Archaeologists and divers have confirmed the discovery of a vast medieval settlement resting just meters below the surface of Lake Issyk-Kul near the village of Toru-Aygyr. Using underwater gridding and specialized sediment scans, the team identified four distinct zones of organized human activity, including kiln-fired brick buildings, ancient millstones, and timber beams from structures that collapsed in place. The site suggests a permanent urban settlement rather than a temporary trading post, providing a rare look into high-altitude urban life on the Silk Road.
A major highlight of the expedition was the mapping of a 14-acre Muslim cemetery dating to the 13th or 14th century. Researchers recovered remains positioned according to Islamic burial customs, with individuals oriented toward Mecca. Experts believe the city was submerged by a sudden, catastrophic earthquake in the early 15th century, preserving the street layout and architectural fragments in a manner comparable to the ruins of Pompeii.
