived between the 2nd century BCE and the mid-15th century, serving as a vital point for the exchange of goods and ideas between Asia and Europe. The devastating earthquake led to a shift in population distribution and the decline of urban civilization in the region, leaving the city submerged under the waters of Issyk-Kul for centuries until its recent revelation through scientific exploration.