13th-14th Century Muslim Necropolis Emerges from Issyk-Kul Lake Bed

An extensive underwater archaeological survey conducted in the autumn of 2025 on the northwestern periphery of Lake Issyk-Kul has revealed the remnants of a Muslim necropolis dating to the 13th and 14th centuries. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Russian Geographical Society (RGS), the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), and the Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. The expedition primarily focused on the submerged Toru-Aigyr complex, a site historically significant as a node along the medieval Great Silk Road connecting East Asia with European markets.

The discovery of the necropolis, which spans an estimated area of 300 by 200 meters, offers substantial insight into the religious identity of the settlement’s inhabitants. The burials strictly adhered to Islamic tradition, with skeletons consistently oriented toward the north, their faces turned toward the Qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. Researchers recovered both male and female remains from the site, which is currently subject to erosion from the lake waters. This finding firmly places the lost city within the broader Islamic cultural sphere of the medieval Silk Road network.

Beyond the cemetery, the underwater exploration surveyed four zones at depths ranging from one to four meters, uncovering substantial architectural elements that confirm a developed urban center. Divers documented large ceramic vessels, including an intact khum, alongside the foundations of buildings constructed from fired brick, suggesting specialized labor and investment. The presence of a massive millstone indicated local processing of grain and a settled agricultural base, rather than sole reliance on trade.

Furthermore, recovered fragments suggested the existence of a major public edifice, potentially a mosque, public bathhouse, or administrative center, underscoring the city's organized governance. This prosperous civilization met an abrupt end at the onset of the 15th century, attributed to a powerful earthquake that caused the settlement to sink beneath the rising waters of Lake Issyk-Kul. Valery Kolchenko, a researcher at the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, suggested the scale of the disaster was comparable to that which destroyed Pompeii.

Geological data confirms that valleys surrounding Issyk-Kul, an endorheic saline body in the western Tianshan Mountains, have been prone to significant seismic activity. The cold, slightly saline water has acted as a preservative agent, keeping the brickwork and organic materials relatively intact over six centuries. The Toru-Aigyr site, alongside previously found petroglyphs and ancient settlements, reinforces the region's deep historical significance as a corridor for cultural and economic exchange between China and the Mediterranean. The current findings are slated to form the basis for future scientific publications and preservation strategies for this Central Asian underwater heritage.