A team of underwater archaeologists exploring Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan has uncovered new traces of a medieval city believed to have been swallowed by a major earthquake more than 600 years ago.
Lake Issyk-Kul has long been associated with reports of ancient settlements hidden beneath its waters. Located in present-day Kyrgyzstan, the lake lies in a region that played a major role in the Silk Road network, which connected China with territories farther west for centuries.
In 2025, an international team of divers returned to the lake to investigate one of these submerged sites. Their discoveries strengthen the idea that the site, known as Toru-Aygyr, was much more than a small lakeside settlement. Instead, it appears to have been a thriving community connected to one of the most important trade routes of the medieval world.
Buildings, Tools And Artifacts Found Underwater
The expedition explored parts of the lake at depths of up to 13 feet and identified several signs of past urban life. As reported by the Russian Geographical Society, the team discovered brick structures, wooden remains, ceramic artifacts, and a stone millstone likely used to grind grain into flour.
Researchers also found the remains of a large building decorated on the outside. While its exact purpose remains unclear, archaeologists suggest it may have served as a mosque, a bathhouse, or even a small Islamic school.
“The monument under study is a city or a large commercial agglomeration on one of the important sections of the Silk Road,” Valery Kolchenko, head of the host country’s underwater expedition, said in a statement released by the Russian Geographical Society.
The archaeological remains point to a well-developed settlement with a lasting presence. Submerged stone structures and wooden beams have endured for centuries, preserving traces of a community that once flourished before vanishing from history.
A Lost Community Beneath the Lake
One of the most striking discoveries was a Muslim burial ground dating to the 13th or 14th century. Archaeologists reported that the site is currently being eroded by the lake, making it an especially valuable source of information.
The expedition team found two individuals buried facing Mecca, a practice commonly associated with Muslim funerary traditions. Nearby, researchers identified an older burial area alongside rounded and rectangular structures.
The team also recovered a number of artifacts from the area, including ceramics and a completely intact vessel that has remained remarkably well preserved.
An Earthquake That Changed The Region
Researchers believe the settlement was submerged after a powerful earthquake struck the area at the beginning of the 15th century. Kolchenko said the city may already have been largely abandoned by that time, though the disaster appears to have accelerated major changes across the region.
The discoveries also reflect a broader historical transition. Maksim Menshikov of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences explained that the area came under the control of the Karakhanid state around the 10th century. While the Turkic dynasty included followers of different religions, its ruling elite later embraced Islam.
In statements released by the expedition, Menshikov noted that Islam became increasingly widespread across Central Asia during the 13th century under the Golden Horde. The remains uncovered at Toru-Aygyr help illustrate that shift. He also said that the section of the Silk Road running through the Lake Issyk-Kul area was controlled by the Karakhanids.
“The Chinese considered this territory a zone of their interests, but they could not control it. Nevertheless, we see that this location is reflected in Chinese sources. This gives us hope to correlate historical materials with the results of our archaeological excavations,” he added.
